This Jack the ripper or from hell, which movie do you like better - Jack the Ripper (1988) Discussion

[–] kelia-1 20 years ago

I really like both.The T.V. version has more of that dry British humor that I love "From Hell" has the darker atmosphere feel to it.Comparing Johnny Depp and Michael Caine is like comparing apples and oranges even if they are play the same character.I love both men they are both the best of the best.
I think both are worth watching each brings elements of what London must have been like at that time.

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[–] irishrose1980 20 years ago

As much as I love Johnny, 'From Hell' was so historically incorrect. It was far more of a fiction account than was the Michael Cain version. If you are really interested in Ripper theories and fact go to the website www.casebook.org It has everything anyone would want to know (and something things you would rather not) about Jack the Ripper and the suspect etc.

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[–] kuteboy 19 years ago

I preffered Jack the Ripper (1988). I think Johnny Depp is a good, talented actor who does a great job with English accents, as we have seen in Pirates of the Carribean, and From Hell was a good movie with a good cast and a great atmosphere but it does not compare to the Michael Caine version (I say this because Caine is the main star). I prefer the 1988 version because I can relate to the characters more and I thought that the Victorian setting portrayed in Jack the Ripper was more accurate that the Victorian setting portrayed in From Hell.

I also disliked the idea that Inspector Fred Aberline smoked opium in From Hell. I am not obsessed with moral issues or anything like that, I just do not think it suited Inspector Aberline's character to be smoking drugs. I preferred him as a recovering alcoholic in Jack the Ripper.
Plus From Hell went too far in some scenes. I thought that some From Hell scenes were just too unsettling and gory. I know we are talking about one of the most notorious serial killers in Britain but From Hell went a bit too far and I think I may have had some very bad nightmares as a result of watching From Hell. Jack the Ripper (1988) had just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and other plot elements in exactly the right places. The fact that you had these great fight scenes going on in the Brittania Pub and the revolutionaries and riots occuring at the same time as the Ripper killings is a good move too as it gives the viewer more to think about. I also preferred the greater focus on the political situation in Victoria London and the Royal Family in Jack the Ripper and I felt that From Hell ignored these important issues.

Ian

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] DMERCER8 19 years ago

This 1988 movie is filmmaking at it's best.Michael Caine and Lewis Collins give superb performances as Scotland Yard detectives investigating a very atmospheric film that is very absorbing ...even if it is largely a work of fiction.This movie tells the case in a very absorbing way that can draw any viewer in who wants 2 nights worth of great entertainment!Don't miss the suspenseful climax where Caine and Collins work against the clock to try to catch the killer;it's film making at it's best!Jane Seymour,Armand Assante,Susan George and Lysette Anthony give able support....A MOVIE NOT TO BE MISSED!
To Better Days,
BRAD

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[–] dommmmmmmminator 19 years ago

Yeh i think the T.V. one is much better as it has that english feel to it.Also it doesnt hurt having michael caine playing the role of detective beautfully.

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[–] Dicky_Hart 19 years ago

TV version does it for me, although i did enjoy 'From hell' , the caine version where all the suspects are leaving at once is superb. Not convinced about the Gull ending though, but hey..loads arent.

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[–] griffic-2 18 years ago

Definitely the 1988 version! It's not without it's flaws: there are a couple of over-the-top moments which seemed out of place, and the whole Jane Seymour subplot seemed forced and unnecessary...but a SMALL PRICE TO PAY for this incredibly suspensful and exciting mini-series! Caine is so powerful and that scene where his Aberline interrogates Netley inside the cell is awesome!

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[–] MightyMarge 18 years ago

I also enjoyed Depp in "From Hell".
However, it is this TV version I go back to every time I feel like watching a good Victorian murder mystery. It had some real impressive acting, settings, and situations. I can even ignore the embellishments (just to make the movie a little more interesting) like the actor playing Jekyll & Hyde -- which I admit was visually pretty neat -- and having everyone suddenly thinking he *could* be The Ripper. And of course, as was already mentioned, the unnecessary "love interest" in Jane Seamore showing up to rattle Aberline's chain. The ending of this movie always gives me chills ... Well done.

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[–] thewholebrevitything 18 years ago

Both are great movies but this one is slightly better.

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

As much as I love Johnny Depp. I much prefer the Micheal Caine one. I find From Hell too dark at times, and even a little dingy. I think the Micheal Caine one, because it was partly funded by American money and aimed for a American Market tended to make the prositiutes etc slightly, well a whole lot more beautiful then they even were, so at times it's feels a little glossy but overall you can't beat the Micheal Caine one!

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

Just wait 'till you see A Study in Terror, where Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Liz Stride (Katherine Eddows is ignored in that version) and Mary Kelly are turned into young, voluptious sensuous vixen with rosy cheeks, big breasts, curly hair and long legs! ...Annie Chapman probably never in her wildest dreams thought she was a voluptious blonde with a sexy breathy voice! []

I will admit I have not seen this! LOL! I will keep an eye out for it.

I think the issue I have with getting very good looking woman to play these prostitutes is that it glamorises it which isn't true. I'm not say ALL J.T.R were ugly but the chances are they would of been dirty, with unkempt hair etc etc.

I generally find that documentaries on J.T.R are more true to life in this area.

If Mary Kelly, for instance was as attractive as Lysette Anthony in the Caine version, she woudl of been a rich woman as her earning potential would of shot up and could even of become a madam herself!

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

I think the prosititutes in J.T.R, all come across as jolly old souls and I have no probelms with that, but for instance, during the film, Mary Kelly wears a fairly passable black silk dress that honestly, in the real Whitechapel she probably would either had stolen off her or she would of hawked to a pawn broker for the money. Some of the prosititues even appear to wear makeup! In that sense the women are more realistic in From Hell because they do, with the exception of Heather Graham, look worn out and down and out. Also, in J.T.R their hair was neatly coffifured. Not just clean and tidy but curled etc. But honestly to me it's not a huge issue. The women are likeable though and that is what's important in a movie, especially a based on true events movie. I think the prostitutes in 'Murder By Decree' are more realistic too, but the ones in 'Hands of the Ripper' are, well funny!

The gory details in J.T.R? Well they are pretty tame really. In fact if you just take the gory bits you only see five or six blood shots in the whole thing which is tame if you think how long the series ran for, (nearly four hours on UK tv considering the ad breaks etc). You only see a very fleeting glimpse of Mary Kelly. The thing that makes me go squeamish though is when Kathy Eddows kidney gets delivered to Abberline via the press men. It's horrible.

On the UK DVD it has a 15 rating, which is fair enough. From Hell is rated 18 and deserves it as it's quite bad gore wise.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

Sure I can help! Yep the murder you talk about where the blood flows from the coach doors was Catherine Eddows. I dont know about any other countries but in the UK that is the last scene you see in the first part and had to wait till the following night. That is the last you see of Catherine though. I thouht it was a pretty cool effect actually!

I dont recall reading that Annie Chapman and Liz Stride were not prostitutes. In fact they had both been arrested for prostituting (I think).

Ah yeah the feathers! Well that was all done to make the police think the coach that the murderers were using was a royal coach so that when the coach was full of blood it wouldn't be stopped!

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

I loved that knife thing! When I brought J.T.R on VHS they blended it into one programme so when the DVD came out and it was on the main menu as part one and two you saw that knife thing again and it was really cool.

I also liked the narration as well at the start of the programme and then the recap at the start of part two.

If you dont mind me asking you e-mlodik how old where you when you saw it in Russia? I was nine when it aired here in Britain. My brother was meant to put me to bed as he was baby sitting me and he let me stay up after begging him for hours and mum and dad were FURIOUS with him! LOL! But they let me stay up the next night for some strange reason. It seems a lot of people here saw it when they were young!

If you do have to get it from the UK then keep an eye out for what edition yoru getting. There are two.

Edition One: This edition has NO extra's but has been digitaly cleaned up.
Edition Two: This special edition HAS got extra's but is in a not digital format clarity wise.

There are two different covers for the two different editions. The special edition one has 'Jack the Ripper' in kind of weird spiky writing with Jack The (in white)and Ripper in Red. Hope this helps! You can try ebay, Amazon or www.play.com as well.

Regarding FROM HELL I like how you mentioned Queen Victoria. I have a smiliar thing but it's with the Police Commissoner and Abberline. I think Johnny Depp is talking to the commissoner and asks for a surgeon to talk to as the local police one is a drunk and keeps vomiting when he sees the bodies. Then the commisoner says something like:

Commisoner: He's out of his mind

Abberline: What sir?

Commisoner: I said he must be out of his mind.

But at the end we see that the Commissoner already knew who he was and was stunned at the savagry of the murders and how cruel the killer was being.

That was a great scene!

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dianafan79 16 years ago

Five? My god that is young! Hee heee!

I do hope you find a copy. It's a shame your not in the UK as the production has been shown on tv once every six or seven years as well which is quite a lot considering it's age and length of the show.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] powderblue 18 years ago

Both are very good..though i prefer the look and feel of this version.
Didnt like the fact that Mary Jane Kelly survived in From Hell. Found it a bit in bad taste..although some other poor french girl met a vile end at the hands of the Ripper, the truth and fact of the matter is that Mary Jane Kelly did die and did not end up in a cliff-top house in Ireland guardian of a child! I understand its " Hollywood " but still dis-respectful to the memory of poor Mary Jane Kelly!

" I KNOW WHAT IT DOES FUR-FACE! NOW ACTIVATE THE TRANSPORT BEAM!" Skeletor

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[–] Ines19 17 years ago

The whole thing being "Hollywood" is my main objective to the Depp-version. I mean: why oh why does Hollywood think an actress like Heather Graham can get away with playing an Irish prostitute? Why did they not get a UK, preferably Irish, actress for the part? It's not as if Graham is so incredibly bankable, like Depp. I get so sick with Hollywood giving their silly versions of the history of the rest of the world. I wonder how they would feel if we, here in Holland, made a film about the American Civil War? I'm quite sure they would say we are not in a position to make the film because we know nothing about it. Well Hollywood, you keep proving time and time again that your producers, directors and writers haven't got the foggiest when it comes to the rest of the world.

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[–] DorkusMaximus77 16 years ago

On the Heather Graham thing on From Hell, mentioned my Ines19, I thought they should have had the actress who played Liz Stride play MJK. That actress is actually Irish. BTW, Liz Stride was Swedish, why not have a Swede (or other Nordic) actress play her?

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[–] lindawinnett 17 years ago

Mary Jane surviving IS plausable..here is why...The body in Mary Kelly's room was hacked up beyond recognition..her body was identified by the color of her eyes by her "boyfriend"...she was alot younger than the other canonical victims(the others were in ther 40's and Kelly was only 25). All other victims were killed outside. If it were Mary Kelly, perhaps it was not the Ripper at all that killed her, simply because the MO does not fit with the other victims. Something to think on.

"Remember, your precious rose has nasty, hooky, thorns"

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[–] Caz1964 18 years ago

I liked this version best as i think Micheal Caine played the part of Abberline brilliantly,i also thought Lewis Collins was good,and i really liked him in this sort of role although he hasnt done anything since,it was as if he was making a come back into television but then disappeared again,a wasted actor,we wouldnt have minded seeing more of in these sort of dramas.

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[–] dumbwitness 17 years ago

Johnny Depp might be a brilliant actor, but From hell is, well - from hell, boring and full of fake artsy fartsy stuff

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[–] imemminger 15 years ago

The From Hell movie is a pile of garbage and a total disgrace to Alan Moore. I beg of you, get the novel. It will be the most amazing book you've ever experienced - trust me.

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[–] cshep79406 14 years ago

I liked this movie MUCH better. "From Hell" was a pile of twaddle and espoused a ridiculous, long-disproven theory that the British royal family had something to do with the murders. The Duke of Clarence (Eddie) had irrefutable alibis for many of the murders.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] victorsuk 13 years ago

The past jack the ripper films have left an impression on me its just i cant remember what the title of the films were and who was in the films. But the 1988 one was better me thinks.
I like Depp though as an actor and its a real good subject for Depp to tackle but i think the Caine one i think.

What are the top 5 or 3 jack the ripper films?

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[–] cshep79406 12 years ago

The 1988 film was superior in every way--and historically, it was WAY more accurate. From Hellwas basically fiction.

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[–] cshep79406 12 years ago

The 1988 film was superior in every way--and historically, it was WAY more accurate. From Hell was basically fiction.

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