The Crow: Nothing Says ‘Undead Vigilante in Detroit’ More Than…Bradley Cooper?

In my time at Bam Kapow I wrote multiple articles on the impending remake of The Crow. For those not in the know, The Crow was an early 90’s comic book action movie set (though not filmed) in Detroit, in which a spirit of vengeance comes back from the dead on Devil’s Night and rains havoc on the city’s worst scum. When I was 12 it was maybe the coolest thing ever. The lead character, Eric Draven, was played by Brandon Lee. The son of none other than the Legendary Bruce Lee.

In the movie Eric, who along with his girlfriend, had been killed the year before, and a mystical crow brings him back to exact revenge for the woman he failed to protect, his fiancée Shelly. He is impervious to pain and seemingly can’t die. He oddly befriends police officer Winston Zeddmore when he isn’t murdering people or scaring junkies into taking care of their kids.

He proceeds to hunt down the people who had a hand in destroying his happy life. From Steve Crosetti the pawn dealer that paid for Shelly’s jewelry to T-Bird (played by the guy in the video below), the gang leader that tossed him out the window to his death.  Eventually Eric works up the ranks to T-Bird’s boss ‘Top Dollar’, who is played by Michael Wincott, who is creepy in everything. It’s all very entertaining.

Tragically however, Brandon was killed while filming the movie, due to a mistake with the prop gun. This in truth probably added to the mystique and helped make it more of a success. It cost only $15 million to make, but grossed near $100 worldwide. And as someone who spent 5 years behind video store counters, I can tell you it did quite well in the VHS after market as well.

But like most good ideas, it was bogged down and played out by not 1, not 2, but 3 terrible sequels, and a remake in 2000 that like 54 people actually saw. It has a 3.9/10 on IMDb. All of these movies obviously absent the star of the first film.

Now, Hollywood, never to let something die is trying once again. This time the budget will surely exceed that of the previous 5 movies combined, as will the advertising. But with Lee in the grave for nearly 2 decades, who should portray our protagonist? Well, after years in development, we may have an answer to that.

Bradley Cooper.


Cooper is in talks, and appears to be set to play Draven in this most recent reboot. I don’t dislike Cooper by any means. He was funny in The Hangover and Wedding Crashers, and I always liked him during his days on Alias. But to be honest, I’m having trouble seeing this…


What do you think about this? I guess I’d be ok so long as it still takes place in Detroit and is shot here…

New Trailer: ‘Super’ – The newest movie you’ll never see.

Super is the latest in a long line of superhero movies. But it’s not like Superman or Captain America, even if his name and appearance draw comparisons to both. It’s more like the underrated Kick-Ass or Defendor. The synopsis is below:

After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

Rainn Wilson plays the Crimson Bolt, and is joined by Ellen Page (Left), who plays his sidekick. Liv Tyler plays the wife and Kevin Bacon the drug dealer. The movie also features Captain Malcom Reynolds Nathan Fillion.

 

It’s from the IFC, so it’s likely to be less funny and more depressing than the trailer would indicate, but I hear it’s worth a watch. Here is the trailer:

The reason I say you’ll never see this is bcause this isn’t a wide release thing. It’s gonna be hard for a lot of you to find this, but I know in the Detroit Area it’s opening this Friday at the Royal Oak Art Theater. I think I’ll be there.

Jack is Back! ’24’ Movie Update

America’s greatest hero is back. No, I’m not talking about Captain America, or Neil Armstrong, or even Audie Murphy. I’m referring of course to Jack Bauer. And yes, I know he is played by a Canadian actor, but nobody’s perfect. Kiefer Sutherland has announced that everyone’s favorite indestructible Special Agent will be back next summer. However this time, he’s moving to the big screen.

There really isn’t much info out yet except that it’s supposed to start shooting in January and should be released sometime next year. Aside from Jack himself, it’s not clear who else might pop up, but as far as I’m concerned, the only other person that needs to appear my favorite computer analyst and yours, Chloe O’Brien!


The show ran for 8 seasons, and I was a huge fan from start to finish. I’d be remiss however, not to admit that the first 4 seasons were considerably better than the last 4. The show just didn’t have the same feel after David Palmer

But despite declining viewer ship, as well a poor reviews towards the end, 24 still entertained the Hell out of me and I do miss it. Truth be told I wasn’t heartbroken when it got canceled. The show had sort of run it’s course, and how many shows now get 8 seasons to do so? Plus there was always talk of this movie happening so I didn’t really feel as though I was losing some of my favorite characters as with other canceled shows.

Now originally when they talked about this, they did so in a manner that would’ve exceeded ‘Awesome Levels’ by so much movie projectors would’ve exploded. One of the early drafts for the movie was titled: Die Hard 24/7. It would have featured both John McClane and Jack Bauer thus making my head explode along with the projector.

I am happy though they’ve decided to keep the franchises separate. This way we 2 get movies instead of just one. With that, let me just say I’m very excited for this movie.

Grizzly Graphic Novel Review: Tron – Betrayal

If you were a fan of the recent Tron: Legacy movie, then there is no doubt that this is the graphic novel for you. Betrayal not only explains what occurred in the first Tron movie, but covers the time span between that movie and the inevitable betrayal of Flynn by his codified likeness utility Clu.

Continue reading Grizzly Graphic Novel Review: Tron – Betrayal

‘They Live’ Remake…well, sorta.

Deadline reports that Universal will be making a movie based on the short story “8 O’Clock in the Morning”. It is the same story that was the basis for the Sci Fi cult classic They Live. It will be directed by Matt Reeves, who also helmed Let Me In and Cloverfield.

If you haven’t seen They Live, or at the very least don’t even know what it is, then I advise you start living and watch it. The story is simple. A drifter played by Rowdy Roddy Piper (yes, the wrestler) stumbles upon some sunglasses that can spot aliens that are living amongst us. Not only that, these ugly-looking bastards are mind numbing and controlling us through subliminal messages that make us into consumers who only value material goods. Piper of course goes on a rampage with my hero Keith David after they enjoy an epic 5 minute fight scene (cut with the South Park parody). It may be long but trust me, it’s five minutes well worth the time:

So even though this new movie is based on of the same story as They Live was, it’s not going to follow all of the elements from the John Carpenter version. That means no alien revealing sun glasses, and more than likely, no Roddy Piper! Blasphemy if you ask me.

They will instead opt to skip the glasses and rely on our protagonist having a ‘sudden realization’ and spotting the aliens after his epiphany. I feel like they really could have capitalized off of the 3D fad with this one. They is one of the few movies where the 3D glasses could’ve really been put to good use, maybe taken it a step further too. Perhaps they could have layered the film by having the 3D glasses serve the same purpose as the ones in the movie. You take them off, regular human on-screen, put them back on – formaldehyde face! Ah what could have been.

No word yet on expected release date, but there better at least be a Roddy Piper cameo in the movie somewhere.

If you check out the video below you won’t find a better movie quote…ever! And long before Duke Nukem I might add…