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Visitors Review

ted00043 2013-06-12 22:12:23

"The Juwes Are Men That Wont Be Blamed For Nothing" - Jack The Ripper

I Decided To Watch This Film Because Of The Fact That Jack The RipperIs My Favourite Serial Killer(That Might Come Out Wrong But I Like ItBecause Of The Guessing Game Of Who The Killer Is...I Actually Have MyOwn Guess As To Who He Was(I Don't Think It Was A Woman) Which Is AtThe End Of The Review.) From Hell Is A Movie Based On The Graphic NovelBy Alan Moore(I Have Not Read It But I Am Told It Is "Brilliant") WhichStars Johnny Depp And Heather Graham. It Plays On The Theory Of QueenVictoria's Grandson, Prince Eddy Getting Syphilis From A Prostitute AndThere Being A Conspiracy To Cover It Up Because In This The Kid Is InLine For The Throne Which Gives This Film A Crime/Thriller Feel (I DoNot Feel This Was A Horror) And The Queen's Surgeon William Gull BeingThe Killer.Personally This Film Could've Been Better In My Opinion But It Was AGood Movie. Johnny Depp Does A Great Performance As Inspector AbberlineAnd Heather Graham As Mary Kelly But Ian Holm Surprised Me As TheRipper. I Had No Idea That Bilbo Baggins Could Be So Threatening As ASerial Killer.The Only Downside Is That I Would've Liked It If They Cast Someone WhoFit What Witnesses Described Jack The Ripper As Would've Played ThePart But That Is Only A Pet Peeve.Overall I Do Recommend A Viewing If You Are Into Jack The Ripper.*********************************************************I Said I Would Tell You Who Jack The Ripper Was (Or Who I Think He Is),I Believe A Butcher Named George Chapman Was The Serial Killer. HePossessed The Knowledge Of Human Anatomy, He Fit The Ripper DescriptionBetter Than Anybody Who Was A Suspect And He Poisoned Three Of HisWives And Treated Females In General Badly. Inspector Abberline HimselfCame To The Belief That Chapman And The Ripper Were One And The SameMan, During His Trial In 1903 (Where He Was Sentenced To A Hanging) HeCongratulated The Ex-Inspector Saying The Words "You've Got Jack TheRipper At Last" But Most Of All His Butcher Shop Was Within WalkingDistance Of All 6 Murders.

2013-06-12 07:28:51

Absolutely Amazing!

A more then perfect dipiction of Jack The Ripper, this film aside from being one of the years top films will keep you on the edge of your seat!From Hell is a classic who done it, with a surprising ending that will likely blow you away! Casting, set design is completely amazing, and the second bonus feature disk is jam packed with tones of extra's including a documentary on the real Jack The Ripper!From Hell is one of the best who done it/horror movies I have seen in a very long time! Definately worth the cost of the limited edition!

Boba_Fett1138 2013-06-08 21:09:59

Visually a great movie but the storytelling is lacking.

This is a beautiful movie to look at. The Hughes brothers (Albert andAllen) directed the movie with lots of flair and provide the movie withsome stylish and beautiful looking moments. They just seemed toconcentrated a bit too much on the visual style and a little too lesson bringing the story to the screen. The story is brought a bit toovaguely and not everything seems always to make sense. Basically thefact that Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) has psychic abilitiesin the movie is pointless and never ever really serves a purpose. Yes,it does provide the movie with some visual nice looking weird scene'sbut it doesn't really add anything to the story. The story itself ofJack The Ripper is quite tense and mysterious but this movie nevertruly becomes tense.The movie gives a pretty good view of 1888 London and has someexcellent looking sets and uses perfect lighting for the scene's, tocreate the right atmosphere.The cast is well filled with some impressive names. Having Johnny Deppin a movie is never a bad thing and the other most important charactersare played by the other well known actors; Heather Graham, RobbieColtrane and Ian Holm.If you like eye candy this is a perfect movie for you to watch. If youlike a tense mysterious crime movie this is probably not the best moviefor you to watch.6/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

2013-06-08 10:07:16

Not enough Gore

The plot,and acting were absolutly wonderful...Jonny and Heather couldnt be hotter if they were on fire.. I dont think that it was gorry enough though...it could have showed the disembowling of the hookers..then it would be perfect...no naked Jonny then it would be perfect.

sundiva 2013-06-07 09:23:02

from hell - good title

for this lame movie. it wasn't even scary, just disturbing. the killingsmade no sense. the whole story was quite senseless. was it a cruel lovestory? a slasher movie with some romance or what? johnny depp was great,that's it. heather graham's acting was disappointing. she didn't even fitinto the movie. and how come she always looked so nice and clean while herfriends were dirty and bad dressed?my advice - rent on video, don't waste your money on this crappymovie.

2013-06-06 13:29:59

bleah

I almost could not finish watching this movie. What kept me going is that I very much enjoyed the graphic novel, I really admire Johnny Depp and Ian Holm as actors, and I foolishly suspected something might pop up and redeem this over-produced piece of [junk], but no luck. One of the main things I found so repellent about this flick is the use of music. It's not that the music itself was bad (though it was), but HOW OFTEN they chose to use it. It's as if the editor thought CONSTANT music in the background would subconsciously take viewers' minds off the wretched dialogue and ham-fisted direction, but it didn't work! You can only polish [something] so much before you have to stand back and say, "sorry guys, it's still just [the same]."The DVD is annoying, too! Impossible-to-read, jittering, cursive text makes one have to squint and hope when they push buttons on their remote, and glaringly-overdone sound effects pollute every piece of background music (in the menus and in the movie as well). It's one of those movies during which you have to continually ride the volume, turning it up for the dialogue, and down for the sound effects.The only positive things I can say about this movie are that Johnny Depp's and Ian Holm's acting abilities still manage to shine through, but it's like two fresh potatoes in a sack of rotten ones. Just can't compete against the rudimentary melodrama of these filmmakers.One last thing: Heather Graham, though nice to look at, can't fake a cockney accent to save her life. And she looks like the only prostitute in 1888 London to have a shower every day and unblemished skin. It's as if the filmmakers thought, "now we don't know if the audience is gonna be able to keep up with who the main [prostitute] is, so we'll make her hair BRIGHT RED, so there is NO QUESTION." If you like subtlety, find another DVD to rent...

James Mordecai 2013-05-28 23:02:13

An Excellent Film, involving, deep and shot with style

Albert and Allen Hughes have done an excellent job in creating a veryatmospheric and dark London. They have managed to tell a very involvingstory and direct it with more class and style than mostfilms.The acting is good, the score is effectively moody and set design andcinematography is flawless. Go see it for its stunning cinematography,moody score and strong storyline.Score: 8.5/10

Linda Cantoni 2013-05-28 04:09:37

Not very good (mild spoilers)

The actual Ripper events make a pretty exciting mystery in themselves, sowhy play with historical facts? This film is so full of deliberateinaccuracies and unintended anachronisms that they become distracting, andthe alterations do nothing to advance the story. I didn't mind theFreemason theme - though it's part of an old and improbable theory, it isdramatically effective - but I thoroughly disliked making InspectorAbberline (who in real life was a much-decorated and respectably marriedcopof 45 in 1888) 20 years younger, a drug addict, and the lover of one ofthewomen concerned in the case. Indeed, that last touch tended to drag thefilm's pace down to a crawl. As for the performances, Robbie Coltrane,IanHolm, and the great Ian Richardson stole the show, but Johnny Depp andHeather Graham were just cardboard characters, flawed action hero andflaweddamsel in distress, and I honestly didn't care what happened to them. Oneexcellent touch: the sound of the metal coach steps being let down, likeknives clanking against each other. The murderer's fantasy during thelastmurder was also well done. Other than that, a rather lameaccount.

Howlin Wolf 2013-05-26 08:52:37

A Classy Chiller...

What makes "From Hell" a classy chiller that's 'a cut above' the rest? Well, a decent script and a handful of fine performances certainly helps. What is actually crucial about the script is not that it is particularlyOscar worthy, but that it never jars the viewer from the timezone that thefilm is supposed to be set in. Several other details about Victorian Londonare very convincing as well. So, that takes care of the setting, what aboutthe actual mechanics of the story? It definitely held the interest, but I can't help feeling that the wholeexperience would have been slightly more satisfying had the makers dealtseparately with the two stories of the 'inspired copper' and the 'tart witha heart'. Leaving aside such pedantic quibbles as these not actually beingfaithful renderings of real people, the feeble attempt at creating a romancebetween the two leads does not work. That said, both are interesting enoughto keep the film running smoothly when we encounter them each on theirown. It's definitely 'artistic license' to cast an actress as beautiful asHeather Graham as a 19th century English prostitute, but she does OK,without once threatening to steal the thunder of her more establishedco-stars. Depp is as convincing as usual, proving a reliably intenseperformer on which to hang the bones of the story. Give the man a part in"Eastenders"! Robbie Coltrane is good as usual, playing advisor toAbberline; and Ian Holm can always be relied upon to give goodvalue. So each member of the cast (whether American or not) seems quite at homein the 'grimy' capital depicted. Much credit though, must also go todirectors The Hughes brothers for making this a thoroughly interestingwatch. They handle their first foray into horror territory well, suggestinga return may not be out of the question. If you have an idea of what to expect when you sit down to watch, Istruggle to see how you could be disappointed. There are minor flaws to besure, but not enough to really ruin the 'mood'; and it is the skillfullycreated atmosphere - contributed to by all - which goes a long way towardsmaking "From Hell" one of the best unsettling thrillers to come out in quitea while...

blind wood 2013-05-25 17:41:24

not as good as i expected

I'm really disappointed with Johny Depp's acting. It was bad! Johny Depp'splayed out his character like he did on his previous movie(one about drugdealer).. somehow, it doesn't fit in. And i think the movie could dowithoutthe romantic scene. I thought this movie is about Jack the Ripper? Overall,i vote this movie 5.0/10.0

2013-05-17 11:15:52

But to lie in cold obstruction and to rot...

Aside from taking a fresh and unique approach to the old mysteries of Jack The Ripper, From Hell delivers a gracefully languid storyline peppered with brutal killings and interesting musings into an old fashioned culture.Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) has a unique gift, a psychic ability to see murders in his opium dreams. Because of this talent, he is assigned to the case of a brutally murdered prostitute along with his partner, Sergeant Peter Godley (Robbie Coltrane). His suspicions turn away from the local gang of pimps and thugs, and towards a more educated and upper-class perpetrator as more and more girls are methodically butchered.Abberline wins the confidence of one of the slightly more refined prostitutes, Mary Kelly (Heather Graham), and uses her knowledge of the dead girls to uncover the unlikely murderer.From Hell definitely has its faults, a sometimes weak script and a far-fetched assumption of the identity and background of Jack The Ripper, but makes up for those faults with its stunning visuals and moody atmosphere. Using subtle photography rather than graphical violence in the murder scenes, it leaves a lingering taste in one's mouth that is nonetheless bloody and haunting.Depp plays Abberline with brilliant panache, a man who still cares but is void of the usual emotional swamps most humans swim in, evident in the scene where the coroner is retching but Abberline coldly and methodically examines the mutilated corpse. I love cold characters. Heather Graham is a beautiful woman, but not a very good actress. However, her character of Mary Kelly is probably the best performance she had done, in spite of the weak accent attempted. There are also interesting notes to study while taking in the lush photography, the realism of the opium dens, the early lobotomies performed, a brief presentation of the Elephant Man, along with the cultural notions of the 1880's that well-bred and moneyed people simply could not be capable of such types of brutality. The time frame is well done and interesting in that it also exposes the religious persecution of certain sects, not to mention total disregard for the prostitutes and those poor souls considered to be beneath the genteel societies notice or care. One's birth class stands out far above their deeds, and propriety rules the day. And ruling the propriety are a secret sect of Freemasons, answerable only to themselves and powerful enough to stop Abberline's investigation.Perhaps because I am a very visual person I enjoyed the film more than many others did, but I encourage you to look beneath the slow, still waters of the movie's general flow, and pluck out the tasty treats in the form of interesting notes and speculations, and savor them for a bit. It was really at that point that From Hell went from four to five stars for me. Languid, graceful, gory, suspenseful, atmospheric, and moody, don't miss out on this great sleeper film. Enjoy!

Nigel St. Buggering 2013-05-16 21:10:24

Victorian London via Hollywood

Going into this film, I had to realize that I am a great fan of the graphicnovel; I consider it to be one of the great works of graphic storytelling,along with "The Dark Knight Returns" and "Watchmen". It is, therefore,somewhat difficult to put aside any bias I might have had toward this filmfrom the beginning. I did try, but it certainly didn't make iteasy.First, just to start off light, for the good points: the film is visuallyquite arresting. The sets, the cinematography, the camera work, all worktogether to create a very interesting vision of 1880's London. It isn'twhat you'd call a realistic vision, but it is interesting nonetheless. Unfortunately, visually stylistic films are a dime a dozen these days. Ittakes more than that to impress.Sadly, the film doesn't have much else. The Hughes brothers are obviouslyquite familiar with the novel, but sadly, they've only picked out the seedytrappings of it, and left out what really made it work. Where the novelextensively examined the world in which Jack went about his work, the filmditches all of that and settles instead on a standard murder mystery. We'veseen this story a hundred times in countless modern serial killer thrillers. By keeping the identity of Jack a mystery, and following the investigationsof Inspector Abberline, they have reduced the story to something very draband unoriginal.Among the worst touches is Abberline's psychic ability. The "vision"sequences are more annoyingly modern than creepy, and really don't seem tohelp him much in his investigations, or aid the story in its journey. Theysimply add an unwelcome supernatural element to events based (howeverloosely) on reality. I can only imagine that the film-makers' intention wasto combine two characters from the novel. However, the novel's "psychic"admitted to being a fraud. So why is this here?A Hollywood product mentality is found throughout the production. While thesupporting whore roles are filled out very believably, Heather Graham isinstead cast in the role of the "Friday The 13th" virgin who is immune toharm because we never see her engaging in sex. She stands out like a sorethumb among the grime with her colorful dress and pretty hair and makeup. They've done away with Abberline's marriage in order to make way for aromance with Heather Graham's "whore". And the mistaken-identity endingsets up a conclusion so saccharine as to belong in a Shirley Templemovie.In the end "From Hell" turns out to be nothing more than a standardHollywood serial killer movie with the words "Jack the Ripper" inserted intoit. 5 out of 10.

raudi123 2013-05-16 17:57:34

Happy End?!?

Why is this picture worth watching? We have had horror movies with similarplots. Hitchcock showed in Psycho how to thrill. This one didn't bother tolearn a lesson from this movie.BUT, there is a great actor. Depp's play is not bad (surely not his bestperformance, but good nevertheless). Some other characters are not thatgood, some things unbelievable. But the movie has atmosphere. That isimportant. It succeeds un fields, where many other movies were doomed tofailure. It takes us on a ride through the streets of gas-lit London. Ihavehad such an expierence only one - nay two times before: When reading CalebCarr's two novels "Angel of Darkness" and "The Alienist". (I do know, thatthese are set in New York, but quite at the same time.)So: Don't expect an artistic masterpiece. Don't wait for a revelation. Buttake a dive into the Atmosphere of late 19th century London.

Dr. Gonzo 2013-05-16 05:17:26

This has been the best movie I've seen in ages! *it might somehow contain spoilers*

I think all of the actors did extremely well in this movie and that itwas perfectly cast. In fact,this movie was almost perfect. If I statewhy it was ALMOST perfect,the site owners will discount my comment. Sogo watch the movie and find out what rips it away from utterperfection. I bet you'll know why by the end of it. I'd recommend it toanyone with a strong stomach and and a fancy for Johnny Depp.Personally, that's the only movie type I can truly get into. They keepyou guessing until the very end, so even during boring parts of thosemovies, you're still tightly clasping your chair, wondering in suspensewhat's going to happen next. But in this movie I didn't have to worryabout any boring parts! Not even for a second. It was writtenbeautifully. Bravo.

Chris_Docker 2013-05-12 20:45:02

Unexpectedly cerebral

A novel twist on the story of Jack the Ripper (if you haven't read the novelthat is) that weaves an intricate explanation that is chillingly convincing.Far more cerebral than you'd expect from the subject matter, `From Hell'lovingly recreates the grit and grime of the London of that period. Add tothat Johnny Depp playing the opium-addicted detective and you have a winningformula.

pulseshards 2013-05-12 05:10:40

just wanted everyone to know

i haven't found anyone's mention of this, so i thought i might make one.anyone who has a problem with this movie's script, and especially those whohave naysayed it due to knowledge of its genesis in comic book form, you'reall considered to me numb from the neck up unless you actually read thecomic before uttering such statements. the comic itself, though, grantedly,nothing altogether new, is a brilliant meditation on the ripper murders.the concept that held the comic strong, for some reason, was lost in thetransition to film, namely William Gull's hallucinations of our society, andAbberline was not an absinthe addict. watching the movie, you can tell theythrew a lot of what's in there simply to create an eyepleasing nineteenthcentury gothic video shawl. the actual people (remember, these are actuallysupposed to be real people, not fictional characters) don't look two clickslike depp or graham. holm is class, but the character's a miss. iffilmmakers who were more devoted to the story had actually spearheaded thiseffort, they would have had something special.as the film was, it was mostly decent. i remember leaving the theaterentertained but hardly impressed. but again, you all should read the comicbefore you mock it. if you do, you'll find a challenging tale, often toopractical to be mere mythwriting. the worthwhile Alan Moore penned it, andfellow brit Eddie Campbell laid down some clean, methodical artwork, that attimes turns grisly and disconcerting. it's really a fine example ofcontemporary literature. basically, what all this gabbing is trying to say,is don't knock it till you try it.

Rena 2013-05-10 16:34:26

It's a pity ...

I couldn't get myself to like "From Hell" entirely. Unfortunately thestoryisn't as gripping as I thought it would be. I mean, hey, this is a JACKTHERIPPER story! A *mystery* unsolved since the 1880s ... Visually the filmisgreat, the performances are great either but somehow I expected more,more,more ... I don't know what. More suspense? More dark alleyways andshadows?More hints instead of explanations? More mystery for the mind to digest?Butthis film gave me no puzzle, no riddles to solve, no heated discussions atthe end about some details that just can't be explained ... But then againit was good fun to watch, it just shouldn't have been so clear andstylisedand ... simple. Maybe I knew too much about the story beforehand.---MAJOR SPOILER! DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THEFILM!---You can't expect a film to be true to the facts but anybody who isinterested in the real facts knows that the theory about Dr Gull beingJackthe Ripper doesn't hold up (I was surprised to see that Donald Rubelow,author of a great book on the real Jack, was involved in the making of thefilm if you believe the credits--he must have told the Hughes that thetheory was nonsense).

2013-05-10 05:57:35

Great Jack the Ripper movie!

If you have any interest in Jack the Ripper than you will like this movie. It is based on the book From Hell. Although not all of it is fact it is pretty close to what actually happened. You actually get to see who Jack was. Although it is the authors opinion and theory of who the killer really was. A must see if you like the subject of Jack the Ripper.

2013-04-26 17:21:44

Shocking...not for those with a weak stomach

This movie has great acting and the directors created an atmosphere to match the mood perfectly. Johnny Depp plays Inspector Frederick Abberline. He is an intelligent, drug addicted man who is depressed by a tragedy from his past and has burried himself in his work. He is extremely persistent in his job, but when it comes to Mary, one of the women Jack the Ripper is after, he is very sweet, caring, and determined to take care of her. Johnny Depp portrays this mix of emotions and characteristics brilliantly.The best part about Johnny Depp is that in each movie he is in, he actually seems to become the character he is playing. There is no connection to any other parts he has played because in each movie, he can change his appearance, voice, personality, or whatever else is needed for him to become that person. As I watched From Hell, I wasn't thinking 'There's Ichabod Crane(Sleepy Hallow) or Gilbert Grape(What's Eating Gilbert Grape). He is always recognizable, but always completly different.This movie is definetly worth seeing. However, if you haven't seen it, you might want to rent it before you buy it. Personally, this isn't the kind of movie I would choose to watch over and over.

soralapio 2013-04-26 05:45:32

Frustrating

Much like The Mothman Prophecies, From Hell is a movie full of promise thatit never fulfills. The basic idea is neat - a police inspector tracks thenotorious Jack the Ripper before he kills again. This is all very well andfine, but in true Hollywood style they couldn't leave it there. We get agold-hearted prostitute whom the inspector falls in love with. We get thesecret love child of the Prince of Wales and another gold-heartedprostitute. We get a ridiculous conspiracy and we're supposed to believeit's all historically accurate? Give me a break. Johnny Depp, as usual, isexcellent, Heather Graham is indifferent. Possibly an entertaining movie forthose who haven't studied the Ripper case much or don't care about theglaring historical errors and omissions.