The Crow 2: City of Angels / The Crow: Wicked Prayer

I'm a long-time fan of this film but I won't go off and say that I don't understand why people trash it. Like any film, The Crow: City of Angels isn't for everyone. Believe it or not, the first Crow film wasn't for everyone either. I will say that I did not like this film the first time I saw it. I am a major fan of the first and it's hard to enter the sequel with an open mind and clear perception. The second time I saw this film is when I fell in love with it and was able to by viewing it as it's own film. If you're going to sit there and compare it to the original, chances are you will never be happy with it. If you compared many movies to the first crow film you would never be happy with them either. I love this film completely separate from it's original counterpart. Though Miramax tried to make this a mirror image of the first film do not expect to see what you saw in the first film. This is a different place, a different man, and a different story. In my opinion it is the best of the sequels. Now, the third and forth crow films... whether I compare them to the first or not I just don't like them. They did not interest me in the slightest and I'm sorry I ever watched them. First off, there are throwbacks to the original film. Sarah is grown up and living as a goth tattoo artist in a grungy, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. Sarah still wears Shelly's ring and has taken care of their cat Gabriel. However, unlike the original crow film and its other sequels we're not watching the same story. This is what pisses me off about Salvation and Wicked Prayer: They recycle the man and his girlfriend gets killed scenario. Eric Draven already did that. There's no need for multiple, watered down versions of this story. In The Crow: City of Angels, Ashe Corven (Vincent Perez) and his young son Danny are killed by a drug cartel when they witness something they shouldn't have. Killing anyone is crossing the line but killing a child crosses multiple. For anyone who has been a parent this story will evoke your fear of losing a child. That story in it's own right is very terrifying. Ashe resurrects and seeks out his vengeance with the help of Sarah who is having psychic dreams about Ashe and his murder. Sarah (Mia Kirshner) may not seem interesting to some but she is completely enamored with Ashe. The taboo of the living making love to the dead was cut out of the film (amongst many other things) and never pursued in the "director's cut" or the cut you'll see on Netflix. I wish the studio didn't cut that out of the film. Still, you get the feeling that these two are passionate about each other. The bad guys are an interesting bunch. We have a pre-punisher Thomas Jane as the perverted Nemo, the energetic and comical bad guy, Spider-monkey, Iggy Pop as Curve, along with Thuy Trang who was the original Yellow Ranger in the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. We also have Richard Brooks as the guy in charge, Judah. He's no Top Dollar but let me tell you, Brooks prevails in making you hate him throughout this film. This band of criminals aren't quite as interesting as T-bird's gang was in the original movie. That's okay. I don't want them to be because they're the bad guys and I'm supposed to hate them. In this film, you don't explore their personalities until they are about to die but we do spend a significant amount of time with Curve (Iggy Pop). Iggy brought just the right amount of energy into the film because the rest of the villains are overly calm and collected. I understand Vincent Perez's performance throws some people off. I happen to love and admire Vincent Perez as an actor mainly because of this film and his role in Queen of the Damned. I even admire the fact that he used subtle crow-like movements throughout the film. My perception is that we're supposed to believe the crow and the man are one entity divided. I truly felt that in Perez's performance. There's even a scene in the original cut of the film where the crow morphs into Ashe viewed from a shadow on the wall. You can actually still find it in the original trailer. That along with other things was left to die on the editing room floor, I guess. Perez did a great job in securing all the different emotions of the character. He's killing his killers but even when he does he's not becoming them. What I love most about this film is that on the technical end it was executed almost flawlessly from cinematography, lighting, coloration, production design and wardrobe. This film had everything I wanted to see in a movie. It had all the elements that Hollywood blockbusters are supposed to have. Highly stylized, strikingly visual, and mesmerizing. It just sucks that no matter which version you see you're seeing a murdered film. So much was cut out of it that made important elements make sense. The director, Tim Pope, who was most known for directing music videos was not allowed by the studio to realize his vision of this film full form. The "director's cut" is not the actual director's cut (from what I've read) but that's the cut I suggest you see if you're ever going to take the chance. You will not find that cut on Netflix which is the severely butchered version of an already butchered film. My last statement is that it bothers me that some people act like Brandon Lee is going to put a curse on them if they show any interest in the sequel. It is not disrespectful to Brandon Lee that this film was made. Them trying to remake the original? I find that much more disrespectful than anything. It's like they are trying to erase the original and Brandon Lee's performance in it whereas the sequels were more about trying to capitalize on it. This entire review is my personal opinion. Like I said, The Crow City of Angels wasn't for everyone. Take it or leave it as you please but I'm not afraid to say this has always been one of my favorite films.

I Pre-OrderedCrow: TCOA Thinking it would be a Glimpse of All the Great Things to Come from out of the Dimension/MiramaxVault.......Little did I know That The Studio went the cheap route and got in bed with a Secondary Company (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment)Who's Track record with HD Transfers is not at all HQ (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment) Should be doing work for low Budget Indie Films, High schools & CollegesWhy would Miramax put there Name on such a Poor Quality Product???Maybe they should hook-up with Anchor BayI guess I'll stick it out and just wait for the 4 BR's I pre-Ordered to come But, maybe just hold on to the SD Dvd Versions too!In the future I doubt I'll be buying to Many BR from Dimension/Miramax Until they wake upAnd Respect the Consumers and put out HQ HD ProductsAs far as the FilmThe Crow: TCOA is a very Good follow up to the Original (By far the Only Stand-out sequel) The Rest are Dreadful and barely watchableCOA in some ways wasn't given much of a ChanceIt's hard to try to replicate the Original CrowBut, as long as you keep a opened mind The Film stands on it's ownVincent Perez was a extremely good choice as AshThe Character is different then Eric Draven but, at the same time you see a slight mirror imageMia Kirshner as The Adult Sarah (Bridges the Gap between Both Films and helps the flow of the story)-To this day Mia in hands down one of the most under-rated actresses she flies under the radar. Which is such a shame!The villains are hit and missmostly cause some of them are bad Clones from The OriginalIggy Pop (Curve) , Thomas Jane (Nemo) & Vincent Castellanos (Spider Monkey) are Great Solid Bad Guys (Despite the other Actor's)If any of these guys were Not in City of Angels it would suck!You need a few good Stand out Actors to make the Film workThe Soundtrack much like the Original Crow is also a Huge Character that is very goodIf you love the Original Crow and only avoided City Of Angels 'Cause you felt it was either too soon or you could never makes a better Adaption then the OriginalYou need to Check it out!it's very good & enjoyable and deserves RespectCause the 1st sequel could have been Garbage (Just Avoid Salvation & Wicked Prayer Those 2 were put out just for the sake of quick cash and using The CROW copyright license poorly)I give the film itself high marks The BR is yet to be seen 8/10the disc is missing the bonus music videos/promo videos by filter and holethe audio and video is a missed blessingthe Audio is 2.0 not terrible not amazing it's in the middlethe picture to is in the middle (For a back catalog title it's not bad but, to be honest it could be much better though!Mirmax went the cheap route and out sourced to save moneyfor the time being it'll have to do until a better company buys the licensing rights or the rights expire all togetherHopefully @ some point we'll get a Legit Collector's edition of The Crow City of Angels by Scream Factory (There is a real Director's Cut with 25min. cut from the theatrical release you can find this cut all over through-out the internet much like Halloween 666 (The Producer's Cut)the real cut is said to be the only way to fully enjoy City of Angels for a sequel

Item arrived on time and as described!

This movie is not as great as the first time

Aside from some good acting by Vincent Pérez and Iggy Pop, this movie was inferior to the first in every way. Had it been a stand alone film, it would have been ok. Otherwise, I personally feel, it lacks all the emotion, atmosphere, and presence of the first. I find you don't feel as deeply for the crow in this movie. Good acting from Vincent Pérez, but the movie tried too hard to capture the emotional scenes from the first. I felt that this one was a lesser version of the first.If you are as big a fan of the first as I am, then I wouldn't watch this one. As I said, if it were a stand alone film, then it would be a lot better.

Very good follow-up to the original Crow filmThis is well acted and good plot

Absolute rubbish.The first one had some story line to it.This is awful, revolting unnecessary I have not seen the 2 after so far, not sure if I will after this.Not worth it, awful film. And Brandon Lee was the only right actor for this film. He is dead now.

pretty much just got to complete my crow collection, its different from the others as its not just avenging a girlfriend for a change although it has not been able to do the first justice. plus i could've done without iggy pop, he looks like he's melting, felt quite sick after watching him!

An oldie but goodie...we love this film and never tire of it, it's a shame that the second one didn't quite rate up to it. but this will blow you away if you've never seen it. a very dark film both in color and content...but give it a go!