From Hell (DVD) > Reviews

Advantages: Good story telling, atmospheric location
Disadvantages: Casting choices

Incredibly enough, From Hell was the first movie that I had ever seen about the notorious killer Jack The Ripper. A number of films have been made over the years, but I’d somehow managed to miss them all, and so I had no real prior knowledge of the story behind the myth. I’d read mixed reviews of the film, both here and on other sites, but I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t intrigued by the whole story and looked forward to seeing ... Read review

Advantages: the visuals and the way the film puts shiver through you
Disadvantages: the 'twist' isn't a twist by the end of the film!

From Hell was a film I wasn’t expecting too much from. It was a film that I laid down to watch in bed last night not all that tired, but I didn’t think I would make it through 2 hours of movie and thought I would be watching the other half tonight. However, I finished it all last night, eyes fixed to the screen! From Hell is a film which to me, has a strong resemblance to Sleepy Hollow, not just because both have Johnny Depp playing the ... Read review

Advantages: See text below
Disadvantages: See text below

...Campbell. Their graphic novel – From Hell – is now (cue gravel voiced voiceover guy) A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE STARRING JOHNNY DEPP AND HEATHER GRAHAM. Oh – you want to know what theory? Read on. ***YER BASIC PLOT*** 1888. London. Through the filth ridden streets of Whitechapel we roam, witnessing men urinating freely in the street, and “bang-tails” plying their trade to men of all social standings. Meet Mary ... Read review

Advantages: Depp, Coltrane, Costumes, and rare sight of "Nicole"
Disadvantages: Death, prejudice, and drunken debauchery

...reviews, even here on Ciao. From Hell is based somewhat on the events surrounding the late 19th Century serial murderer nicknamed "Jack the Ripper". The appeal of this story is that the case was never solved and numerous speculations and theories have been raised about it. What is known is that 5 prostitutes were murdered in public alleys in the centre of london and were butchered to remove certain organs from them. In each of the murders nothing ... Read review

Advantages: Great reproduction of Victorian London
Disadvantages: Everything else

...1888, it’s NOT Crackerjack. Far from it. Whitechapel is a Victorian Sodom and Gomorrah; the streets team with filth, drunks, villains, prostitutes and all manner of darkness and debauchery. We visit upon a group of six prostitutes, including Mary Kelly (Heather Graham), who have formed themselves into a loose collective in an effort to protect themselves from a local small time crook who is running a prostitute protection racket. Amongst the ... Read review

Advantages: See review
Disadvantages: see review

...speaking so. It drew away from the film, which would have been better done with a real Londoner! The film was made in Prague, and a creation of the White chapel area was made on a 20-acre site, to recreate what life was life in the Victorian days. Streets with cobblestones, dimly lit gas lamps, and people with nothing to do hanging around on street corners, just about sum it up! The film is quite predictable, and the ‘killer’ is obvious soon ... Read review

Advantages: Depp is as always very cool
Disadvantages: I watched it

...new bathroom, making a sandwich from ham on the turn, nasty) but have usually seen it through to the end (in the case of the ham it felt like it was ending me). Watching ‘From Hell’ though not life threatening is one of those times. I sat down with the preconception that this was going to be the definitive ‘Jack the ripper’ movie, dangerous things preconceptions, try and stay away from them if you can. Anyway on with the show, “take your seats mi ... Read review

Advantages: Exciting
Disadvantages: More form than substance

...the 'truth' as depicted in From Hell, less a couple of romanticised details, of course, seems now to be popularly regarded as exactly that, with the monarchy itself and certainly the upper echelons of the state intimately implicated in the matter. It's certainly a romantically appealing ideal of corruption at the highest levels, although a quick look-see at http://www.movieforum.com/features/festivals/tiff01/reviews/fromhell.shtml reveals "The ultimate ... Read review

Advantages: Depp,Excellent set,watchable,realistic.
Disadvantages: Major Flaws,Poor Casting.

Well, as some of you know I have a certain thing for the actor Johnny Depp, ahem ok he's a babe! So it was not a difficult choice to pick yet another film starring the man himself. From Hell sounded great and never got round to seeing it at the cinema so it was this weekends viewing.. The story is set in 1888 London, Whitechapel to be exact, and the set is certainly very convincing. Lots of dark dingy alleyways, low swirling mist and a bunch ... Read review

Advantages: wonderful visuals, compelling storyline
Disadvantages: has that "Hollywood" feel

...there was a comic book from which the movie gains its source material. In fact, I had no intention of watching a movie called "From Hell" at all, but fate intervened in one if its mysterious ways and From Hell is what I saw - and very glad I am too. From Hell is based upon a comic book which itself is based upon the Jack The Ripper cases which terrorised Whitechapel in the late 19th century. Do NOT let that put you off though because as comic ... Read review

Advantages: A twist on previous Ripper movies, good 'feel' to the film, enjoyable
Disadvantages: maybe not as scary as some would like

...Potter’, of course), rouses him from his stupor. He is led to the first of the killings and begins his investigations. They take him into a world of Royal intrigue with rumours that Prince Albert is involved with a prostitute. It’s being covered up by ‘Special Branch’, whose own chief – Ben Kidney - is a possible suspect for Abberline’s scrutiny. He consults with noted Surgeon Sir William Gull - Ian Holm - (played with a little more menace that ... Read review

Advantages: Costumes, Script, Scenery
Disadvantages: Lighting, Direction, Sound

...moving camera shows the movie from a "peeping tom" point of view, and then half the movie doing slow glorious cinematic shots - one simply does not go with the other. Classic filming for what should become a classic movie maybe would 've been better mate. Even Traffic wont become a classic, and the camera jolting is still annoying. And then sound. Oh Lord... The soundtrack is either SO loud, or the speakers in the cinema were buggered ONLY for ... Read review