The Raven (2012)
5/10 stars
Someone is copycatting Edger Allen Poe's macabre stories in real life, and a detective wants Edger to tag along to the murders and play: "Poe' Books for $200". Sounded like a good premise, if not a little familiar... but is actually a true insult to Poe the writer... as the story/plot/directing/acting are so cautiously safe & cliche, as to be a bore. One Cliff Notes movie to rip the guts out of all his best stories.
I was intrigued by the first 10 minutes, feeling cheerful in the familiar setting, waiting for the coaster to dive down the tracks... only to find the story inching along as if waiting in a long line. I was begging for it to wrap-up so I could go to sleep. 5/10 stars