The Raven: Movie Review

The movie "The Raven," is superior to expectations. The screenwriting is so eloquent, its almost Shakespeare; the actors have caught genuine humanity rather than a superficiality that would have come easily with this subject. All the details of costuming and creativity of filming truly add to the tone and mood of Baltimore in the 1840's. And it was filmed in Hungary and Croatia. Good job Eastern Europeans!

Poe and Emily.

John Cusack presents Edgar Allen Poe as the intelligent, distraught individual that history describes. But he is not frenetic; the activity is in his mind and from his pen. The characters created for this story are so genuine, you feel that you could look them up in Wikipedia. Emily is so caught up in the courtly beauty of Edgar's poetry, she really loves him. He is truly attractive to her.

Old School Graphic Novel

If you have been fortunate enough to have a sound public school background in literature, you will recognize references to Poe's stories, poems, and some Shakespeare, too. MacBeth appears. And for Poe scholars, I think you will be satisfied with references to his life, including his mentioning West Point, and his final words.

1858 illustration, "The Raven"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raven

http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/tell-tale-heart.html

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/annabel-lee/ 

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/POE/cask.html "The Cask of Amontillado."

http://poestories.com/read/pit "The Pit and the Pendulum."

Masque of the Red Death, illustration 1919

 http://www.online-literature.com/poe/36/  "The Masque of the Red Death."

I am guessing Poe could also be sarcastic, and the screenwriters gave him a great line. When someone mentions the serial killer is using Poe's ghastly stories as inspiration, Poe quips, "If I'd known that would happen, I'd have written more erotica."

 As for the 'R' rating, it is well-earned. Don't take middle-schoolers. Maybe Juniors and Seniors in high school. This is not a supernatural tale, and life is scarey enough without viewing what a demented mind can do to another human on a huge, bloody screen. A 45-foot swinging pendulum is not something you need in your dreams when you're 13 years old.

Here is some of the music by Lucas Vidal written for the movie. It is interesting. Even some sort of techno, I think. Incidental music also included a nocturne by Chopin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVM55fLjPc&feature=related

I took this pic at the Tower of London. Who knew ravens liked french fries?