Jack the Ripper

Starring:Jack the Ripper Conspiracies
Studio: Delta
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
There was a time when just the whisper of the name Jack the Ripper struck terror into the hearts of the brave. It was autumn, the fall of 1888, and an evil monster, responsible for committing a series of gruesome murders, was stalking the streets of London. The crimes have never been solved to this day and the story of Jack the Ripper is still the stuff of nightmares.

Conspiracy theories abound and suspects literally range from British Royalty to the lowest of the low, from native East Enders born within the sound of Bow Bells to an American "Quack" Doctor who regularly visited the streets of White Chappel. There is not a soul worldwide who can resist the challenge of unmasking Jack the Ripper. This program has been presented in such a way as to help both learned experts and amateur sleuths alike to do just that!

Amazon.com

Heavy on atmosphere and light on everything else, From Hell is visually impressive while lacking the depth of the acclaimed graphic novel it's based upon. Making their third feature since 1993's Menace II Society, twins Allen and Albert Hughes approach the Jack the Ripper case with physical precision, re-creating the gritty Whitechapel district of 1888 London in meticulous detail. What they've forgotten is the sheer terror that gripped Whitechapel in the wake of the Ripper's slaying of five prostitutes, investigated here by a Scotland Yard sleuth (Johnny Depp) who uses opium, laudanum, and absinthe to fuel his semiprescient visions of the slayings. Heather Graham attempts a slippery Cockney accent as a would-be victim, while Ian Holm steals the show as a has-been surgeon with devilish delusions of grandeur. Violence is obliquely suggested or briefly graphic, but no matter how you cut it, From Hell is only marginally thrilling as it treads familiar territory. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A well-made Ripper movie with twists!.......2007-04-28

The Jack the Ripper murders in nineteenth century London has remained an intriguing unsolved mystery with many plausible theories behind the identity of the Ripper. Based on this background, From Hell posits the theory that the Ripper was actually a member of the British Royal Family, Prince Victor Albert who married & sired a child with a commoner, worse still a prostitute, and the movie revolves around the cover-up by members of the British upper class. Johnny Depp plays the role of the investigating officer who falls for a prostitute, Mary Kelly, played by the beautiful Heather Graham. There is more to the story than just that of course, and the plot is well driven, there is never a dull moment. What makes the movie truly gripping besides the credible performances by the leads is the realistic portrayal of London's Whitechapel district...one gets the sense that it is not a movie one's watching but the district as it truly was with all its poverty, squalor, disease and debauchery. The atmosphere is filled with menace and a sense of evil and this thriller makes for riveting viewing!

Interesting take on an infamous case.......2007-03-22

Based on the premise that the infamous Jack the Ripper case may have involved a member of the British Royal family, namely Prince Albert Victor and hints at possible connections to the notorious Cleveland Street scandal of 1889.

The film explores an alleged plot by Freemasons and high-placed persons in the British government to keep that knowledge away from the general public.

Visually stunning with accurate costumes and sets.

Entertaining but not historically accurate.......2007-02-22

For general entertainment purposes this movie is very good. However the audience must be cautioned that this movie is not historically accurate by any means. Abberline wasn't an opium addict, nor did he die at the end of the case (he live well into the 1920's). The murdered prostitutes never knew eachother, and the royal conspiracy theory is laughable at best. For a good weekend entertainment movie this film will certainly fulfill that need. This is not for the individual looking to learn more about the case.

From Hell (Two-Disc Special Edition).......2007-02-13

I have both the single disc widescreen edition and this issue. The extra bonus material is well worth having. Check out some of the Amazon sellers for GREAT prices if you already own the single disc version.
I especially enjoyed seeing how accurate the scenes were from line drawings from police reports or newspapers of the time and from crude photographs depicting the murder sites. The brothers Hughes did an EXCELLENT job recreating late 19th century London's White Chapel district.
I'm happy with this buy. The movie disc is exactly the one in the single disc version with the same bonuses which actually are pretty decent. The 2nd Disc is loaded with lots of interesting info on making the movie, "Ripper-ology", possible suspects, etc.
John Row
in1ear

Graphic , well paced , dramatization of the Jack The Ripper story.......2006-09-09

The Hughes Brothers created a nightmarish vision of Victorian London only matched by some of Dickens novels. Johnny Depp and Heather Graham are fabulous as the police inspector investigating the case and a prostitute who is a friend to the victims.
The film is beautifully shot and the atmosphere of the grimy southside of London is captured incredibly well. The murder scenes are very graphic and this is definitely not for the squeemish or the very young. Depp plays a role similar to the one he played in Sleepy Hollow but this is a much more serious movie aimed at a different audience. My kids loved Sleepy Hollow but I wouldn't let them watch this. It would give them nightmares for a week.

The plot is interesting and while fictional it has enough plausibilty to engage the viewer for it's entire length.

Johnny Depp is an incredible talent. After seeing him in this,Pirates, Slepy Hollow and Edward Scissorhands I have to conclude that this guy is the best actor of his generation. He is always interesting to watch.

Average customer rating:

Where Terror and Madness Are In Full Bloom
Torture garden
Class Brit horror
"There's nothing like a good fright for toning up the circulation."
ENTERTAINING HORROR ANTHOLOGY.....

Torture Garden
Starring: Beverly Adams , David Bauer , Michael Bryant , Norman Claridge , and Peter Cushing
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Asylum
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ASIN: B000AM6OOY
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Description

A special sideshow torture exhibit has the power, according to showman Dr. Diablo, to warn people of evil in their futures. As skeptical customers are shown the greed and violence they're hiding, one of them snaps and kills Diablo. When they run off, we see the murder to be staged as part of the show. One of the customers has hung around to see this, and wants to make a deal with Diablo, aka the Devil.

Customer Reviews:

Where Terror and Madness Are In Full Bloom.......2007-02-23

In Torture Garden you won't see anyone whipped with string beans or turnips rammed under fingernails, but you do get a good collection of Robert Bloch horror stories...Amicus style! I like the horror anthology format for movies, it's something we really don't see much of anymore. Torture Garden is quite entertaining, but it falls victim to the same thing pretty much all anthologies suffer from, and that's the fact that not every story is a winner. It must be tough to make all the stories good, but sometimes there's that one or two that tend to fall short. But even the worst of Torture Garden is entertaining. I'd have to say the low point revolves around a homicidal piano. In reality, if a piano was trying to snuff you out, it would probably be terrifying, but in the film world, it's pretty silly. The Mangler should have taught us that homicidal inanimate objects are usually good for a laugh rather than a scare. You can't say it's not amusing though. This film stars Burgess Meredith, Peter Cushing and Jack Palance. As we all know, any movie by one of these actors is worth watching, so all three together is a no brainer. Meredith hams it up nicely as the sinister Dr. Diablo(the devil!!), our ringmaster for the horror stories. Palance is a joy to watch as a Poe collector who gets as giddy as a kid in a toy store when he's around Poe memorabilia. And has Cushing ever given it less than 100%? Nope! Modern horror audiences won't give this the time of day, but anyone who digs British horror of Hammer and Amicus(or reads Robert Bloch) should check this out if they haven't already.

Torture garden.......2007-01-10

Fabulous movie - great performances in the repertory style of their decade.Our favourite - the man who collected Poe;the wonderful Peter Cushing matched against Jack palance, neither sadly still with us.The pot pourri collection of stories is perfect for those who grew up with Creepy tales...and the tying story of old Nick collecting souls contains another stirling performance from dear Michael Ripper who inhabited virtually all horror movies of the time, or so it seemed.

Class Brit horror.......2006-05-19

This film is one of several "portmanteau" films made by Milton Subotsky at Amicus, the British horror studio second only to Hammer during the '60s and '70s.

The interlinking story is about four punters at a carnival sideshow run by the sinister Dr Diablo. They each look into the shears of the ancient goddess Atropos to see what their fate holds. The first story is a chiller about a playboy who rips off his dying uncle and winds up possessed by a homicidal cat. The second story is about a wannabe Hollywood starlet who discovers the horrifying secret behind her co-star's longevity. These first two stories are the slowest moving.

Things really pick up for the third story, in which a grand piano gets jealous of its owner's new girlfriend. The girlfriend is Barbara Ewing, later seen in Hammer's Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968). This segment is brilliantly filmed, with some great shock moments and effective photography.

The fourth story is a gem - Jack Palance and Peter Cushing play rival Edgar Allen Poe collectors, one of whom ends up avenged by the famous horror writer himself.

Palance and Meredith stand out among the cast (and of course Peter Cushing, who never gave a bad performance). A must-have for British horror from that era. If you like the style, Dr Terror's House of Horrors is an earlier Amicus effort in the same genre. Sadly, the latter has yet to gain a Region 1 release.

"There's nothing like a good fright for toning up the circulation.".......2005-10-18

Throughout the mid 60s and early 70s, Hammer Studios counterpart, Amicus Productions, also known as the Studio That Dripped Blood, formed through a partnership with producers Max Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky, churned out a series of wonderful little horror anthologies including Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965), The House That Dripped Blood (1970), Asylum (1972), Tales From The Crypt (1972), The Vault Of Horror (1973), From Beyond The Grave (1973), and this feature, titled Torture Garden (1967). Written by Robert Bloch (Psycho, The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum), and directed by Freddie Francis (The Evil of Frankenstein, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Tales from the Crypt), the film features Burgess Meredith (Rocky, Clash of the Titans), Jack Palance (Hawk the Slayer, Alone in the Dark), Beverly Adams (How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, The Silencers), and Peter Cushing (The Abominable Snowman, Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein). Also appearing is Michael Bryant (Bikini Summer II), John Standing (Au Pair Girls), John Phillips (Village of the Damned, The Mummy's Shroud), Barbara Ewing (Dracula Has Risen from the Grave), Robert Hutton (The Colossus of New York), and character actor Michael Ripper, whose appeared in over some thirty Hammer films over the years, including such features as X the Unknown (1956), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Mummy (1959), and The Brides of Dracula (1960), to name a few.

As the film begins, we're at the carnival, an English one, to be precise...it's ever so much fun with the rides and attractions...would you care for some for some blood pudding? No? How about a creamery scone? Doesn't that sound smashing? Maybe later...oh, look...Dr. Diabolo's Torture Garden...that's an odd attraction. Look, it's Burgess Meredith dressed up like a creepy transvestite, and he's promising the `thrill of a lifetime' to those willing to stick around, and pay a little more after the regular show...I don't like the sound of that...a handful stick around, and soon we're knee deep into the first tale about a man named Colin (Bryant). Seems Colin's in debt up to his neck, but a fair bit of luck comes his way after his seemingly well to do uncle kicks the bucket (with a little help from Colin...nothing wrong with making your own luck, is there?), and Colin is the sole beneficiary. Colin does collect on his inheritance, but it comes with a few strings attached, one being a cat with an unusual diet and psychic powers. The second story features a comely woman named Carla (Adams) who will do anything to make it in the movie biz, including betraying her flat mate (which she does). She soon learns of a group within the business, a select few who never seem to age (can you say Dick Clark?), and will do anything to protect their secret. The third tale involves a woman named Dorothy Endicott (Ewing) as a musical journalist doing a piece on a famed pianist, played by John Standing. The two hit it off quite well, and a romance ensues, but problems arise due to a strange relationship the man has with his piano, one that his mother gave him before she passed. The forth story features both Palance and Cushing as Ronald Wyatt and Lancelot Canning, respectively, both extremely avid Edgar Allan Poe collectors. Turns out this `Poe' passion runs in Canning's family, as his grandfather started the accumulating of Poe memorabilia, his father followed, and now Canning himself maintains that which has grown over the years into what some might call the penultimate Poe collection. Wyatt is envious, especially during a visit to Canning's house, which is basically a shrine to Poe, and discovers there's more to this collection that meets the eye.

This is an anthology, comprised of four stories plus a wraparound (the wraparound is the `in-between' story that ties the rest together). My general conception of these horror anthology type films is that some of the stories work, and some don't, a good ratio being somewhere around 50/50...this applies here, but for me, it wasn't that some of the stories didn't work, but just that they didn't work as well as the ones that did...probably sounds like I'm splitting hairs here, but I have seen an anthology or two where one story was so completely lacking it drew the rest down. Amicus did produce a number of different type films including horror (The Psychopath, Scream And Scream Again), and science fiction (They Came From Beyond Space, The Terrornauts), but their strength was the horror anthology (1972's Asylum is probably one of my favorites, of the ones I've seen so far). The strongest stories, in my opinion, are the first, being a fairly straight up horror tale, and the last, featuring Palance and Cushing, playing off pretty well against each other. You can see Palance's tendencies towards going overboard with a bit here, but it works given the nature of the character, particularly in that of an obsessed collector determined to get what he wants. The second story is more of a science fiction tale, while the third, featuring the man and his unusual relationship with his piano, was kinda goofy, but ended fairly well. The wraparound story, usually the weakest link in these films, is no different here, as Meredith's character comes across as an impish character from the 60s Batman television series, which he actually appeared on as the character The Penguin. Overall the stories aren't very horrific, generally not very shocking, but they do contain some cultivated creepiness, and there's a lot of fun to be had here.

The picture, presented in widescreen (1.85:1) anamorphic, looks very sharp, and the Dolby Digital mono audio comes through clean and clear. There's not much in terms of special features except for some unrelated previews of other Columbia Tristar Home Video releases like Frankenfish (2004), Devour (2005), Vampires: The Turning (2005), and a television mini-series titles Kingdom Hospital (2004). I'm hoping this release is a signal that more of the as yet unreleased Amicus anthologies are making their way to DVD, if only to illustrate to those who have the misconception that the horror anthology film genre originated with the release of Creepshow (1982), which is a great film, by the way (Creepshow 3 is scheduled to be released in 2006).

Cookieman108

ENTERTAINING HORROR ANTHOLOGY............2005-10-06

From Britain's Amicus Studio's anthology series is 1967's "Torture Garden", a quartet of ironic terror tales featuring a great cast, directed by horror pro Feddie Francis and written by Robert Bloch--no slouch in the horror genre himself. Burgess Meredith is Dr. Diablo, a carnival operator of a "Torture Garden"--a sideshow of ancient to modern torture devices. He lures a group of people into seeking their future from a Sybil he has on display...the Goddess of Fortune. They learn they each have an evil desire and see what happens should they pursue their greedy urge: a greedy nephew falls prey to a demonic cat owned by the uncle he murders; an ambitious starlet, willing to do anything for eternal fame, learns how those big stars last forever; a girl finds she has an unusual rival for her pianist boyfriend's affection....his piano; and there's Jack Palance and Peter Cushing in a tale about a fanatic Poe collector who gets much more than he bargained for. Good fun and a good DVD print make this a collector's item for those who love the old Amicus anthology films like "Asylum", the original "Tales From the Crypt" and "The House That Dripped Blood"---also written by Bloch. Enjoy.

Average customer rating:

FAR AND AWAY, THE BEST AND MOST PLAUSIBLE VERSION TO DATE
This one is worth seeing again and again.
Best of the Ripper Lot
The Juws are the men that will not be blamed for nothing
michael caine hunts the most famous killer in history

Jack the Ripper [Region 2]
Starring: Michael Caine , and Armand Assante
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000505FM

Customer Reviews:

FAR AND AWAY, THE BEST AND MOST PLAUSIBLE VERSION TO DATE.......2007-05-06

Michael Caine as Insp Abberline and Lewis Collins as Sgt Godley are a match made in police Heaven. They complement each other perfectly and work together on Scotland Yard's most famous unsolved case, still argued about to this day among Ripperologists.
The storyline is the most plausible, following Stephen Knight's The Final Solution faithfully. This theory exlains all the questions one has re: these murders and brings up one more that this version did NOT elaborate on, which is: Did Queen Victoria KNOW about (and condone) these murders in order to preserve the-then shaky state of the Monarchy?
The Freemason link, the murders done in accordance with a traitor's death in the Society, explains the more graphic details of the murders, and also the WHY of them. Sir William Gull, physician to the Queen, was also high up in the Masonic arena.
The carriage driver, Netley, (the real Netley died, fittingly, under the wheels of his own coach...an accident?) is played to the hilt by George Sweeney; just as slimy as the real driver most likely was..."impress a little man."
Armand Assante is great as the American actor Richard Mansfield, and Richard Morant as Dr Acland, Gull's son-in-law, is brilliant.
The most amazing aspect of this particular version is the taut pace which holds the viewer mesmerized for the duration of approx four hours!
The various characters, and the sub-stories within the whole, are fascinating and lend total credibility to the production. The real horror is suggested, and the director and writer wisely leave the bulk of the details to the imagination, which is more powerful than any written word. One shot which left me breathless with horror was the shot of the back of the carriage with blood streaming underneath. Then, of course, the one second glimpse of the Mary Kelley murder scene, the only Ripper murder committed within the privacy of a room, thus allowing JTR to do his work in peace at his leisure, a benefit he took full advantage of...this photograph actually exists, a contemporary work done due to the belief the face of the murderer might still be visible on the eyes of the corpse. It is horrific.
So see this one, it is magnificent and explains, really, the most plausible solution to this murder mystery with so many previously unanswered questions:
Why was the Ripper never caught despite heavy police presence?
Why was there never any blood found at the crime scenes?
Why these particular five "soiled doves?"
Why did the murders suddenly stop?
How was the Ripper able to move about with such ease, seemingly invisible, and why were the prossies so willing to go with this stranger when they should have been on their guard?
Why were Ripper files missing from Scotland Yard years later?
And why was the only crime scene evidence, the words of JTR, cleaned off immediately on the orders of Chief Superintendent Arnold?
"The Juwes are the men who will not be blamed for nothing"; removed, ostensibly, to offset any more anti-Semitic feelings of the time, were not, in point of fact, a reference to Jews at all, but refers to Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum who murdered Hiram Abif and were eventually found and ritually killed. See Masonic history for more info.
"Juwes" is said by Masons to refer to these three mythical characters at the time of the building of Solomon's temple. This is one of many pieces of evidence that masons and masonic symbolism may have been involved in these horrific murders...the murders themselves done according to Masonic ritual.
Robert James Lees, psychic, actually did predict, (his visions were so disturbing to him he left London briefly...upon his return, the visions came back) uncannily, the murders, and was later said to have cooperated with Insp Abberline who listened to him with great interest and followed him as they walked from the last crime scene up to the door of a wealthy surgeon of the day. The wife incriminated her husband, who was committed to an insane asylum under a pseudonym...

This one is worth seeing again and again........2006-07-21

I happened to catch this awesome film one morning on TBS. I work nights, and wound up staying up half the day to finish watching it. It was too good to turn off. This is definitely one of Michael Caine's best films, and the best "Ripper" film I've ever seen. "From Hell" included. The only problem with this classic thriller: it's a British-made film, and almost impossible to find. I do not yet have my own copy. I am hoping for a DVD release here in America.

Best of the Ripper Lot.......2006-05-13

Five murders of five prostitutes, taking place in the same area between August 31 and November 9, in 1888. To this day, the case remains officially unsolved. It's notariety is partially because it was the first serial murder case to be sensationalized in the press.

I saw this excellent version of the story when it originally aired on television. David Wickes (London Weekend Television) had done it again. Without getting overly graphic - made for TV, remember - the story of the East End prostitutes was brought to life with beautiful production values, an intelligent screenplay, and a top-flight cast.

The characters of Inspector Abberline (Michael Caine) and Sgt. George Godley are probably more accurate here than they are as portrayed in "From Hell." (One major error in "From Hell" is the character's death; Abberline died in 1929 of old age in Bournemouth.) They are played here as real; the sub-plot of Richard Mansfield (Armand Assante) is woven in authentically. The mood of the times is re-created with startling clarity, and the sequence of events holds with historical facts, only two or three minor exceptions.

The plotline of this version starts with Mary Nicholls' death, and follows through the investigation and confusion of the case, with each successive death adding to the tensions and social unrest. Mary Kelly was the last, and then Jack vanished into the mists of history. Although the running time on this version seems overlong (it was shown in two parts originally), the pacing never allows boredom to creep in. Wickes' production (he also directed) came to a conclusion similar to those presented in "Murder by Decree" (fictionalized to include Sherlock Holmes) and "From Hell." What is presented here is labeled as opinion, and it is plausible.

This is the one I watch again and again. If you see a copy, grab it! Here's hoping the DVD will become available.

The Juws are the men that will not be blamed for nothing.......2006-03-26

I originally saw this as a 2 part mini series on British television in the late 80's and was amazed at how good it was (I have since discovered that most British TV "police" series are VERY good).
Michael Caine is simply brilliant as detective Abberline and along with the rest of the wonderful cast make this probably the best Ripper movie of them all. I say movie as it is now presented as such, no long a 2 part mini series.
A short introdution at the begining of the movie explains that it is based on facts and togehther with leading crimanologists they have reached several conclusions, including whom they believe Jack the Ripper was...

It really is a must see thriller and one that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Get your hands on a copy NOW!

michael caine hunts the most famous killer in history.......2006-03-16

first off this is not a horror movie or just a shock your system story of jack the ripper. this tightly written mini-series about the murders plays as a mystery as caine playing the real life inspector who handled the case, sorts through the clues and hunts the killer. this was a very good mini-series and it was and is very tastefuly done story of the famous crime. caine is as good as he always is and for once the story is up to his great talent.

Berg - Lulu / Davis, Schafer, Bailey, Kuebler, Harries, Schone, Bardon, Glyndebourne

Average customer rating:

Lulu Review
Schäfer - the Lulu of our generation
LULU - Christina Schaeffer
Hair Raising - a Perfect Performance
A stunner.

Berg - Lulu / Davis, Schafer, Bailey, Kuebler, Harries, Schone, Bardon, Glyndebourne
Starring: Christine Schäfer , Kathryn Harries , Patricia Bardon (II) , Jonathan Veira , and David Kuebler
Director: Humphrey Burton , and Graham Vick (II)
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Berg - Wozzeck / Duesing · K. Ciesinski · Banks · R. Hamilton · R. Davies · Ormiston, Peter Mussbach · Sylvain Cambreling · Frankfurt Opera
Shostakovich - Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk / Secunde, Ventris, Kotcherga, Vas, Clark, Nesterenko, Capelle, Anissimov, Barcelona Opera
R. Strauss - Elektra
Britten - Peter Grimes / Davis, Vickers, Harper, Bailey, Royal Opera Covent Garden
Monteverdi - Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria / Christie, Spicer, Mijanovic, Abdeslam, Les Arts Florissants, Aix-en-Provence Opera

ASIN: B00014NE76
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

Alban Berg's second and last opera Lulu is one of the monuments of modernism, constructed around serial technique and containing scenes conceived of as Sonata-form, Suite, and so on. The bliss of Andrew Davis's conducting in this classic Glyndebourne production is that we forget all of this--Davis doesn't gloss over the music's intellectual content, but that's not what we think about as we watch and listen. Part of the production's strength is the prodigious performance by Christine Schafer as Lulu--for once we believe in the character's sexual energy and power; and Schafer makes her real enough as a person that we largely forget the work's intrinsic misogyny. The rest of the cast is admirable too: Norman Bailey brings something perversely sweet to the disreputable painter Schigolch; Kathryn Harries makes the dying words of Lulu's lesbian lover Geschwitz one of the work's lyric high points; David Kuebler is equally powerful as Alwa. The final duet between Lulu and her destroyer Jack the Ripper is one of Wolfgang Schone's great moments, but he is equally good as Dr Schon, the man Lulu marries and kills. This is a performance of energy and beauty, matched by a simple but effective production. --Roz Kaveney

Description

Winner of the 1997 Gramaphone Award for Best Video! This production by the Glyndebourne Festival Opera stars Christine Schafer, Kathryn Harries, and Wolfgang Schone. With its intensely beautiful score, this is one of the greatest operatic masterpieces of the 20th century. Andrew Davis conducts the London Philharmonic. Subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese. Color, 183 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Lulu Review.......2007-04-05

This is an amazing performance of Berg's Lulu. The impressive acting and singing may help distract you from music that is quite difficult to comprehend.

Schäfer - the Lulu of our generation.......2006-01-02

This is a great production.
The sets are minimal and the costumes are essentially modern. However, the acting, singing and pacing of this opera is as close to perfect as one could ever hope for. I have the Teresa Stratas / Pierre Boulez recording on CD on DG. Boulez' Lulu is very "in your face" and he revels in the atonality of the work. However, this Glyndebourne production actually makes the work sound more lyrical and natural.

I highly recommend this recording - along with Christine Schäfer's 'One Nigh. One Life' DVD.
Lulu isn't an easy work and it isn't meant to be easy listening. However, as a human drama, it is in a league of its own. Some have said that Christine Schäfer was too young for this part - she sings in a clear, vibrato-free voice (she has a voice perfect for 18th century music) - how her youth and "earthy sexiness" are great assets here, we can easily believe that men will do foolish and criminal things to possess her.

LULU - Christina Schaeffer.......2005-04-26

The best LULU, the real one! The YOU MUST HAVE IT!

Martin

Hair Raising - a Perfect Performance.......2005-01-28

I cannot say enough good about Glyndebourne's 1996 production of Berg's
opera recently (and finally) released on video here in the States.
Initially I believed I'd be disappointed in this unit set. Wrong. A tall,
brick semi-circular wall of red brick with offset white bricks that extend
as necessary into beams, creating an angular stage wide staircase joining
otherwise impossible to use doorways, etc. A bare floor with 3 or 4
concentric circles revolves (sometimes in opposite directions) as necessary
denoting scene changes etc. At its direct center is a vast round hole.
This circular concept is fascinatingly explored bookending Lulu's going
full circle - beginning and ending in the gutter. Interesting too watching
her rise from this hole (a really great visual) in her first scene to
sinking permanently into it in the final. Once again the team of Graham
Vick and Paul Brown shed new light on one of opera's best bad girl
stories. That said light is brilliant is a cause for celebration!

Andrew Davis leads the London Philharmonic in a reading of the score that
may well be the most heavily romantic I've encountered. Berg's exquisite
melodies have never sounded more obvious (and sometimes drawn out -
wondrously so) as here. The jazz elements never sound foreign or archly
intrusive as they sometimes can, but rather all of a piece. The audience -
already berserk at final curtain goes berserker still at Maestro Davis's
bow.

If ever a singer was made for a role it is Christine Schaefer. Ms.
Schaefer's incarnation of this notoriously and fiendishly difficult role
comes off, both in voice and body, as an almost "victoire trop facile" for
she is, quite simply, Lulu. Schaefer exudes a raw, otherwordly femininity
and sensuality - the first notable gal to play by her own rules, facing
odds and consequences with an aplomb most men either find shocking or
forget completely the scruples they once possessed. Brilliantly
costumed Schaefer looks amazing whether she's in leather, lace or latex.
Heck, this Lulu even makes a bath towel look like evening wear. (And
the "painting" with her in almost painted on pants is hot stuff.)

Wolfgang Schoene paints Schoen in broad strokes on a huge emotional canvas
and the payoff is huge! Wonderful throughout, he is particularly
mesmerizing watching this "giant" of a human reduced to putty in the letter
writing scene. He is a helpless bear and he gets his just desserts, alright!

While not vocally - physically, in Kathryn Harries's portrayal of Geschwitz
looks like Frederica von Stade. Her countess is particularly pitiable, a
frightened bird - her act of heroism in the escape comes off with
incredible passion. Also a little creepy since I found it impossible to
decide whether the act was purely selfless or selfish. Her grizzly, filthy
demise following Lulu's horrifying screams were particularly chilling and
heartbreaking.

Stephan Drakulic offers a tremendous portrayal of the Painter. Here we see
Lulu's first victim (not, of course, sequentially) trapped in a fatal
obsession where he's so hot for her he can't keep his hands off her (or his pants on). His Act II with Schoen is really played out bigger than I recall in any other Lulu and it is shattering to watch both ego and love fly out the
window as Schoen repeatedly suggests his sole success was having "married a
half a million" - reducing the artist to nothing in a matter of minutes.
His return as a post punk, metal white trash Negro was initially a
humorous, then chilling turn.

Wonderful to see Norman Bailey as a more human than usual Schigolch, yet
retaining a wonderful bum-like craziness.

There is a wonderful black and white film during Act II's great intermezzo -
showing the action we "miss", Lulu's trial, the Countess's panty exchange,
all in a silent "film noire" style. The film ends back at Glyndebourne in
an empty house with Maestro Davis conducting. Amazing!

I could go on for pages more - but will spare you by saying: if you love
Lulu - you won't want to be without this most exciting DVD. It really is
remarkable and Schaefer gives a performance that simply cannot be missed!

A stunner........2004-10-13

It might be said that the 20th Century brought along opera's entry into the adult age. Little by little, operas started treating "delicate" subjects in a more serious way, one the largely victorian 19th century never dreamt of. Perhaps the trend was started by Richard Strauss, first with Salome and later on with Elektra. And others followed gladly suit, Schönberg with his Moses & Aron, depicting on stage a savage orgy that even today, almost three quarters of a century later, stage directors have a hard time devising tastefully (and perhaps tactfully). Berg was no exception: the 20's saw his Wozzeck and its tormented characters, the 30's this, his unfinished crown jewel with its decadent world of wealth, lust and manipulation that is given here, as is now customary, in the Cerha completion of the last act that Berg's untimely death prevented the composer from finishing.

At last, this production allows for a credible stage Lulu; the Graham Vick production, filmed here almost ten years ago at Glyndebourne's then new theatre does away with the usual overaged singer attempting a rôle that is inextricably linked like few others to the visual image of its portrayer and has for us the excellent Christine Schäfer, not just looking the part (her young, attractive looks undoubtedly helped) but also despatching its fiendishly difficulty with ease and applomb.

The other parts are also effectively cast, rendering this a winning all-round team effort. Katryn Harries is a superior Geschwitz, David Kuebler an intriguing Alwa. The veteran Norman Bailey appears as Schigolch.

The London Philharmonic, not an ensemble one usually associates with 20th century music, play stupendously and are very well conducted by an Andrew Davis that shows an absolute understanding of the score. Vicks's staging encompasses all three acts with minimum changes (more to do with objects on stage rather than actual scenery modifications) and I've read some critics in UK periodicals whose authors at the time (summer of 1996) did not seem to like it much. Granted, there's no actual displaying of the painter's atélier in Act 1 or Paris saloon, London street, etc. in other parts of the work, but to me it flows well; the work is so well directed you don't actually need scenery changes.

This video (in its VHS incarnation, back in 1997) deservedly won the prestigious Award for Best Video granted by the well-known Gramophone magazine in the UK, and may we say very much so especially in this new, DVD edition.

Average customer rating:

Reach For The Sky

Reach for the Sky [Region 2]
Starring: Kenneth More , Muriel Pavlow , Lyndon Brook , Lee Patterson , and Alexander Knox
Director: Lewis Gilbert (II)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Dam Busters
FIGHT FOR THE SKY: The Story of the Spitfire and Hurricane
Spitfire ("The First of the Few") with Rare Spitfire Bonus Material
Reach for the Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader, Legless Ace of the Battle of Britain (Bluejacket Books)
God Is My Co-Pilot (1945)

ASIN: B00004CYY5

Customer Reviews:

Reach For The Sky.......2004-03-24

For ravaged post war Britain the 1950's was a time to focus on heroes. The most relevant place to look was leadership from World War 2. Names like Montgomery and Churchill came easily to mind. The name of RAF World War flying ace Douglas Bader however was one which conjured up images of fighter pilots fearlessly flying into outnumbered sorties against the German Luftwaffe juggernaught. The release of Reach For The Sky (1956) starring the popular English actor Kenneth More, fulfilled part of the British hero search. From Bader's early years to his loss of both legs in a reckless flying stunt. To his being brought back in the war to lead, among others, a squadron of Canadian airmen, this film provides an excellent example of 1950's British filmmaking.

It romanticizes the flying ace for what they were seen as at that time; Britain's saviour from the Axis Invaders.

Description

The streets of London are filled with shrieks of terror in this atmospheric shocker from cult director Jess Franco (Vampyros Lesbos). Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu) stars as a respectable Victorian doctor whose nocturnal activities include the stalking and butchering of prostitutes, with Scotland Yard hot on his trail. Josephine Chaplin (The Canterbury Tales) co-stars as the innocent woman placed as bait in the Ripper's path, with Lina Romay as one of the hapless victims.

Customer Reviews:

Jack the Ripper.......2006-01-30

Bad Bad movie. Instead of Jack the Ripper should be called
Rippoff

Klaus Kinski stars in bizarre shlock film from Jess Franco!.......2005-04-15

Fans of director Jesus "Jess" Franco will probably enjoy this more than the typical horror fan, as this is certainly no masterpiece. But, in spite of the awful dubbing, bright orange blood (as is so typical in 60's & 70's horror flicks!), and frequently graphic violence, I actually found this watchable. However, I don't think it's worth seeing more than once, and I've already sold the dvd I bought.

Klaus Kinski plays Jack the Ripper, although there's VERY little similarities between this one and the infamous serial killer who terrorized the women of Whitechapel District in London beginning in August, 1888. In this film he kills because of his universal hatred of all women (particularly prostitutes), brought on by the shame of his own mother being a prostitute. The women in this film are quite beautiful, in stark contrast to the real victims of Jack the Ripper who were...well, ugly. There's frequent nudity and gore throughout this movie, including one disturbing scene where he mutilates one of his dying victims (with neon orange blood everywhere!).

As a previous reviewer already mentioned, the fact that this movie was poorly dubbed makes many of the scenes (especially the police interrogations) unintentionally hilarious, and in fact the whole movie is pretty ridiculous. But if you enjoy watching cheap 70's horror flicks then you might want to give this one a try. The Image dvd has great bonus features for such a mediocre movie, and the picture and sound quality are quite adequate. Overall, I recommend that you rent this before buying.

impressive B movie.......2004-12-04

I had never witnessed a Jess Franco film before I picked up Franco's Jack The Ripper and I'm extremely impressed! It's a low budgent venture but Franco is obviously the right man for the job and knows exactly how to make this type of film work. Highly entertaining.

Kinski cuts and runs..........2004-12-03

Let me begin this review with the statement that DVD packaging does make or break a film. Also, DVD packaging that attempts to be creative and exciting (when it is actually not) will only break a film. I mention this because it is what I experienced with Jack the Ripper on DVD. When the film's menu started it seemed like there was some time and effort put into this release. As the menu opens there is Kinski's spooky eye twitching back and forth with several options for special features and extras. I was impressed; I thought that this film would just start without really any detail going into the DVD. This is what I thought, until I tried to work the audio options. With my German not up to par, I needed some subtitles or anything to help translate this film. What I discovered were flags for different countries to have the characters speak. This was a dubbed film, and the only flag that I knew (since there was no American flag) was Britain's flag. A made the choice and changed the outlook on this film forever. While it was grizzly to watch, there was quite a bit of humor behind it as D-grade British actors attempt to dub over German words. The character voice placement was horrendous. The main police officer sounded more effeminate than respectable and the others had this feel that they were behind the microphone speaking their lines. You never really felt like the voices matched the characters. What began as a developed horror story soon turned into a possible MST3K episode. It really detracted from the overall feel of the film.

This was my first Jesus Franco film and let me say I was taken aback. I wasn't expecting to see the gore and disgusting acts that Jack the Ripper did to these unsuspecting women. Franco holds nothing back from these deeds. The blood is fake, the bodies are doubles, and Franco is behind the camera making this all work. Outside of Clint Howard, Franco could be a master of this genre. I need to see more of his work, but this initial taste left a flavor in my mouth I cannot seem to fathom. I was impressed, and not impressed with this body of work. Kinski did a fantastic job of creating this hellish creature devoid of fear and compassion. The raw power in his eyes alone will send shivers up your spine as you sit in the comfort of your own couch. This was awesome to see, but then on the other side of the spectrum the voice and sound that came from Kinski's mouth was embarrassing. You were scared, yet laughing at the same time. This is the first time that I have ever experienced this feeling while watching a film. Kinski pulled me into this film, but the sound yanked me back out.

Before you expect too much from this film, you need to realize that this was a B-rated horror film. The young women show their breasts, they run into the woods instead of into safety, there are dark alleyways and implausible characters. This is not a film to win awards, but to a newbie into the world of Jesus Franco, it was fascinating. This was not in anyway the caliber of From Hell, because it is a slasher film to the utmost degree. It was somewhat of a tame slasher film, but nonetheless one in that genre. Sexual instability is the culprit in Franco's eyes that built this mass murderer known as Jack the Ripper. While Franco does skew the truth a bit about the actual murders involved with Jack the Ripper (throwing the bodies in the Themes, etc.), it still makes an interesting story.

Overall, it was decent. After I watched it and thought about it for some time, I had a better respect for the film. It wasn't the greatest, yet it wasn't horribly bad. The dubbing caused me the most irritation, while Kinski raised the bar on this film. If you go into this film with high expectations, you will be utterly disappointed, but if you go in with an open mind and an ability to laugh, than it may just be up your dark alley. The DVD packaging is impressive, yet very misleading. The transfer of this film to DVD is impressive for it being made in 1976. Again, not expecting a lot will lead to a better film experience. You should also accompany this film with your favorite six-pack of beer and your most eccentric friend. Sit back, relax (as much as you can with this film) and enjoy the next hour and a half.

Grade: ** out of *****

Jack The Ripoff!.......2004-08-10

This Jess Franco film is as bad as it gets. I will not waste either my time or those of reviewers with a long diatribe. Unless you want to build a collection of the worst films ever made, then you probably want to stay clear this Jack The Ripoff who lurks the dark corners of your video store.

All I can say is that I bought this film because I'm a Klaus Kinski fan: particularly of his work with Herzog. Without knowing it, this catchy title with Klaus Kinski caught my attention in an obscure corner of the video store very much like the infamous killer jumped on his victims from out of the London fog. Next thing I know, I fall victim to the jabbing pain of pathetic scenes and horribly fake special effects.

This is quite a stretch from Herzog's work and Klaus Kinski is horribly underused in this film: he barely utters any lines! Everything about this film is cheap and just bad: the plot, the acting, the directing, the filming, everything! Avoid this film at all costs!

Average customer rating:

Pretty, Ambitious, Clever, but just a mess.
Good Movie
Failure every which way
STELAR RIPPER
RIPPER OFF

Ripper - Letter From Hell
Starring: A.J. Cook , Bruce Payne , Ryan Northcott , Claire Keim , and Derek Hamilton
Director: John Eyres
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Ripper 2: Letters From Within
Absolon
Night Skies (Widescreen Edition)
The House Next Door
Wishmaster 3 - Beyond the Gates of Hell

ASIN: B00005RDSA
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Description

By the time she was 16, Molly had already lived to tell a bloodcurdling tale: she was the only survivor of a violent murderer who slaughtered all her friends. Disturbed by her horrific past, she focuses her energies on researching the minds of serial killers. Enrolled in a forensic science program led by famed author and man hunter Martin Kane, she joins a study group fixated on solving a local campus murder. When the students realize the killer's modus operandi mirrors that of London's legendary Jack the Ripper, Molly's friends, once again, begin to fall victim around her.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty, Ambitious, Clever, but just a mess........2006-10-23

This movie tries so very hard that you can't help but root for it! The plot is a very clever one, and the heroine is terrific idea for a character. That said, the film is constantly hampered by it's limits of budget, set and other factors that stumble it into contriving itself.

The detective's character is hampered by being only himself, and by listening to the profiler, who he believes is a suspect - and never shown to interact with other police makes him look not villianous, but incompetent. Molly's ablitity to hack in to police files and find answers about Kane and the current investigations are simply unbelievable and everyone's to quick to take them wholly at face value. Setting up everyone at the cabin for the final face off was so ham-handed that it becomes a stumbling block that the plot is hard pressed to over come. Let's face it, if that was the last turn in this steeplechase the horse would have broken it's leg.

However, Molly and Kane are wonderful characters and their chemistry together is part of the glue that keeps the film together. Their intimate scene alone is worth the price of admission. I only wish there had been more scenes with the two of them to build it up, because that payoff, and how it shapes how you see the rest of the film is sheer gold.

More about Molly's past before the island should have been revealed, and the other girls with the exception of Chantelle are seriously underdeveloped. Fewer characters and stronger development would have served better.

The Ripperology is absolutely excellent.

Though, I have one small correction. Ted Bundy didn't charm most of his victims beyond luring them in a trap and then cold cocking them. They went with him because he presented himself as being weakened and needing assistance, not for sex appeal.

Good Movie.......2004-12-23

This movie is really good but I have to say that most of the killings in thsi movie isnt done by the killer its done by the people themselves , Some fall into blades and one gets hit by a car its a movie that is good but the killer only had one true kill in the hole movie.

Failure every which way.......2004-07-19

If you are looking for a movie about the real life Jack the Ripper, this ain't it (one or more of the reviews below are obviously thinking that this movie was the From Hell movie starring Johnny Depp, which it definitely isn't).

If you are looking for a movie based upon some facts of the Jack the Ripper case but going off in a new direction, this isn't a good bet either. It's a typical low budget teen slasher with just enough loose mentions of the Ripper case so they could throw a name on it to catch all the people looking for the other movie. It basically steals the plot of Scream 2, replacing the nonsensical links to the first Scream movie with nonsensical links to the Jack the Ripper case.

If you are looking for a scary horror movie, this ain't it either. The characters are all idiots. For supposed top students in serial killer studies (that all look like teen models, right) none of them act in a way at all realistic for someone in their position. It's like basing a slasher movie at a music camp but with characters who can't play any musical instruments, except worse than that, because these people aren't just dumb for supposed serial killer experts, they make boneheaded mistakes that cheerleader characters in other movies are too smart to make. So right off the bat you couldn't care less if the characters die, which makes it hard to feel any horror. But then the movie manages to miss most every opportunity for suspense and instead makes fuzzy references to things that never appear onscreen but might have been interesting if they had.

If you are looking for a good cheesy teen slasher popcorn movie... nope, not here either. The ending is horribly muddled, the pace is bad, the dialogue is ridiculous, and the romantic or sexy parts they usually use to pad the storyline for those films are entirely absent.

And it doesn't even work as a movie so bad you watch to laugh at its unintentional jokes, because it's just not entertaining. It's not a "Hah hah hah. How stupid" kind of thing, more of a "What? They can't be serious, how lame."

There were a couple scenes and one or two actresses that might have been good in another movie, if only the people writing and producing it had picked what kind of film they wanted to create and then put a little effort into it.

STELAR RIPPER.......2004-03-20

The rating for this totally off by a thousand! This made jump quite a few times. This movie is not as scary as some other movies I have seen in the past. The other reviewers must have been half asleep when they watched this movie. Do not let the rating and the reviewers ratings discourage you. If you are a Jack the Ripper fan you will love this movie. The can be a little bit twisted,so you will have to pay close attention to the movie.

RIPPER OFF.......2004-01-22

John Eyres can't be totally blamed for directing this flick. The script must have seemed innovative and challenging at the time. However, I'm sure once he got into it, he must have been as disappointed as I was. The movie opens with a young girl (AJ Cook from Final Destination II) being pursued by a mysterious serial killer who has evidently wiped out all her friends. Five years later, Molly is taking a class in serial killers (do they really offer such stuff?). Her professor, the disturbingly sinister Kane (played with exquisite boredom by Bruce Payne), tells his class to think outside the box. Ho hum...but of course what happens is that this little group of serial killer students are being wiped out one by one. Enter Jurgon Prochnow in perhaps the most ridiculously funny performance ever given by someone who got rave reviews in DAS BOOT, and the plot sickens. Prochnow is so horribly bad, and whoever did his hair, well they certainly aren't touching mine!
This is also an incredibly sadistic movie, the murders being totally over the top; most of the film is shot so darkly you can't tell what's going on, and there's little redeeming qualities, except for a few tense scenes. The ending is so cryptic, you don't know what the heck really went on.
Could have, should have been better, but barely a decent time waster.

Average customer rating:

If you like your horror really dark and weird, then this is for you
Fulci's most brutal movie!
Not by far
the reviews make it sound worse than it is
A memory I want wiped from my brain!

The New York Ripper
Starring: Cosimo Cinieri , Josh Cruze , Barbara Cupisti , Alexandra Delli Colli , and Daniela Doria
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Maniac
City Of The Living Dead
Don't Torture a Duckling
The House By The Cemetery
The Beyond

ASIN: B00000K0DV
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Amazon.com

Italian shock maven Lucio Fulci directed this effort, undoubtedly one of his seediest and most offensive films. A serial killer prowls the streets of New York, preying strictly on women and butchering them in the most sadistic ways (usually starting at the crotch). The cops are always several steps behind the killer, who uses a Donald Duck voice to taunt them (and his prospective victims) over the phone. It's all pretty misogynistic, violent, and brutal, and adds up to an unsavory viewing experience. That said, the plot hangs together fairly well (better than in much of the giallo genre), and Fulci's camera work and editing are topnotch. The director's sense of color and shot composition are in line with much of contemporaries Dario Argento and Mario Bava's work (the color red in particular dominates much of the movie). As with Argento's work, an unassuming woman, caught up in circumstances, turns out to be the film's heroine. Also, it's interesting that both in this film and in Don't Torture a Duckling, Fulci uses Donald Duck as a sort of bizarre totem of shattered innocence and tragedy. Still, Fulci uses his camera here in such a leering, lascivious way that it reinforces the film's oppressive sleaziness and sadism. Fans of Italian horror won't be disappointed with The New York Ripper, but be advised that the movie's overriding unpleasantness makes it an acquired taste at best. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

If you like your horror really dark and weird, then this is for you.......2007-02-02

Although the Italian horror/slasher genre of the 1970's includes many films that aren't exactly Disney-esque, I found "The New York Ripper" to be a particularly unpleasant ride. Lurid violence, depressing cinematography (90% of the film is dark and grainy), and choppy (no pun intended) storytelling made this more of an ordeal than the guilty pleasure I expected. Check out "Strip Nude For Your Killer" and "The Case of the Bloody Iris" for more polished, entertaining examples of the "giallo" form. That is, unless you really, really want to see a movie about a serial killer who quacks like a duck.

Fulci's most brutal movie!.......2006-09-29

In the seedy streets of New York city, a madman that talks like a cartoon duck is stalking the streets at night on innocent women and slaughtering them. Spilling enough entrails as clues for the cops to find, Detective Willams is on the verge to find out who is the sicko behind these hideous murders.

An unpleasant and nasty Italian horror crime thriller from the legendary Lucio Fulci and it's his most controversial movie ever. It's been censored and banned in some countries due to scenes of extreme sexist violence, gore and sex alike! this notorious sleaze-feast is as graphic as they say with some difficult to watch scenes like the infamous nipple slice which is worse then the one on "Ichi The Killer", the music score is funky and the acting is above average.

This DVD has some good picture with a few blemishes at times and decent sound quality with a bio of the director and theatrical trailer. This movie certainly isn't for everyone or the faint-hearted but for fans of gore and sleaze alike!

Also recommended: "Ichi The Killer", "City of the Living Dead ( a.k.a. Gates of Hell)", "Maniac ( 1980)", "House By The Cemetery", "Demons", "Cannibal Apocalypse", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "Driller Killer", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", "Sin City", "House of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects", "Caligula", "Beyond The Darkness: Buio Omega", "Men Behind The Sun", "House on the Edge of the Park", "High Tension", "Bloodsucking Freaks", "Last House on The Left", "The Toxic Avenger", "Evil Ed", "Hostel", "The Hills Have Eyes ( 1977 and 2006)", "Final Destination 2", "Blood Feast", "Shogun Assassin", "Color Me Blood Red", "Irreversible", "Se7en", "Silence of the Lambs", "A Lizard in a Woman's Skin", "Wolf Creek", "Cannibal Ferox", "Jungle Holocaust ( a.k.a. Last Cannibal World)", "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage", "Suspiria", "Tenebre", "Phenomena", "Red Dragon", "Stage Fright", "Manhunter", "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky", "The Untold Story", "Perfect Blue", "Freddy Vs. Jason", "Man Bites Dog", "Hellraiser", "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2", "Silent Hill", "Street Trash", "From Hell", "Cannibal Holocaust", "Opera", "Inferno", "Blood Diner", "Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers", "Saw 1 & 2", "Angel Heart", "Don't Torture a Duckling", "Black Christmas", "An American Werewolf in London", "Kill Bill", "Reservoir Dogs", "Cat in The Brain" and "The Beyond".

Not by far.......2006-04-30

Even if you're a big Lucio Fulci fan you can easily skip this one.
On the other hand... this movie features some of the coolest duck sounds in the history of film making.

the reviews make it sound worse than it is.......2006-03-30

It's actually a good movie. Yes, it's unpleasant and sarcastic, but it's meant to be that way. Like a reviewer said, serial killing is not picking daisies. The film is carefully shot. Just watch the different length of the panning shots, the dissolving shots, the way they contribute to the atmosphere of claustrophobia. The music sounds like an early eighties cop show and it's totally adequate. For beginners of Fulci, I'd recommend Lizard in a Woman's Skin, but if you want to watch a violent murder mystery, this is it.
Many people mentioned the scene of the nipple and the eyeball. Well, it is grotesque, but I didn't found it that scary. The Donald Duck voice is one of those details that, before seeing the movie, I thought, «what a stupid idea», but the execution (excuse the pun) here is everything, and it really works. This detail is more scary, if you ask me. A creepy film by a director who should be more apppreciated.

A memory I want wiped from my brain!.......2005-10-28

If you're reading this review it probably means you're a fan of this genre and are looking for something nasty. Good for you. I haven't seen the full movie, I don't think I ever will, not my cup of tea.

However, since you're here, I'll tell you a little story: this movie was playing on a tv at "exit", a punk club in chicago, back in '89, I caught 'the scene' out of the corner of my eye and immediately puked in my mouth. I had to sit down and have a glass of water. I wish I could wipe the memory from my brain. The end.

Now, I can't think of a better endorsement of this film for a gorehound:
"See 'The New York Ripper', it'll make you puke in your mouth!"

And yet, here I am, after a long search to find out what the hell I saw back then. I can't tell you why, it's not like I'll ever watch it, and in a way, if I did, I imagine it may not do my memory of it justice, because when I think of it, I think it may be the most nasty thing I've ever seen. I'd hate to spoil that.

But hey, you might like it, so I'll give it five stars, because you're here and you know you're gonna buy it anyway.

BTW, the only other film that made me puke in my mouth is 'the grim reaper', but you probably already own that.

Enjoy!

History's Mysteries - Hunt for Jack the Ripper (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

BAFFLING
Very Well Done

History's Mysteries - Hunt for Jack the Ripper (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: History's Mysteries
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

History's Mysteries - The Strange Case of Lizzie Borden (History Channel)
JACK THE RIPPER: PHANTOM OF DEATH
The Diary of Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
In Search of History - Salem Witch Trials (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)

ASIN: B0009K7RZ2
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Product Description

Many serial killers were more brutal. Others slaughtered more often. But Jack the Ripper remains the world's most infamous murderer. In 1888, he slashed his way across London and into the annals of crime when he murdered and mutilated seven women. His ghastly rampage remains one of history's great mysteries. Who was this butcher that baffled Scotland Yard's best minds? Today's foremost Ripper experts offer insights into the madman's mind and theories of who he really was.

System Requirements:

Running Time 50 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

BAFFLING.......2005-12-16

I find this DVD completely inaccurate. The facts do not make any sence. I used this DVD for year 10 courswork and it literally put them to sleep. We did not get to watch all of the DVD on account of the extreme boardom of the class. I found jack the ripper interesting, but now, after this, I have lost all taste for the subject. I strongly urge everybody not to buy this DVD. There is only one word I can use to discribe it, S**T

Very Well Done.......2005-09-13

I'm a big fan of History's Channel's History's Mysteries series, & this installment is by far my favorite. This is a must-see for anyone interested in Jack the Ripper, or anyone, like myself, who just loves a good mystery.

Of course, as with all specials like these, nothing is really solved, so if you're looking for some startling revelations, go elsewhere. What you will get is all the necessary background info on the crimes, the suspects, the investigators, & the many theories that have developed over the years. They present an excellent sampling of authors & others to offer their opinions on the case, & let them offer their own ideas rather than assuming one set of ideas to be the truth (for example, some think the same 'ripper' killer was responsible for only three murders, while others put his count in the double-digits).

All in all, this is a very well-presented documentary, though it is more of a good starter for those new to the Jack the Ripper lore than for the expert looking for new information. If this sparks your interest, I highly recommend a book called 'The Complete Jack the Ripper Companion' by Stewart P. Evans (who happens to be one of those interviewed in this special) & Keith Skinner.

Average customer rating:

Mediocre documentary...
INTERESTING FOR THE NOVICE
Very Light on Conspiracy theories
The Horror, the horror

Jack the Ripper
Starring: Jack the Ripper Conspiracies
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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History's Mysteries - Hunt for Jack the Ripper (A&E DVD Archives)
JACK THE RIPPER: PHANTOM OF DEATH
The Diary of Jack the Ripper
Ripper Notes: Madmen, Myths and Magic
Ripper Notes: Suspects & Witnesses

ASIN: B0000897D2
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Description

There was a time when just the whisper of the name Jack the Ripper struck terror into the hearts of the brave. It was autumn, the fall of 1888, and an evil monster, responsible for committing a series of gruesome murders, was stalking the streets of London. The crimes have never been solved to this day and the story of Jack the Ripper is still the stuff of nightmares.

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre documentary..........2006-08-26

...made even more insufferable by poor narration. Why they couldn't narrate this documentary in a faster, clearer tone is beyond me. The slow grating OTT narration belongs in a hammy horror film not in a serious documentary.

If you can get beyond this and the cheap cliché re-shoots of Jack walking the cobblestone streets with a gladstone bag then the contemporary shots of the crime scenes are fascinating to those who have not been to Whitechapel and wish to see how things have changed (and see how things haven't changed) since the days of 1888.

There are better documentaries out there on the Jack the Ripper subject - in particular the History one.

INTERESTING FOR THE NOVICE.......2006-01-20

I am not a ripperologist so I found this interesting and informative. The narators voice at first seemed grating but by the end was fine. The presentation is not slick but is good enough.

I purchased this at less than five. At that price it is worth it if you just want some initial background material.

Very Light on Conspiracy theories.......2004-05-12

As my title says ,this DVD was a rehash of the murders,not enough on the Conspiracy theories part for my taste ,but the scenes of the crime scenes then and now was interesting but not enought o carry this DVD

The Horror, the horror.......2004-05-04

This DVD is just horrible. Badly produced, laughingly shot, poorly narrated. It even gets its facts wrong about the Jack the Ripper case. A waste of money at half the price.

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