The Crow has a special place in my heart out of all the 90s movies for a couple of reasons. The first is that it echoed a darker time and a grungy representation of a rule-less generation that was dying to right the wrongs of previous generational standards. All these metaphorical assumptions wrapped into a tragic, Gothier telling of Romeo & Juliet, if Romeo had come back from the dead and taken out the Capulets, beautifully unfolded in the right way. I mean, there’s nothing quite like a good revenge story, especially when love was murdered in the process, while also getting the message across that a generation won’t take the status quo as an answer for its future path.
The second reason, and the main reason I keep this film close to my heart, was that Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon, star of The Crow, was an up-and-coming action movie star who had his life ended prematurely due to an onset accident. I was a huge fan of his action career and an enormous fan of his father’s career. It was a shame that we didn’t get to see more of Brandon Lee, as I bet he would have been a huge star landing some amazing roles. A life cut too short, as they say, and sadly too often these days.
To honor his memory, and to distract us from an unnecessary reboot of this franchise, Paramount released a Steelbook 4K version of 1994’s The Crow. Not only does it maintain the coolness and style of the original film, but it also honors Lee’s performance by providing one of the crystal-clear versions of the film that has been released to date.
Let’s get right into it.
Tragic Love
If you have lived under a rock and never heard of The Crow, then let me regale you with the story. Eric Draven and his soon-to-be bride Shelly are brutally assaulted and murdered. Eric dies from a fall from his third-story apartment, while Shelly’s fate is far worse and brutal. The culprits are a group of arsonists who are tasked by a leader named Top Dollar to evict the lovers from their home, while also reminding the city that Top Dollar is in control of things, and not the authorities.
Eric’s soul is brought back from the dead to rectify the wrongs done to Shelly and himself, while at the same time saving the folks within the city by taking down the arsonists and eventually Top Dollar. It is a standard revenge story with caveats against Eric’s vulnerabilities, but nonetheless, a dish served cold from beginning to end.
Everything about this story points back to a simple tale of revenge with action driving most of it, and a killer soundtrack to back it up. The joy of the film is watching the bad guys die in the worst of ways, getting their just desserts, while also seeing the eventual re-establishing of Eric’s humanity while making his actions more about saving everyone than just avenging his fallen lover. It’s a good story and the action sequences are brutal as much as they are emotionally impactful.
Visually, the movie is just about as 90s as the 90s is perceived by a younger generation. It’s built on a German Expressionistic backbone filled with contrasting blacks and whites, only enhancing the brutality and viciousness of the film’s main character’s intentions, while also representing the goth nature of the decade it was created within. Its backdrop is gross, grungy, and ugly, but that matches the story of revenge that is equally nasty.
Story-wise, the movie presents a narrative that has been told 1,000 times but hasn’t quite been presented in this way before. The movie wants to get you immediately attached to the tragedy, the world, and the characters that live within it, and it doesn’t beat around the bush by getting all of that to you as quickly as possible. You’re in the scrum as soon as the film begins with the deaths of Eric and Shelly, and you stay there until Eric Draven concludes his mission of revenge. It’s quick and nasty, but satisfying, and the haunting memory of Brandon Lee’s life cut short only magnifies the impactfulness of it all.
If you haven’t seen this movie, this is the best possible way to watch it. While it is a bit aged, especially with costume and dialogue (not the best, but you’re not here for the dialogue), there is still a wonderful story told and completed by the end of Draven’s journey. In addition to a good film, you’re in for a treat and eventual deep dive on the Internet about how this film was made and edited. There is so much interesting and tragic information behind it ready to be explored.
Brimming with 4K Everywhere
Because of the style and nature of how this movie was shot and made, the 4K UHD upgrade helps magnify its gothy beauty tenfold. The HDR backbone is driven by its defined blacks and contrasting whites, which most of The Crow exhumes throughout every scene. Everything is just so rich with life visually and dances beautifully with the 4K UHD standard.
In addition, the 4K UHD release is also incredibly cleaned up from 30-year-old artifacts that no doubt made it to the original print over time. Whoever handled the cleaning portion of this transfer needs some bonus money for a job well done. It’s crystal-clear and it’s a perfect example of how a film should be in the 4K UHD format. It certainly honors the memory of the film and of Brandon Lee’s last performance.
This is the best way to watch The Crow.
Special Features
Over the years, and through several releases of the film to home, there have been varying degrees of special features released. Some of them include the cut footage of a cowboy and a glimpse of how the film was re-edited to get it to the theatrical release version. The film was almost complete when Brandon Lee lost his life, but the film had to go through reshoots, digital face enhancements for pick-ups, and re-editing due to it being 1994 and the digital process wasn’t as realized then as it is now. You can’t fake scenes in 1994 as easily as you can nowadays.
Anyway, there are a lot of features out there that show how this movie was done, and almost always it’s a melancholy trip down memory lane to remember how cool Brandon Lee was and what could have been for him. There are a lot of features on a lot of different versions. Here’s what you get with this one:
- Shadows & Pain: Designing The Crow – NEW!
- Angels All Fire: Birth of the Legend
- On Hallowed Ground: The Outer Realm
- Twisted Wreckage: The Inside Spaces
- Sideshow Collectibles: An Interview with Edward R. Pressman– NEW TO DISC!
- Audio Commentary with Director Alex Proyas
- Audio Commentary by Producer Jeff Most and Screenwriter John Shirley
- Behind the Scenes Featurette
- A Profile on James O’Barr
- Extended Scenes:
- The Arcade Bombing
- The Funboy Fight
- The Shootout at Top Dollar’s
- Deleted Footage Montage
- Trailer
There are a lot of features here and a good chunk that is new. Again, this is the best version of the film and while it may not have everything you’re looking for in terms of features, it has enough to satisfy and extend your experience.
Anyway, let’s wrap this up.
Conclusion
The Steelbook 4K UHD version of The Crow is a beautiful and tragic reminder of Brandon Lee’s life and last performance. If you’re looking for the best possible version of this film that does his memory justice, then this is it.
