DrayvensCrow
Junior Member
The other half of the greatest tag team going! Just read Bad Moon Rising!
Posts: 71
|
Post by DrayvensCrow on Aug 1, 2005 21:00:37 GMT -5
After having watched Wicked Prayer and reading Justine's review of it, I have come to a conclusion: she has either lost her ever-lovin' mind or just really hates the Crow franchise.
OK, 'hate' may be too harsh of a word but I just can't help but feel that alot of reviewers have absolutely no clue when it comes to this series. All I constantly hear since the first episode is "It's not Eric, so it sucks!" James O'Barr himself had stories set outside of the Eric Draven character, so I can't see those detractors have any credibility.
Not only did Edward Furlong, David Boreanez and Tara Reid capture the spirit of the original characters, but they did a great job in mixing in the new interpretations as well. Dennis Hopper's role was the most disappointing by not just playing his role over the top, but playing it completely out of this galaxy.
But if you disagree, let's talk about it!
|
|
|
Post by Justine on Aug 1, 2005 22:17:13 GMT -5
I actually loved the original, and I even sort of liked the television series, which most people thinks makes me crazy. The sequels just never flew with me.
I think I made my opinion clear with my review, and perhaps it was necessary to have read the book to truly appreciate the movie (although you shouldn't have to), but David Boreanaz' acting was sadly over the top, Tara Reid's was one note, and Edward Furlong, while a good dramatist, didn't pull off the vengeful spirit thing. He just came off as whiny.
I did have to appreciate that Jimmy truly couldn't seem to wrap his head around what he was doing. He was doing it because he needed revenge, but he seemed to always wish to be dead, which was a nice touch.
But, other than that...*sigh* I turned the movie on WANTING to like it---wanting this to be David Boreanaz' breakthrough role. Unfortunately, this wasn't that movie.
|
|
|
Post by Talon Karrde on Aug 1, 2005 23:53:05 GMT -5
Actually, Dray, after seeing the original Crow movie, most of the others do pale in comparison. The only intriguing part of the second movie was the fact that they brought back Eric Draven's little buddy. We got to see what became of her. The third movie went straight to rental and was hardly enjoyable. Rather strange it was. I think the best part of the flick was the moment they sewed Kirsten Dunst. I have yet to see this fourth installment, but I hardly think that the movie industry has done the comic book any sort of justice.
|
|
DrayvensCrow
Junior Member
The other half of the greatest tag team going! Just read Bad Moon Rising!
Posts: 71
|
Post by DrayvensCrow on Aug 2, 2005 20:19:04 GMT -5
Justine, please don't take my opinion the wrong way. I just felt that it was too critical of the main roles and not enough on the lesser ones. Yes, Boreanez' effort was over the top but not near as much as Dennis Hopper's or some of the others. Had it stayed closer to the novel, I feel that it would have made it a much more enjoyable movie. It's time to get Jeff Most away from any involvement with the series and let some new blood bring it to where it should have been.
The main charactors in the previous two movies before WP I felt pulled off the roles to the tee. Brandon Lee said it best when he said no one knows who someone coming back from the dead would behave and that it was so open to interpretation. Even Brandon's acting wasn't completely true to the comic, but he kept it as close as possible. All of the Crow charactors would have rather been dead than having to avenge what had been done.
The main thing I really get annoyed at is when people lump all of the movies together as if they should be. Each movie is a stand alone part of the entire mythos. Furlong's charactor in the novel had just as much, if not more, trouble being a vengeful spirit. I'd have liked to seen Ms. Reid's part played more forcefully and Tito Ortiz in Boreanez's roll, which would have put it closer to the novel. That said, I enjoyed WP just as much as the first, second and third installments. Talon, there are Crow fan films on the net that I think you might find enjoyable although rather short.
As for comparing the films to each other, I just don't believe you can do that and be fair to all of them. That's like the fanboys running down Birds Of Prey after having seen only one ep.
On a separate note, it was confirmed about a year ago that if there is a fifth movie, that the lead would be a female in the Crow role. Please checkout some of the female Crow stories, whether they be from the comic, short story or novel. I think that you'll find that what I've said is true when you read them.
|
|
|
Post by Justine on Aug 3, 2005 9:58:40 GMT -5
Oh no, Dray, don't worry--nobody is taking your opinion the wrong way. It's an opinion and I'm a firm believer that everyone has the right to one. It's not MY opinion, but that's all good! My thing is that I don't like giving an opinion without explaining it when it is debated. Nothing is absolute, and I wanted you to know what was going through my head at the time of writing it. Yes, I was more critical of the main roles. There is a reason for that--they are the MAIN ROLES. They are supposed to carry the plot along and they were performed poorly. They are more important then the lesser roles, which quite honestly weren't great in my opinion either. LOL-About lumping movies, I dare you to find lumpage in my review Bet you won't! That's because I watched this movie with a fresh mind. There isn't even a mention of the original in there, and that's the one I liked! To me, WP was bad all on it's own... Dray, can't remember which, but awhile back I read an awesome female Crow story and ever since then, I wanted them to do a cinematic version. I'm crossing my fingers that they will and that this time, they'll do it right!
|
|
|
Post by jpmessiah on Aug 3, 2005 10:48:34 GMT -5
Crow was so awesome back in the day. I remember going to see it with this girl who was trying to fool around with me in the theater, and I was like...nope, this movie is too damn good. Brandon Lee was awesome and after that, I wanted to see anything Crow.
I went to see the second film with this girl from work and I wasn't so much into it. I thought it had its moments and I liked seeing the girl from the first one all grown up, but I knew that would have been it for the series, because it seemed too much like the first to me while trying to be too different in other areas. Still, I kind of liked it to a degree, but the girl I was with who never saw or knew of the Crow was lost and didn't enjoy the film. You can't just cater to Crow fans to be a success. You need to get the other movie goers excited, too. That's how you make money.
Crow III came out on DVD and I had no expectations for the film and surprisingly, I kind of enjoyed it. I felt like it went back to the roots of the first series without being too over the top. I thought it was dark and gritty and sort of fun. It was a surprise to me, because I thought for sure I would hate it.
Crow IV is a movie I may want to see still. I thought the dude from Angel was the man on that show, but he has done nothing for me in movies. TV should remain his thing unless they do an Angel movie, which is a possibility if Serenity does well. Edward Furlong is a good actor at times, but I just can never see him pulling the Crow role off. Tara Reid; well, if she isn't naked, she really isn't worth watching. Dennis Hopper's role scares me a little. Still, because it is Crow, I will probably check it out. Anything has got to be better than the television series. Crow gets a job. Oh man, was that disappointing.
I think someone else should do Crow V. There was talk a long time ago that Eminem and DMX were about to do a Crow movie called Lazarus or something like that. It was to involve the music industry and I actually thought it had a good idea, just the wrong actors. A female Crow would be hot, but you need someone good for the title role. Who would make a great female Crow. I vote for Michelle Rodriguez (I think that is her name) from Resident Evil. She is hot, tough, bisexual. She'd be great in the role. Now, what kind of storyline could they use? They need to do something different. I am tired of the wife/girlfriend angle. If I remember correctly, Crow 2 didn't do that. Maybe a sibling or someone is killed. Make it different.
I think if they redo the Crow saga, they should go all out with lesser known stars. Get one major lead and let everyone else be unknowns that know how to act. Use the money for visuals, special effects, costumes and promotion. Crow is something that could get a theatrical push again if done right.
|
|
DrayvensCrow
Junior Member
The other half of the greatest tag team going! Just read Bad Moon Rising!
Posts: 71
|
Post by DrayvensCrow on Aug 3, 2005 20:25:26 GMT -5
Justine, I didn't mean to imply that you were lumpimg the movies together. It was a general statement for those(lurking or otherwise)reading my post. More later when I have time....
|
|
DrayvensCrow
Junior Member
The other half of the greatest tag team going! Just read Bad Moon Rising!
Posts: 71
|
Post by DrayvensCrow on Aug 15, 2005 19:38:18 GMT -5
Well, I was hoping for some more input from some of the newer members here but since not, I encourage everyone to go to www.abahbnews.com and support the Soundtrack/Score petition! The link is in the news section for August. The score for WP was some of the best original music I've heard on a movie in a while! Don't let TPTB get away with not releasing a score/soundtrack! OK, with that being said, let me answer a few things: Justine, if you'll go to abahbnews and click on the link for The Crow 5, you'll get the info. It's been a while (2 yrs.) since something definite has been said about it, although I do recall Jeff Most doing an interview recently and only gave it a small mention(a line or two). And JP, Yes that was the name of the DMX/Crow project. You can check it out at abahbnews. To my recollection, Eminem was never involved with it. As for going away from the wife/girlfriend angle, exactly how would you change it? The newfound love that never had a chance to get going or what?
|
|
|
Post by jpmessiah on Aug 24, 2005 9:55:57 GMT -5
I heard Eminem was thinking about getting in on the project with DMX, but I was not sure if that was definite or not. As for the wife/lover storyline, I would do something like have siblings murdered and one comes back to avenge it, or a mother and her daughter are killed, or how about someone just getting killed and that's it. His wife is still alive and he just wants to come back and save her, because she is next, and also get to see her one last time or what about something crazy like having someone come back with the Crow powers and gets corrupted by it and make the Crow a bad guy for once with someone having to kill it.
|
|
DrayvensCrow
Junior Member
The other half of the greatest tag team going! Just read Bad Moon Rising!
Posts: 71
|
Post by DrayvensCrow on Sept 26, 2005 16:43:33 GMT -5
For a change in the way the story goes, check out one by Poppy Z. Brite called "The Crow: The Lazarus Heart". As for the corruption angle, that has been done. It was done in the pilot for the TV show "The Crow:Stairway To Heaven".
|
|
|
Post by Talon Karrde on Dec 9, 2005 2:18:59 GMT -5
Okay, Dray, I just watched this movie with my brother and I have to say that I honestly liked Crow 1 and 3 better.
The lines in this movie were, well, just not up to par with past films. And Dennis Hopper in that role - absolutley horrible. I liked the whole idea of the Crow character being someone who needed redemption himself. And Tara Reid makes a great white trash witch. For some reason, I felt that I had to watch this through to the end, but even still, the movie really had no...soul? Yeah, soul is the word. There was no real believability in this one. I couldn't truly feel for the Edward Furlong - his agony. I just really didn't care what happened to him. That annoyed me - the idea of this character was so deep and so drawing, yet in the end, he became a bore.
I think this movie could have been so much more if the script had been better.
|
|
|
Post by jpmessiah on Dec 9, 2005 8:59:08 GMT -5
Yea Dude; Crow Wicked Prayer sort of sucked real ass. I didn't like anything about it, but Tara Reid. I still own it, because I have the whole Crow series, but I don't think I will ever break that out to watch again. Anyone who liked this film is on their own. Part 3 was a lot better. Even part 2 had its reasons for being better. But nothing will ever top the first part. And nothing could be as bad as this.
|
|