The Crow: Stairway to Heaven

Tired of actors who look off-balance and rigid while doing elementary fight scenes? Mark Dacascos brings a fluidity and balance to both the fight scenes and his normal motions that lend his character credence. I find it hilarious watching TV or movies where the lack of natural balance of the actor makes it difficult to suspend disbelief when he engages in activities that require controlled body motion. When the stunt double is obvious, not through build, or looks, but rather because he or she demonstrates a gracefulness that the actor doesn't possess. The show itself is fine, not something I religiously tune in to, but entertaining enough. What makes it most enjoyable is the fact that Mark Dacascos sells being The Crow through his body language and attitude.

to take on a role that became so identified with an actor. Particularly when the actor died while performing the character. Brandon Lee was just entering his prime when he tragically lost his life while filming the motion picture "The Crow". After he died the film took on an almost mythical aura to it. For anyone who has seen the sequel movies you know how the actors playing the title role has fallen flat. Yet in this television series the star managed to avoid the trap of simply doing an imitation of the late star. Mark Dacascos took the role of Eric Draven and made it his own.

While there is a vast difference between this series and the parent movie, the producers should be applauded for not trying to do a simple carbon copy. They knew they could not get away with the more graphic and disturbing elements of the source material and instead tried to capture the overall feel of "The Crow". The series spends more time on the emotional turmoil that Draven deals with being dead while existing in the world of the living, and having to do what he can to get back to the one thing he came back for.

For those who claim that Dacascos is just a pale imitation of Lee and that the series does not go as far as the first movie did into the Gothic I have to say take off the blinders and look at this for what it is. It doesn't try to be Brandon Lee's "The Crow", it just tries to be a syndicated television series based on the same source material.

The first thing I have to say here is that a reboot, remake, sequel, prequel or any other type of film about Draven should never be allowed to happen. Brandon's Draven may have differed from the comics some but it was perfect for a film adaptation and it was haunting and perfect. Thus it should be left alone and allowed to be the definitive and only Draven film. If Hollywood cannot get the reboot idea out of its head let it reboot one of the other Crow characters,

All of this said a tv show within an acceptable time period after the film is acceptable and if I had to pick one and only one person to ever attempt Draven again it would be Brandon's real life friend and ultra talented martial artist Mark Dacascos. He has the Draven look and while this was a slightly less hostile take on the character it was similar enough while different enough to delve into the character again and done so honorably and respectfully by Dacascos. It suffers from a little of the cheesiness of the time it was produced in but if anything that adds to the charm of it. As someone who holds the original The Crow movie in extremely high regard this show would be the one and only other Crow adaptation I would ever recommend a fan to see.

First there was the cult following for the Highlander Movie. The sequels were not up to the originals. The series followed. People had a fit. But Adrian Paul (and every recurring character on there) changed everything. He IS the Highlander. The show took on a life of its own, and it certainly didn't confine itself to the boundaries of the movie.

Next there was La Femme Nikita. Point of No Return followed in the US and it was a pale comparison. Then the series followed. Peta Wilson (& Roy Dupuis and the rest of the excellent cast) changed everything. Now she IS Nikita. This show also soared way above and beyond where the movie couldn't go.

And finally, there was the classic Crow movie which gave the world a short glimpse of a brightly shining comet that soared across the sky. His name was Brandon Lee and may he rest in peace. Vincent Perez followed with a different (and really quite decent) turn of the crow that few liked, more out of respect to Brandon than anything. Immortality and all that. There was something missing, just like with Highlander 2 and 3, and with Point of No Return. Then along came the series The Crow:Stairway to Heaven. Slowly, because yes, there are big shoes to fill. A legacy to continue. And a fanbase who is fanatically loyal to Brandon Lee. Mark Dacascos is changing things once again. Bryce Zabel and Marc Gomes, and Katie Stuart and everyone else are good at what they do, and the show is starting to gel in the middle of the first season. They honored the story, while keeping different avenues open. Some things have changed, some things have stayed the same. It IS a good show. It is the BEST show on TV besides LFN, right now. No one could fill Brandon's shoes, but my friends, no one can fill Mark's either. He is a real talent. A graceful, expressive man. And a master of martial arts. So put your comparisons aside. Like Highlander and La Femme Nikita, The Crow:Stairway to Heaven has a life of its own. Brandon would have wanted it that way. You can't go back. It's not the movie, it wasn't meant to be. You have to go beyond the boundaries, just like it does. They have good writing, and good atmosphere, and good music and good acting and good action sequences. What more do you want? Let The Crow Fly.....

This was one of the best shows on television. Mark Dacascos is a young and refreshing actor that proves he is not just an action star who survives by starring in no story action films. Dacascos branches outside of what he is used to in order to play a reincarnated soul of dead man brought back by a crow in order to set things right after his girlfriend is killed.

The ongoing battle of good vs. evil continues as Eric Draven is brought back to life to set things right. Mark Dacascos is great in the television version of the film that would turn out to be Brandon Lee's last.

I can't wait to see the next episode because it is a unique series in that the writers come up with new stuff to write about. I enjoy how the series goes back and forth between the world as it currently is and the way it was when Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelly lived in happier times. Everything about this show from, story lines, music, and setting is outstanding!!!!! From its star Mark Dacascos to the supporting cast which includes the police detective whom he helps out by catching criminals; this series deserves to be seen during the week when everyone has the chance to see how great it is.