NUMBER TWOS: THE CROW CITY OF ANGELS

1996 | DIR. TIM POPE | REVIEW BY GLENN COCHRANE.

THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS... too soon? That was the overriding sentiment at the time of its release in 1996, two years after the first film and the tragic death of its star Brandon Lee. Director Alex Proyas' '94 film was (is) a seminal piece of filmmaking, which broke free from the confines of comic-book adaptations and crafted a truly dark and violent fantasy. Some argued that a sequel was unnecessary, and yet were if not for Lee's death the franchise would have happened regardless.

And so it was director Tim Pope and writer David S Goyer who took on the task of expanding the Crow's universe while working against a pre-conceived attitude of rejection. They were fighting an uphill battle from the start and even now, 21-years later, their efforts remain grossly under valued and unfairly chastised.

Maintaining the themes of the original film (and it's original comic book) CITY OF ANGELS chronicles the resurrection and retribution of its protagonist Ashe, who follows the guidance of a crow to exact a violent revenge against an occult gang who brutally murder him and his 8-year old son after they they witness the murder of a drug dealer.

Pope and Goyer made a conscious effort not to replicate the original film by changing it's atmosphere and texture. The blackness and gothic production design of the first film has been replaced by a washed-out saturation of colours and a dingy punk setting. There is also a hazy filter that smothers the screen, giving the world that's depicted a strange and surreal quality.

Vincent Perez steps into the lead role and offers a strong performance that never replicates Lee's persona and gives the character a different level of anguish. He suits the leathers and make-up and commands the screen. The supporting cast includes Mia Kirshner, Thomas Jane and Iggy Pop, who are all good. African American actor Richard Brooks takes on the lead-villain role, which presents a strong contrast to Michael Wincott's previous turn, and he gives a chilling - albeit lethargic – performance as the sadistic killer.

Pope's background as a music video director (most of The Cure's vids) made him an ideal candidate for helming this sequel, and his visceral stamp is undeniable... CITY OF ANGELS is, indeed, a very different film. I have never understood the film's ridicule and having watched it again recently I think that it stands up really well. The production value is sensational and the soundtrack (featuring White Zombie, Filter, PJ Harvey and Tricky) is fantastic. Combine these qualities with a well written script and an ensemble of competent performances and we're presented with a film that should hold a much stronger cult status than it does.

If it's been years since you watched THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS then I recommend revisiting it again soon. If you can ignore the original film and cut this sequel some slack then you might discover that it's actually a kick-ass action thriller with a hell of a lot of style.