The Sandspur

Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: MCT Campus DARKER THAN THE BAT: Brandon Lee starred in the cult fiction movie "The Crow," which celebrates it's 15th anniversary this year.

Fifteen years ago a legendary film premiered on the silver screen. This film forever changed the standards of what a dark, romantic, and gothic film should be. Exploding from the pages of James O'Barr's 1981 classic black and white graphic novel, "The Crow" changed the landscape of what a great adaptation of a comic book should be like.

The 1994 film also forever immortalized Brandon Lee, the man who brought Eric Draven to life on the silver screen. This film was Lee's first large project after a few smaller movies that helped propel him into the attention of producers working on "The Crow." Lee was quick to leap at the part, taking an instant interest in O'Barr's graphic novel, feeling that the story of "The Crow" needed to be told.

O'Barr responded to the sudden death of his then girlfriend by enlisting in the service, where he spent his spare time working on what would eventually become known as "The Crow."

O'Barr bled his feelings of loss, tragedy, and anger on the pages before him, and they became his legacy.

Sadly, Brandon Lee was killed on set after a terrible accident during a scene where his character was supposed to be shot. It turned out the gun fired on Brandon was not filled with blanks but with live ammunition. In that moment, the man who was on his way to becoming a great and recognizable actor died during his greatest performance.

The story of "The Crow" follows the character Eric Draven as he hunts down the men responsible for killing not only himself, but also the rape and murder of Draven's fiancée, Shelly Webster. Resurrected from the grave, Eric Draven is given other worldly gifts and abilities and is allowed to hunt down the men who stole his life and his love.
The film, directed by Alex Proyas, has been celebrated for many years. O'Barr's love for the project and his friendship with Brandon Lee all culminated into the final product on the silver screen.

"The Crow" is a cult favorite, an instant classic not only for its dark themes, but for its show of raw human emotion. The graphic novel and movie continue to inspire new and current fans to greater heights of creativity into a darker world. Fifteen years later, "The Crow" continues to hold its tenacious grasp on its audience's psyche, leaving a legacy that will last forever.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools