Raven, The (2012) [Blu-ray]
Mystery | Thriller
The only one who can stop a serial killer is the man who inspired him.
John Cusack and Luke Evans star in this blood-curdling tale of terror that's as dark and haunting as the legendary master of the macabre who inspired it - Edgar Allan Poe. Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective
Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer's methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse,
the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe's shocking stories to chilling life... and death.
Storyline: This movie is set in the mid 1800s and involves Edgar Allan Poe, the poet. A serial killer is on the loose and murdering people using Poe's descriptions from his published poems. So Poe teams up with Detective Fields,
a Baltimore policeman to try and catch the killer by using his knowledge of the descriptions. Even though the poems are fictional, they start to become reality and the killer is a step ahead of them. Then it takes on a personal note as Poe's lover becomes
a target. Will they stop the killer in time? Written by Michael Hallows Eve
User Comment: Ashman1977 from United Kingdom, 22 March 2012 • I am a big fan in general of "WhoDunnit" movies, and I was keen to see what 'The Raven' had in store. I went in assuming that it would be like any other 'Jack the
Ripper'/19th century killer movie and that it would predictable. I was right in my assessment, but inspite of these cliché's the Raven was a brilliant film mainly because of the following:
- The movie was beautifully shot. It has a very 'sleepy hollow' feeling throughout. - The use of Poe's work and the poetic climax was excellent. I enjoyed this bit a lot as it left me with things to think about after watching the film, something which is
testimony to the fact that the film made an impact. - Great character development of John Cusack/Poe. Made for a dark, mysterious man with a twisted view of the world. Exciting. - There were many tense moments, great chases and small pieces of puzzle
solving( like in console games) making for small mysteries within one large mystery, thus keeping you engrossed all the way.
To summarise, the Raven was riotous ride through Victorian era type settings, keeps you on the egde of your seat, the mini puzzles keep you busy and the plot and character development( Poe) was excellent, Definitely worth a watch and an 8 out of ten for
me.
P.S. The film has gore so if you can't stand that, don't watch it. It's not a Hostel or a SAW, but there is gore and blood.
Summary: Brilliant- Must watch.
User Comment: brad_the_metalhead from Canada, 28 April 2012 • Do not listen to the negative reviews because this movie is brilliant. I think the main problem is that people maybe went into this movie expecting a horror movie.
The portrayal of Poe is absolutely fantastic, John Cusack did a fantastic job he is a great actor and this one has to be my favourite role that he has played.
The movie has a great pace to it. Your at the edge of your seat the entire time, the thing is though if you haven't read any Edger Allan Poe stories you might have a hard time understanding it, but it doesn't matter weather you have read them or not
because the movie is absolutely brilliant. It has its intense moments but honestly you can't take your eyes off the screen it keeps you guessing whats going to happen next.
Don't listen to the negative reviews, this movie is a must-see.
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant!!
User Comment: Jim Cherry (jymwrite@aol.com) from United States, 27 April 2012 • On October 3, 1849 Edgar Allan Poe was found wandering the streets of Baltimore, delirious, calling out the name Reynolds. There have been lots of
theories as to what Poe died of, from tuberculosis, rabies or to a drunken bender. "The Raven" puts forth a more romantic theory and a detective story for the man who invented the modern detective novel.
"The Raven" as a movie demonstrates that you can make a movie that bridges the biographical facts of Poe's life and its own artistic vision and still make an interesting movie. The movie is driven by the premise, a serial killer starts a series of
killings in Baltimore that emulate some of the more gruesome murders in Poe's stories. When the first murder is done inside a locked room, police detective Fields (Luke Evans) recognizes it as the setting of an Edgar Allan Poe story. Fields brings in Poe
(John Cusack) at first as suspect, but when another murder occurs Poe quickly becomes the first criminal profiler and consultant. Poe helps Fields both in what kind of mind the killer may have and of course in the details from his stories. The killer
kidnaps Poe's girlfriend Emily (Alice Eve) with the killer promising clues as to Emily's whereabouts with each new murder he commits.
The filmmakers, director James McTeigue and writers Ben Livingstone and Hannah Shakespeare don't try to recast Poe's character as a superhero or give the movie Poe attributes that the real Poe didn't or couldn't possess. As mentioned before, the
filmmakers stick fairly accurately to the known elements of Poe's last few days, although there are some artistic liberties taken, and they still present an entertaining movie with a few twists and turns as to who the murderer is.
Cusack is spot on as Poe from his look, thin with a black mustache and goatee, to (more importantly) Poe's character. Poe was a writer who had the ultimate confidence in his own abilities as a writer and was dismissive of his contemporaries, especially if
they were more successful. Cusack is supported by a cast that hits every note right.
If you think a movie about Edgar Allan Poe won't have enough action for you, this is a movie for you. If you're more literary minded and think this movie will have too many inaccuracies or violate Poe's character or will throw in too much action, you
won't be disappointed.
Summary: Tell Tale Movie.
[CSW] -2.6- Even if you really are a fan of Poe most of your enjoyment will come from recognizing all of his stories and poems built into the clues. That said John Cusack was not dark enough or tormented enough or crazy enough to my way of thinking to
play Poe. He just did not fit the image of Poe... other than that it was a pretty decent movie. It was more along the lines of a not-so-observant Sherlock Holmes detective story. I had wished that the ending was a little different since it was based on
the writing of one of the most amazing authors famous for his final morbid twists. It was definitely a different approach to his final days on earth. Unless you are a well versed and tremendous fan of Edgar Allen Poe I would suggest that you rent this
one.
[V4.0-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.
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