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Dadrose62
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- Review count3
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- First reviewNovember 21, 2010
- Last reviewOctober 28, 2011
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- Average rating4.3
Dadrose62's Reviews
Overall rating
3
/
5
Nothing new, but still ripping ... er, gripping
PostedOctober 28, 2011
Dadrose62
from Kansas City, MO
The Fathom Events documentary about Jack the Ripper offers nothing new for hard-core Ripperologists (people that have studied the case intensely) so don't go into it thinking that there will be a climactic "Aha!" moment at the end where they reveal the true identity of the world's first serial killer.
My friend that accompanied me thought that this was going to be a theatrical movie about Jack the Ripper and was a little disappointed that we weren't seeing something like Johnny Depp's "From Hell", so be forewarned if you go to see this, IT'S A DOCUMENTARY!
On the positive side, the film is an outstanding look at the events from a practical point of view. It examines most of the facts that we know about the "Autumn of Terror" without falling prey to the sensationalist conspiracy theories and red herrings that have overwhelmed the case since before Mary Kelly met her grisly end in her apartment in November, 1888.
Visually, the film works on a certain level in that you get the sense of the layout of Whitechapel in 1888 as the filmmakers use computer animation to re-create the buildings and the streets (because 95% of them no longer exist, of course) and you can get a sense of how a man could murder and hack up five prostitutes on the streets of London without getting caught.
The one thing about the film that bothered me most is that the depiction of Whitechapel in 1888 is far too sanitary and clean. That goes for the people living there too. The actors are just too attractive and the neighborhood, as my friend said during the movie, "doesn't look that bad". WTF?!?
Whitechapel during Jack's time was literally a toilet, with human and animal waste piling up in the streets, the most abhorrent living conditions any "civilized" area may have ever had, and disease rampant throughout. You don't see any of that during the movie. In fact, you will be wondering where all the people are because the streets depicted are amazingly empty considering the area had a population density in 1888 that is many times greater than Manhattan, NY has today.
The overall "look" of the film, along with acting that would make your local community theater wince, is far and away the reason that I could only give this flick 3-stars in my review.
However, getting back to the facts of the murders, "Jack" gives you the opinions of several of the most recognizable "Ripperologists" and historians of our time, most notably Donald Rumbalow. They tell you everything FACTUAL about Jack the Ripper that anyone studying the case would want. They give their opinions on what the police thought at the time, what suspects they believe COULD have been Jack, and even do some serial killer profiling for the time as to his possible motives.
At the end, the film presents three men that the filmmakers thought might have been the most possible suspects, without flying off on the royal conspiracy stuff that is great for theatrical movies (like "From Hell", or my all-time favorite, Christopher Plummer's 1979 flick, "Murder By Decree") but don't really have a place in a documentary.
My friend, after getting over her disappointment at seeing a documentary instead of Depp, enjoyed learning about the case and also recommends seeing it. But the $12.50 that we paid for it here in Kansas City, was a little excessive.
"Jack" was preceded by "Butterfinger 13", a short film obviously sponsored by the Nestle Corporation to sell more of their delicious candy bars at Halloween-time.
For sake of full disclosure, we arrived half-way through the movie as we showed up at our normal 20-25 minutes before the time printed on our ticket. I was a little annoyed because I had called the theater earlier to make sure that 8:15 was the time EVERYTHING started and was told that it was. Obviously it wasn't.
That being said, I saw probably half the movie and it didn't take a rocket scientist to quickly catch up on the "story". Let's just say it was a bit of a rehash of slasher movies since "Friday the 13th" and looked like it would have been a really terrific student film from UCLA or another artsy film school. Much like the candy bar (which was my favorite Halloween candy throughout my childhood) it had a tasty moment, but as soon as the credits rolled, I was hungry for something else.
And "Jack" delivered a nice, albeit familiar, main course.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Movie Magic Made For Muggles
PostedJuly 16, 2011
Dadrose62
from Kansas City, MO
Brilliant send off to one of the most beloved characters in literary history (yes ... I mean that for all you Rowling-bashers out there). The great thing about the Potter literary franchise is that Rowling's world is so rich and full that they could have made a six-hour Part 2 movie and people would still nit-pick about things getting "left out". However, for fans of the previous seven films, this finale couldn't possibly disappoint overall.
I'll say right now that I think Daniel Radcliffe gives an amazing performance and should get consideration next spring for an Oscar nod. His growth as an actor is clearly evident onscreen. Is he Lawrence Olivier yet? No, but he's clearly a real actor now and not just a kid who lucked out and got the part of a lifetime.
My only caution to this movie is that you MUST be aware of the World of Harry Potter before seeing it because Director Yates wastes no screen time filling the viewer in on background story. It's action from start to finish. This movie won't make you a fan of the Potter series if you aren't already one, but it's completely and utterly satisfying.
I took a handful of napkins into the theater with me for the inevitable tears and I must say that I held up well until the final scene with Snape and Harry. When Snape utters the classic recurring Potter-line "You have your mother's eyes", I just lost it. Alan Rickman does more in five minutes of a flashback scene to sum up Snape's hidden heroism and heartbreak, than most actors can do in a full film. HE should get a Supporting Actor nod for the Oscars too.
This is also the one film since "Avatar" that uses 3D technology the way we WANT 3D technology to be used. I've seen it twice, once in 3D and once in 2D and even though both were good, the 3D blew me away. It's definitely worth the extra few dollars to see it the first time. After that? The 2D is just fine.
Oh, and the infamous "19-years later" epilogue? I thought that it was cute, but a little short. Yates should have given it another five minutes or so to flesh out the future Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny a bit more. My friend who has seen the series on Opening Day with me from the beginning, wasn't thrilled with Ron Weasley's aging -- and little pot belly -- but it was good otherwise.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Outstanding adaptation of the book!
PostedNovember 21, 2010
Dadrose62
from Kansas City, MO
Deathly Hallows was such an enormous book that I was thrilled when I heard they were going to make it into two separate movies. Now that Part I is on the screens, they should all give themselves a giant pat on the back for doing the impossible. They've made "Harry Potter" fans like me be even more impatient for the release of Part II next Summer.
I will admit that seeing Ron, Hermione and Harry as near-adults is a little sad and disconcerting. The "dad" part of me wants them to remain young kids, but the movie-goer in me loved, loved, loved seeing them in this movie.
It is a VERY dark movie and parents of young children should think twice about bringing them to the theater without a few words of warning first. In the men's restroom immediately after the movie, there were more than a few red eyes and sniffles. And that was from the grown-up guys like me. It was the "Dobby" thing, as if you couldn't guess. Let's just say Dobby's last scene in the movie had the same effect on men as the "Hey Dad ... you wanna have a catch?" line from Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams".
The only other warning that I would give is that you NOT bring a friend who isn't completely familiar with the Harry Potter Universe. I don't see any way a "newbie" could walk into this movie and have any idea what was going on whatsoever. There are no kindly professors gently explaining things in this movie.
I've seen it twice already (once with a friend and once by myself) and might see it two or three more times at this point. Brilliant movie!!!!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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