A number of weeks in the past, we talked concerning the real-life tragedy of The Crow creator James O’Barr and the laborious luck he endured earlier than creating his masterpiece — and as we speak, my mates, we’re speaking about what occurs when a heartfelt, grounded, and authentic film will get caught within the Hollywood machine, manipulated by the studio, and re-skinned to appear like a sequel that audiences consider has… no soul.
Or — are we all incorrect about this tortured franchise?
That is The Crow: Metropolis of Angels — the primary sequel in The Crow film assortment, and one that’s typically appeared down upon, if not altogether forgotten, by followers of this character and collection. However the bones of this film inform a unique story — one which, had the studio checked its authority on the door, might need gained audiences over and despatched this franchise down a way more profitable path.
That is that story — let’s get into it!
The Crow: Metropolis of Angels is the 1996 follow-up to Tim Pope’s adaptation of The Crow. That film is a much-beloved traditional with a powerful cult viewers — and for good purpose. This sequel, nevertheless, is the byproduct of that movie’s success.
The film follows Ashe, a single father and mechanic who’s killed alongside his son in an act of gang violence, just for the magical crow to swoop in and grant him the identical deal Eric Draven bought within the first — he’ll rise from the useless on Halloween to avenge his son, making his killers pay for his or her dastardly deeds.
He’s going to want some assist, although — and that’s the place Sarah is available in, our trusty little child from the primary movie who’s now grown up and making an attempt to stay her personal life. However within the custom of Michael Corleone — as quickly as she thinks she’s out, they pull her proper again in!
The plot of this film is so just like the primary that one could possibly be forgiven for calling it a straight-up remake. When it comes to story beats, we’re principally getting extra of the identical — however with much less sting than the unique. Apart from some very enjoyable characters, there isn’t a lot deviation from what I assume could possibly be referred to as “The Crow formula” — tragic loss of life, resurrection, revenge, and at last, justice. Don’t fear — we’ll get to the characters quickly.
However let’s begin at the start: how did this film occur?
Properly, as we will all assume, when a film does properly for a significant studio, they demand extra of that film till the wheels fall off. Shortly after The Crow was launched on residence video to huge success, Miramax Photos was wanting to duplicate these {dollars} by pushing a brand new story with the beloved character — or, by nature of the comedian guide, a new character to tackle the identical mantle.
As we all know, Brandon Lee was unintentionally killed by a stay spherical in a prop gun, which not solely provides to the unique movie’s already darkish legacy but in addition created a necessity for excessive sensitivity when bringing the sequel into manufacturing.
As such, the studio got here to Tim Pope and James O’Barr to create an authentic sequel to construct off the world they’d beforehand established. This time, iconic comedian guide adaptation author David S. Goyer was introduced in to assist pen the script. You’d know Goyer as the author of The Darkish Knight Trilogy, Man of Metal, and the Blade films — making him the precise form of expertise this sequel wanted.
The trio set to work and initially conceived a movie that will’ve been radically completely different from its predecessor. Their early therapy was extra experimental, non secular, and character-driven — drawing inspiration from the 1987 movie Wings of Need — and supposed to offer Sarah (Mia Kirshner) a a lot bigger function, whilst a attainable feminine Crow. An concept that we’d later see realized in O’Barr’s comedian collection.
Miramax and the producers overruled the inventive workforce, demanding a shorter, extra action-focused movie that echoed the primary film’s tone and elegance. Pope was faraway from the ultimate edit, and the movie grew to become a “carbon copy” of the unique in construction — with an icky, studio-mandated layer pasted over it.
Early drafts included a tragic romance between Ashe (Vincent Perez) and Sarah. Within the unused ending, Ashe chooses to stay within the mortal world to save lots of Sarah (after the Crow is killed), leaving him trapped and unable to reunite together with his son or Sarah in loss of life.
A number of alternate cuts and endings have been filmed however excised by the studio, together with lengthy fantasy sequences and extra summary, metaphysical passages. And people — this was only the start.
Goyer remained credited as screenwriter however expressed deep remorse over not quitting when studio rewrites eradicated the movie’s thematic core, later calling it “a master class in how not to adapt a comic book.”
All concepts that will’ve at the least made the movie really feel like its personal factor — which was of the utmost significance to Pope, Goyer, and most of all, James O’Barr. These guys wished to make one thing as particular as the primary film with out retreading the identical floor. However studios desire a safer guess relating to making again their cash.
This led to a watered-down script, certain — however there was nonetheless hope. I imply, the unique movie was nice, proper? So, remastering it in a way could possibly be a secure guess if executed with care and goal past the monetary facet.
To tug it off and ship on this sequel, the solid was the following essential piece of this twisted puzzle.
Jon Bon Jovi was briefly thought-about for the lead earlier than Vincent Perez landed the function, partly as a consequence of his resemblance to the late Brandon Lee. Perez struggled with the movie’s English dialogue and underwent teaching; he insisted on doing his personal stunts for the ultimate battle, which concerned grueling, bodily demanding scenes — together with staying within the water for eight hours and enduring actual whipping and hanging for impact. Perez described the emotional weight of the shoot, perceiving Ashe as a personality enduring non secular and bodily extremes — “carrying all the sadness, the pain of the world.”
The solid rehearsed extensively for the completely different “kill” scenes to offer every its personal psychological arc — which, after all, sounds superior, however in apply didn’t work out.
See, this film’s kill scenes are excessive in some instances, and positively indulgent. However the efficiency of Vincent Perez as Ashe appeared to make the dramatics of those scenes extra goofy than anything, as his line reads sounded extra in keeping with a 90s cleaning soap opera than a Hollywood film. He merely didn’t have the gravitas that Lee dropped at the function — and being that this was the primary sequel, a direct comparability couldn’t be averted. Aside from having the identical basic look and mannerisms as Lee, his efficiency lacked authenticity and, extra importantly, subtlety.
Nevertheless, with a supporting solid of wacky noir villains like Iggy Pop, Richard Brooks, and buddy of the present Thomas Jane — there’s some enjoyable available with the over-the-top performances of the movie’s villains.
And maybe the actor who carried your entire movie on her shoulders was Mia Kirshner as Sarah — with the palest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Severely, out of context, you’d assume she was a vampire… or like… already useless.
Enjoyable truth: as a result of it was the mid-90s, Tori Amos was initially supplied the function of Sarah, which she declined as a result of, in response to her, she merely “didn’t like the character.”
However Kirshner was great in her function, and helped convey some much-needed coronary heart and soul to this film.
One thing that should be talked about is that this film’s cinematography, set design, and colour grading are completely stunning. Watching it seems like a barely extra polished model of The Crow, whereas sustaining the grit, grime, and grossness of the unique. Some scenes make this post-apocalyptic Los Angeles appear like a gothic nightmare, whereas others make it appear like actual elements of L.A. … yikes.
Additionally, you may’t be mad about seeing the Crow using a black motorbike, proper? I imply… proper?
Sadly, the set design and flashy digital camera work couldn’t conceal the movie’s lack of originality and lackluster funds. The place the unique movie had a funds of about $21 million, this one noticed that quantity almost lower in half — to $13 million — which could clarify the dearth of dangers taken in manufacturing.
I’d assume a lot of the cash went to the one set piece on the finish for the ultimate battle — which should’ve value rather a lot for the placement, extras, and even reserving iconic band The Deftones to carry out within the movie. (Really, I feel at the moment they hadn’t even launched their first album but, so possibly they bought them at a reduction.)
Digital results and puppetry (together with cost-cutting measures like utilizing stuffed crows on fishing traces) drew criticism for showing low cost in comparison with the unique’s polished visuals. The movie recouped solely a part of its funds, grossing about $18 million domestically and $25 million worldwide — in the end shedding cash after advertising and marketing prices and marking it as a field workplace disappointment.
This resulted within the movie being considerably disowned by each O’Barr and Goyer. At one level, O’Barr tried to jot down the script himself however reportedly discovered himself haunted by the considered his good buddy Brandon Lee dying throughout the making of the primary movie, and he rapidly stepped away. His solely request to Tim Pope was to make the story its personal — to make it completely different. Sadly, O’Barr (like many people) was not impressed with the end result.
The cult of the unique Crow led to excessive expectations, however Metropolis of Angels confronted widespread criticism for its narrative confusion and visible muddiness. Pope and Goyer’s authentic creative imaginative and prescient was extensively acknowledged amongst followers and critics to have been extra bold and character-driven than the ultimate product.
A number of inventive choices — such because the exclusion of O’Barr’s proposed The Crow: The Bride script (with a feminine protagonist) and the chopping of Sarah’s bigger arc — at the moment are cited as missed alternatives to innovate inside the franchise. And you understand what? I can’t assist however agree.
And, foolish because it sounds, as a result of I don’t know the place else to place this… Who’s that man crouching behind Ashe’s motorbike? That’s a crew member who’s not presupposed to be seen there. I simply discover that hilarious. It form of jogs my memory of these moments the place you may see a increase mic creeping into the body in a low-budget film. It occurs greater than you assume — and when you assume it doesn’t… watch extra schlock. You’re welcome.
So, in the long run — studio interference essentially altered the tone, plot, and legacy of The Crow: Metropolis of Angels, decreasing its ambition and complexity. The solid, particularly Vincent Perez, endured powerful bodily circumstances and poured emotional depth into their roles regardless of post-production disappointment. Finances limitations led to cut-rate results and a “smaller” look in comparison with the unique.
The misplaced authentic lower and conceptually bolder storylines proceed to fascinate followers and are seen as missed alternatives for the franchise.
And, after all, the story doesn’t cease right here — there have been later makes an attempt to convey The Crow again into recognition with the underrated The Crow: Salvation, the virtually irredeemable The Crow: Depraved Prayer (the one with Edward Furlong), and naturally 2024’s The Crow — a brand new adaptation that deviated drastically from the unique and was the primary to not be a sequel, however a reboot.
I actually didn’t like that movie — however I additionally didn’t hate it as a lot as you most likely did. I feel, by itself deserves and free from comparability, there’s one thing to take pleasure in in there at occasions.
So the query now could be: what did you guys consider this film? And what do you consider the opposite sequels? Do you assume this franchise ought to keep useless — or is there hope to in the future recreate the magic that Tim Pope introduced us all the way in which again in 1994?
Tell us within the feedback under — and that is WTF occurred to The Crow: Metropolis of Angels.
