I will start out by saying I walked into this movie as I walked into "The Hunger Games"-- knowing I will either love or hate this film. A movie about one of my favorite authors of all time put into fictional and unrealistic scenarios for two whole hours? I was postive it was a waste of $7.50 plus tax. To my suprise, I had found a treasure instead. This movie has lifted my not-so-recent doubts and hopes that Hollywood would spit out a whorthwhile film any time soon, or ever again for that matter. This story had all the aspects a good film has: great acting, great set, creative plot, mystery, romance, horror, comedy, and let's not forget its wonderful sense of macabre that comes along with it!  
Let us start out with the obvious- this film is as fiction as the stories Poe wrote. The story follows a series of murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is obviously the first man accused, but his hands are too small to be the strangler. The inspector hires him on to the case because the murders go in chronological order with the stories in his volume and the killer leaves clues along the way. Edgar's job is to decode these clues and help them catch the murderer before he strikes again. Along the way, his fiancee, Emily, is held hostage by the killer and starts a new mystery for them as he will kill more people and leave more clues until they find her. If they can't find her in time, he will kill her. It is very unrealistic story, I know, but it is also filled with many historical goodies. They obviously did research on Poe because they mention several parts of his life that are 100% true. This pleased me a lot.
Next, I will say that the film is EXTREMELY visually appealing dispite some bad effects in a couple of the murder scenes (I'm talking "Sweeney Todd" bad). No words can describe the beauty in this film. It is extremely beautiful. The music is also incredible and time period appropriate as well as suspenseful and intense.  It gives the story life. Fantastic job.  I HIGHLY recommend this film; I especially recommend it if you are as familar with his work and love it as much as I. This is one of my new favorites and I will definately buy it.