Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7587 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-09-27
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Crow set the standard for dark and violent comic-book movies (like Spawn or director Alex Proyas's superior follow-up, Dark City), but it will forever be remembered as the film during which star Brandon Lee (son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee) was accidentally killed on the set by a loaded gun. The filmmakers were able to digitally sample what they'd captured of Lee's performance and piece together enough footage to make the film releasable. Indeed, it is probably more fascinating for that post-production story than for the tale on the screen. The Crow is appropriately cloaked in ominous expressionistic shadows, oozing urban dread and occult menace from every dank, concrete crack, but it really adds up to a simple and perfunctory tale of ritual revenge. Guided by a portentous crow (standing in for Poe's raven), Lee plays a deceased rock musician who returns from the grave to systematically torture and kill the outlandishly violent gang of hoodlums who murdered him and his fiancée the year before. The film is worth watching for its compelling visuals and genuinely nightmarish, otherworldly ambience. --Jim Emerson

Video Description
DVD Special Features

Ratio: 4:3 Languages: English

Synopsis
A young rock musician who was brutally murdered a year earlier is resurrected as a vengeful superhero in this stylish noir thriller. Out to avenge his and his fiancee's killings by destroying the city's evil crime lord, the Crow becomes a ray of hope for the city while battling his own inner demons. Based on James O'Barr's dark comic book series, this film features Brandon Lee's final performance.

Customer Reviews

My Three-Step Guide to "The Crow"
Step One: Read the trade paperback collection of the original "Crow" comics. It's currently out of print, but if you dig deep enough, you can still find it. This will accentuate your understanding of Eric Draven's tragic story.

Step Two: Watch this film. Allow yourself to fully absorb Brandon Lee's final, heart-wrenching performance as the living personification of pain...a man who is haunted by his memories of the rape and murder of the woman he loved. He is driven to avenge her at any cost, and is guided by a spectral crow from the land of the dead to each of his victims. Every word Eric Draven speaks, every step he takes, every gesture, is strained with the pain of a man who's lost everything. Lee's performance is powerful and poignant. He makes us feel Eric's pain. The atmosphere of the film...unrelentingly dark, gritty, and rainy...is equally strong. The film version of "The Crow" is a film masterpiece...perhaps it could have been better if the storyline had coincided more closely with the exact events in the comics, but as it stands, it is still brilliant.

Step Three: Abandon the series. No other "Crow" movie is worth watching. Those other films ruin the legacy of the original comic books and diminish the power of the first film. None lives up to the spirit of the "Crow" storyline, and none comes close to rivaling the original in terms of style, performances, direction, cinematography, or anything else. Give up on the series after the first film...the others aren't worth the bother.

Beautiful Gothic Revenge Tale
The Crow is infamous for the tragic accidental death of star Brandon Lee who was killed on set by a stray piece of bullet casing during a scene where his character Eric Draven, is shot. The producers were able to use previously recorded footage of Lee to piece together the last part of the film. The result is a beautifully shot, gothic fantasy, where a murdered rock star returns from the dead, guided by a wise crow to take revenge on the gang that caused his death and that of his fiancee. The story is all the more tragic for Lee's off screen passing.

A standard revenge premise is given a real sense of tragedy and gloom by the fantastic visuals. The gothic buildings and dark rain-swept streets create a sense of enormous foreboding and Lee's performance is one of unequivocal love for his lost soulmate. There are outstanding action scenes and good supporting performances in this modern day gothic fairy tale.

Like this? Try: Pan's Labrynth

Real love is forever
This is one of my favourite films.James Obarr is a genius.It is a fantastic story about love and death.Watch the film then read the comic cos they are amazing.Brandon Lee you did us proud.RIP.