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After exploding onto the screens with “Menace 2 Society”, one of the best of early 90’s “Gangsta” movies dealing with how groups of young black Americans deal with life in LA ghettos districts. They followed up with “Dead Presidents”, another film dealing with the feelings of young black Americans and how their government treats them.
Equally as ferocious as “Menace” but with more of a traditional story.
So naturally they would follow up these 2 films with the story of Jack The Ripper in Victorian England.
Adapted from a graphic novel (of the same name), “From Hell” is the story of Jack The Ripper, the title taken from a letter he sent to Scotland Yard signed “From Hell”.
The story is well known, so I won’t rehash it here.
Johnny Depp plays Inspector Abberline (mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories), investigating the brutal murder and mutilation of a prostitute (or “Bangtail” as referred to here). This soon develops into what will become the notorious Jack the Ripper legend.
And that’s about it.
Taken using just the facts, you’d have a pretty threadbare movie – seeing as Jack the Ripper was never caught or his identity revealed. There have been numerous suggestions as to who he was, but that’s part of the whole continuing fascination of this story, it could have been anyone.
Which is the major fault with “From Hell”, it takes the generally accepted idea of a well-to-do gent with a knowledge of anatomy, and applies this to a theory more fitting to an Oliver Stone movie – I’m surprised the Mafia and Russia weren’t dragged into this plot somehow.
Johnny Depp turns in another “oddball outsider” performance: His Abberline is an opium-smoking, absinthe drinking man given to seeing “visions” as a way to solve cases. His sidekick (played by Robbie Coltrane) amusingly tolerates his “episodes” because they get results. He attempts an Eastend accent, and pretty much nails it, although there are times when he sounds like Danny from Withnail & I mixed with Italian Job-era Michael Caine.
Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, the Ripper’s most notorious victim and the one that all the photos exist of. Now I like Heather Graham, she was awesome in Boogie Night and amusing in Austin Powers 2 – but why The Hughes Bros let her continue with her performance in this is beyond me.
She is capable of much better, and so are the Brothers (Menace 2 Society) but she is so flat in this movie I was hoping The Ripper would hurry up and get her already, just to put her out of my misery. Doe-eyed, dick-van-***e accented tart-with-a-heart? Cliché anyone?
So what was good about this movie?
The set-design.
Filmed in Prague, it really does look like Victorian London, dirty, smoggy and realistic, top marks for that.
Robbie Coltrane – essentially doing his usual performance, but amongst so many earnest Americans choking on accents, he’s a breath of fresh air as is Ian Holm playing surgeon to the Royal Family.
The Hughes Bros: They direct with style, energy and some nice touches (fast-forward from the body being discovered, right through the night and to the next morning all in one-shot with people buzzing around like hummingbirds). These guys know their stuff.
My main gripe is for a movie about a guy that terrorised London, there is a marked lack of tension from this movie. There are no jumpy moments, no sense of danger for anyone involved at all.
It’s “Anuvver murder Inspecta!” “Gor Blimey no!” “Yeah, it’s da Ripper, wot a bloody bleedin’ villain, and no mistake!” “Gor Blimey!”
Ever seen French and Saunders take off period-drama movies? Well it’s like one of those.
Unintentionally amusing, lacking in tension, no sense of the fear London had.
And the ending. I’m not going to spoil it, but we all know that The Ripper was never caught, never identified and simply vanished from wherever he came from.
Now, if you’re going to do a movie about Jack The Ripper, you can’t be changing the facts so everyone can leave the cinema happy.
I sat back at the end and thought “What?! You what?! Did you even read about this story before you wrote it? What in the name of dramatic reconstruction are you doing?”
From Hell:
Worth watching for Robbie Coltrane and Johnny Depp being odd again, and worth watching for unintentional comedy value.
But not worth watching if you are after a tense, exciting 2hrs.
Go watch “Without a Clue” instead, it’s much funnier and thrilling.
Equally as ferocious as “Menace” but with more of a traditional story.
So naturally they would follow up these 2 films with the story of Jack The Ripper in Victorian England.
Adapted from a graphic novel (of the same name), “From Hell” is the story of Jack The Ripper, the title taken from a letter he sent to Scotland Yard signed “From Hell”.
The story is well known, so I won’t rehash it here.
Johnny Depp plays Inspector Abberline (mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories), investigating the brutal murder and mutilation of a prostitute (or “Bangtail” as referred to here). This soon develops into what will become the notorious Jack the Ripper legend.
And that’s about it.
Taken using just the facts, you’d have a pretty threadbare movie – seeing as Jack the Ripper was never caught or his identity revealed. There have been numerous suggestions as to who he was, but that’s part of the whole continuing fascination of this story, it could have been anyone.
Which is the major fault with “From Hell”, it takes the generally accepted idea of a well-to-do gent with a knowledge of anatomy, and applies this to a theory more fitting to an Oliver Stone movie – I’m surprised the Mafia and Russia weren’t dragged into this plot somehow.
Johnny Depp turns in another “oddball outsider” performance: His Abberline is an opium-smoking, absinthe drinking man given to seeing “visions” as a way to solve cases. His sidekick (played by Robbie Coltrane) amusingly tolerates his “episodes” because they get results. He attempts an Eastend accent, and pretty much nails it, although there are times when he sounds like Danny from Withnail & I mixed with Italian Job-era Michael Caine.
Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, the Ripper’s most notorious victim and the one that all the photos exist of. Now I like Heather Graham, she was awesome in Boogie Night and amusing in Austin Powers 2 – but why The Hughes Bros let her continue with her performance in this is beyond me.
She is capable of much better, and so are the Brothers (Menace 2 Society) but she is so flat in this movie I was hoping The Ripper would hurry up and get her already, just to put her out of my misery. Doe-eyed, dick-van-***e accented tart-with-a-heart? Cliché anyone?
So what was good about this movie?
The set-design.
Filmed in Prague, it really does look like Victorian London, dirty, smoggy and realistic, top marks for that.
Robbie Coltrane – essentially doing his usual performance, but amongst so many earnest Americans choking on accents, he’s a breath of fresh air as is Ian Holm playing surgeon to the Royal Family.
The Hughes Bros: They direct with style, energy and some nice touches (fast-forward from the body being discovered, right through the night and to the next morning all in one-shot with people buzzing around like hummingbirds). These guys know their stuff.
My main gripe is for a movie about a guy that terrorised London, there is a marked lack of tension from this movie. There are no jumpy moments, no sense of danger for anyone involved at all.
It’s “Anuvver murder Inspecta!” “Gor Blimey no!” “Yeah, it’s da Ripper, wot a bloody bleedin’ villain, and no mistake!” “Gor Blimey!”
Ever seen French and Saunders take off period-drama movies? Well it’s like one of those.
Unintentionally amusing, lacking in tension, no sense of the fear London had.
And the ending. I’m not going to spoil it, but we all know that The Ripper was never caught, never identified and simply vanished from wherever he came from.
Now, if you’re going to do a movie about Jack The Ripper, you can’t be changing the facts so everyone can leave the cinema happy.
I sat back at the end and thought “What?! You what?! Did you even read about this story before you wrote it? What in the name of dramatic reconstruction are you doing?”
From Hell:
Worth watching for Robbie Coltrane and Johnny Depp being odd again, and worth watching for unintentional comedy value.
But not worth watching if you are after a tense, exciting 2hrs.
Go watch “Without a Clue” instead, it’s much funnier and thrilling.
Meka Dragon wrote:
> Ta.
Free tickets, and Depp is cool.
And Heather Graham WAS great in Boogie
> Nights.
*Nods in agreement*
> Ta.
Free tickets, and Depp is cool.
And Heather Graham WAS great in Boogie
> Nights.
*Nods in agreement*
I don't think that Heather Graham was that bad.
Mind you, after reading this I was expecting the worst.
It wasn't a bad movie, but people will criticise it for trying to come up with a solution, rather than just telling the facts.
Depp was good, Coltraine was better. Quite a few good male parts actually.
Yeah, I enjoyed it, though didn't appreciate the very end.
Except for what happened to Johnny Depp.
Mind you, after reading this I was expecting the worst.
It wasn't a bad movie, but people will criticise it for trying to come up with a solution, rather than just telling the facts.
Depp was good, Coltraine was better. Quite a few good male parts actually.
Yeah, I enjoyed it, though didn't appreciate the very end.
Except for what happened to Johnny Depp.
Mr. Nice Guy wrote:
> Can I please ask how you saw this so long ago?
I was sent a review copy by a mate.
Also have K-Pax, due to watch over the weekend.
Will review Sunday.
> Can I please ask how you saw this so long ago?
I was sent a review copy by a mate.
Also have K-Pax, due to watch over the weekend.
Will review Sunday.
I really want to see this!! Despite the poor reviews!!
Can I please ask how you saw this so long ago? Also, I find it a shame how such a good review goes unoticed because others can't be bothered to take the time to read it. Even though I ain't 18, I know I'll get in. Might go watch this sometime. I just really wanna go watch Vanilla Sky, again.
Ta.
Free tickets, and Depp is cool.
And Heather Graham WAS great in Boogie Nights.
Free tickets, and Depp is cool.
And Heather Graham WAS great in Boogie Nights.
*pop*
For you
For you
After exploding onto the screens with “Menace 2 Society”, one of the best of early 90’s “Gangsta” movies dealing with how groups of young black Americans deal with life in LA ghettos districts. They followed up with “Dead Presidents”, another film dealing with the feelings of young black Americans and how their government treats them.
Equally as ferocious as “Menace” but with more of a traditional story.
So naturally they would follow up these 2 films with the story of Jack The Ripper in Victorian England.
Adapted from a graphic novel (of the same name), “From Hell” is the story of Jack The Ripper, the title taken from a letter he sent to Scotland Yard signed “From Hell”.
The story is well known, so I won’t rehash it here.
Johnny Depp plays Inspector Abberline (mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories), investigating the brutal murder and mutilation of a prostitute (or “Bangtail” as referred to here). This soon develops into what will become the notorious Jack the Ripper legend.
And that’s about it.
Taken using just the facts, you’d have a pretty threadbare movie – seeing as Jack the Ripper was never caught or his identity revealed. There have been numerous suggestions as to who he was, but that’s part of the whole continuing fascination of this story, it could have been anyone.
Which is the major fault with “From Hell”, it takes the generally accepted idea of a well-to-do gent with a knowledge of anatomy, and applies this to a theory more fitting to an Oliver Stone movie – I’m surprised the Mafia and Russia weren’t dragged into this plot somehow.
Johnny Depp turns in another “oddball outsider” performance: His Abberline is an opium-smoking, absinthe drinking man given to seeing “visions” as a way to solve cases. His sidekick (played by Robbie Coltrane) amusingly tolerates his “episodes” because they get results. He attempts an Eastend accent, and pretty much nails it, although there are times when he sounds like Danny from Withnail & I mixed with Italian Job-era Michael Caine.
Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, the Ripper’s most notorious victim and the one that all the photos exist of. Now I like Heather Graham, she was awesome in Boogie Night and amusing in Austin Powers 2 – but why The Hughes Bros let her continue with her performance in this is beyond me.
She is capable of much better, and so are the Brothers (Menace 2 Society) but she is so flat in this movie I was hoping The Ripper would hurry up and get her already, just to put her out of my misery. Doe-eyed, dick-van-***e accented tart-with-a-heart? Cliché anyone?
So what was good about this movie?
The set-design.
Filmed in Prague, it really does look like Victorian London, dirty, smoggy and realistic, top marks for that.
Robbie Coltrane – essentially doing his usual performance, but amongst so many earnest Americans choking on accents, he’s a breath of fresh air as is Ian Holm playing surgeon to the Royal Family.
The Hughes Bros: They direct with style, energy and some nice touches (fast-forward from the body being discovered, right through the night and to the next morning all in one-shot with people buzzing around like hummingbirds). These guys know their stuff.
My main gripe is for a movie about a guy that terrorised London, there is a marked lack of tension from this movie. There are no jumpy moments, no sense of danger for anyone involved at all.
It’s “Anuvver murder Inspecta!” “Gor Blimey no!” “Yeah, it’s da Ripper, wot a bloody bleedin’ villain, and no mistake!” “Gor Blimey!”
Ever seen French and Saunders take off period-drama movies? Well it’s like one of those.
Unintentionally amusing, lacking in tension, no sense of the fear London had.
And the ending. I’m not going to spoil it, but we all know that The Ripper was never caught, never identified and simply vanished from wherever he came from.
Now, if you’re going to do a movie about Jack The Ripper, you can’t be changing the facts so everyone can leave the cinema happy.
I sat back at the end and thought “What?! You what?! Did you even read about this story before you wrote it? What in the name of dramatic reconstruction are you doing?”
From Hell:
Worth watching for Robbie Coltrane and Johnny Depp being odd again, and worth watching for unintentional comedy value.
But not worth watching if you are after a tense, exciting 2hrs.
Go watch “Without a Clue” instead, it’s much funnier and thrilling.
Equally as ferocious as “Menace” but with more of a traditional story.
So naturally they would follow up these 2 films with the story of Jack The Ripper in Victorian England.
Adapted from a graphic novel (of the same name), “From Hell” is the story of Jack The Ripper, the title taken from a letter he sent to Scotland Yard signed “From Hell”.
The story is well known, so I won’t rehash it here.
Johnny Depp plays Inspector Abberline (mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories), investigating the brutal murder and mutilation of a prostitute (or “Bangtail” as referred to here). This soon develops into what will become the notorious Jack the Ripper legend.
And that’s about it.
Taken using just the facts, you’d have a pretty threadbare movie – seeing as Jack the Ripper was never caught or his identity revealed. There have been numerous suggestions as to who he was, but that’s part of the whole continuing fascination of this story, it could have been anyone.
Which is the major fault with “From Hell”, it takes the generally accepted idea of a well-to-do gent with a knowledge of anatomy, and applies this to a theory more fitting to an Oliver Stone movie – I’m surprised the Mafia and Russia weren’t dragged into this plot somehow.
Johnny Depp turns in another “oddball outsider” performance: His Abberline is an opium-smoking, absinthe drinking man given to seeing “visions” as a way to solve cases. His sidekick (played by Robbie Coltrane) amusingly tolerates his “episodes” because they get results. He attempts an Eastend accent, and pretty much nails it, although there are times when he sounds like Danny from Withnail & I mixed with Italian Job-era Michael Caine.
Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, the Ripper’s most notorious victim and the one that all the photos exist of. Now I like Heather Graham, she was awesome in Boogie Night and amusing in Austin Powers 2 – but why The Hughes Bros let her continue with her performance in this is beyond me.
She is capable of much better, and so are the Brothers (Menace 2 Society) but she is so flat in this movie I was hoping The Ripper would hurry up and get her already, just to put her out of my misery. Doe-eyed, dick-van-***e accented tart-with-a-heart? Cliché anyone?
So what was good about this movie?
The set-design.
Filmed in Prague, it really does look like Victorian London, dirty, smoggy and realistic, top marks for that.
Robbie Coltrane – essentially doing his usual performance, but amongst so many earnest Americans choking on accents, he’s a breath of fresh air as is Ian Holm playing surgeon to the Royal Family.
The Hughes Bros: They direct with style, energy and some nice touches (fast-forward from the body being discovered, right through the night and to the next morning all in one-shot with people buzzing around like hummingbirds). These guys know their stuff.
My main gripe is for a movie about a guy that terrorised London, there is a marked lack of tension from this movie. There are no jumpy moments, no sense of danger for anyone involved at all.
It’s “Anuvver murder Inspecta!” “Gor Blimey no!” “Yeah, it’s da Ripper, wot a bloody bleedin’ villain, and no mistake!” “Gor Blimey!”
Ever seen French and Saunders take off period-drama movies? Well it’s like one of those.
Unintentionally amusing, lacking in tension, no sense of the fear London had.
And the ending. I’m not going to spoil it, but we all know that The Ripper was never caught, never identified and simply vanished from wherever he came from.
Now, if you’re going to do a movie about Jack The Ripper, you can’t be changing the facts so everyone can leave the cinema happy.
I sat back at the end and thought “What?! You what?! Did you even read about this story before you wrote it? What in the name of dramatic reconstruction are you doing?”
From Hell:
Worth watching for Robbie Coltrane and Johnny Depp being odd again, and worth watching for unintentional comedy value.
But not worth watching if you are after a tense, exciting 2hrs.
Go watch “Without a Clue” instead, it’s much funnier and thrilling.