CHILL OUT, ALAN MOORE!- GREAT Comics RARELY Make GREAT Movies (Or Streaming Shows)

[@ComicsBiDylan]

I have now rewatched the 1994 Crow movie 3 times since watching the new one, and i really think it improved on story issues from the 94 movie. In the 94 movie we literally only see Eric and Shelly in flashbacks and Shelly is basically just a mannequin. She has almost 0 characterization aside from "nice pretty woman." The romantic flashbacks also come across like commercials from the 90s. I don't know how else to describe it. They're killed because they're being evicted but Shelly tries to fight that by...submitting complaints about the building? Not sure why code violations would stop an eviction, or why the Big Bad (I don't think they ever say his name in the movie) would have people killed when they're already being evicted. Additionally, the villain's motivations didn't make much sense. They're going to burn down a bunch of buildings in the city to make money....from the insurance, I guess? But if the buildings belong to them, and they burn them down, wouldn't they then have to repair it? Or I guess try to sell it to someone else to fix up? They weaken Eric by shooting the crow, but then the bird actually saves the day and is completely healed by the end of the movie. In the new movie, I like that the villain's motivation is clearer: use this demon power to damn young souls to hell so he can live forever. Eric and Shelly's romance is actually given time and Shelly actually feels like a person, not just a motivation for revenge. I also liked that they address why Eric was chosen to be the Crow. Because, honestly, considering Shelly's fate in the 94 movie, and Sarah mentioning in the beginning that a soul with a lot of sorrow passing away might be brought back by a crow, why wouldn't Shelly have been brought back as the Crow instead? In the new movie Eric's power falters because he momentarily doubts if he really loves Shelly despite knowing what she did, which I think works better than "Caw! Caw! BANG! F*ck, I'm dead!" (Actual line from the 94 movie). Lastly, it annoys me thay every one talks about Brandon Lee (rightfully) and just glazes over the fact Ernest Hudson was also in the movie.

[@matsanw]

Have you ever read the comics? The story is not supposed to develop every character and play out like an average film. The vagueness and flashbacks are part of his memories that still haunt him. All that's left is his pain and memories, and the story goes from memories, to pain, to revenge and repeat. It's what you see from Eric's eyes. Their deaths in the comics have even less of a good reason to happen than in the movie, and it doesn't even have a villain. That is why the original movie is the way it is. Some of your complaints are actually what some people talked about the comics, and the movie tried to adress them without going too far away from the original story. In my opinion, i have to fully agree with Razorfist. This movie blows. What annoys me the most, is that the main actor is perfect to play the crow from the comics. He looks more like the original character than Brandon Lee himself. Too bad they decided to go with something entirely different from the original, and in my view as a longtime fan, it did not work at all.

[@ComicsBiDylan]

I judge the 94 movie as its own separate entity. As a comic fan, I've read the Crow comics because I like the character. But when we're talking about movies and what makes them good, saying "well you would know if you read the comics" isn't an argument. If the movie didn't convey it properly, then it failed in that regard. I shouldn't have to go and read the comics to understand the movie. That's not how movies work. I also didn't call for them to give characterization to "every character" just Shelly. You know, a very important person in Eric's life. His literal love interest. Yes, I'd like to know more about her than she was pretty and Eric loved her. If you don't like the new movie and prefer the old one, that's fine. Enjoy it. I, on the other hand, have my issues with it despite loving it. Also interesting that you say you fully agree with Razorfist when his statement was that the 94 movie wasn't even a faithful adaptation.

[@regalesq.3687]

You can't beat the 1994 movie's cameo of My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult.

[@matsanw]

@@ComicsBiDylan I was not attacking you, just adding to your comment. And neither the comics nor the movie failed to convey anything. This one failed at everything. But oh well, go on with it then.

[@Ash-Winchester]

The big bad's name in the movie is top dollar.

[@tapout928]

Sin City is almost note to note from the book to the movie and it's one of the best.

[@brianbordon6419]

That's true. However the comic was paced out like a movie.

[@1234567890beatles]

The 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and the first Raimi Spider-Man movie are to me good examples of near perfect adaptations of comic book stories and characters. In both examples, you can cite many changes from the original comics that were made to work on film, yet both movies at their core stick to what makes both comics beloved by their original audience. It also helps when the crew behind both these movies are either massive fans or have great respect for the books and use them as a guide for the production.

[@TMF979Resurge]

And even to that point, reinventions to reinterpret don't hurt so long as you do it the right way The Amazing Spider-Man was very different from the original Spider-Man 1, doesn't mean it wasn't a good movie

[@justapasserby1984]

About Alan Moore needing to Chill out, I never seen Moore publicly really freak out or losing his shit. He may be extremely sarcastic and cynical , but never really heated or agitated. Also the legend is that Alan Moore smokes so much Marihuana that he possibly can't really heated, he is more of a wellspoken curmudgeony version of The Dude.

[@puppysect]

Like the movie or not, Peter Weller saying the line "He's young, he'll walk again." was still pretty boss.

[@bradfrederick1135]

“But he’ll stay scared won’t you punk”

[@PaulDozierZZoMBiE13]

Here's one that bothered me. People got so pissy about the 2006 film adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. I heard it so many times that "Douglas would have hated this!" Uh, Douglas Adams helped them with the script before he died. He was on board with it. And he loved seeing his work adapted to new media. And, I have to say it, I loved that movie. Such a great cast, such a great use of the Muppet studios to create the Vogons and Marvin and just on and on. Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent was grand, ad was Mos Def as Ford. And I'll always pop for Sam Rockwell as Zaphod. He crushed it. They all did.

[@andrewdau1299]

I loved Alan Rickman as the robot.

[@jonnystoffel]

Maybe if all other Hitchhiker’s Guide media were struck from the record to make room for this movie, I’d understand the venom. But it’s just another take, with Adams involved, and it’s fine. I like it.

[@____________________519]

Glad you aren't beefing with Razorfist, I like Razorfist. He's not a Birthday party clown, as he's very deliberate about only making videos on topics that interest him, and most of his focus as of late has been on politics. I know he hates most of new media stuff like Birthday party clowns do, but he's always had very particular tastes and doesn't like a lot of stuff, even stuff that's popular. He's typically got clear rationales for why he does or doesn't like something, it never feels like his positions on media come from following whatever the current trend is. He's making stuff too, though I haven't looked into either his novel(s) or his comic book as of yet.

[@urbndecay1861]

The Crow comic was James O'Barr's way of dealing with the loss of the love of his life. It's full of depression, sadness and emotion. So yeah, if they make a Crow movie that is based off the comic it's going to be a sad drama and not an action movie. And overall a bad movie no one wants to see. That's why they took out the best action parts of the comic and dumped the majority of the drama. Because that's what makes a good movie. If you want the drama and emotions read the book.

[@matsanw]

The original movie hurts, but the comics is like going through a violent storm of pain, loss and depression. They could have done so much better with the new film than what we got.... damn...

[@Ash-Winchester]

"It's full of depression, sadness and emotion. So yeah, if they make a Crow movie that is based off the comic it's going to be a sad drama and not an action movie. And overall a bad movie no one wants to see. That's why they took out the best action parts of the comic and dumped the majority of the drama. Because that's what makes a good movie." You do not understand movies at all.

[@justapasserby1984]

I rewatched the crow (1994) and watched the crow (2024). The original is a movie where Eric Draven is driven and competent as a vengeful undead while the new Eric is a "zero" who becomes a "hero" and becomes really competent in the last 30 minutes. I enjoyed the first crow way more than the new one.

[@darkshadow139]

I agree with the essence and passion Razorfist I think meant with that statement. Personally, I agree, you almost never can go from page to screen with comics or books. I know there already was a Crow TV series, but I think if they wanted to do a faithful comic adaptation, with some dialogue tweaks, and condensing in parts. I think it would have to be a TV or Cable miniseries. I sold the Crow in my store in the 90s, it was immensely popular, and I loved the 1994 movie with Brandon Lee, and I think the Magic created when they made that movie, cannot be replicated. The original Crow movie will be a forever classic in my opinion.

[@Adorni]

So, talking about The Crow comic’s evolution in storytelling makes me think of Berserk, funnily enough. Miura was always a good artist, even at the start, but his style improved significantly over the course of the series, as did his character writing- a lot of people complain that the second half of Berserk is so much worse than the first half, but it really isn’t- Miura simply gained more interest in trying to tell his story the way he wanted to tell it, rather than simply utilize grimdark dour anger and “monster of the week” kind of approaches. I REALLY like Berserk, and that includes the ultra-violent dark half and the slower-paced, more fantastical second half. Both of these things are integral aspects of the story. The Crow, likewise, sounds like it started in violence and grief and then later became a story the writer wanted to tell.

[@83aber1]

The original script from The Crow: City of Angels was actually better than what we got based on a story I heard. I have not seen the new Crow film but I plan to. I remember they also had a one season Crow tv series.

[@brandonjones2041]

I don't always agree with Razor, but he's always entertaining, and his book "Ghost of the Badlands" is fucking fantastic and highly recommended.

[@angelmiller3331]

I’m happy you watched Constantine. I am a huge fan, as you can tell by my TV show Constantine avi. I personally love the movie as much as the show. It had more of John’s incredible detective skills, cynicism, and smoking. But back to The Crow-I am a little more biased for the Brandon Lee version, because it came out on video just around the time I lost my brother. It hit me a crap ton more than most viewers. Loss, and the fact that love reaches through eternity is what I needed at that moment, and so no other version will surpass that. I got the honor of telling Mr. O’barr about what it meant. He is a really nice guy, and a veteran.

[@stunsisacul]

If I could suggest something, the last page of CBtCB should be a cover paying tribute to young Zack riding his bike in the heat on a Saturday afternoon. Were about the same age and I did it in central Florida. I think that’s something many of our generation did to make sure we got that latest comic. And comics should strive to motivate a 10 year old to hop on his bike and risk his life to see what Spider-Man does next.

[@billbrasky1318]

Backed the book. Hope it hits the goal, I really dig the idea especially with the way digital media seems to be going the way of being revised in real-time.

[@inadisguise9824]

Hope I can make this short. People forget how different mediums tell stories differently. Even ones that look very similar, say movies and TV shows, tell the story differently, Movies are condensed you have to show, not tell, TV show you tell but can do it over a longer time. You can do a long set up, indepth character study all for a quick payoff, say tell things about a chatater, what they feel, what they are thinking any other motivations in episodes 3,4,7, 11, 15 and have a quick payoff in episode 22 about said subject. In the movie it bang bang bang and you don't have time to set things up, do a deep dive into why a character is doing something. Books to movies is even harder, books you can do anything, describe anything go deep dive into what a character is actually thinking, movies doing long expositions of what every chatacter is thinking before the payoff of some storyline would bire the viewer qto death or totally confuse them cause they can figure out what happened and why.. Books the reader fills on the picture by their imagination, and 10 people can read the samething and live the material, but each of them imagine it differently consentrate in what we consider important. She was a beautiful Lady, well that's very subjective, everyone vuews beautiful differently. Comicbooks being in the middle where we all have a common starting point, the panels, but we each fill in the things that happen inbetween the panels differently. List goes on and on of the differences, but when switching mediums when telling the same story can have very drastic changes even when trying to tell the same story. That's why the word "adaptation" is used, you just dont copy the story, you have to adapt it to the new medium and the story can and does change drasticly when you do.l

[@northoftoofar3772]

Are we under the impression that Alan Moore has friends?

[@jonnystoffel]

Seems Razor’s diss is that the better movie would be to film the physical pages turning on screen like an early 2000s video game cutscene.

[@KyleDornez]

Oh, so there was actually a horse in there. I had no idea.

[@janew2108]

I’m on a fixed income so I’ll cheer on your new book. I hope it’s a success.

[@Steininger_Art]

I was a huge Crow (book) fan, and when the movie came out, it was a big moment to my black clad nine inch nails self. At no point was I "deeply depressed" by the various spinoffs that were all pretty bad. That's kind of how culture works. People take art and run with it, and it doesn't always work out. I can't stand the shouty loser youtube "critics".

[@Kane429]

I really, really hope Comic Book: The Comic Book makes it. I will give a publishing opinion. I understand that you don't want to start work on this unless it actually funds, but it clicked with me when you said in this video that if people actually saw what this was going to look like, they would want to jump onboard. I'd say it would have been worth it to have completed a couple of sample pages to help further sell what this is going to be. Sample pages are a very valuable advance-selling tool, and this project would greatly benefit from it. Best of luck, and crossing fingers that this funds today!!

[@ectownsend1433]

Sorry Zach, I love the animated Dark Knight Returns movies. That means you are wrong and bad.

[@DrMerciless]

wasn't the TV show based on the crow modeled after dawsons creek and he had a day job at the book store in a small town? That is what I remember. . . But, I was very young. It was on after or before the relic show.

[@borivojegrbic5772]

French comics from the 60's and 70's had the pacing of a TV shows, and that worked. If you read Tangy & Laverdure, Comanche, Bernard Prince or Valerian you will see how good that was. Later they changed it to movie rhythm and pace and it got boring. You can transpond comics into movies faithfully but you have to know what you're doing, like Mario Bava with Danger:Diabolik. Or Donner with Superman.

[@Giff3R]

Stop shaking that hand, man. I've backed it. 😂

[@malmar]

Zack, don't forget Faust: Love of the Damned. That movie is a legit banger.

[@europeanlore]

I doubt many of the KZbinrs have ever read a comic in their lives (not even talking about novels :D). Gary Nerdrotic did, he even had a comic book shop. But 90% of the rest are just pop culture critics in general.

[@denkerbosu3551]

You're not arguing Razor didn't read it, right?

[@brandonjones2041]

"It'll probably double the backers by the time it comes back." Well it's got 2-3 years to double! Eeeyoooooh! Just kidding. Backed, glad it's funded and can't wait to read it!

[@infinitelyimpossible7170]

I would propose the crow isn't a franchise. The original is very much a time capsule of 1990s goth culture and a cult classic and will always be loved as such. But there's no franchise to mine there. Hollywood however won't ever figure this out

[@SlaserX]

I didn't even know The Crow was a comic book, maybe I should be making KZbin videos.

[@TonySylvesterOhio]

Razor fist, like many of these guys have managed to refine their "persona" to the point of self parody

[@The_Burning_Sensation]

I really hope your book funds. Just looking at those covers scroll by makes me smell newsprint. Those Whilce Portacio Punisher books? Man...

[@Lobosthecrow]

I've started doing this thing when I consume media: I try to not compare it to what has come before, but to judge it on its own merits. I've found I enjoy things more than I normally would have. If you're constantly comparing things to THE BEST VERSION of the thing, nearly everything will be subpar. All Star Wars content is made slightly better when I don't compare it to Empire Strikes Back every single time. I'm currently watching Rings of Power season 2 as if there were no other Tolkien content ever made. So far, it's not god-awful, sometimes okay, sometimes great, sometimes bad, but it's definitely better when I don't compare it to Peter Jackson's first Lord of the Rings trilogy, or even the books themselves. Because I want to be entertained more than I want to hate things.

[@bradleysmit1842]

The V for Vendetta movie was certainly better than the comic, it got to the point and didn't over stay it's welcome. I get Razor Fists enthusiasm and disappointment with properties being adapted by different directors. I didn't like the new All Quiet on the Western Front movie (2023), because it changed up the timeline of events and cut out major portions of the original story. The action was fine, but the (1930) movie and the (1979) made for TV movie did a lot better in adapting the novel. There is just so much stuff in the novel that can't be adapted simply because it'd be too long of a movie, and quite a bit of it is talking about the main character, Paul Baumer's, feelings and self-reflection.

[@backgroundnoise9310]

Looks like your book shot past it's goal by a fare sum. Congrats.

[@HugoGlz56]

The project Is too abstract, if It fails you could do chapter 1 as a preview of a new camping, I dont think people can visualice It.

[@PaperPrincessChannel]

I never realized this, but you have a voice made for ASMR when you talk low like that. I think there's a way you could entice your female audience that you haven't considered.

[@DrMerciless]

I loved the original Crow movie. So many years later I finally bought the comic. Spoiler. I didn't enjoy the comic at all. Am I the only one?

[@KRhetor]

Well, Ghost World did.

[@theritchie2173]

Call me a monster, but even as a huge Brandon Lee fan I didn't like the original Crow - I just didn't 'get' it, and I've never tried watching it again since. I say that as someone who 'enjoyed' Laser Mission (1* on Amazon Prime, not exactly one of Brandon Lee's classics).

[@Ash-Winchester]

"The new crow movie sucks because it's not the original". Which is exactly what someone who doesn't understand the conept of a reimagining would say. If the new movie was exactly like the original, it wouldn't be a new movie. Even before the movie came out and the trailer dropped people would be saying stupid stuff like this. It's like listening to a grumpy old man hating everything because "it's not what we had back in my day."

[@DoomRulz]

This was a lesson I came to accept with the MCU. Direct adaptations just won't work. Sure, the idea of Thanos of wiping out the universe because he has a hard-on for the physical manifestation of Death is fucking wacky, but to the general movie-going audience, it sounds silly. Using overpopulation as his motivation makes more sense as it's something the audience can relate to much more.

[@Julian_The_Apostate]

You may not be beefing with him, but after this video, he's going to be beefing with you. It's part of that guy's character to try to go off on people who criticize him, even very mildly. Guy has 'something' of an ego.