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Pulled one off the as yet (far too large) unopened pile last night. The Raven, with John Cusack and Brendan Gleeson, from 2011. Bought it during my local video store's periodic very low priced used disc sales (cost was less than a rental). Directed by the same guy who did V for Vendetta, which I really liked, starring one of my favourite actors (Cusack--though recent career choices have not been among his best) and based on elements (mostly fictional, but not all) of one of my favourite American poets, I figured I'd enjoy it.
Well, I didn't hate it (and it did have Alice Eve to look at) but I was disappointed, considering the talent involved. The look and "feel" of the film is well done--a believable recreation of mid-19th century Baltimore as viewed by Edgar Allan Poe--but the story lacks coherence. There are good moments but transitions from one to the other are not as well-developed as they could have been. I don't mind that I bought it, considering its price, but I would not recommend buying it for more than 5$ at most. It is more properly a rental/streaming title (though its heavy use of dark scenes might make a streaming version look considerably worse than the disc), and probably only for fans of gothic tales set in the 19th century. You won't likely feel your time was wasted watching it, but you should feel no great need to make any detours to view it. It's not essential viewing by any stretch.
Well, I didn't hate it (and it did have Alice Eve to look at) but I was disappointed, considering the talent involved. The look and "feel" of the film is well done--a believable recreation of mid-19th century Baltimore as viewed by Edgar Allan Poe--but the story lacks coherence. There are good moments but transitions from one to the other are not as well-developed as they could have been. I don't mind that I bought it, considering its price, but I would not recommend buying it for more than 5$ at most. It is more properly a rental/streaming title (though its heavy use of dark scenes might make a streaming version look considerably worse than the disc), and probably only for fans of gothic tales set in the 19th century. You won't likely feel your time was wasted watching it, but you should feel no great need to make any detours to view it. It's not essential viewing by any stretch.