MovieChat Forums > The Crow: City of Angels (1996) Discussion > I prefer this film to the first...

I prefer this film to the first...

posted 10 years ago by ActionJunkie007
9 replies | jump to latest

I've always been more of a fan of City of Angels, the direction, imagery, characters, soundtrack, all better than the original IMHO. Even knowing all the back story and the "raping" of the film, I have a feeling that aside from a few cuts that would have explored some of the deeper meanings and characterizations that you can still pick up on, but ultimately feel unfinished, the extended directors cut that supposedly exists but has never surfaced would not have made this a BETTER film. In fact, I might be one of the only individuals who prefers the "happier" ending because I feel the character of Sarah was already DEAD, just like Ashe, clinging onto the memories of Eric and never seeking to free herself from the hellish world she chooses to walk through.

The ending, as is, when Ashe is saying goodbye to the little girl and The significance of the ring being held by the crow felt like the lifting of a "curse" to me. I dont think Goyer's vision of the film was all that great, I mean, Sarah was going to die at the hands of Judah no matter what the Crow decided to do. The crow's power is pain, pain of loss, yet they wanted the character to want to pretty much forget about his mission and stay on earth and get to live out his own life as a second chance while his son is left alone in the afterlife? That totally changes Perez's crow to be a very selfish individual, regardless of the "I have to stay and save Sarah" which he ultimately could have NEVER done anyways.

I think if they removed the ONE scene in which Ashe talks about whether or not he should go back or not, and touches Sarah's face to say "we cant do this", that whole "unfinished" element would have mostly been removed and it would have played out a little better, but overall, I still enjoy this film immensely and I will always reach to pop this one in over the original.

Best Bond - Pierce Brosnan, Best Bond Movie - Die Another Day

[–] KnightofLeo 10 years ago

I prefer this film overall as well.

I wish we could see the original cut of the film eventually

If there be a god...than hide from him our most evil enterprise!

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

"but this was definitely the best of the sequels"

Ugh, YES!!!!! I had not seen 3 or 4 until last year, and omg, I at least found out I wasn't missing much! lol

As for the original cut, I think it would have been interesting to see for sure, but having Ashe choose "life" over the afterlife is not really something that sounds all that great from a character perspective. He knows he has returned to seek vengence, and while of course, getting another crack at life and love is something that sounds mighty tempting, it seems a bit illogical for him to CHOOSE it over being with his son again, the true driving force behind his emotions. I think the original ending was made in an attempt to keep Ashe's crow alive and in the town, for sequel purposes, but obviously, the studio execs knew they could just keep the status quo and bring a new guy in with a new crow, so what's the point in mixing up the characters motivations and ending on a "bummer"?

I think I am one of the few who prefers the Studio cut of the film(I actually returned the Director's cut Bluray for the Theatrical) aside from one scene which I wish was included, which is Curve explaining his two demons tattoo in the beginning. I think that scene works better when we see the tattoo later, but the other stuff added(like Sarah shooting at the crow, the extended scenes with Ashe at home and the paper drawing, etc)were best left on the cutting room floor.

Best Bond - Pierce Brosnan, Best Bond Movie - Die Another Day

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

Agreed!! Salvation tried to have a decent story, but it was just poorly directed and I really didn't like the actor who portrayed the Crow either. It had a very "cheap" feel to it, which kills alot of movies for me, and Wicked Prayer, haha, yeah, no comment lol.

I hear you there! I think if things were a bit more fleshed out, and a greater bond of love was shown with Sarah and Ashe,(which I have read was also included in the original cut) I think it could have worked out quite well overall, which like everyone else, I would really hope to see one day, but I swear, some of these director's who disown their films when Studios interfere and refuse to revisit them is kind of a bummer. Like David Fincher refusing to return on Alien 3 to create his own cut. But then again, I bet I would prefer the Studio cut in the end anyways! I tend to prefer studio cuts for some reason. I think some directors go a bit off the rails and they need to be reeled in. Like Rob Zombie's halloweens, I purposely own the DVD's because they are the superior theatrical cuts, and alot of WIll Farrels comedies, I feel the same way! Like Anchorman, the love story falls pretty flat in the unrated cut because with the inclusion of Burgundy's Dream sequence, it shows he's just a real douche and doesn't give a crap about having a REAL relathionship, and without the scene, when he is arguing with the news team that he will marry her on a mountain, it actually carries weight! I had to wait for the Rich Mahogany edition to finally get that cut, but oh so worth it!

Best Bond - Pierce Brosnan, Best Bond Movie - Die Another Day

[–] KnightofLeo 9 years ago

I have to agree with you about certain theatrical cuts being superior to the director's vision.
For example...Nightbreed. I love the studio cut....and was excited to see Barker's cut. Man....what a snoozefest.

If there be a god...than hide from him our most evil enterprise!

[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

Yeah, I am finding it harder and harder to enjoy unrated or directors cuts, especially when they remove scenes or compeltely change the narrative flow which really slows everything down or changes the context. I tend to enjoy directors cuts if more gore is added, or say if it was pg-13 and they make an "r" rated cut(Like Live free or die hard), but otherwise, i think the studios can see where a film is going off the rails and it needs to be reeled back in. Or if a films ends on a very dark/somber note, might sound like a great idea in the director's overall vision, but I for sure don't want to see it that way and I'd say most audiences dont either!

Like The Butterfly Effect, In the theatrical cut, he finally realizes the only way to save everyone is to make it that they didn't stay in town, and they never meet, which leads to all the bad things that happen in the movie never takes place and it ends with Kutcher and Smart crossing paths, with a "do I know you? kind of look" and they go their seperate ways. IMO, after all the horrible things we see, its a very satisfying conclusion.

In the director's cut, though, his realizes the only way to prevent everything from happening is to go back to when he is a baby in his mother's womb and what does he do?? He wraps the embilical cord around his own neck and kills himself! OMG, what kind of garbage BS is that?? I have to deal with horrible attrocities and my conclusion to all this is another horrific attrocity?? Yeah, no thanks!

You know, I've missed your sparkling personality.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] ThePhantomKiller 8 years ago

Anyone who prefers this to the first may be on hallucinigens and believe they are actually watching the original movie. Otherwise, they are just monstrous idiots with horrible taste.