Movie Spotlight - The Crow

"People Once believed that when someone dies a crow carries that soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it. And the soul can't rest.
And sometimes the Crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right."

In the film that tragically cost him his life, martial arts phenomenon Brandon Lee stars as Eric Draven, the working class rock and roller who is murdered by thugs. He returns from the grave as a mystical hero ready to seek vengeance on those who murdered him and his fiancee, and in doing so destroying his life and happiness.

Eric learns of the rejuvenate powers of his resurrected body - he is now immortal. The Crow rises like Eric Draven from the grave and presents itself as dark and violent cinematic exorcism for all involved.

The Crow is the mysterious connection between the realities of life and death. It is the key to Eric's power and if anything happens to it, Eric will become vulnerable and his powers will desert him and make him no longer immortal.

The Crow leads Eric through the shattered remains of his previous life and directs him to those he wishes to seek revenge on.
It symbolises a spirit that is restless and unable to be set free and released to heaven until it's spirit is avenged.

Using the Crow was a brilliant move as it brought on an air of mystery to the film and it delved into the depths of the superstitious, spirits and the afterlife.

During the film, Eric has a series of flashbacks such as the attack on himself and his fiancee Shelley, which is intensified by the deep red color and the optical distortion that signifies Eric's memory burst of that dreadful night.

These flashbacks help us to fully understand what the quote "People once believed" means and what exactly happened to Eric Draven and his fiancee.

The makeup/mask Eric Draven slips on his face is used because Eric is unable to deal with his new reality-the reality that he is alive yet dead. And at the vanity table he find white pancake makeup and a stick of black face paint.
Eric is then able to create someone who can cope. He can create someone who can't afford fear, as this 'new person  believes fear is only for his enemies.
The creator and artist of the Crow Graphic novel James O'Barr makes a brief appearance in the film as a looter of the pawnshop. O'Barr spent many hours discussing Eric's character with Brandon Lee and has said "More than anyone, Brandon Lee kept the film true to the comic."

Brandon Lee's Performance as Eric Draven is superb - a character who comes back to sek vengeance  and doesn't care how to he gets it and is ruthless in doing so. All through this, Lee never lets us forget that his character is motivated purely by love.

The Crow is a pulsating and hypnotic fantasy with mind numbing effects, awesome action and has a dark cyber-pink setting. It can be described as an urban Gothic film and the film has strong strength in the constructed sets, atmosphore and decay. It manages to relay it's tortured tale of love, death and revenge effectively.

Even though the film was released in 1994, it has stayed true for the years and is a cult classic film all comic fan buffs should see.

Then if you're smart, you'll avoid the other 'Crow' movies and the TV show that have been released since.