The Crow: City of Angels Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A single dad and his son get murdered, so dad comes back as a goth superhero to enact revenge, but this time in a sepia-toned Los Angeles.

🍿 The Crow: City of Angels: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Murders of Ashe and Danny

Ashe Corven, a mechanic, and his son Danny witness a murder committed by Judah Earl’s drug gang. To silence them, Judah orders their execution. Ashe and Danny are brutally murdered and their bodies are dumped into the harbor. The act sets the stage for Ashe’s resurrection and quest for vengeance.

Sarah’s Premonitions and Ashe’s Resurrection

Sarah, the young girl from the first film, now grown up and working as a tattoo artist, experiences vivid dreams about Ashe and Danny’s murders. Guided by a crow, she discovers Ashe’s body being resurrected from the harbor. She becomes Ashe’s confidante, informing him of his death and the Crow’s purpose.

Ashe’s Revenge Begins

With Sarah’s help, Ashe embraces his role as the Crow and begins systematically hunting down Judah’s henchmen. He employs brutal tactics and leaves a crow symbol at each crime scene. The killings disrupt Judah’s operations and alert him to Ashe’s supernatural abilities.

Judah’s Counterattack and Sarah’s Capture

Judah, seeking to eliminate Ashe, uses his blind prophetess, Sybil, to discover the source of Ashe’s power: the crow. He captures Sarah, knowing she is Ashe’s weakness, and sets a trap to steal Ashe’s supernatural abilities.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ashe Corven (Vincent Perez): A resurrected car mechanic who seeks vengeance for the murder of his son and himself.
• Sarah (Mia Kirshner): A tattoo artist and painter haunted by visions, who aids Ashe in his quest for revenge and has prior knowledge of the Crow mythos.
• Judah Earl (Richard Brooks): The ruthless drug kingpin who ordered the murders of Ashe and his son, becoming Ashe’s primary target.
• Curve (Iggy Pop): Judah Earl’s right-hand man and one of the drug dealers who is hunted by Ashe.
• Danny (Eric Acosta): Ashe’s son, whose murder fuels Ashe’s vengeance and resurrection.
• Sybil (Tracey Ellis): A blind prophetess who works for Judah and provides him with insights into Ashe’s powers.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ashe Corven: “One crow, sorrow. Two crows, joy. Three crows, a letter! Four crows, a boy.” – Ashe recites this children’s rhyme, foreshadowing the events of the film and his connection to the crow.
• Ashe Corven: “Let him go. He’s just a child.” – A flashback to the moment Ashe tries to protect his son before they are both murdered.
• Ashe Corven: “Five crows, silver. Six crows, gold! Seven crows, a secret never to be told.” – Ashe completes the rhyme, hinting at the mystical and fateful nature of his resurrection.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $13,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $17,917,287
• Worldwide Gross: $17,917,287

💥 The Crow: City of Angels Reviews

Personal Review

As a huge fan of the original ‘Crow’, I went into ‘City of Angels’ with pretty low expectations. Honestly, it wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be. Vincent Perez does a decent job as Ashe, but it’s hard to compare him to Brandon Lee. The visuals are cool, especially the Day of the Dead stuff, but the story just feels like a retread. Iggy Pop is fun as a villain, though! While it doesn’t capture the same magic as the first one, it’s an okay watch if you’re a die-hard fan.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of gothic films”
  • “Viewers interested in supernatural revenge stories”
  • “Those who appreciate stylized visuals and dark atmospheres”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Suggestive sexual content”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While visually stylish, ‘City of Angels’ lacks the emotional depth and engaging narrative of its predecessor. Vincent Perez delivers a committed performance, but the film ultimately feels like a hollow echo of the original, with a predictable plot and underdeveloped villains.
• RogerEbert.com: “Roger Ebert remarked that The Crow: City of Angels is not as good as the original but stated that it does bring a unique perspective on the source material. Ebert states that it fails to capture the same magic the original had.
• Los Angeles Times: “This sequel struggles to recapture the gothic atmosphere and emotional resonance of the first film. Despite solid performances from the cast, the derivative storyline and heavy-handed direction make it a disappointing addition to the ‘Crow’ saga.

Audience Reactions

Some viewers appreciated the film’s unique visual style and soundtrack, distinguishing it from the original.: The action sequences and performances of the cast were praised by some viewers as commendable.

A segment of the audience found value in the expanded mythology and continuation of Sarah’s story from the first movie.: Viewers praised the performances of the cast and the effort to carve out its own identity.

Overall Consensus: While ‘The Crow: City of Angels’ has a few redeeming qualities, it generally fails to live up to the original, often feeling like a weaker imitation with a derivative plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Tim Pope, the director, primarily known for music videos, clashed with Miramax over the film’s tone and content, leading to significant re-editing that altered his original vision.”
• “The film features a grown-up version of Sarah, the little girl from the first ‘Crow’ movie, providing a direct connection to the original story.”
• “The filmmakers and studio originally intended to create a substantially different film to the first one (out of respect for Brandon Lee), Miramax ordered the film to be re-edited so as to resemble the earlier one as much as possible.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Crow: City of Angels?

The Crow: City of Angels is available for purchase or rental on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable or satellite on-demand options. Streaming services that may include the film in their library may vary, so check their availability before subscribing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Crow: City of Angels, you might like these similar films:

• The Crow (1994): Direct comparison: It shares the same source material, themes of revenge, and gothic aesthetic. It’s the original and definitive Crow film.
• Dark City (1998): Thematic similarity: It features a dark, stylized city with a protagonist uncovering a conspiracy and fighting against powerful forces.
• Spawn (1997): Era-specific alternative: A dark comic book adaptation from the same period, featuring a resurrected anti-hero seeking vengeance with supernatural powers.
• John Wick (2014): Modern equivalent: A modern action film centered on a protagonist seeking brutal revenge for the loss of a loved one.

🛒 The Crow: City of Angels Related Products

• The Crow: City of Angels (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the dark atmosphere of the movie with the official soundtrack featuring artists like Hole, White Zombie, and Bush. A must-have for fans of the film’s unique blend of goth and industrial rock.
• The Crow (1994) [Blu-ray]: Experience the original Crow film, starring Brandon Lee, in high definition. This classic is a must-own for any fan of the series.
• The Crow Comic Book Series: Dive deeper into the world of The Crow with the original comic book series by James O’Barr. Explore the source material that inspired the films.
• The Crow – Ashe Corven T-Shirt: Show your love for The Crow: City of Angels with a stylish t-shirt featuring Ashe Corven. Made from high-quality materials for a comfortable fit.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Crow: City of Angels features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Gold Dust Woman” – performed by Hole
• “I’m Your Boogie Man” – performed by White Zombie
• “In a Lonely Place” – performed by Bush

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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