Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Starring: Eric Mabius/Alex Corvis Kristen Dunst/Erin Randall Fred Ward/Police Captain Jodi Lynn O'Keefe/Lauren Randall





After the disappointing Crow City Of Angels, our undead avenger returns, earning one wing back in the process. I liked this movie a lot. First off the direction is kick arse, you want "in your face" style? You want a world that reeks of dread? You got it. This film marks a return to the original�s "noir" look, making us forget the constant orange filters of the second entry. The mood is also very close to O'Barr�s somber comic. Thank god!
The film lifts many scenes off the original but caps them off with different payoffs. The car chase scene, the rooftop showdown, the loss of powers, the graveyard scenes and the shoot out scene. Some call it imitation, I call it inspiration. The Crow films are grounded in a formula and I see nothing wrong with that, I like the familiar feel the movie gives out. You expect a certain something and the film gives you that and more.
Yes, we get new things. First off the Crow is a bit younger than in the two previous films and he copes with his situation in a slightly different way. He has a lot of fun with his powers and also has a darker streak. I had my doubts about Eric Mabius at first but I was quickly relieved. He gives a great performance, bringing to the crow character a fresh violent edge. Alex comes back with his emotions flying all over the place. Anger, insanity, sadness�all are touched�all delivered with passion.
The film is more rooted in reality than it�s predecessors and feels more real versus comic book feel. The setting is very ambiguous�I mean the film can be taking place now or in the 40�s.
For some reason I found this entry sadder than the previous two, I think that has to do with Mabius� performance�you really feel and root for him.
The movie is also a murder/mystery that involves crooked cops and other scumbags. Adding a puzzle to the familiar plot is a wonderful idea, unfortunately that aspect of the film is it�s biggest flaw�
If you�re gonna put a murder mystery in a flick, at least try to make it a bit hard for the audience. I knew 5 minutes into the opening credits who the culprit was. It kinda of took away a bit from the film. I was always waiting for Corvis to catch up with me! (I should be the next Crow). The bad guy�s were paper cut outs waiting to get killed. They make the villains in the previous two seem like deeply explored characters. The film could�ve benefited from more Alex/Lauren flashbacks, to solidify the "love" aspect.
Another fault is that we don�t really get to know Corvis before the fact. In the first, Draven was a rock star in love who took care of Sarah, in the second, Ash was a mechanic and single father who left his drug addicted wife to be with his son�in this one�who knows? But the film�s worst flaw has to be one character�s extensive knowledge of the crow powers and rules cause he read them in a book. That minor subplot is totally unnecessary and very weak. It comes in out of left field and just doesn�t work.
Yes the script has many flaws but people forget that the original had a weak script too. For me, it�s the message the movie delivers, the grim visuals, the harsh violence and the portrayal of love as this ever lasting, beautiful thing. (I don�t see it in real life, its nice to see it in movies). Just like the original, the film is at it�s strongest when it lets the images do the talking. On a visual standpoint this flick is a masterpiece. Couple the images with a strong score and some hard hitting tunes and you get a moving, violent and sad offering. In my book this film is a step back in the right direction. It�s not perfect but it pulls the right emotional strings. Fly with me on this one�