The thing I liked about the first one is just how it was the antithesis of so many action movies. Rarely does a "good-guy" walk so effortlessly through bad guys to get his satisfaction. Even in the end, there wasn't the same "bad guy's got your balls in a vice" moment that is in every single action movie from the dawn of time.
For that, I left the theatre very impressed. I haven't seen the subsequent Crow movies and don't really care to.
EDIT: As for Edward Furlong, I don't have huge issues with him. Liked him in Pecker and American History X. He was also in Pet Sematary II, which was one of the most hilarious theatre-going moments I've ever had.