The Raven [DVD]

The content of the dvd - the movie - is wonderful. I was only surprised that the picture and sound quality was not good but I am not sure whether it was the dvd or maybe, my laptop's fault. Yet, I was able to watch the movie and that is what counts. I was quite annoyed by the commercials that play automatically in the beginning before the main movie can be played but I think it is the case with most dvds. I loved the movie itself and I can recommend it to anyone interested - just read my movie review on The Raven's official Facebook page or my own author page under the name of Aisha Baranowska on Facebook. You will find that I have compared this movie to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for the tragic love story which is overshadowed by the criminal thread in this wonderful work of fiction, as well as by the dark thriller with lots of blood... ;-) Yet, it is a quite decent movie suitable for people 15-years-old and up, as it says on the dvd. The end has brought tears to my eyes. It has a deep message in it and its emotional appeal is very strong indeed, at least to me. I always rate very high all movies that have the power to melt my heart and make me cry. When a movie can impress me, it is always a movie of high value, so you can be sure this one is worth of watching. :-) It made me study Edgar Allan Poe's dubious biographies and his works more closely and I find myself totally absorbed by the subject... ;-)

Cusack is a pleasant actor to watch, seems natural with a hint that he might be about to perform a Vincent Price wink to camera.However, though this Poe is acceptably modernised in performance, there is a persistent name-dropping of key people from Poe's real history blended less than seamlessly with a graphic-novel stylised version of Poe'ness; there seems to be a distinct lack of the true gothic to the whole atmosphere. Fog & a thinned out forest of thin trees does not make for gothicism. And the blood was hardly super-abundant, indeed, dwelling on death as a motif or telling theme seems to gone by the way-side, becoming background shade.The overall effect was similar to a blend of From Hell and one of the Conan Doyle based tales that was under the monicker of Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes, it had that 'lets hunt a serial killer in period costume' feel. There was more a sense of Gaston Leroux to the proceedings too, which could have again made it more gothic in the crime arena. But it did not. Perhaps it was a little over-polished.Clean, clinical with a fine series of performances. Lacking emotional details, or a sense of overt passion, perhaps there was an attempt to avoid the camp or gothic hysteria which could have made it less money but more rewarding. It will probably grow on people, benefit from further watching, but i fear the clinician that made it is driven to a youthful bent, that has limited the sense of pervading dread and sheer gravity of age, that Poe encapsulated & felt. I could have done with a few trappings or cliches just to add a little pepper, say a cobweb or a stage-hand peeling what might be a grape...

This has got to be the best movie i've seen cince watching From Hell with Johnny Depp that has mixed mystery with a spookiness feeling about it, that made it very close to Edgar Allen Poe's psychological mind that made him onw of the few all tine writers, even if he was a bit crazy, the movie, like From Hell makes it a must buy and a must see for anybody who has read The Raven, a fan or Edgar Allen Poe or even a fan of John Cusack, had waited a good while to see it before I got, very glad I did, watch it, very well written and made

Luke Evans as a detective is more interesting than John Cusack as E.Poe. Is interpretation is somewhat boring and deja vu. Although I must admit the synergy between the two work and actually save the movie.

I really enjoyed this film: Poe's stories were inspiration for a serial killer, so Poe himself helps the police with their investigations. When Poe's own love interest is abducted, it becomes a race against time to save her. The film offers an explanation into Poe's own suspicious death, which was plausible within the story in this film. An entertaining mix of true-life and fiction: worth a look, especially for Poe fans.

I must admit, I wasn't expecting much considering some of the reviews I have seen but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole film. If you are into Poe's stories and you like a good victorian gothic horror story then this is the film for you. Dark and atmospheric, it's just the job for late at night with the lights out, cuddled up to the dog. Good acting, good story, just enough gore to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty. I would recommend this film - absolutely superb!

Really good film, John Cusack is brilliant in it. I like period films like this, it reminds me of The Woman in Black.

John Cusack is great in this almost unknown thriller. Great story and acting. Very recommended indeed! J Counsell.