Tuesday, 28 September 2010

• WTF: The Crow is Being Remade

  

  Since I first heard news about the possibility of a remake, I've made a habit of checking Google every now and then in hopes that the project wouldn't take off. As of now, I have some BIG issues with Ed Pressman and Nick Cave. It's official: they are remaking The Crow.

  The Culprits

  
  (Top) Ed Pressman (Bottom) Nick Cave

  Ed Pressman was the producer of the original movie. What I am astounded at, is that the movie was completed and released for the sole purpose of remembering Brandon's legacy after his death. After growing up in his father's shadow, this movie was his way of making his own path in life. Stunts there may be, but there is no arguing in that The Crow showcased more facets of his incredible talent than martial arts alone. No one will ever play Eric Draven to his caliber. No one. Yet Ed Pressman is already in talks with an anonymous A-List actor (rumored to be none other than Robert Pattinson). Be it our pansy a$$ Twilight star or not, Ed Pressman might as well take his dog for a walk and allow it to take a nice, steamy dump on Brandon's grave.

  Nick Cave is in charge of rewriting the script, and feels that it needs to be "revisioned". I find the fact that he wants to make this project his own both disrespectful, and narcissistic. The original film held quite true to James O'Barr's graphic novel, with the exception of adding necessary theatrical elements. As it should be. James O'Barr wrote that novel out of passion, pain, and anger. The love of his life was killed by a drunken driver at 17, and the way he expressed his turmoil with such beautiful poetry and artistry should damn well be preserved. The book, the movie, have an energy to them that I think everyone can learn something from. How dare Nick Cave feel the need to f*ck with something so personal.

  Hey Ed and Nick, how do you feel about adding a memorial fountain to Brandon's grave? Let's see if it fits the scenery:
  
  
  
  
  Yup, I don't think Alex Proyas is very fond of this idea. Nor am I.

  March 31st, 1993- 1:00 p.m.

  

  After months of shooting in the rain and cold, the cast and crew of The Crow was beginning their last week of filming. This was the last day guns were going to be used on set. For those of you unsure about the freak chain of events leading to Brandon's tragic death, I will give you the ultimate example of Chaos Theory.

  In trying to make deadlines, everything about this movie at this point, was carelessly rushed. While people have commonly blamed Michael Massee for Brandon's death, I feel terrible for the responsibility he was wrongly forced to take. Massee was told not to aim the .44 Magnum at Brandon, although he claims he was not. He fired the shot that killed him. In a stoned and drunken improv, the gun was being waved around all over the place, and unfortunately, was fired at the opportune time and angle that would do mortal damage. Do I blame Massee? Hell no. He was an actor. There was no way he could have foreseen the awful mistake made by those in charge of props and stunts.

  Above all, I blame Bruce Merlin. While Daniel Kuttner should have checked the gun, he was also against Merlin's decision to conserve time by making blanks and dummy bullets from real bullets, simply with a pair of pliers. When the gun had been used 2 weeks earlier, Merlin had mistaken a quarter-load blank for a dummy bullet and reattached the tip. According to Detective Pettus, "When they made the dummy bullet, they put a lead tip back into the quarter-load blank. That was a screw up. That was the bullet that went into the gun- the same gun that would later go into Massee's hand". In a close-up shot of the turning cylinder, people on the set heard a pop and a fizzle. Ken Arlidge, the camera operator, remembers realizing that the "pop" had been the primer exploding; igniting the quarter-load blank with enough energy to push the bullet tip into the barrel of the gun. This remained unnoticed until long after Brandon had been shot.

  The shot caused internal bleeding in his abdomen and became lodged in his lower spine. Had the fragment been lodged as much as 3 millimeters to the right or left of his injury, Brandon would still be with us today.

  It was the simplest thing going unchecked that led to this freak series of events. Brandon had but a week left of filming, and was to marry his fiance Eliza Hutton only 3 weeks later. He believed whole-heartedly in the message of the movie he was making. In his eyes, love conquered the element of revenge. He died to share that message with the rest of the world. What message are we sending by remaking this movie? To disrespect his work and talent thinking it needs to be revised, or bettered, is not in his honor, and clearly values profit and popularity over love and passion.

  A Mark on History and Human Emotion

  

  That is what I believe the original movie to be. I don't want to hear that we need a remake because the film looks dated. It doesn't. If your eyes are so accustomed to brilliant picture quality, I'm sure the movie is available on Blu-Ray or will be soon.

  When I watch The Crow, I think every single aspect of it is stunningly beautiful. The lighting, the angles, the cinematography, the script, the devotion to James O'Barr's work and experience- the film is flawless. To compare the Eric Draven of the graphic novel to the character portrayed by Brandon Lee is a perfect fit, to say the least. From the raw emotion to the catlike movements, the intrepid attitude to the portrayal of superhuman strength, there is only perfection to be found.  

  Personal Reflections

  

  The Crow is a movie that changed my life. Brandon Lee changed my life. When I was at my wits ends from being kicked down my whole life (and I'm still feeling it!), this movie was always there to show me that no matter what happens, I have to keep fighting. It reminds me that in time, bad people will get what's coming to them so long as good people don't give up. In James O'Barr's words, "Fear is for the enemy". I fell in love with that movie, and in time, my ability to sleep depended on the movie or score being played in the background. When I felt like God had failed me, I had Brandon to pray to. Learning about the intelligent, incredible man he was and the story involved in The Crow allowed me to focus on situations bigger than me and my life. He inspires me every day not to give up in whatever I do, be it martial arts or otherwise. His legacy will continue to inspire many, so long as some bullsh*t A-List actor doesn't come along and steal his glory with minimal effort. Brandon, his family, his friends, and his memory deserve much better than that.

  If You're With Me, Here's How to Help
  

  I have developed the following petitions and I hope you will sign them both.

  http://www.petitiononline.com/TheCrow/petition.html
  http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopthecrowremake/

  Should the remake happen regardless, I have a plan for those of you that can run fast: Make picket signs. Protest outside your local theater when the film is released. Run when you hear cops. Yes?

  What do you think: Is the remake a good or bad idea?

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