The Raven (2012)

Let me break it out to you by guaranteeing that if you watch this movie you will be at a minimum entertained. Since films are made with that... n in mind, we could all agree that this production did their job exactly as expected. Although, something has to be said for the collection of mockeries that continue to test our patience and make us feel like we've been robbed and laughed out of our hard earned cash. Yes. Don't look away. You know who you are... Grab a tub of popcorn, bring your favorite movie companion, sit down, and prepare yourself to have a decent time. The premise is simple. Edgar Allan Poe, famous horror novelist of the time. You do know this is a period piece you are watching? 1800s? ... Ok. So, Poe's finals days on earth are a bit of a mystery, and Hollywood decided what better way for a famous horror novelist to spend those last few days of his life than to get entangled in his own horror fare. Brilliant. Yes? Obviously the guy didn't get enough of it in his factual life. Our guy finds himself in the middle of what appears to be the endless pursuit of a criminal that uses Poe's famous novels as staging for fresh murders of his own. And, to make things a bit more edgy, the bad guy kidnaps Poe's bride to be moments before they're about to announce their engagement. Intense and puzzling. Definitely fun. Since I'm a guy, I'm going to point out to my fellow men that this is not the kind of movie that's going to get you laid. John Cusack used to do those kinds of movies back when. But he's gone from holding a boom box like no one else could in \"Say Anything\" to becoming an irate alcoholic with a penchant for poetry and even a streak of suicide in this one... Well, I did tell you this movie won't get you laid. Now, ladies, I do hear some of you find Mr. Cusack attractive. But if he's not your cup of tea, Luke Evans might just do the trick. He's a handsome foreigner from Wales that holds the eye. Both actors do a good job at the act. Their roles are convincing and well written. It would be superfluous to give Cusack the extra credit for playing Edgar Allan Poe. A clearly challenging role. He's after all the movie star here and expected to get the film to recoup moneys invested. John! You got a few bills from me! Happy to oblige! The rest of the ensemble played it well. Alice Eve looked fantastic as the lady in distress buried in a basement. Literally. She had a few choice words at the start. Even read some poetry here and there. But her talents were largely invested later on in the picture. Wearing a super tight bustier. Crying, sobbing, begging and screaming from under a pile of dirt. I ran this by an actor friend of mine and he did confirm it is a tough gig to do all that nonsense while laying flat on a hard wood-plank set for 12 hours straight. So, props to you Miss Eve. It looked fantastic from where I was sitting. Full Review

This movie started off so promising and fell completely flat on its face. It had so much potential, its like the writers/directors gave up half way... hrough the film, even the acting progressivley worsened. Was not worth seeing in theaters Full Review

Cusack is fabulous. Absolutely perfect choice of casting. Yes, the critics think it's a mediocre film, ********* a treat for viewers. \"The... en\" kept me feeling the same tension and goulish fascination that reading Poe does. It's disgusting and creepy, and yet you can't step away from it. You just know it'll be an awful ending, yet you hope for the best. I loved it. Will go on my annual Halloween line-up with Dep's \"Sleepy Hollow\" and \"Barber of Seville.\" Full Review

This was a great firlm from beginning to end...it held notonly my attention but the attention of my teenage grandsons who found it to be intelligent... and thrilling....it made for great conversation afterwards. Don't listen to the cititics, enjoy one of the few really good films out there today, it's worth it... Full Review

i WENT TO SEE A MYSTERY...(NOW I'M RESEARCHING TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE ENDING WAS SO BLUNT WITH THE NAME OF 'REYNOLDS')...now that's the mystery... art because I coudn't keep up with the plot for the explicit HORROR! Not my genre. I'm not a gore fan but I can stand a murder if it has something to do with the plot but I don't think this one grusome mess was necessary to tell the story at all..--MO Full Review