{"id":10846,"date":"2016-02-24T13:20:55","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T18:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/?p=10846"},"modified":"2016-03-07T15:23:02","modified_gmt":"2016-03-07T20:23:02","slug":"top-comic-book-adaptations-no-6-the-crow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2016\/02\/24\/top-comic-book-adaptations-no-6-the-crow\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Comic Book Adaptations: No. 6 – The Crow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"thecrow\"<\/a>Long before <\/span>DeadpooI<\/span><\/i> was forcing audiences to re-think who comic book movies can be for, Alex Proyas brought us the neo-noir, R-rated adaptation of James O\u2019Barr\u2019s graphic novel, <\/span>The Crow.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Eric Draven\u2019s tragic tale of death and rebirth cannot be separated from the real-life tragedy that accompanied the making of the film; the death of star Brandon Lee. Son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Brandon was accidently killed on set by a defective fake gun. Like with Heath Ledger, who would never get to see the incredible work he\u2019d done in a graphic novel adaptation, Lee\u2019s performance is spellbinding and layered with a thick, palpable \u201cwhat if\u201d feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact that the subject matter of the film explicitly deals with death, loss, moving on, and not taking the little things in life for granted just furthers the poignancy of every scene in which Lee\u2019s Draven appears. \u201cNothing is trivial\u201d says both Draven and Lee from beyond the grave. His expressive face and unique look and voice hint at an actor who could have been one of the biggest stars in the world but <\/span>The Crow<\/span><\/i> is all we will ever get, and should be cherished all the more for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faithfully adapted from the comic book in terms of look and feel, the movie actually toned down the violence and difficult adult subject matter. Apparently not enough at the time, as critics in 1994 didn\u2019t know what to do with a hero with superpowers who kills people with heroine needles. Still, <\/span>The Crow <\/span><\/i>built in a huge cult following of people who didn\u2019t care who the movie was \u201csupposed to be for\u201d and instead were able to find the heart in a film covered in so much death and gore.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plot is relatively simple. Good guy and his girlfriend get killed by bad guys. Good guy comes back for revenge. It\u2019s all the moments in between that make this movie so re-watchable. When Draven absorbs the memories of the police officer who stayed by his side in death or when we uses his music to connect to an old friend and remind her \u201cit can\u2019t rain all the time\u201d the movie stops being about its own plot and becomes a reminder to us all to hold onto the things and people that we love, because we never know when they will be gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the future, people will try to claim that <\/span>Deadpool<\/span><\/i> proved the value of adult-oriented comic book films but really the formula was shown over 20 years earlier. Marvel and DC are only recently starting to get this, but nailing the inherent themes of the characters and stories rather than trying to change them so the uninitiated will \u201cget it\u201d is the route to the superior film. <\/span>
\nThe Crow<\/span><\/i> is still every bit as mesmerizing and powerful today as it was when it was released. Maybe now in a world where we can finally take these things \u201cseriously,\u201d <\/span>The Crow <\/span><\/i>will get its due recognition for being roughly 20 years ahead of its time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Complete 35-part list for best comic book adaptations ever!<\/p>\n

Part 1 – Daredevil<\/a> \/ Part 2 – The Dark Knight<\/a> \/ Part 3 – V for Vendetta<\/a>
\nPart 4 – The Flash<\/a> \/ Part 5 – Sin City<\/a> \/ Part 6 – The Crow<\/a>
\nPart 7 – Agent Carter<\/a> \/ Part 8 – X-Men: Days of Future Past<\/a> \/ Part 9 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier<\/a>
\nPart 10 – Guardians of the Galaxy<\/a> \/ Part 11 – X2: X-Men United<\/a> \/ Part 12 – Iron Man<\/a>
\nPart 13 – The Avengers<\/a> \/ Part 14 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)<\/a> \/ Part 15 – Superman (Richard Donner)<\/a>
\nPart 16 – Hellboy<\/a> \/ Part 17 – The Incredible Hulk<\/a> \/ Part 18 – X-Men: First Class<\/a>
\nPart 19 – Spider-Man 2 (Sam Raimi)<\/a> \/ Part 20 – Thor<\/a> \/ Part 21 – Ant-Man<\/a>
\nPart 22 – The Dark Knight Rises<\/a> \/ Part 23 – Spawn<\/a> \/ Part 24 – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Season Two<\/a>
\nPart 25 – Avengers: Age of Ultron<\/a> \/ Part 26 – Batman Begins (Christopher Nolan)<\/a> \/ Part 27 – Captain America: The First Avengers<\/a>
\nPart 28 – Batman (Tim Burton)<\/a> \/ Part 29 – X-Men (Bryan Singer)<\/a> \/ Part 30 – Spider-Man (Sam Raimi)<\/a>
\nPart 31 – Smallville: Season One<\/a> \/ Part 32 – Hellboy II: The Golden Army<\/a> \/ Part 33 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, 3<\/a>
\nPart 34 – 300<\/a> \/ Part 35 – Man of Steel<\/a>\u00a0\/ Extra Part – Final Thoughts<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Long before DeadpooI was forcing audiences to re-think who comic book movies can be for, Alex Proyas brought us the neo-noir, R-rated adaptation of James O\u2019Barr\u2019s graphic novel, The Crow. Eric Draven\u2019s tragic tale of death and rebirth cannot be separated from the real-life tragedy that accompanied the making of the film; the death of<\/p>\n

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