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Messages - Brian

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181
Calendar Events / Announcements '08 I / Re: Happy Birthday to Brian!
« on: January 12, 2008, 06:23:55 AM »
Thanks!!  It was a great day off work.  I am now past the half-century mark--and I love it!!  (For all you young'ins... 50 is not old, it's a great age to be...and I can make the claim that I watched DS during its original run when I was a kid.  LOL
Brian

182
Current Talk '08 I / Re: Old movie?
« on: January 10, 2008, 06:24:49 AM »
Quote from: ProfStokes
I seem to remember a mention in ShadowGram earlier last year that indicated both A Darkness at Blaisedon and Frankenstein would be coming to DVD around the same time toward the end of the year (2007).  Does anyone else remember this?  I wonder if MPI now plans to release Blaisedon closer to the date of the Festival.

I do recall the info, and though it is not really my place to share this (maybe Midnight can add more), during the past year or so, I've been in contact with another poster on this board who was working on the "Darkness at Blaisedon" MPI release.  Can't say more (because I don't know any more!), but it is likely to come to DVD in the near future (probably much sooner than either HODS or NODS from Warners...LOL), and the other DCP "Wide World of Entertainment" productions (like "Come Die With Me"  and "Shadow of Fear"), as well as the TV movie "Dead of Night" ("Bobby" et al) are also in the works.

I'd like to know if "Intruders" might be released on DVD.  So far, I've not seen anything about it, but I thought it was an excellent TV movie that deserves to be on DVD.

Brian

183
Calendar Events / Announcements '08 I / Re: OT: Sweeney Todd
« on: December 24, 2007, 07:16:05 AM »
Here's what I posted over on the Sondheim chat forum.  Note:  it contains spoilers, so please proceed with caution....and for one more comment, not related to Sondheim--if Johnny Depp's dream comes true and he plays Barnabas Collins...well, we'll all have reason to celebrate!!


After much anticipation, I saw the film earlier this evening, in a not-so-crowded theater.  It was the first movie I’ve seen in a theater since CHICAGO, as I have a nice home theater setup that surpasses any movie-going experience I’ve ever had.  I don’t have to put up with rude audience members like the two mothers and their three pre-pubescent daughters sitting behind me who hardly ever shut their mouths during the film (why would these women bring kids to this R-rated movie anyway—guess they thought it would be another Jack Sparrow-type film).

Except for the folks mentioned above, and the bad service at the snack counter, and that there were no paper towels in the men’s room, it wasn’t too awful an experience.  But I’ll not be going to the movies anytime again soon.

As for the movie, I really loved it.  Everything one needs to get the story is there, and the singing, though not “operatic” quality (nor was the original), and acting are quite good, in my opinion.  (FYI, I saw the tour, with Lansbury and Hearn, in November, 1980, at the Kennedy Center in Washington.  I know the score via the original LP and the CD, and I have the piano/vocal score, and the video of the tour.)

Spoiler:
The gore didn’t bother me, although I found Mrs. Lovett’s end somewhat disturbing, and Sweeney’s final ending was actually appropriate, I think—a bit of poetic justice that his was the most bloody.

Two interesting things I noted:  during “Not While I’m Around,” I thought HBC looked a lot like Bernadette Peters, in the lighting and angles.  Coincidence or not, given Ms. Peters connection to Sondhiem.  Secondly, when Todd recognized Lucy, it was rewarding to hear the woman next to me say her partner “oh, it’s his wife.”


Clearly, there will be some new folks introduced to Sondheim!!

184
Current Talk '07 II / Re: DVD Long-Term Availability
« on: November 19, 2007, 05:26:59 AM »
Quote
For instance, here's a capture that I just took from a local HDTV station from their showing of Frasier:

Well, not being a fan of Frasier, I don't recognize these characters.  But, at first glance, I see several residents of Collinwood (perhaps from an alternate universe).  From left to right:  Barnabas (back to us),  Elliot Stokes, unidentified family member, Roger, Elizabeth, Burke Devlin, Carolyn and Vicki Winters.  LOL.

Brian

185
Current Talk '07 II / Re: DVD Long-Term Availability
« on: November 14, 2007, 09:43:48 PM »
Willie Loomis, no that is not weird.  Obviously, a set is incomplete without the postcards.  I'm unclear which set you're talking about, though:  is the DVD SET # 2 with episodes 251-290?  If so, I have the postcard that came with the set, and it's not Julia.  I don't know if MPI will send one out or not, but it doesn't hurt to inquire with them.  I've been a long-time member of the DVD Club, and anytime I've had problems, MPI responded quickly and politely to me and always has resolved any problems (for instance, one time a charge went onto my CC twice for the same item, and the charge was reversed within 24 houors), and the first DS DVD Special Edition had a section (DS on Location) that would be play on my DVD player;  MPI acknowledged that certain players would not play that section, and quickly sent me a VHS copy of that portion of the program.  (I've had no problems on that DVD with newer players.)

Good luck.

Brian

186
Calendar Events / Announcements '07 II / Re: Fest Photos by Sunny
« on: September 18, 2007, 04:12:23 AM »
Quote from: Julianka7 on September 17, 2007, 03:27:06 AM
Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures Sunny :) Almost as good as being there.

What SHE said!!  Darn--I should have gone!!

Brian

187
Calendar Events / Announcements '07 II / Re: Semi OT: Vault of Horror (Amicus '73)
« on: September 16, 2007, 03:05:51 AM »
Sadly, G, I can confirm that this new DVD release of "Vault of Horror" is the "censored" version with the freeze frames...and I am not happy about it, either.  Whereas "Tales from the Crypt" has some images I've never seen before (the rather tame and unbloody intestines in the quasi-"Monkey's Paw" segemnt), I cannot figure out why VOH was not presented uncut.  Certainly the scenes as you describe them cannot have been so horrifying as to warrant an R rating nowadays.  For heavens' sake, they don't sound any more gory than the Carolyn and/or Barnabas staking scenes in HODS--and that was just GP!  Ah, well, those conservative MPAA ratings folks...and if you haven't yet seen it, check out "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on DVD for an eye-opening look at the MPAA.

188
Current Talk '07 II / Re: Mislabeled Disc
« on: September 03, 2007, 04:10:05 AM »
Just checked mine, and I find the same thng.  I haven't watched any of the DS Collection epiosdes yet, execpt the extra interviews, because I'm still on the final shows from 1971 (PT 41).  I don't watch DS as often as I used to, since I've seen them all either in the original run or on VHS--and once is sometmes enough for viewing DS shows.  LOL.  As you say, nice collectors' disc...are the most recent releases to non-club members the same?  (I've had the "beginning" series for more than a year.)

Brian

189
Calendar Events / Announcements '07 II / Re: Dan Curtis' Frankenstein is coming to DVD
« on: September 02, 2007, 03:39:28 AM »
It was released by MPI on VHS some years ago--don't remember when--and that's the last version I saw (I still have it!)...and I did see it back in the 1970s when it first aired in two parts on ABC's Wide World of Mystery.  I think it's a wonderful adaptation, and deals more with humanity than with horror.  Bo Swenson is great as the Monster!

190
Current Talk '07 II / Re: I'm SO annoyed at WB home video
« on: August 18, 2007, 03:28:53 AM »
Quote from: retzev on August 17, 2007, 02:39:05 PM
Patience could really pay off here, so cool your pipes!  ;)

LOL, I was patient and waited 25 years for the soundtrack album of music from HODS to be released, but I don't know if I'll be around 25 years from now for a HODS movie release (in whatever future format happens to be available in 2032!)

Brian

191
Current Talk '07 II / I'm SO annoyed at WB home video
« on: August 17, 2007, 02:40:51 AM »
Why?  Because Warners' Home Video continues to release and re-release upgrades (i.e., remastered and anamorphic) of movies that have been previously released, maybe 1, 2 and even 3 times--but they have not given us even a "bare-bones" version of HODS or NODS.  We're finally going to get "Twilight Zone the Movie" in the next few months, and yet another version of Poltergeist, with extras  (my anamorphic release from  a few years back is just fine, thank you very much!),  but no HODS/NODS in anamorphic widescreen.  With all due respect to DCP, who the heck is holding this up?  DCP or WB?  (And, YES!, I will wait for a restored version of NODS if that's the only reason we're all waiting!)  Comments?

Brian

192
Current Talk '24 I / Re: It's official: Dark Shadows returns as a film with Johnny Depp
« on: July 28, 2007, 02:32:26 AM »
Quote from: Mysterious Benefactor on July 27, 2007, 09:37:37 PM
Quote from: ClaudeNorth on July 27, 2007, 02:47:56 PM
Hmmm...the best approach might be to film the 1795 storyline.  Of all the storylines, it has (arguably) the tightest structure, with a clear and focused beginning, middle, and end.  Because it ends with Barnabas being chained in his coffin, it would set the stage for a sequel set in present-day Collinwood.

The more I think about this, the more I think you've hit on a brilliant idea, Claude. Barnabas' backstory has everything going for it: the supernatural, betrayal, revenge, and all enveloped in a sweeping and tragic love story.

I'm agree that a feature film set in 1795 (or 1797 or whatever year the writers decide for the new incarnation) that establsihes Barnabas' curse by Angelique (assuming Angelique is the witch [or other supernatural being] who curses him) would set the stage for any number of sequels, and eliminate the need to rehash the 60s stories.  On the down side, for fans, we might never see Quentin or Petofi or Julia....but we've already seen them.  Maybe it's time to let a new audience discover Barnabas and his "new" friends and family.

193
Current Talk '24 I / Re: It's official: Dark Shadows returns as a film with Johnny Depp
« on: July 27, 2007, 02:52:15 AM »
 ;) Well, Darren, since today is not April 1st...this must be based in fact!  And if anyone can bring in an audience, and make this a hit, it's Johnny Depp!

PLEASE let's hope Warners and DCP give him a good script, and make sure all of the other familiar DS characters are included.  And please don't just remake HODS (but then, I must remember, I am not the primary audience for this new movie, and a new younger audience might buy into the DS mythos, even if it is a remake of HODS.)

Guess I better go out and see those Jack Sparrow movies, too.  ::)
Brian

194
Calendar Events / Announcements '07 II / Re: Patience IS a virture cousins!
« on: July 19, 2007, 03:45:26 AM »
Quote from: BuzzH on July 12, 2007, 02:15:15 PM
Getting them from Amazon...you'll save at least 48.01.  Me personally, I'd rather save nearly 50 bucks and use that money for the Fest or something!

Thanks, Buzz, for your opinions.  ;)  But I plan to make up the 50 dollarish difference in the future by selling those bobbleheads on eBay.  I can afford to be patient!  LOL

Brian

195
Current Talk '07 II / Re: Please help me with airdates of reruns
« on: July 11, 2007, 01:36:49 AM »
Quote from: Housefly Cameo on July 09, 2007, 11:59:12 PM
I was hoping some of the old timers ( :P) could help me "figure out my past".  I think I might have first seen DS in reruns in the ealry 70s. . .

While I can't help you "figure out [your] past" with respect to the reruns, I do take great pride in being called an "old timer" since I was fortunate to have watched [most of the Barnabas+ episodes of] DS during the initial airing on ABC, that is, at least, from June, 1969 to the final episode on April 2, 1971!   I have vague memories from the late 1970s of seeing some repeated DS episodes on the local (Dayton, OH area) PBS station (but they weren't PBS back then, I think, maybe NET [was that National Educational Television?]), and, a few years later (1982?),  more repeats from an independant Cincy station (as I recall, it was during the "Julia being terrorized by Barnabas" episodes.)

Ah, the memories...

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