Rating: 
Summary: Visually stunning...
Review: Prior to owning this movie on DVD, I saw it in the theater and was taken, immediately, by its visual beauty...the recreation of Whitechapel is incredible, right down to the names of the streets and the attire of the extras. The Hughes brothers even managed to give the 'red sky' effect as an ode to contemporary inhabitants who said that the sky was blood red in the fall of 1888.I am deeply interested in the Jack the Ripper crimes and consider it to be, as many others do, the premier "whodunnit" of all time. I feel that those liuke me who have some interest and/or knowledge of the crimes and those who have never heard of Jack the ripper before seeing this movie will be impressed. Johnny Depp is wonderful as Inspector Abberline, right down to the East End accent he employs beleivably thorughout. Heather Graham (Mary Jane Kelly) is stunning to look at, although she is much too well kept and hygiene conscious to have been a prositute in 19th centruy London. Hollywood strikes again! This is and obvious deference to a beautiful star in an otherwise serious attempt to give historical accuracy to a period movie, if expected, although it must be said that the movie does not indulge most of the other main supporting actors and extras this way, i.e., these people look like residents of a slum who lived before the days of daily hygiene, dental care, etc. The theory of the murders that is proposed is a popular modern one, first visited in the movie "Murder by Decree". Personally, this theory is far fetched to me and most others who have looked at the case, if for no other reason than the fact that there is not the slightest bit of evidence that the five "canonical" Ripper victims even knew each other, much less being a close knit group of friends as portrayed in the movie. Ian Holm, as Doctor William Gull, is the star of this movie. He plays his part so smmothly and, at the end, his transofrmation is chilling and his descent into madness is both beleivable and stunning. Yet, the viewer may well empathize with him. Incredible. The actresses playing Catherine Eddowes, Liz Stride, Annie Chapman, and Polly Nichols are all very good. It is critical that we empathize with them and we do, especially Liz Stride and Catherine Eddowes (Lesley Sharp). My problem with the movie, as one who has substantial knowledge of the actual case, is the obvious and intentional historical inaccuracies that mar the movie. No, the movie is not rife with them, but those who know about the ripper case will be shocked to see a few things in an otherwise historically accurate picture. And I'm not talking about the theory of the case of the identify of the killer, which will always be open to disagreement. I'm talking about the demise of Inspector Abberline at the end of the film. Although cinematically well played, it will just bother some students of the case to see Inspector Abberline "dying" shortly after the cessation of the Ripper murders in the movie when the real Inspector Abberline lived for FORTY years after the last murder!There are other anachronisms, but they can be chalked up to cinematic license; for example Inspector Abberline is depicted as having "visions" of the killer induced by his opium habit. there is no historical evidence that Inspector Abberline had an opium habit, although allusions to his drinking have been made. The visions are a reference, I beleive, to the psychic Joseph Lees, who did come forth to help the police although his help was largely discounted. The Hughes brothers probably did not want to introduce another character and therefore choose to "combine" the characters and give Abberline the "visions". All in all, a very good movie and the features on the DVD are wonderful, especially if you are interested in the Ripper murders and don't have a lot of technical knowledge about them. Robbie Coltrane and Ian Richardson are also great in their roles (George Godley and Chief Warren, respectively). Although this movie is not as gory or graphic as one might think, it is not for the squeamish. The surprising ending will also be appreciated by students of the case who are familiar with some intriguing evidence from the actual murders (e.g. Mary Jane Kelly being seen by witnesses after she was murdered on Nov. 9th, 1888 and the alleged homosexuality of at least one of the victims) and does justice to realism, even if you don't agree with the conclusions. High recommended for those who know what they want to see about the Ripper murders.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully done!
Review: Johnny Depp play a convincing Scotland Yard Inspector on the trail of Jack The Ripper. The film is shot in such a way as to bring the viewer into the movie, realism that makes the viewer feel as if they're actually walking the streets of White Chapel. I saw this movie at a theater on it's release and purchased the DVD when it became available. The DVD has an alternate ending that is different from the theater version. Both are available on the DVD. I highly recommend this DVD for people interested in Jack The Ripper and Johnny Depp fans alike. A great addition to my DVD collection!
Rating:
Summary: The bonus material makes it worth the price.
Review: One of the most pleasant surprises about the two-dvd release of Hollywood's most recent Jack The Ripper tale "From Hell" is the fact that it's so stuffed full of extras, the movie itself is probably the least compelling aspect of the entire package. It's a brilliant marketing ploy in that even the film's detractors may want to get their hands on it simply for the bonus material. That said, fans of the movie will find themselves gleefully wallowing in the goodies that await them on disc two: the featurettes "Jack The Ripper: Six Degrees Of Separation" and "Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fonder" (an informative insight into the history of absinthe), a handful of behind-the-scenes shorts, and over twenty deleted scenes including the film's alternate ending (which is really more of an alternate take on the same ending). There are several hidden "easter eggs" as well, but by far the most worthwhile and interesting is a 40-minute documentary made in 1980 for British television that is said to have been the very inspiration for the graphic novel from which the movie was based. (This is most easily found by accessing "Title 21" on disc two using your player's remote control.) As a stand-alone title, "From Hell" is an atmospheric and well-acted tale that's long on fancy and short on facts, but when coupled with yards of complementary bonus material it's one release that celebrates the dawn of the dvd era and delivers a strong blow to the death of video tape.
Rating:
Summary: Chinese Opinion
Review: Ya~I'm a Chinese boy.And I think this film is great.The color and light perfect.The tableau is ingenious,especial the murder part.Although the story is good but for a Chinese it's really hard to understand totally,(as the reason for murdering?.)because the different culture backgroud.I'll be really grateful if anyone can explaine it to me,U can write E-mail to me.After all,it's value to see.
Rating:
Summary: Jack the Ripper-Sexual miscreant or misunderstood psycho?
Review: As a part time/semi-obsessive Ripperologist, I can truly say, that this movie really kicks butt!!!! Follows the sequence of events fairly accurately, brillant and wonderful recreation of 19th century england, and Heather Graham is one heck of a whore!!! (Unfortunately, her teeth were a bit too perfect for the era, but she shows enough cleavage throughout the movie so who cares!!!!! Cleavage rocks!!! Nuff said!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: where's Mulder...Scully
Review: The Jack the Ripper murders as an elaborate Free Mason conspiracy. Need I say more? A total waste of Johnny Depp's talent and time. I think he played the same character in Sleepy Hollow, didn't he? The old guy from The Fifth Element does a nice job as the compassionate doctor.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling Masterpiece
Review: This film is one of a kind; the cinematography is incredible. Many call this film the best looking film in a decade, and I agree. I do however, have a few greviances. For the most part, this a truly accurate depiction of the Jack the Ripper killings (such as murder sites, body locations, detecitves, some suspects, etc.) but the ending is not accurate. I am not going to give it away for those who have not seen it, but It is very innacurate. I do realize that this was adapted from a graphic novel, but I at least expected the Hughes brothers to change it for the movie, because, after all, it is a very major detail. They never caught Jack the Ripper. But this alone should not stop you from seeing this film. For those cinematogrophers out there, this is the way you do it.
Rating: 
Summary: Vastly Disappointing
Review: The only reason I gave this movie 2 stars is that the settings, costumes and atmosphere do a great job of evoking London at the time of Jack the Ripper. However, I found it unnecessary and disrespectful to the memory of Abberline to have him portrayed as a druggy and a "psychic". The facts are interesting enough; why this embellishment? To appeal to today's audience who seem to relish uncontrolled substances? It is my feeling that most serious Ripper fans would not only be disappointed in this film, but also find it a very poor depiction of everyone involved, including the prostitutes. They are much too "pretty" in this film. Filmakers seem adverse to portraying these poor, unfortunate ladies of the evening as the sorry alcoholic, sometimes toothless and very ill women that they were. But I guess audiences are more attracted to pretty faces then to reality.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT THE ...?
Review: Visually striking and ominous, "From Hell" takes the Jack the Ripper theories, twists and turns them, and even takes tremendous liberty. For instance, Prince Edward's character is totally against the historical facts, and I'm surprised the royal family didn't have a hissie fit!
But, that aside, what emerges is a taut, somewhat psychedelic look at the heinous crimes of one Jack the Ripper.
The direction is good, but at times, there was some difficulty in understanding a lot of the accents. The art direction and set decoration, costuming, and music are brilliant. What a horrible vision they painted of Londin the late nineteenth century.
I think Johnny Depp has done some really good work, including "Sleepy Hollow", but I found him a bit ineffective in this leading role. His levels were forced, and he never really looked like he was truly in his role.
Heather Graham, in spite of her bad accent, still managed to offer a charming aspect to the life she had chosen. I believed her most of the time, and was impressed with her performance.
Ian Holm, as always, was awesome. This actor has done so much good work over the years, it's hard to see how he has not won an Oscar yet. Remember him in "Alien"---wow! Here, he portrays a retired doctor who offers help to Depp in understanding the Ripper's killings.
Robbie Coltrane, also a vastly underrated actor, steals the scenes from Depp. He conveyed not only his masculine side, but also his sensitive side, particularly in his relationship with Depp.
However, to me, the true stars of this movie were the ladies who portrayed the hookers. None of them were really "beautiful" or even "sexy." They looked like a bunch of fishwives done up in tight dresses with bodices exhibiting much cleavage. But these ladies convinced me of their sordid lives and how much they really didn't like it. Hats off to Katrin Cartlidge, Susan Lynch, Lesley Sharp, Estelle Kornik, Annabell Apsion, Joanna Page and Samantha Spiro. They did fine work. Also very good was Jason Flemyng in the role of the cab driver, Netley.
Overall, a good flick with much to recommend it.
RECOMMEND.
Rating:
Summary: Aptly named
Review: Visually loud, poorly constructed story that avoids making sense at every turn. You'll see pointless references to the elephant man and watch as the ripper's eyes take on a huge, dilated effect as the evil overcomes him. It is really an assinine, immature effort and a wonder that this made it out of editing in this state of hackneyed disconnect.
|
