DVD Review: The Crow - Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven is the movie-length first episode of The Crow TV series, cancelled after one season. It's made up of two distinct halves, so that it can be repackaged as two 45 minute episodes by the US networks.

The first half retreads old territory. In fact the new bit - hero Eric Draven arrested and interrogated by a bossy cop - is the most interesting.

The story's NYPD Blue theatrics can't compete with the flashy visuals, sweaty violence or (modest) budget of film version. It's too bright and the characters are too nice - as this is family viewing, Eric refuses to kill anybody. Such strong morals are pretty commendable for a dead guy, but the 'avenging spirit' theme is diluted and the Crow's wings are clipped.

Stairway is set in British Columbia; not the Goth hot spot of North America, although the setting makes a change from New York or L.A. Eric's still a musician, yet the music he plays is TV exec rock. There's less dark humor in this version as well; the neighborhood cop is no Ernie Hudson, with a deeper character, but less to interest viewers. Soppy bad guys and a cute kid provide much-needed comic book relief.

The second half is darker and scarier; all the characters get a chance to shine, including a new heroine. Eric's evil nemesis is underused and his appearances seem rushed. Perhaps, in the best tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, the bad guy will return for further development.

Stairway to Heaven owes more to Buffy than the Crow comic strip. Despite the gripes, this feature-length story showed promise for an enthralling action series.