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Midnight showings of the DS film have started all over the Eastern US, so it's time to start a new topic to discuss the reviews, the film itself, and anything else that may come up since the film has been released. And spoilers won't really be necessary because it's going to be assumed that anyone reading/taking part in this topic has already seen the film. So, if you haven't already seen the film, you've been warned. [ghost_wink]
And so, with all that in mind, here are four reviews (none of which I've read yet) to discuss. I've been told two are favorable, two not so much:
Entertainment Weekly: Dark Shadows (2012) (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20587645,00.html)
Variety: Dark Shadows (http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117947517?refcatid=31)
The New York Times: A Vampire Thirsty and Bewildered (http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/movies/johnny-depp-stars-in-tim-burtons-dark-shadows.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1336711419-Q2xDv/UIiVEcapJC0Lf60g)
Hollywood Reporter: Dark Shadows: Film Review (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/dark-shadows-film-review-johnny-depp-tim-burton-321675)
So let the discussions begin...
(And even though it can probably go without saying, just to reiterate, please stay within the forum's guidelines whenever disagreeing with the reviewers - or criticizing those involved with the film - or, of course, disagreeing with your fellow members. [ghost_wink])
0 days 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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"wildly original"?lol
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Another review out today -
http://cliqueclack.com/flicks/2012/05/10/dark-shadows-movie-review/
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Danger Will Robinson! that particular review is more spoiler-laden than most I've seen to date.
For those who are going out to see it tonight, happy haunting!
G.
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Can members start posting their own reviews here now?
ProfStokes
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Very odd; this was showing up as "locked" a moment ago.
I will say that as a fan of the show I enjoyed nearly every scene for one reason or another, but the script never gels into much of a movie for me. I'll give it another look in a couple weeks and see if my feelings have shifted with my expectations. Eva Green turned out to be my favorite part.
This review posits the theory that Burton is working out personal issues about his ex, which is more subtext than I was able to find in the film: http://www.slashfilm.com/dark-shadows-review/
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Can members start posting their own reviews here now?
Yup. [ghost_smiley]
0 days 1 hour 16 minutes 34 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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In that case, my full take (mild spoilers near the end): http://badassdigest.com/2012/05/09/movie-review-dark-shadows-has-burton-and-depp-running-in-place/
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If you've seen the trailers, then you've pretty much seen the movie already. The trailers cover the movie from start to finish, and I know that some of our discerning members have parsed the scenes to determine plot details already. I will try not to give away too much information about the plot itself (save for my remarks on the film's conclusion, which I'm putting in a separate spoiler box).
I would guess that The Powers That Be drew from the original series, the 1991 series, House of Dark Shadows, and The Salem Branch in developing the script. There are a number of inside references that will please the fans (I wonder if somebody on the inside read some of our Magtoria conversations here on this board). I was quite surprised by what I considered to be some of the more obscure allusions to events from the pre-Barnabas episodes. I am touched and tickled to see so much DS heritage fitted into the new movie, but at the same time, I can't help thinking some of the references were a bit too much of a stretch, to the point of confusing naive viewers (for example, [spoiler]we would get a kick out of the references to Laura, [/spoiler] but since those hints aren't really developed into the plot of the movie, they just hang in the ether to perplex the newbies).
The look of the film is breathtaking. The set of Collinsport looks so much like downtown Newport. The design of the mansion echoes Seaview Terrace with its tower and solarium, and the sets of the house's interior (particularly the statuary) are beautiful. I also enjoyed the use of contemporary music to anchor the story in its setting. (Although, I admit it was a bit of a trip to hear "Crocodile Rock" at the Blue Whale!) The production values of this film are top-notch. The rest is another matter.
It's no secret that I resented the idea of another DS remake. I went to the movie not really wanting to see it, not expecting to like it, and not really wanting to like it. And yet, when I heard Robert Cobert's music cue (about 5 notes from "The Seance") playing over the opening credits, I started to thaw, and for the next 15 minutes of the movie, I really did find myself enjoying it. I even sat with a big smile on my face as "Nights in White Satin" soared over the image of Vicki's train chugging to Collinsport against the credits.
The 1700s prologue is delightful, but much too brief for my taste. We get a Reader's Digest run-down of the events that led Barnabas to vampirism. Some of the staples we're used to, such as little Sarah or the music box, are missing, but we get the basics of what happened to bring about the Collins family's downfall. I thought it was an interesting twist to show that Angelique's fascination for Barnabas began in childhood. The roots of her obsession go very deep, but I can't really grasp why she is so hung up on Barnabas. Unless additional material was added after the preview screening, I saw only one scene of Barnabas and Angelique kissing, followed by him telling her, regretfully, that he doesn't love her. It's enough to establish the idea of her unrequited love for him, but I would have liked just a little more to flesh out their bad romance (e.g., a montage of Barnabas with various different ladies, or a scene of Barnabas and Angelique in a more compromising position to emphasize why she would be put out with him).
Vicki's arrival at Collinwood and introduction to the family also play very well, with just the right touches of subtle humor here and there, and a great deal of suspense. How I wish this tone had been maintained for the rest of the picture!
Alas, those were the very best moments of the film. Once Barnabas is released from the coffin, the movie becomes a farce filled with silly fish-out-of-water and uncomfortable sex jokes. There are moments of Tim Burton's patented, stylized cartoon violence to represent "horror," and a handful of dramatic character-driven scenes are scattered throughout the film mainly toward its conclusion), but for the most part, DS is a comedy and an uneven one at that. Most of the characters (usually Elizabeth or Willie) get at least one snappy line of dialogue and the montage of Barnabas trying to find a place to sleep was semi-cute, but David's line about Carolyn touching herself, and the scene between Barnabas and Julia made me cringe. Generally, I don't like off-color jokes, and these scenes felt particularly out of place in something called "Dark Shadows." The shark-jumping moment for me was the sheer ridiculousness of Barnabas and Angelique's wild aerial sex scene; it actually made me feel embarrassed to call myself a DS fan, lest I be associated with the stupidity of this movie.
I didn't have much of a problem with the pacing of the movie. I just didn't find the story (cannery wars; an 18th century vampire learns to be hip) very compelling. The plot seemed to take a backseat to putting Barnabas in as many comical situations as possible. I could not shake the feeling that I was watching a parody of "Dark Shadows." Depp's performance feels like an imitation of Frid; he's got the look and the speech patterns down, but he acts like such a bufoon. Honestly, I would rather watch Darryl Schaffer.
The ball sequence featuring Alice Cooper feels out of place and ostentatious. It's like seeing a celebrity's name and "GUEST STARRING..." in giant letters at the start of your favorite TV show. The inclusion of a real-life person pulled me out of the sense that I was in a gothic fantasy world (and as we know, one of DS's charms was how it managed to eschew the "real world") and disrupted my interaction with the movie. True, the party gives us a chance to see the original actors again, but their cameo is bittersweet. KLS gets the only line. Poor Jonathan Frid appears so frail; David Selby, Lara Parker, and Kathryn look like they're propping him up (at the time I watched the scene, I had no idea Frid would be leaving us within the month). Still, it was kind of Burton and Depp to honor them by including them in the film and I imagine this will be enough to pull in viewers who are on the fence about the movie.
The actors, most of whom are very high-profile and pedigreed, were a mixed bag. I was very impressed with Bella Heathcote and Gulliver McGrath, relative newcomers, but less so with some of the more famous actors whose portrayals I was anticipating.
McGrath does a fair job of playing David. He's nowhere near as disturbed as David Henessy, but he intrigued me. I really would have loved to see more from him in this film, especially since he is ostensibly the cause of Vicki coming to Collinwood. Also, since he becomes more important toward the end of the film, giving his character a bigger build-up would have given that scene more impact. Above all, I would have liked to see at least one scene of him and Vicki having a one-on-one conversation, either in the context of a lesson or as a discussion of David's experiences with the supernatural (maybe he could share a message he's had from his mother). Instead, the movie follows the form of the post-Barnabas episodes where we never see Vicki do any teaching, just wandering the grounds looking for David.
The character of Vicki was the most interesting aspect of the movie to me because the depiction of her was totally different from what we've seen before. From her first appearance, she creates a sense of mystery and tension, for the viewer cannot guess what her real intentions are. This Vicki is very savvy and crafty beneath her schoolgirl looks (and BTW, there is an explanation for her slightly out-moded fashion sense). Looking forward to the revelation of her backstory was the only thing that kept me invested in the movie.
Jackie Earle Haley's Willie Loomis is also completely different from John Karlen's portrayal, but I didn't mind that. I enjoyed the character for the smart-alecky comic relief he provided. With his gruff, deadpan delivery and some of the best lines in the movie, Willie was one of my favorite characters in the film. He doesn't share Barnabas's confidence or friendship, but he's not exactly Barnabas's whipping boy either.
By far, the most well-drawn and well-acted character was Michelle Pfeiffer's Elizabeth. She is a very strong figure like the Liz who commanded Collinwood in the pre-Barnabas episodes. There's also a mercenary quality about her that I loved: she's not really concerned about having a vampire under her roof so long as he helps pay the bills. Rather than Julia, Elizabeth becomes Barnabas's confidante and protector, making excuses for his eccentricities and anachronistic faux pas and generally trying to help him adjust to his new century. The partnership makes clear sense, for they are united in their love for the Collins family.
On the other hand, I took an instant dislike to Helene Bonham Carter's Julia. The character is blowsy and acerbic from her first appearance. She does have one nice scene with Vicki, but otherwise she completely lacks the grace of Grayson Hall's Julia. As I watched the film, I tried to remind myself that HBC's Julia was her own creation and no refection on the original, but I couldn't help comparing her to "our" Julia and wincing as I pondered how my friends in the Legion might react to her unsympathetic (and at times bawdy) portrayal. Her relationship with Barnabas is radically different from what we're used to seeing, although her motives for working with him make sense for this character. Julia's arc follows that of the character in HODS, and I'd have to say that is as it should be. I don't see her and Barnabas becoming a dynamic duo, in spite of the movie's postscript.
Chloe Grace Moretz is hot stuff right now, and I was expecting great things from her Carolyn. However, I was not blown away. It's nothing against her; she does exactly what she's supposed to do with the role. Her Carolyn is a realistic adolescent in the vein of pre-Barnabas Carolyn--moody, hostile, and sarcastic, with a sensuality about her as well. I simply don't care for moody, bratty teenage characters.
My biggest disappointment was with Eva Green. I had seen her in a couple of other movies prior to DS and heard favorable reviews of her work from others, so I had high hopes for her Angelique. However, I didn't like the way the character was written, nor the way she was played. Gothick made a post a couple of months ago that I thought was right on target: what is it with the evolution of the Angelique character into a psychotic slag with super-powers? On the series, she was also a character with a lot of shadings and nuances and layers. Yeah, Barnabas always ranted about how eee-vil she was, but we (the audience) got to see some of her doubts, her questionings, and even her desire for love as opposed to her obsessive need to have Barnabas come crawling to her on his hands and knees.
One of my complaints at the screening was how Angelique lacked nuance or even a clear motivation for her actions. She's essentially a comic book villain. All she needs is a mustache she can twirl while she ties Barnabas to the railroad tracks. Green did not impart to me any sense of sympathy or depth. Furthermore, her voice grated on my nerves: it constantly varies from a gutteral Exorcist-demon rasp to an almost twangy, GCB drawl. It's a superficial point, but it really raised my hackles. As one of the pillars of the film and one of the most monolithic figures in the original series, this character required much more. Admittedly, Angelique was one of my least-favorite characters from the TV show because I saw her as an obsessed, sociopathic juggernaut, but that was due to Lara Parker's artful performance. Angelique had her vulnerable side too. In this case, I despised the character because she seemed pointlessly villainous than because she roused my passions.
I think the biggest missed opportunity was Jonny Lee Miller's Roger. On the TV show, Roger was a snob renowned for his cutting dialogue, but in the film, most of the snarky lines go to Carolyn and Willie. Roger, unfortunately, is left with very little to do. He doesn't serve a real purpose (his characters' traditional functions have been delegated to others) and I got the sense that the PTB really didn't know what to do with him (as evidenced by what ultimately happens to the character) and only put him in the film because he was part of the original canon. It's unfortunate because Miller is really capable of so much more than he was given. Such is the downside of trying to pack so many characters and so much history into one 2-hour movie!
I don't know how the final cut played out, but the ending of the film felt even more rushed than the prologue. SGS drops the kitchen sink on the audience by shoe-horning [spoiler]a pitchfork-wielding mob, supernatural combat among a closeted werewolf, a witch, a ghost, and a vampire and a conflagration (and boy, was it sad to see Collinwood and all of its portraits burn) into the last few minutes of the movie. My head was
spinning!
I thought the revelation about Carolyn came out of nowhere (although I guess David's lewd comment about hearing her make noises in her room was intended to be a set-up for this) and I didn't catch what Angelique said to Elizabeth about this. Was Carolyn bitten as a child, or was her father a werewolf?
While it was nifty to see Laura make an appearance, I thought she was little more than a deus ex machina. Exactly what powers does she have that would allow her to defeat Angelique? Could any old ghost take her on, or is Laura special because she is a phoenix? Again, it would have been really nice to hear David talking to Vicki about what he knows or believes about his mother.[/spoiler]
The very end of the movie was ambiguous in the preview screening, but as I interpreted it, the ending was a dark twist right out of Edgar Allen Poe [spoiler]and "Ligeia" with Josette's spirit taking over Vicki's now-vampiric body! If I'm right, this scene adds a layer of poignancy and chill to everything that came before. To think that rather than acting as a benevolent spirit guide, Josette's ghost spent all these years grooming little Vicki, befriending her, even causing her to be institutionalized, all so that she could take control when the time was right! It's a dark, gothic conclusion, tragic for poor, used Vicki, and yet so satisfying.[/spoiler] Please, can someone verify if I was right about the way this played out?
As an aside, I had couple of minor nagging thoughts and questions after watching the preview screening. I'd love to know if any of them were cleared up by the final cut. First of all, where does the present Collins family come from? I didn't see that Barnabas had any siblings in the hi-speed prologue. Did another cousin come over from England to perpetuate the dynasty?
Secondly, I would have loved to see Barnabas adjust to the idea of the United States of America as a separate country. When he went into the coffin, people who lived in the wilds of Massachussetts (not Maine) served the King of England. I would think the biggest change he would face in 1972 would be America's independence and status as a world power. The story of "Rip van Winkle" to which Barnabas's predicament has been compared, is a story about the difference between life in the American colonies and life in the American nation. That's a big deal to overlook. Imagine Barnabas coming to grips with the history of the 196 years that he missed: instead of Karen Carpenter, he could have watched a performance of Paul Revere and the Raiders and believed that those were the fellows who drove out the redcoats.
We have talked at length about what motivated Burton & Depp to take the direction they did with the film (and I do place the responsibility on the producer and director. Depp optioned the property and chose Burton to direct, so they must have been on the same page creatively; I believe August and Grahame-Smith were just doing what they were told). Timing, marketability and profitability were all guiding forces, I'm sure. Still, I have a hard time understanding how two long-term fans--who presumably are aware of what a multi-facted property DS is--could reduce it to a comedy and choose to present this version to the world as "Dark Shadows." Given B&D's self-proclaimed love for the show, the high-caliber cast and crew, and the inclusion of original actors, I had expected a respectful treatment of DS, and I don't believe this is it. As I told another cousin privately, I feel betrayed as a DS fan, but also as a regular movie viewer. If this were an independent vampire comedy, I still wouldn't like it. Moreover, I resent the movie for making me like it in the beginning and then switching gears on me.
Two-and-a-half stars.
ProfStokes
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The iconic "Dark Shadows." Tim Burton. Johnny Depp. A lavishly budgeted production enabling old fans to rekindle the magic of the TV classic they grew up with. A chance to attract new fans unfamiliar with the original. Cameo appearances by beloved original cast members. Pre-release advertising saturation. How could it possibly miss?
Here's how.
One of the producers admitted in Entertainment Weekly that he had never heard of the original "Dark Shadows" (a TV gothic/supernatural soap phenom that so swept the country that its star vampire was summoned to a Halloween party at the Nixon White House), so he simply "studied up" by watching DVDs. As if. The extent of the similarly clueless EW writer's grasp of the original was that it "was notorious for its cheapo production values and campy melodramas."
Such superficiality overlooks the 1225-episode original as an absorbing, magical fantasy. More than just a television show, "Dark Shadows" was an experience. Its characters -- whether conventional or other-worldly, good or evil -- had a compelling, often sympathetic, human appeal. You wanted to step into their world. You cared for most of them, even the evil ones. That's why, like thousands of kids across America, I used to run home after school to watch it. That's why I got hooked again when the Sci-Fi Channel resurrected it in the '90s.
Not having seen the film yet, and after years of discouraging rumors, I wanted to give Burton a chance. I wanted to love the new film, or at least like it. After seeing the campy, slapstick trailer, I joked that the film could be renamed, "Edward Scissorhands Guest Stars on The Munsters." I was resigned to expect a comedy, which at least could be entertaining in its own right. Maybe playing "Dark Shadows" for laughs would capture a new audience, and we older fans could laugh along with them (just as we howled at the numerous instances of unintentional hilarity in the original).
Not.
"Dark Shadows" 2012 is not a comedy. Nor is it a well-developed drama. It's not compelling. It's not nuanced. It's not funny. It's not fun. It's not even spooky. It is, in a word, nothing. Seen in context, the comedy gags in the trailer (like Barnabas discovering a TV picture and ordering a screen-sized Karen Carpenter to "reveal yourself, tiny songstress!") are beyond lame. None of the characters is likable, not even Elizabeth Stoddard and Dr. Julia Hoffman, whose portrayals in the original series by Joan Bennett and Grayson Hall captivated me. Here, Julia is reduced to a throwaway, as if Burton needed to give Helena Bonham Carter something to do.
One supporting character does make a worthy impression, for I wanted to rescue Gulliver McGrath, the boy who endearingly portrays the troubled David Collins, from this troubled production. At times, Johnny Depp ably channels Jonathan Frid's Barnabas Collins -- the quintessential lost soul, tortured by immortality -- although with his Halloween pallor, hat, cape, and shades, he distractingly resembles Michael Jackson on his way to the courthouse.
Some parts seem conceived and written on the way to the studio. For example, early in the film, the 1795 storyline is condensed into a five-minute narrative with clips of key moments (Think: "Last week, on (insert TV drama title)"), as if this would give new viewers all the context and nuance they need to appreciate the Collins family curse upon which the rest of the film is based. Then, toward the end, Carolyn Stoddard (here, not the glamourous ingenue but a bratty 14-year-old) morphs inexplicably into a werewolf. It's as if, late in the production schedule, Producer A suddenly frets: "Hey, shouldn't we have a werewolf?" -- to which Producer B responds, "Hmmmmm . . . oh, yeah -- we'll make, um, Carolyn one."
We see the familiar developments, like Victoria Winters being enamored with things of the past. But in no time and with little explanation, she and Barnabas develop a mutual romantic attraction so strong that she instantly accepts his vampirism and is willing to leap from Widows' Hill and become a vampire herself to spend eternity with him. Liz blackmails Roger Collins into abruptly departing Collinsport and abandoning his young son. And it is revealed that Vicki Winters and Maggie Evans -- the two leading ingenues in the original -- are now one-in-the-same person. Huh? Why? How?
I really didn't care. In condensing storylines to their skeletons and in reducing characters to caricatures, this two-hour film -- which felt more like three -- wallows in shallowness and boredom.
There are more than a few heavy-handed attempts to make sure we know the film is set in 1972, not the least of which is the onslaught of early '70s and '60s pop hits in the soundtrack. The Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" sets the tone for Victoria Winters' fateful train ride during the opening credits. This approach destroys the charm of the original, which subtly exuded its other-worldliness through the very absence of pop culture references of the day. We never saw a TV set turned on in the original, and the wildest jukebox tune was "Back at the Blue Whale." So when scenes are infected by the music of Barry White, The Carpenters, T. Rex, Iggy Pop, and Donovan, the film loses yet another layer of magical fantasy and becomes exasperatingly ordinary.
And despite the unceasing references to 1972, why does Angelique's wardrobe and hairstyle appear to be right out of any current CW sitcom? My friend John quipped that "they could have at least given her Phyllis hair" (referring to the Cloris Leachman character's up-do with ringlets on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show").
There are cameos by original stars Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, David Selby, and Jonathan Frid as anonymous guests at a mega-bash being thrown by Barnabas in the newly restored Collinwood. It is lovely to see them (though bittersweet that it would be the final film appearance for Frid, who died last month at 87). It is also jarring to encounter the party's live entertainment: '70s rocker Alice Cooper (Barnabas unwittingly thought he was hiring a charming female singer with a quaint name, a gag beyond stale).
I'll admit that the flashback depiction of 18th century Collinsport as a fishing town by the sea is pretty cool, albeit a retread of Burton's "Sweeney Todd." Burton here, however, is not an artist, but a mere craftsman, pulling out the ol' helicopter for his signature sweeping aerial shots. He should have known that well-crafted special effects will not save a film that is pointless and passionless, insulting to old fans and not entertaining to new audiences. Nor is it a clever, funny parody, which could well have been, in the hands of talented comedy writers who actually understood and appreciated the original. What it needs now is to be put out of its misery and into a chained coffin for the next 200 years.
The irony is that the orignal "Dark Shadows," despite its so-called "cheapo production values and campy melodrama," achieved something far more compelling, dramatic, funny, fun, entertaining, spooky, nuanced, memorable, and enduring than this buzillion-dollar dreck.
One star.
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Ben, I give your review four stars! What a lively reading experience!
I do quibble with a couple of your remarks though:
But in no time and with little explanation, she and Barnabas develop a mutual romantic attraction so strong that she instantly accepts his vampirism and is willing to leap from Widows' Hill and become a vampire herself to spend eternity with him.
I don't believe Vicki did accept Barnabas's vampirism. When she sees him ignite and realizes what he is, she runs away from him. She is afraid of him. The only reason she jumps off Widows' Hill is because she's under a spell, like her predecessor. Becoming a vampire isn't her choice either; it's the only way Barnabas can manage to save her.
Liz blackmails Roger Collins into abruptly departing Collinsport and abandoning his young son.
I had the impression that was more Barnabas's doing than Elizabeth's. Either way, I felt it was a cop-out. The writer simply didn't know what to do with Roger, and so he was written out. I found it a disappointing turn of events.
And it is revealed that Vicki Winters and Maggie Evans -- the two leading ingenues in the original -- are now one-in-the-same person.
Personally, I thought that was a clever touch. People here have joked so often about how the two women basically became the same imperiled ingenue character over time. And it does resolve the problem of whether Vicki or Maggie ought to be Barnabas's "Josette."
The irony is that the orignal "Dark Shadows," despite its so-called "cheapo production values and campy melodrama," achieved something far more compelling, dramatic, funny, fun, entertaining, spooky, nuanced, memorable, and enduring than this buzillion-dollar dreck.
Amen!
ProfStokes
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I will write a lenthy review; however, I loved it.
I loved Johnny's homage to JF with his the way he pronunced his words much like Jonathan. I loved the fact that Victoria Winters and Maggie Evans are one and the same. So very clever! I love the fact that Angelique sent "a werewolf" to bite Carolyn. HMMMM...wonder who that werewolf could be. I love that it seems the Collins family has a curse on it. I loved the ending with the vampiric Hoffman. What a great twist for future sequels. I thought the films was lavish with beautiful sets and surrounding.
I am sure everyone I now know what people thought was awful with Julia and Barnabas but being a huge JULIA fan I thought it was sort of hysterical!
I love that they took the line almost word for word about changing Victoria to Vicki.
There were only about four original viewers (judging from age) in my theater. I think we had about 70 in a 150 theater which is good for KY.
Everyone seemed to love the movie. I thought it struck a perfect tone between funny, campy, dramatic and wonderful. I think it has great potential for spin off's!
Will Victoria want to be a vampire? Will Julia seek her revenge? Will Quentin come to Collinwood and help Carolyn through her struggle. The Carolyn thing I totally did not see coming. Now we know why the David said what he said. It made perfect sense!
I think it would be wise to let Angelique stay gone and bring in a new evil to fight.
Was it the original. No! But I did not want it to be and I will not compare it to the original of the re-imaginings!
For a movie called Dark Shadows it was perfect to me. I give it an 8 and that is only for not having the original theme. However, it was great having Cobert's music peppered in some of the parts of the music.
I adored the movie and I am happy I liked it.
I am too tired to see what ever one else says; however, I was pretty much knew I would love the movie because I never compare one version to another.
Johnny Depp honored Frid in such an amazing way. ANNA clapped when the originals came on the screen and of course the four others joined in with us. The guy behind me said that is the original Barnabas and I told him and Angelique, Quentin, and Maggie. We also got a big kick out of MISS JOHNSON! SO HYSTERICALLY FUNNY! I loved her.
It was lush, the sets were amazing, and the ending was WONDERFUL! I hope that the movie generates much cash and we get more DS in the future!!!
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it! Did I mention I loved it? For me, there isn't much to complain about. I loved the movie from beginning to end.
I also loved that Angelique came clean at the end. And I loved the spell she cursed B with.
I am glad construction workers found him and not Loomis again!
Good work, Johnny, Tim and Seth! :)
I am just glad it wasn't like HODS where B was nothing short of a monster!!
More later....
Goodnight cousin!
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Thumbs up.
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Amanda, just a line to say that I found your review utterly fascinating! and not just because you quote me, lol.
Ben and Taeylor and others, I look forward to reading your reviews soon!
Best, G.
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New interview with SGS. He says there was like a whole movie that was deleted from the final version. Look forward in seeing that! http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/167375-excl-seth-grahame-smith-on-adapting-dark-shadows
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He mentions specifically a subplot involving David and Barnabas being cut already by the time he was shown a workprint.
The curse of Dark Shadows: an elaborate narrative is constructed; studio suits bark "cut it down, boys!" the feckless auteurs scamper to obey, and the result is a hash.
Sound familiar?
G.
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I went the midnight screening last night. Two words - "hot mess."
I plan to pen a review later today, but here's my quickie reaction...
The film can't seem to find its footing. It's all style and very little substance. It starts out with a splendidly gothic, but very rushed prologue which ultimately turns out to be the best part of the movie. Once Barnabas is released, the film can't decide if it wants to be comedy or a drama. The term "dramady" doesn't work either because that implies a seamless meshing of those elements, which is far from the case here. The comedy undercuts any sense of drama or tragedy and I couldn't really feel for any of the characters. Equally troubling is the fact that they try to cram everything including the kitchen sink into a two hour film. The excess of characters and throwaway plot threads results in undeveloped characters and "out of nowhere" ideas. The "real world" elements completely destroyed the "dark Brigadoon" element I so loved in the OS. HBC was terrible, Eva Green was a very one-dimensional villain, and Chloe Moretz overplayed the angsty teen bit. Johnny Lee Miller is utterly wasted to the point where Barnabas' reaction to Roger's behavior seems a bit extreme in light of the fact that we only really get maybe one or maybe two scenes of Roger being a real d-bag. The classic series actors were onscreen for all of 3 seconds. At my screening, KLS' line was truncated. They cut into that scene in the middle of her sentence. What did she say?? I'm not sure if they were changing reels at that point or if it was just bad editing.
The visuals are stunning. Collinwood and the town of Collinsport look fantastic. In typical Tim Burton fashion, the visual takes precedence over the stortelling. Bella Heathcote put in a nice turn as Magtoria. Magtoria was a bit of fan service I think - trying to get both characters in by merging them. However, there isn't enough buildup between her and Barnabas. There is so much going on that nothing gets adequately developed. Depp... Okay, I can see Depp's love for Frid's Barnabas here. He tries to channel classic Barnabas in his voice and gestures and I appreciate that to some extent. I love that he kept the trademark look of the character too, but he is playing it almost like he's a kid pretending to be Barnabas. "Hey Tim, imagine how Barnabas must have reacted to lava lamps and troll dolls!" "OMG Johnny! That's so funny! We should totally do that!" Sigh. Michelle Pfeiffer was actually quite good as Liz. I did get a sense at times that her tongue was planted in her cheek, but overall she played the role with conviction and seemed to capture the strong spirit of Elizabeth. Gulliver McGrath was more or less wasted in a role that could have been something great. I saw some great potential in him. Johnny Lee Miller was an interesting Willie but ultimately he serves more as an underused sidekick than anything else. It was fun hearing some nods to the classic show (Barnabas' line about Victoria's name, the "Secret Room" Cobert riff, etc).
I saw snatches of DS here and there. In between the tangle of characters, lame gags, and multiple half-conceived ideas, there was some genuine DS happening. Unfortunately, these moments were fleeting at best and simply made me yearn for what could have been. In the end, this plays more like a messy satire of the classic show. I sense they were trying to play to every demographic and taste by infusing everything they could into the film, which resulted in an unsatisfying and haphazard amalgam of disparate elements. I am disappointed, but not angry. I merely shook my head at the end at the end of the film and walked out of the quiet movie theater (there were about 15 people there total and I was the only one who stayed to through the end credits.
BTW - Where was Cobert's DS theme? I'm surprised they didn't use it at all.
ProfStokes, your theory about Vicki is EXCELLENT and I think that's exactly what happened.
As for....
[spoiler]... Laura, I got the vibe that she's some sort of banshee considering how her scream sent Angelique flying into the chandelier. Or maybe it's one of her weird "ghost" powers? She didn't seem like a phoenix in this version.[/spoiler]
Full review will be on my blog later on.
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Sorry, meant to type Jackie Earle Haley as Willie. An additional thought on him - don't go in expecting the wonderfully complex Willie of John Karlen. Gone is the utter sleaze who becomes humbled by something far darker and more wicked than he. JEH plays Willie with a bit more humor and much less depth, but his isn't the "Zoinks Scoob!" portrayal of Jim Fyfe either.
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New interview with SGS. He says there was like a whole movie that was deleted from the final version. Look forward in seeing that!
Ya know, even though I was disappointed with this film, reading what SGS says makes me dream that they'll put together a three-to-four-hour version on home video that actually has character development (this movie is almost as bad as HODS in that dept.) and extended/new scenes that make the Barnabas/Angelique battle and the finale more palatable.
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Great review, Penny! I look forward to your blog take.
At my screening, KLS' line was truncated. They cut into that scene in the middle of her sentence. What did she say??
She says, "Thank you for having us."
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on [spoiler]Laura. A banshee would be a great addition, since we never saw one on DS the series. In the first dining room scene, Dr. Hoffman makes a remark to the effect that David thinks his mother is a being who comes back to life periodically (I can't remember the exact wording), so I thought they were resurrecting the phoenix plot. However, they never went anywhere with it.[/spoiler]
Taeylor, I'm glad that you at least enjoyed the film. You deserve to, after your long anticipation. :)
jimbo, thank you for sharing the SGS interview. I'm very curious to see those deleted scenes, though I'm loathe to buy this movie when it does come out...
ProfStokes
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Have to say I LOVED Tim and Johnny's take on the show. It's true they probably could have delve a bit deeper into the storyline than they did, but instead of harping on that, I say I like how they rearranged the story to make it their own.
Taeylor pretty much put down everything that I found right about the movie. I noticed Johnny did take couple of lines from Jonathan's Barnabas, but I didn't mind one bit. I think he did much justice to the role of Barnabas Collins.
Certainly didn't expect them to [spoiler] kill off Julia, but as suggested by the end, if there is a sequel, she'll probably be back. Roger may have run off at the moment but again, if a sequel happens, he just may return. [/spoiler]
The movie had its humorous bits, but it didn't strike me as being nearly as comical as the trailers suggested, which was a pleasant surprise to me. I might just go see it again.
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I went the midnight screening last night. Two words - "hot mess."
Were you at the Showcase Cinemas in Worcester? I drove by on my way home from work and saw quite a few vehicles in the parking area.
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Penny, thanks for that delicious review. "A hot mess!" I love it!
Best,
Uncle Gothick
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It's good to get a variety of opinions from fans on this forum. Professor Stokes, thank you especially for your painstakingly detailed and careful critique ... it's more than enough for me to take my cue. And great to see Ben posting here!
Here's a review I saw in print this morning, which brought me to the forum again on my lunch break:
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/150971585.html (http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/150971585.html)
Excerpt:
"Dark Shadows" opens promisingly, downshifts after 30 minutes, and sputters into a meandering, momentum-free mess.
Ben makes an excellent point about those reviewing the movie who knew nothing about the original. I think I'll trust the reviews of long-time members of this forum, who have knowledge and discernment, over the "professional" reviewers.
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He mentions specifically a subplot involving David and Barnabas being cut already by the time he was shown a workprint.
The curse of Dark Shadows: an elaborate narrative is constructed; studio suits bark "cut it down, boys!" the feckless auteurs scamper to obey, and the result is a hash.
Sound familiar?
My work will never be truly finished, will it? :-)
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Just thought I would mention that the movie garnered a rave review from the New York Times today.
Maybe it's East Coast snobbery at work, but I think that's an exceptional enough event to deserve notice.
We don't seem to be linking reviews here so I will forebear, and I read it in the PAPER version anyway, not the website--yes, some of us are antediluvian enough to still read actual newspapers.
shuffling back off to the elephants graveyard,
G.
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Thanks Cousins for your reviews. The LA Times did a piece on the set designs. Click on photos for larger views. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/05/dark-shadows-set-design.html
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Overall, I enjoyed the film. I thought Depp/Pfeiffer did a great job of mimicking the Frid/Bennett habit of staring soulfully off into the direction of the teleprompter.
I thought the "thing" Julia Hoffman did to Barnabas and the revelation of Carolyn's secret were too far out of left field--though the Hoffman "thing" was hilarious (I won't reveal them here)
I didn't care for the video-game styled climactic battle between Barnabas & Anglique--too many CGI effects have spoiled many decent movies.
Visually the film is stunning. I hope it makes a fortune so we get more movies, a new TV series, a return of the original to the air, not to mention 10 more years of audio dramas and comics.
I'll be reviewing the film in Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) and Commonwealth Journal (Kentucky).
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Here's a link to the New York Times (http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/movies/johnny-depp-stars-in-tim-burtons-dark-shadows.html) review. They labeled it a "critic's pick."
I may be even more antedeluvian than Gothick--I actually listen to the radio in the morning! Here's a review from WNYC (http://www.wnyc.org/npr_articles/2012/may/10/dark-shadows-a-vampire-returns-without-his-bite/).
*shuffles back off to the dinosaurs' graveyard*
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LOL, DarkLady!
cheers,
Gothick
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How do they merge Vicky & Maggie?
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Joey,
[spoiler]"Victoria Winters" is an alias that Bella Heathcote's character uses. Her real name is Maggie Evans.[/spoiler]
ProfStokes
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Saw Dark Shadows today with my friend. We both loved it. My friend is a lot more pickier than I am, and he is not a original DS fan.I enjoyed it very much.The visuals that Burton did for the movie are very good. I enjoyed Johnny Depp, and Michelle Pfier a lot. The rest of the cast was also very good. Liked the music, and there was a murmur in the audience when the 4 original cast members came into the party. All in all, I had a good time, and when the Blu Ray comes out, defiantly will get it.
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A friend of mine who was a fan in the Sixties actually left the theatre in the middle of the movie today.
I did try to warn him what to expect. It is interesting how some people are having really extreme reactions to the experience.
G.
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Saw it on a spur of a moment decision (rare for me) to see it ad midnight last night.
I agree with most of the observances. Overall I thought it was very good UNTIL the end! [spoiler]I just don't buy vampirism working that fast & don't like how the movie sets up that we're suppose to be okay with the fact that Josette took over Maggie/Vicky, much like Barnabas is. And as entertaining as Johnny Depp made Barnabas, he's simply too much of an idiot vampire. He doesn't even seem to attempt to hide his vampire state or how many centuries old he is until half way throughout the movie.[/spoiler]
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Just got back from seeing it and, overall, I enjoyed it. What really surprised me was the generally serious tone of the film. Many of those comic bits -- even the jokier ones -- when seen in context aren't nearly as glaringly parodic as they seem in the trailers. There is a great deal of humor, but the new film is not a farce or a spoof.
For me, the acting carried the film, with Depp and Pfeiffer leading the way. The Barnabas-Elizabeth alliance is very much in keeping with the original series and I enjoyed seeing their relationship explored here.
On the other hand, as much as it pains me to write this, I felt that the weak link was HBC's Julia Hoffman. Yes, I am a card-carrying member of the Legion so I'm prejudiced on this matter, but while the other characters were not carbon copies of the originals, they did manage to retain a certain fidelity to them. This Julia lacked the original's dignity and propriety, and her storyline felt underdeveloped, which is a shame because there were interesting ideas at work.
Also problematic for me was the final confrontation between the Collinses and Angelique, which felt a bit cluttered. [spoiler]And the revelation that Carolyn is a werewolf struck me as far too significant to be tossed into the mix so late in the film and explained away with a single line of dialogue.[/spoiler]
For me, there will really only ever be one DS, and that's the original series. Because the OS is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-million-years creation, a straight recreation would be doomed to failure. However, I do feel that Burton and Company managed to remain faithful to the show's themes while creating something that is not merely a rehash of the original, and for the most part, I think they succeeded.
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It is interesting how some people are having really extreme reactions to the experience.
I wish I'd had any kind of extreme reaction besides the resigned shrug with which I walked away. I am glad that the best bits - the ones aimed at those "in the know" - are being well received by the series' fans. I thought the "fix" to the Maggie Evans/Vicki Winters problem was pretty neat.
And the humor really does play much better within the context of the film (except for the sight gag montages, which were too bountiful).
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I saw the film today and it was just okay for me. It left me searching for something. There were some brilliant good spots in the film and some awfully bad ones as well. The potential was the worst of it all simply because the scenes where I saw echoes (I'm assuming) of John August's original script were all too brief and cut away from quickly to show us more of out-of-place Barnabas.
I almost wish they had've approached Barnabas like the original series did, where you didn't ever get an explanation as to why he didn't notice the changes that had occurred since he was originally entombed. Of course, I like the idea of seeing the reactions, but perhaps not as blatant and over-the-top as they were. Some of the more appropriate reactions to me were Baranbas' initial approach to the paved road, he his quirky glances at the fashions and styling of the people of Collinsport.
As others have already said, I will also be posting a more full and fleshed out view on my blog, probably by the end of the weekend. Until then, let me say simply that the longing that I was left with for what could have been given the glimpses of pure DS that I saw really is the only thing I left this movie with. The story was beyond stale, if you could even label a story so flimsy. It was too overcrowded and I could imagine Grayson's Julia standing in the background of the production wringing her hands and giving dramatic face.
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Were you at the Showcase Cinemas in Worcester? I drove by on my way home from work and saw quite a few vehicles in the parking area.
Nope, Providence Place. :)
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Just got back from seeing it this afternoon with my Mom and my sister. I have kind of mixed feelings about it. I can't say I was disappointed with it because I really did enjoy it, but for as many brilliant things there were just as many misfires. Overall there was just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.
[spoiler]For brilliance: I thought Johnny was amazing especially when he was playing the anguished vampire. I thought Gully McGrath was EXCELLENT as David and I wish he had more screen time. I wish there had been more about his friendship with the ghosts in the house, not just his mother. (They made an allusion to her being a Phoenix, but in the end she was what? A Banshee?) I did, however LOVE Josette's ghost, I loved the way she moved, the way she looked, everything about her. I loved the ending. I loved the opening with the train moving through the woods to the tune of Knights in White Satin. If only the whole movie felt like that! I love the secret behind Victoria, I thought that was clever as all get out. I loved Collinwood! The set design was gorgeous! More so I loved Widow's Hill and the grounds surrounding the house. Damn but didn't I want to go wandering in those woods! I also LOVED Vicki's wardrobe!
Misfires: Not enough back story! Especially the triangle between Barnabas, Josette and Angelique! And ESPECIALLY between Barnabas and Vicki. If this is a love that has crossed time then, damn it! I want to feel it! In the show Barnabas strung Angelique along, and she was OBSESSED with him. She was CRUEL. She was driven by her desire to rise above her station in life and become a great lady. Angelique in the film just didn't come across that way to me at all. In the show Angelique chases Barnabas through time and every time she does so she manipulates and murders people he cares about to try and get him to love her. I think that's my biggest disappointment in the film, the way they handled Angelique. It was just.... her motivation just didn't come through to me at all. She was acting like a spoiled little girl, not a spurned lover. Hell Hath no Fury did not apply to her in the movie like it did in the show. I did love the scene where she literally took her heart out of her chest and attempted to get him to take it. Roger was a wasted character, Julia was a wasted character, and mores the pity. The overtly sexual stuff was off putting as well.
I thought there could have been a little more name dropping of original characters as well. They didn't have to show Joe Haskell, but they could have name dropped him. No mention either that Windcliff was the hospital that Julia owned in the show, I thought for SURE they were going to tie that in with Vicki somehow but they didn't. Some props would have been awesome as well. How much effort would it have been to put a gramophone in David's room for instance?[/spoiler]
So in the end it wasn't everything I expected it to be, but I did really enjoy it and I will be seeing it again!
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There should be a spoiler warning on this thread, methinks. Tons of them in each page of this topic...
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MB's inaugural post said "don't read here unless you have already seen the film." Or don't care about spoilers (which is the case with myself--still don't know when/if I am going to bother sitting through this thing).
G.
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Yes, the main topic contains a warning to anyone who hasn't seen the film. Darren, get thee to a theater! [ghost_wink]
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Just saw the film, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. The serious moments were marvelous and reminded me of TOS. Of course, there was far too much humor, but it seemed to me we had already seen every one of the jokes in the various commercials and trailers. So, I just sort of tuned-out when I noticed a joke coming up. So, I did enjoy the film -- just wish I could have enjoyed it more.
The weak-link, acting-wise was Eva Green, in my opinion. She didn't seem to have the essense of Angelique, she was just playing a blonde bitch. I also think the [spoiler]Carolyn/werewolf[/spoiler] thing was silly, out-of-the-blue, and a big mistake. That was the only part of the movie that truly offended (if that is the correct word) me, as a fan of TOS. Afterall, a possible sequel would likely have been about a [spoiler]werewolf.[/spoiler] That story now seems unlikely, with the Carolyn development. And, why burn-down Collinwood? How can there be a sequel without Collinwood? But, how could it ever be re-built? It seemed to be pretty-much destroyed.
What did I like? I loved the Vicki/Maggie connection. A real nod to the original. I also enjoyed Julia's new motivation (eternal youth). However, I think that angle needed a bit more development. It did seem a bit shocking, in that one scene. More build-up would have been nice. Also, there was no real need to kill-off Julia. Why not just scare her away from Collinwood? Or scare her into hiding? She would have been an important utilitarian character in any sequels -- as she was in TOS. Big mistake, killing her.
Regarding Laura -- they did imply that she was a phoenix. What was the term they used? As someone mentioned earlier, they said something about periodic reappearances, but I forget the exact term. Also, she did first appear during the fire. At first, I though David was going to summon her out of the fire. I have a feeling there was more discussion of Laura in the cut-footage.
All-in-all, the movie wasn't the train-wreck I was expecting. I don't believe it was a parody, and I don't believe anyone was making-fun of TOS. I wish it had been a straight horror film, but I am not in the demographic that matters to film-makers.
I now believe Burton's comment about not having plans for a sequel. Too much of the structure of the story had been destroyed by the end of this film -- not unlike House of Dark Shadows. Of course, they can create a sequel out of anything, but it does seem unlikely, at least to me.
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Oh, I've seen it. I was thinking more for other people who might just click on the newest page and not bother with pg 1 (foolish mortals).
And Steve, really just go...go...go...go...! My co-workers were amused at my enthusiastic lobbying for them to see the movie... It was known as Happy DS Day at the office to me and my co-horts. "Support the cause" I say... and you know, what that cause is of course. ;-)
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I wanted more from it but I did like it. Here's hoping for a director's cut on DVD.
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I am somewhat past the age for a midnight movie, so I chose a mid-afternoon screening. Much more civilized. The theatre was not full but no more or less than any other matinees that I've attended.
Is this the greatest movie I've ever seen? No. Was it fun and entertaining? Hell, yeah. Beautiful photography, awesome sets and Collinsport actually looked like the small towns in Maine that I visited as a kid.
This is NOT an attempt to recreate the series. The TV show is very much rooted in the '60's while, at the same time, being somewhat removed from it, like the dark Brigadoon that Jonathan Frid compared it to. The film captures the flavor of the series, as the basic themes are still there. Those whose motives are selfish and evil are eventually punished. Those who act unselfishly end up much better off.
Michele Pfeiffer was my favorite with Helena Bonham Carter a close second. Depp chews quite a bit of scenery at times but so did Vincent Price. So did Jonathan Frid.
The cameos of the original actors were much too short but at least they were there. Burton never used Adam West in his Batman movies. The Christopher Lee bit seemed pointless. The Carolyn revelation seemed like a subplot that had been edited way down. And, unfortunately, during the final confrontation between Angelique and Barnabas, all I could think of was how far special effects have come since Death Becomes Her.
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It's funny how different people can react differently because a group of DS friends and I saw the film in IMAX today and we all loved it. (And OMG, in IMAX it was amazing!) In fact, I just got home from being with them, and from the time the film finished, which was about 6:20pm ET until the last of my friends and I parted for the day, which was 15 minutes ago, we were talking about how we loved such and such and hoped that if they do indeed do a sequel, such and such will be explored, and on and on. Though all of that is not to say that any of us thought the film was perfect. But then, no version of DS is! Not the original series. Not the original movies. Not the '91 series. But even with a flaw here and there (and my own personal pet peeve that we could have done without the projectile vomit), there was so much to love about the film. It definitely had more than enough of the flavor of DS for us. Though that's about all I'll say for tonight because I'm too tired to say more. [ghost_sleep] But I will definitely say more the first chance I get. [ghost_wink]
And oh BTW - I linked to the NY Times review in the post that starts off this topic. Just how blind are you people? [ghost_grin]
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I went to a matinee showing of Dark Shadows today and to my delight pleasantly surprised that the film wasn't a bad comedic parody of the original series but a well written story in it's own right with some interesting twists. The cameos left a little to be desired but other than that, Kudos to Depp/ Burton and the whole cast !
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it's late so i'll not say much tonight but this...
i've spent the better part of a year defending this. defending it against garish makeup and campy trailers and bl**J*b gags...
but nothing prepared me for how absolutely and astonishingly stupid it was.
and the final 15 minutes could easily qualify for the dumbest in cinematic history.
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Michael, I like how you promptly changed your profile image back to Victoria Winters. [ghost_cheesy]
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I saw the film late this afternoon. I liked it. I will write more later. I don't know that I would go and see it again, at least not any time soon. There were plenty of wonderful scenes and some really stupid and pointless scenes as well. I did not understand some creative choices, especially in regards to some of the characters. It could have been better. It started out with a bang and lost focus here and there at cost to building momentum.
My understanding is that there would have been more Jonathan Frid on screen if he had been up for it.
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What was up with
[spoiler] Angelique cracking like porcelain? [/spoiler]
Oh, I laughed at exactly one thing in the movie. Even though the other people in the theater either gasped or were quiet
[spoiler] I laughed at the Barnabas kills the hippies scene [/spoiler]
I'm twisted like that I guess. ;)
Here's my lengthy response to the film...
http://pennydreadful13.livejournal.com/10406.html
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Spoilers galore at the above link BTW.
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I went to see the movie on Wednesday the 9th as I won a last minute advance screening ticket via the NY Post. It was the perfect setting to see the movie IE. packed house, polite people, tremendous sound and sharp digital images. I thought all along that the comedy was going to be the movie's downfall. However, I was wrong. The comedic aspects did not bother me as much as I had expected. It was the lack of pacing, the lack of good story telling, the underdevelopment of the 1700s storyline, the lack of scenes between BC and Josette/Vicki, and between BC and David, and between Vicki and David. Where the hell was Vicki in the battle scene? You can't pay homage at the o/s and have Julia performing a sex act on BC. A pure disgrace. Then we have the lack of good horror. Most of the violence was implied. Why? They needed to show it to have the movie taken seriously. Angelique was one dimensional. I don't think I saw any thunder/rain at Collinwood. How is that possible? It would have created a more sinister atmosphere. I expected a climatic ending. The battle between Angelique and BC was so weak something you expect in a low budget TV movie. And why is Roger in this movie? I went to see the movie again tonight in the borough I reside in. People were constantly walking in and out, constantly talking out of apparent boredom. I was very frustrated by what I was seeing. I went to an 8:00pm showing and the theatre was half full. Not a good sign. I wanted this movie to be a creative success. It turns out to be one hell of a mess. I am sorry to say but the word of mouth is going to be extremely poor. I am hoping for a big international box office just for the franchise's sake. I have no desire to see a sequel. I am very disheartened as a DS fan. We deserved better.
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I'd love to see a sequel. The end of this film went so far off the reservation I can't even imagine what a sequel would be like. They would have one insane blasphemous mess to get out of for sure! This is a very interesting and imaginative version of DS, loaded with homages to the source material. If I had a dvd of the movie, I'd be watching it again right now. It can't be everything to everybody and who cares if the script wobbles a bit? It has the Burton whimsical vibe, which was always going to be the defining tone. It does make one wonder what another creative team might have done. The new film is short on actual horror and scares. By contrast the original two films actually are legitimately creepy and horrifying. We can only imagine how another director might have used those films as inspiration to amp of the fear factor. There's a million ways you can reinterpret a classic. To each his own!
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I will see it again next weekend.
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Michael, I like how you promptly changed your profile image back to Victoria Winters. [ghost_cheesy]
as opposed to magtoria evers? micki wivans? whatever the heck her name was.
i didn't see the "magatoria" compromise as "clever" or as a "merger" so much as a negation of both characters.
she wasn't victoria, the naive girl from the foundling home trying to discover her identity, and she wasn't maggie, the apple-cheeked waitress who lived with her pop in a cottage by the sea. she was just a character made up for this movie who used those two names.
heathcote was pretty. and rather charming. and had cute style.
but i didn't "relate" to her as either character. and like the rest of the "supporting cast" her screentime was too limited to really flesh her out as a character.
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and speaking of limited screen time i couldn't believe how underused roger, and more importantly, dr. hoffman were.
when they both "departed" i was like, really, that's it???
and miller and hbc were both "good" in their roles. just hugely underdeveloped. the julia plot had the potential to be fascinating.
my impression is that half of this thing is lying on a cutting room floor.
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AND the business of randomly turning carolyn into a werewolf in the film's final 10 minutes is the most breathtakingly cynical piece of filmaking i've ever seen...
it was like let's throw nearly 2 hours of story continuity out the window for the greedy sake of opening up the door for a werewolf-themed sequel.
so whatever. now we can spend the next 2 years speculating on who's going to play quentin.
the first 2/3's of the film were sort of harmless entertainment. but the final 1/3 was a disaster. and the carolyn nonsense was the moment i completely shut down and stopped caring.
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michael c I'm in agreement with your position.
Deadline has done an analysis of the disappointing DS box office and WB's marketing strategy. This could turn out to be a flop domestically. http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/dark-shadows-opens-with-550k-midnights/
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I saw it with my family in a packed house Imax showing in Tulsa OK. We all loved it, and the audinace seemed to really enjoy it.
There were a few missteps and things that could've been doen better, but overall it was great fun. It kept some of the mood and spirit of the original but went in different directions with it, which I think worked. A remake should find new ground to explore out of the old material or there's no use in remaking it.
I thought the Maggie/Vicki merger was exciting, I gasped and nearly fell out of my chair over that one lol
I did think that the orphan background should've been kept, and it was odd that they didn't use the oprhan background or "Pop", but Vicki being dumped in an asylum did effect orphan her and made use of Maggie's history with Windcliff.
I thought the characters were used and developed pretty well. I think an extended directors cut could improve things.
Julia needed the most development, HBC was great but Julia just didn't get enough development. I never really felt her relationship with Barnabas and the "on her knees" moment was abrupt and distasteful as it happened too suddenly and made no impact on the plot. Neither Barnabas or Julia even reacted to the scene.
I thought Roger being such a scoundral worked to show him in comparison to Barnabas in their roles in the family. Roger failed as a father and brother, businessman, and Barnabas stepped up into those roles. We saw how much Liz and the kids needed him because Roger had failed them.
I thougth Angelique's china doll breaking apart at the end was really interesting, a unique way of showing her inhumanity. I did think that a little more vulnderability from Angelique would've improved things.
Carolyn's secret was a huge WTF that would've benefited from some foreshadowing, but it still brought some great moments to the movie, providing an explanation for CArolyn's angst and I LOVED how quickly Liz adjusted and accepted it. Werewolf or not Liz loved her child and I cheered when Liz carried Carolyn to safety with no hesitation. I think that some restored footage in a director's cut would really improve that.
Johnny Depp carried the movie beautifully, exploring Barnabas as a man out of time, an outsider trying to find his way, and really the rest of the cast all worked very well I thought.
The plot kept shocking me, with Barnabas being "out" to the family, then publicly exposed, Julia's death and resurrection, Laura, Carolyn, Collinwood burning, the movie's last half hour or so left me on my toes with no idea what was going to happen next.
I liked how the family all came togather with Barnabas against Angelique, and I enjoyed the irony that Angelique had created all her own enemies out of spite, and thus brought about her own destructon, very mytholoigal in scope.
Roll out the sequel!
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vicki's arrival in collinsport by train is such an elemental part of the series lore it should have been goosebump-inducing. but since it was not really "her" but someone else it left me cold.
without the backstories or histories of either character "victoria" and "maggie" might as well have just been random names pulled out of a hat...or a wikipedia entry...it felt completely false to me.
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Based on it opening with only $16,472,458 - and with reviews far worse than those of DS (for what it's worth, which I still claims isn't much as far as I'm concerned, it garnered a 20% score on you know where), people declared The Tourist to be a bomb. And some people still insist it was a bomb even though, as I've pointed out numerous times, it went on to make money. So, I suspect it's probably much too early to signal DS' death knell just yet because many things have yet to play out. Though, of course, as I've also mentioned before, so much of the entertainment press is fixated solely on opening numbers, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that if it turns out that DS makes about $28 million for the weekend, there will be numerous articles declaring it a bomb. Though as with The Tourist, that will remain to be seen...
1 day 12 hours 1 minute 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The AMC Metreon here in San Francisco has it on Imax and two regular screens. The 600 seat Imax was half empty, (or half full). The two regular screens were packed.
The problem the film will face happens all the time these days: they spent too damn much money making it.
It will easily gross $100 million, which won't cover it's budget.
Likewise, Superman Returns (2006) is considered a flop, even though it grossed $300 million worldwide--they spent too damn much money to make it, which is idiotic.
When they learn to get these things done without pissing away so much cash, this problem will get resolved.
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Heavens only knows what the budget for DS actually even is. Variety reported a $125 million figure the other day - but today Deadline said $150-$175 million. Something is wrong about those reports somewhere...
1 day 12 hours 23 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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at the 8:00pm friday new york showing i attended the theater was completely full.
in fact some late arrivers had to wander around trying to find vacant seats.
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... My review will appear in SF's Bay Area Reporter this coming Thursday. I gave it a mainly positive review, though I did mention that ending.
I thought Depp, Green and Pfeiffer were superb. ...
...what Doc Julia "did" to Barnabas... Anyone else wanna weigh in on that one?
Now, who is Ray Shirley? Is it my imagination or is that a guy in drag?
[edited by admin: what was already posted nearly word for word in Reply #27]
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I didn't think it was too difficlut to understand Julia's motivation. It could've used more time, but the appeal for eternal life and beauty is easy to understand, and we did get a scene with Julia discussing her angst growing old. It was a shock in a good way, but I didn't think it came out of left field. Loved how we could see Julia growing fangs as Barnabas drained her, and that was a clear signal that Julia would be back.
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so julia and magtoria are now vampires and carolyn a werewolf for a sequel???
sounds like a mess. or like 1968 all over again.
i guess with 40 years of hindsight this story still falls prey to kitchen-sink storytelling.
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before i sound TOO critical perhaps i'll backtrack a bit...
for me the film was just bookended negatively. the "magtoria" compromise left me disengaged out of the gate. and the climax was so stupid it sort of ruined the rest of it for me.
but a large chunk of the middle portion of the film was, as i said, harmless entertainment. if it had started and ended differently i might have enjoyed it alot more.
i just couldn't get past those two story developments. [ghost_tongue]
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[ghost_smiley]
I meant the "other" thing Julia did to him!
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My wife and I saw the movie last night. She was not a fan of the original series when it aired the way that I was, and her first introduction (other than hearing me talk about it) was the revival series in 1991. I say that because I think she enjoyed the movie more than I did, and when I pointed out a few tidbits here and there it really seemed to add to her appreciation for the movie.
I freely admit that I WANTED to love this movie. I think part of my problem with it is that it didn't live up to my admittedly overblown expectations. I most certainly did not hate the movie, but I also didn't LOVE it.
I certainly do not think that the movie played as a parody of the original series. After all, any television show that has the audacity to use a photograph of Paul Stoddard in a coffin loses the right to be indignant about any perceived slights. And I also did not think that the movie was anywhere near as comedic as was initially feared. The commercials clearly were cut to make items appear more comedic than they really were. I think a great example is when Barnabas caught fire. I did not find that that scene played for laughs at all, and the aftermath with both David and Vicki was quite dramatic.
I thought a lot of the movie did work. I did not think that the Carolyn reveal was quite as "out of the blue" as others. I think there were multiple subtle hints. First, David's line about her at the breakfast table was clearly one of our first hints. "She makes noises like a cat." Second, I don't think the lingering shot of the painter installing a full moon when they were refurbishing Collinwood was an accident. I personally enjoyed the Vicki/Maggie blending, and I was REALLY captivated by Josette - from the first appearance of her ghost with the crabs coming out of her mouth to the role she played in Maggie's life. More on that in a bit.
I was not as put off as many others about the reimagining of Julia. I was not a card carrying member of the "Julia and Barnabas belong together" club, but I know a lot of fans wanted it. I think Burton and company tried to give many fans something to like about this movie. I have no qualms about having characters reinvented (look at Professor Stokes in House of Dark Shadows), and Julia's actions seemed pretty self consistent to me. She was willing to manipulate people to get what she wanted, so she manipulated Barnabas' naivety through hypnosis, stringing him along about his cure (which was NOT a stretch) and any other means (which some found objectionable).
Frankly, my biggest beef with the film was Angelique. I suppose the first scenes were meant to show that she had fixated on Barnabas at an early age (clearly before they'd become sexually active), but the movie would have been much better if they'd developed her character AT ALL. For me, Lara Parker's Angelique was at her scariest when she would be casting a spell with her wild eyes, and often having somebody else perform her bidding. We never really got a hint of that. The porcelain cracking of her facade was never explained or developed. And if she was really interested in destroying the Collins family (which was her stated motivation), I'm not sure I get the 180 years of inaction between burying Barnabas and sending a werewolf to bite Carolyn in her crib. Why fixate on Carolyn and David instead of Roger and Elizabeth? That said, I thought the payoff of having all of her machinations work together to bring about her downfall (Carolyn, Laura and Barnabas) was kind of cool.
I thought that there were quite a few nods to the original story that worked well. I LOVED Carolyn appearing on stage before Alice Cooper's "Ballad of Dwight Fry" to ask "Mommy, where's Daddy? He's been gone for so long, do you think he'll ever come home?" and the look on Liz' face as she hears that. I also liked what they did with Laura, although as others have pointed out she's kind of a hybrid phoenix/banshee (phoenshee? banix?). And the aforementioned Maggie Evans.
There has been much made of whether Burton and Depp were true "fans" of the series. I feel like they did something with this movie that I always secretly hoped for, and since I'm roughly the same age as Depp I completely understand. I always found Barnabas to be a sympathetic character who simply wanted to be with his true love. In many ways, what I loved about the series died when Josette "released" Barnabas during the Leviathan storyline. Despite two chances at revisiting this (HoDS and the 1991 revival series), Dan Curtis never gave Barnabas always left Barnabas one step away from reuniting with Josette. To me, this movie finally provided that. I absolutely LOVED the way they showed Josette driving Maggie back to reunite with Barnabas, and for the first time ever Barnabas gets his "happy" ending. That said, I wished the movie had some kind of epilogue. The last we see of Liz and the kids is them looking at a burning Collinwood. What becomes of Barnabas and Josette? Oh, and what about Roger, who's COMPLETELY wasted in this movie?
In retrospect, this was a no-win situation for Burton. This movie already looks like he tried to cram in more than he should have, and I've already seen people lamenting the absence of other characters. In all, I'm happy I saw it, and happy that it got made, but I think it was just OK.
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Perhaps Angelique had already messed with Roger and Elizabeth. Maybe she had something to do with the absence of Paul Stoddard. Maybe she did stuff to encourage Roger's unscrupulous nature. Doing nasty things to David and Carolyn would have been a double edged sword to loving parents. Too bad that only Elizabeth actually seemed to love her child.
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I loved the Magtoria reveal. I knew that Vicki would be the love intrest and had no expectation of Maggie being in the movie at all, and since Vicki already would have elements of Maggie with her being the look alike of Josette, that really really worked for me.
I do wish that Laura had been more of a fire creature, but that's a small thing.
Liz did tell Barnabas that the family had been cursed by supernatural creatures and tragedy for many generations, so I took that as Angelique's ongoing vendetta with the Collins family. Angelique did kill Roger's wife and cursed Liz's daughter, who knows what else she did to them. Probably introduced Paul Stoddard to the Leviathans. Also, Angelique obviously took delight in the declining fortunes of the Collins family, striking at them any harder would've ended her fun. I saw her as a vicious cat toying with a mouse in that regard.
I thought there were interesting things done with Roger, that he was banging some anonymous girl in the coat check room and had David standing guard, and that Roger took the money and ran was interesting. The movie had a limited amount of time to devote to each character. Who knows, Roger may return for the sequel with his new wife Cassandra.
Julia's sex act does play out better if I look at it as her manipulating him. I prefer Julia here as being crafty and devious instead of pathetic.
LOVED Carolyn's Daddy moment and Liz's reaction. Little touches like that added so much to the movie and show that tptb there know and love the classic source material.
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Who knows, Roger may return for the sequel with his new wife Cassandra.
I think that's kinda brilliant, qc.
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An IMDB analysis posted sometime today (Sat.) predicts the Burton/Depp Shadows will "be lucky" to gross $30 million over the weekend. The blurb cites the movie's total budget as $125 million which is almost twice the figure I had seen some months back of $65 million.
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni28032740/
G.
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The source of that IMDB post seems to be the Deadline article linked in Reply #60.
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And speaking of that Deadline article, Box Office Mojo puts a more positive spin on DS' Friday box office take:
Friday Report: 'Dark Shadows' Can't Slow 'Avengers' (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3441&p=.htm)
1 day 15 hours 48 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I never really expected DS to top The Avengers' box office take on its initial release. I just hope the movie makes enough money in the long run so that Burton and Depp and WB will feel a sequel would be worth to make.
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I just hope the movie does well enough to prompt whoever in the WB labyrinth is sitting on the decision to greenlight the 1970-71 feature films DVD release/restoration to move things along and give us a firm date for the release! (bearing in mind Darren's note that next year, on balance, would be better than this year).
cheers, G.
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I agree with Gothick. My priority has always been the restoration of NODS. I can live with any film as long as it's failure doesn't get in the way of that project.
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Okie dokie, after avoiding this thread and other sites with potential spoilers for a few days, I finally saw the movie today. I just read all of your thoughts and was interested to see all of your views.
As for myself, I absolutely LOVED it. I didn't expect to- as I mentioned in the other thread I'd been starting to get rather pessimistic these last few days. But I now wonder what I was worried about- I shouldn't let reviews and other people's remarks get into my head like that! But all in all, I probably loved the movie more than any here, with the possible exception of Taeylor [ghost_grin]
Okay, so of course I do actually have some criticisms, so let me get those out of the way first. As with many of you, I wished there had been a bit more of a backstory and buildup to Barnabas and Angelique's relationship. As Prof. Stokes or someone mentioned- maybe some kind of montage of them kissing a bunch of times or something. At the very least, when you think about the OS, we never actually *see* their backstory, but there is a conversation about it, and it's heavily implied that they'd definitely had their fun. Here in the film, the conversation is far too brief. As with many of you, I also wish there could've been more to Carolyn's secret before this sudden left-field reveal. Someone did point out a few hints, which I admit I didn't really notice during the film. I knew from Chloe's interviews that she had a secret, so that was the only reason I wasn't totally shocked by it, and I did see her backing away into the house and closing the front door, so I knew she was up to something, but I guess I wish it could've had at least a little more elaboration or foreboding. And lastly, I agree that not enough was done with Roger's character. Even if he was relegated to mostly standing around being snarky, I wished he could've at least had a bit more screen time doing that very thing.
Oh, and I guess one more lastly, though it's more of a joke to myself than anything, I have always told people how I absolutely hated the scene in the Indy 2 movie where they rip the guy's beating heart out, and when I saw Angelique touching her chest like that, I had a feeling that that was what was going to happen-- ewwww [ghost_grin] But it actually wasn't that bad, it was just that the thought of it kinda made me laugh because it reminded me of that scene I hate so much. For that matter, it reminded me of Pirates 3, too, because there is a lot of time spent on a beating heart that they're all trying to stab, and I wonder if that was in any way intentional.
Okay, now on to the things I liked. I had absolutely no problem with the tone of the film. For me, this was not a comedy. It was not a spoof or a parody, and I don't feel that it in any way tarnished the reputation of the OS. I do think that the trailers should've been truer to the real tone- not to take out the comedy entirely, but just not to overdo it the way they did. I LOVED the reveal of Magtoria! My only teensy tiny nitpick with that is that she's rehearsing introducing herself, starts to say Maggie and then sees a poster that makes her change her name... but what had she said her name was when she answered the ad?? I mean, didn't she have to give a name?? So, maybe she'd seen a poster like that before and already decided on the alias, and looking up at it only reminded her of it, but for me it was something that brought me out of the film for a moment. But otherwise, I had no problem with the idea that the character was not a carbon copy of either the Maggie or the Victoria that we know from the OS. And Bella was great! I really had no problem with Helena's Dr. Hoffman. I'd heard in the very beginnings of the development of this film that it was going to be a small role, so I wasn't expecting her to have a huge amount of screentime, and I found it just right. I loved the reveal of what she was up to- I didn't expect it and I felt that it fit very well into the story, and it provided a good justification for Barnabas' actions, which I already guessed because of the film score's track titles. I was not as turned off by some at Julia's little "act". Grayson Hall might never have done that but to my thinking, she probably would've wanted to. One little point that probably won't make a difference to any of you, but that came to my mind, is that there is a similar scene with Mary Steenburgen in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, for a similar purpose, and I can't help but wonder if there was any possibility that was more than a coincidence. In both cases, though, the intent was clearly manipulation, and I am fine with that as a plot point.
I loved both Chloe's and Gully's portrayals- wished that both of them had more screen time. Jackie Earle Haley was great in a small role, and I suppose some might say he was too buffoonish but I felt it struck a good balance. I also thought Mrs. Johnson was a hoot, and I was glad that that wasn't overdone.
Unlike most of you, I loved Eva's performance. While as I said above (and many of you have said), I wish there'd been a bit more to flesh out her motivations, but I found her to be a delicious and seductive villain. Some thought the ending was too much but for me, the buildup to the final confrontation and then its execution were just right. I wasn't sure at first what to make of the "facade cracking", but I guess I just went with it, and it felt all in character to me. For me, her offering Barnabas her heart (though as I just mentioned above I have a little trouble with that image itself) was her final pleading gesture that revealed her true feelings and vulnerability in the end. And he would not take it. Maybe that's corny or too obvious to some of you, but I liked it.
Well, unlike most of my thoughts above, which I think I was somewhat open-minded about, I admit that I'm heavily biased when it comes to Mr. Depp, so it should come as no surprise to any of you that I thought he was fantastic as Barnabas. I would have preferred if he'd taken away one or two of the comments where even he should've realized that the family wasn't supposed to know he was from another century. But other than a few such nitpicks, I didn't feel that his reactions made him out a fool. But that's just me. I felt that he perfectly conveyed the pain and the torture of what he'd been through, and I also felt he conveyed his love and loyalty to his family. Even with Roger, when you think he's going to do something terrible to him, that something terrible turns out to be that he gets a lot of money to leave; while to Barnabas that would be a terrible fate, for Roger it's a godsend, lol! (Poor David, though!) Anyway, from my perspective, I think that he did honor to the character of Barnabas Collins.
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I was surprised by how much I liked Willie here. I thought he should've been a young man who was at least unconventionally attractive, but the actpr really sold the character, and maybe I'm weird but I could see there was an offbeat good looking guy under the crazy clothes and hair. But then I think underneath it all the '91 Willie was cute too.
I did notice Carolyn sneaking into the house I did think something was up there. For a second I thought Carolyn was going to be a vampire and was horrified that Barnabas must've bit her, but the werewolf reveal was a neat twist. The actress really made the most of all her scenes, she was interesting even when I thought she was just a rebellious teen, and she reminded me a lot of how Carolyn in the OS was in the begining.
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I've attached my review of the film. I was going to post it on my blog site but it was giving me trouble. I agree with much of what others have already said. Please share any thoughts or opinions!
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Here's yet another article about Friday's box office - one by the Hollywood Reporter - and one which puts an even more interesting spin on DS' take:
Box Office Report: A Still-Super 'Avengers' Easily Eclipses 'Dark Shadows'
The Johnny Depp vampire movie, directed by Tim Burton, could prove more potent abroad. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-update-a-still-323622)
And in the continuing saga of the budget, this one says $100 million. Who knows? [ghost_rolleyes]
1 day 21 hours 56 minutes 59 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Check out this podcast review of the movie
http://thecinementals.org/2012/05/dark-shadows-podcast/
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It's hard to believe that we are going to have to rely on the international box office to bail this movie out. Even if it does better than The Tourist I believe WB expected much better.
http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/michelle-pfeiffer-dark-shadows-box-office/
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My head is spinning a bit right now (from both having seen the film and from the spirits enjoyed afterwards), but I'm in full control of my faculties.
Altogether, 32 of us met at my friend's house at noon, and - despite it being early in the day - we shared two small glasses of champagne each to start off the festivities. It was one joyful toast. From there, we went in our caravan to the cinema, forming a long line at the ticket stand, and gathered in the lobby, waiting for a few to hit the concession stand (very few can afford it). From there, we went to the appropriate theater and filled almost two rows. We were the majority there. Most of the other attendees were of middle age - I saw only one teen who was in the company of parents. That was most telling. Despite the PG-13 rating, it appeared that everyone, save one, would've been able to attend an R-rated film. After several previews and the warning to shut off all cellphones, banning even texting, it began.
I loved it. Everyone did. Was it perfect? No. Was anything in DS ever perfect? No.
First, regarding the "controversy" that this film was a spoof or send-off of the original, not one thought so, including me. We saw nothing in it designed to denigrate the show everyone on this message board loves. Did it have comedic elements? Of course, especially the fish-out-of-water of Barnabas trying to adjust, adapt and understand life two centuries later. Some were slapstick, but most were logical. We laughed, and not because we felt that the movie was "making fun" of anything from the beloved OS, but because we considered it all true. We sympathized with Barnabas trying to fit in, and one of the best scenes was him talking with Carolyn about attempting to do just that. It was funny, but we could feel his attempt to figure out how to behave, how to be accepted. Many, if not most, of us have been in those situations. We want to be accepted, to belong. The film's Barnabas portrayed that nobley, with a good deal of comedy. He was confused and exasperated. He was trying his best.
And now for the characters.
The movie Barnabas was wonderful. He was a completely sympathetic character, just like the original. Despite his being a "reluctant vampire," he tried to move beyond it and do what he could for the family he loved. Coming from another time and culture, he struggled with trying to fit in, to understand, to keep himself secret, but it's hard to keep one's self secret all times and the wrong things slip out (and the film's Elizabeth constantly covering for, and "correcting" him was spot on).
So, speaking of Elizabeth, she was a different incarnation from the original (or the '91 reforming). She had class, style and forthrightness. She didn't care about her own problems, she cared about her family. And she was not above doing what it would take to protect it.
Her daughter Carolyn was a wonderful manifestation. I had "concerns" about lowering Carolyn's age from 19 to 15, wondering how that would work, but it did. I could only envision Carolyn as a later-teen who was more independent and going to bars and swinging with the guys to the latest tune on the jukebox. That's what she was in the OS and '91. But she captured the cynical, post-tween child that I remember we all were. It was a reimagining, and it works.
I should say, before I continue, that because of what I had read about the film, and its divergence from the OS, that I would try to think of it as a whole new thing, just like when I read Hawkes Harbor, the rewritten novel that was suppose to be included the in the failed HarperCollins novel resurrection that died. SE Hinton changed names of people and places to get it published after it had been rejected by the HarperCollins PTB as "too graphic." So I tried to read it as a first ever incarnation, even though I knew who each character was. But it didn't work. Her novel was DS, even though reimagined in a different way, and despite its divergence from the OS, I still liked it. The same with this film. It's not the same - it's different, but it's still our DS.
Roger, like other characters, was also different, a more cold, allusive, uncaring man. The OS had him as a b*st*rd at times, especially regarding his son, but he would always redeem himself. Not so here. This was a different Roger. He didn't care about his family, including his son, unless he could get something out of it. I wasn't the least bit surprised when Barnabas realized how shallow he was and he chose to take the one of two ultimatums Barnabas gave him. That scene, involving David, was one of the most emotional in the film. A few of my friends shed tears.
David was an incredible expose. Unlike the original, he wasn't a cruel little snot (even though he liked to get his licks in against Carolyn, but what little boy, with an older neo-sibling around, doesn't do that?), but a lonely, suffering child. His aunt refused to believe him; his psychiatrist (Dr. Julia Hoffman) refused to believe him. Only Vicki gave him a small bit of hope, as did Barnabas. Barnabas' affection for him was truly moving.
Ah, Victoria Winters. This was the best portrayal of her ever. Alexandra Moltke was good (since she set the standard), but her wimpy, whining "I don't understand" annoyance made her eventually a stone, and to be perfectly honest, when she left the series (with a few episodes of "Icky-Vicki"), it was time. I considered the '91 version to be just, plain stupid (sorry Taeylor!). This Victoria wasn't sure what she needed, but she was sure to get it. And making her an amalgamation of Victoria/Maggie was brilliant. The flashback scenes were enough to fill in the details. I was absolutely ecstatic that my beloved Maggie Evans was in the movie, and she wasn't some slattern as in the '91 version. Burton and Depp did their homework.
Willie Loomis was a great character, even though he was obviously more based on the '91 version than the original. He was enough of a comedic relief that didn't cross into the ludicrous, like the '91 one.
Angelique. Now there's an evil vixen. For me, the prologue explained enough of her infatuation with Barnabas and her driven desire to destroy the entire family over centuries. I especially loved the scene where it's stated that her hatred for what Barnabas did to her (by rejecting her after using her), did not really constitute hatred, but obsession, otherwise she would've outright killed him. That's so true. She knew he was still "alive" in his chained coffin, and the fact that he was would've driven her to slowly torment the Collins family rather than quickly destroy him in the hope that he would see what she had accomplished over the centuries, despite her surprise that he was freed.
And now we come to Dr. Julia Hoffman. This isn't the same Hoffman from the OS, HoDS or '91. And that's good. I'm glad that Bonham Carter decided to go on her own version. The Julia-in-love-with-Barnabas was good the first time, maybe the second, but by the third it was old and tired. She found Barnabas "fascinating" because of his "condition," and conducted her experiments not because of any concern for him, but for what it would mean for her. That is a totally different Julia. Unlike all the Julia's we have known from the past, all with good intentions, this was a Julia that was totally self-absorbed and concerned for her own welfare. Why must Julia be portrayed solely as a caring individual? Because she was that way in the OS? In HoDS, she was willing to murder Barnabas because he wanted to be with Maggie and not with her, despite all she did for him and was in love with him. In the '91 version, she wasn't much better. They changed her for those portrayals. Why not take it to its logical conclusion here, if they had transformed her before?
And now for one character that was my favorite: Mrs. Johnson. I loved, loved, loved how they made her into an elderly, and age-afflicted, housekeeper. She didn't have one line in the movie. She had obviously lost a good deal of her cognitiive abilities because of her advanced age, but the family kept her on because they felt a duty to her, despite her inability to do things the way she use to. I found that so heart-warming.
With most of the major characters covered, now for the rest.
I found the prologue okay, unlike others who think it was the best part of the film. It did capture the reason why Barnabas became a vampire, but even though it had the gothic nature (and the soundtrack containing wisps of Colbert), I don't see why others (including here) thought it was the best part.
The opening credits, with Victoria/Maggie on the train heading towards Collinsport, with Nights In White Satin playing as the soundtrack, was fantastic. The sets were all incredible, as was the filming. References to the culture of 1972 were spot-on and not overplayed - it was correct, nostalgic and the Barnabas as a fish-out-of-water were done correctly. The entire concept of Barnabas trying to help his family overcome Angelique's attempt at destroying them gripped me (and all my friends). The only thing I didn't like was Carolyn being a you-know-what at the end, despite the hints thoughout the film. I thought that was contrived. Something more should also have been made about David and his association with Laura, his mother. But I'm glad that Barnabas, with Vicki, found that Angelique's curse had been broken, although not in the way either would've wanted. I do see so much for a sequel.
Again, was it perfect? No. How could a movie take over 1,200 episodes and compact it into two hours? Well, how could HoDS take the same and compact it into a move of just an hour-and-a-half? How could the '91 version do the same within 13 episodes? Both failed. Even the OS failed. But it's still all here. If it didn't form the minds of millions of people, this movie never would've been made. I'm grateful it was. It's my DS, just as much as the OS, NoDS, NoDS, '91 ('04, which I've never seen) are. Burton and Depp did an incredible job. I appreciate it, even if no one else might not.
As the credits rolled, we all remained as other shuffled out (as most do). When we left, the next band of fans and erstwhile interested folk were waiting to enter. Most were middle-aged, just like those when we saw it. Some asked us: "Is it good? Is it like the show?" Those of us who remembered said: "Yes. You'll love it."
We went back to my friend's house. Spirits were poured as we insatiated ourselves and then sat down to a "dunch" (a combination of lunch and dinner). We all talked about the movie and toasted it again. One of my friends, who originally hated the show, said "that's the best movie I've enjoyed in a long time." Then, those of us who grew up with the original were bombarded with questions.
If I could afford it, I'd see it again. And again. But for now, I'll have to save my money to buy the two soundtracks and, eventually, the DVD.
My DS lives again. I don't care if this film flops. Thank you, Burton and Depp. You've given to me what I've spent my life enjoying, warts and all. Warts are a part of DS, from the OS to this movie. If they weren't present, it wouldn't be DS. Much of what the late, great, Dan Curtis (to whom this film is dedicated) did on the OS and the '91 was just downright stupid and insulting - please, no one, tell me that it was "fantasy;" - fantasy doesn't have to be stupid and insulting and Dan Curtis should've known better, especially the second time around. But we love him and what he did. In the same vein, I love what Depp and Burton did. It's my DS, and I'm glad it has come back from the grave.
My only other concern has been trying to market this film, as Hollywood always does, to the "target group" of 18-24. They weren't there when I saw it, but the over-40's were. And they loved it. It's time for Hollywood to understand that people who are 18 don't have that much money or sophistication. Okay, so a movie like The Avengers has broken records. It happens. The bottom line for Hollywood is the almighty buck. That's understandable. The 1% need to eat, too (even chateaubriand every day). But if the over-24 crowd is appreciated and things are marketed towards them, then maybe the 1% can have some Bernaise Sauce on their chateuabriand. I have no intention of seeing The Avengers. Neither do any of my friend (most have no concept of what it is). I finally tried to watch Avatar a couple times on TV, while I never saw it in the theater (because the ludicrous animated special effects made it annoying). It's the most "profitable" movie in history. I tried, regarding it, and all times it has failed.
Okay, I'm done with my review and rants. Wrapping it up, I loved this movie. It is DS.
Gerard
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It's hard to believe that we are going to have to rely on the international box office to bail this movie out. Even if it does better than The Tourist I believe WB expected much better.
Something Warner Brothers wasn't counting on, and I don't think anyone was expecting, is just how big The Avengers would be. Timing is everything - and the timing for DS' US release hasn't exactly been the best. And because The Avengers opened so much earlier in other countries, that's why the foreign box office could be significantly better for DS. Though as several reports are saying, what Warner Brothers does seem to believe, or at least hope, is that like The Tourist, DS will continue to make money in the US for weeks to come. I suppose we'll see...
One thing I do find fascinating is which Web sites love to pounce onto the gloom and doom of every situation, even if they have to create it themselves, and which ones try to put the more positive spin out there. And I'm not even speaking about DS, I'm speaking in general, whether it be films, TV shows, or whatever. For example, I love to check the TV ratings almost every day, and it's amazing how some Web sites will go out of their way to find a way to frame things in the worst way possible. Even if a show's viewership, say, has gone up over the previous week or weeks, they'll have to point out how it's lower than some other week the show was on, maybe when it was even on years previous, or even compare it against some other show that was on in the same time period in some other previous season rather than simply reporting that the show's viewership went up and leave it at that. It's as if the writers at certain sites don't think they're doing their jobs unless they're tearing something down and/or painting it in the most unflattering light possible. And because something like The Avengers is doing so well, I pity the superhero/action films to come because these sites are going to find every way possible to compare whatever they do to The Avengers so as to make them come up lacking. It's sad really. And it's something to keep in mind when one reads their reports.
At least a place like Box Office Mojo had the good sense to say that even though DS may indeed come up shorter than some of Burton/Depp's other films' first weekends, no one should have reasonably expected it to pull in those sorts of numbers because it's a totally different type of film...
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Check out this podcast review of the movie
http://thecinementals.org/2012/05/dark-shadows-podcast/
The following has some references to the podcast, so I will classify it as a possible spoiler.
[spoiler]They lost me when they started using words like "betrayed." While I certainly agree with some of these folks' concerns, I disagree with the idea sometimes inferred that the "mythology" of DS is sacrosanct (to the point of close replication, both of story and actors), and the list of deviations from the original cited by these good people as a general point of criticism seemed more an opportunity to rattle off knowledge of the original series (in addition to countless other films and TV shows unrelated to the DS film). That in itself, does not qualify as a strong argument for the asserted weaknesses of the film, though it may illustrate some people's disappointment in it, and is certainly valid in that respect. [ghost_smiley] The OS is what it is. Five years of borrowed, re-imagined mythology that already existed in another form. It was unique and wonderful in its retelling. The artists and writers who retold it were themselves unique and wonderful. So, in my opinion, are those responsible for this new work.
Why is it surprising or even offensive to some people that a 2 hour movie can't go into incredible detail about everyone's favorite storyline or character? Or serve those five years of stories and characters in the same way as the OS? Why do some think it acceptable to speak for all followers of the show (as in the actions of Dr. Hoffman at one point in the script being a big "F-You" to ALL fans - as a fan from the first run, I certainly did not feel - um - violated by the scene in question)? Does this somehow bolster an argument, or detract from it as a version of an ad populum plea?
For all its flaws, I like the new movie both for what it is and what it represents in terms of reinvigorating interest in this show. The folks on the podcast seemed to agree that in spite of their dislikes and disappointments, interest in the show would be served. That seems a good way to look at it regardless of your impression of the movie.
This film is a separate animal from the OS, just as the OS was a separate animal from its source material. And like the original, this film is not perfect, but it uses elements of the original along with the creative re-envisioning of new actors and a new director. If we must beat it up, let us beat it up on its own merits (pacing, acting, story consistency, effective humor, etc.) not on behalf of the Ghost of 433 West 53rd Street (A ghost that I will always have a special, separate place in my heart for), or - Howard the Duck. [ghost_tongue2]
PS: Ironically, I know some folks that feel that the two Dan Curtis DS Movies are "wretched" and serve as a "betrayal" to the series. They are by no means my favorite incarnation of DS (Sorry, Darren, but I still look forward to their release, and seeing your hard work come to fruition!), but they are film, and necessarily a somewhat different vision from a daytime soap. Also, they are proof that DC sought to CHANGE the structure and impact of the OS core mythology as far back as 1970. [ghost_wink] I DO respect everyone's personal take on the film - we don't all have to agree to all still love DS! [/spoiler]
Respectfully,
Petofi
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...And thanks, Nancy, for posting the podcast. I may have disagreed with much of what they said, but they were very entertaining!
Petofi
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I laughed really hard at the part where Barnabas opened a secret door and Elizabeth said "that's where I keep my macrame". I laughed until I almost cried envisioning that scene occurring in the original series. LOL...
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Tonight I've been catching up on a lot of the things I've recorded but didn't get a chance to watch yet, and I discovered that The Insider finally did a segment on DS last night - though it was nothing special - and they almost spent as much time talking about the Vanessa Paradis issue as they did the film. But then, they wouldn't have been true to their tabloidy nature if they had done otherwise. [ghost_rolleyes]
On the the other hand, Extra did yet another segment and it was worth seeing as it featured new interviews with Depp, Eva Green and Michelle Pfeiffer. And it will be interesting to see if, as in other weeks, a longer version might surface on their weekend show...
2 days 0 hours 53 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thumbs up... I'm so glad I decided to ignore the queasy feeling I got from the promos and give the movie a chance. I thought the tone was right-on and was glad to see that the comic relief did not veer into mindless satire. I LOVED the Maggie/Victoria thing -- the two characters had become so interchangeable when viewed in the larger context of early OS, late OS, and HODS that I found the blending to be a brilliant and cheeky homage. I enjoyed the rich decor of the Collinwood mansion and how Angelique caused various pieces to spring to life in the final confrontation.
Were there things I didn't like so much? Yes. But overall I was delighted by the re-imaginings, nods to the original, and general tone. I look forward to owning this and hope there will be plenty of extra material on the home release.
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My non-DS fan girlfriend and I saw the 12:01 AM showing at Dallas's historic Inwood theatre Friday morning and we both loved it.
Was it everything I wanted it to be? Of course not.
The original series isn't everything it could have been. Nor are the Marilyn Ross novels, the Gold Key comics, the syndicated strips, the original theatrical films, the '91 remake and the comics that were released in its wake, the Pomegranate Press books, the '04 pilot, the Big Finish audio productions, not to mention all the the books, comic or otherwise, that have been released in anticipation of this film. None of these are flawless, some of them downright suck. But I enjoy every one of them, one way or another.
The film isn't nearly as comedic as the previews and disgruntled fans would have us believe. The tone is nicely balanced, the visuals are fantastic, the actors are perfectly cast, the music is wonderful, the plot innovations are delightful... I could go on and on about the things I loved about it, but I don't want to gush.
I'll limit myself to one criticism, and it's that the movie isn't long enough. Even at a lengthy 1 hour 52 minutes the movie felt fast paced, it never dragged, but there's so much information crammed into the running time that most of the characters and subplots feel underdeveloped. I couldn't shake the feeling driving home that I had just seen the first installment in a long-running franchise. And I'm overjoyed at that prospect.
I can hardly wait to go see it again, ASAP.
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I really hope it isn't the end of the franchise; however, if so I will accept it. I do think DS would work though on Televising, especially on THE CW.
I have to say about the now INFAMOUS BJ scene, I didn't know Grayson personally; however,the biography suggest to me that she would have thought that was a HOOT! I could be wrong!
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as deeply as i despised the climactic scene i can't consider it a "betrayal" of the OS because you just know if can curtis had had the budget to stage a similar scene on the series he would have. curtis was not "above" anything.
in later years he seemed to develop a sentimentality about the series' "mythology". hence the tone of the 1991 series was more serious and reverent to it than alot of what happened on the OS. no adam and no leviathans. lots of damsels in diaphanous sleepwear and loose curls.
but on the OS he wasn't above and beyond trying just about anything. often to the point where the storylines made absolutely no sense.
i will say that the caroyln "reveal" was not something he would have gone for or approved. curtis liked his heroines unsullied. for me it was the one part of the film i found unforgivable.
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One small point about Dr. Hoffman's actions or any of the sexuality that may have been expressed in the film. Remember when the OS aired, and keep in mind how soap operas evolved over the years. If DS had been on the air in the 90's or 00's instead of the 60's, I'm pretty sure there would've been a LOT more overt sexuality. There would've had to have been- things have become much more explicit on TV. Thinking about it that way, I just don't think the film has radically altered anything that the DS characters would've done. Just my $.02 on the matter.
Funny thing is, we Depp fans have long joked about the lack of sexuality in Tim Burton's films (at least the ones that Depp is in). I think that Depp and Green cracked a joke about their high wire act being Burton's "first sex scene". For me, it was kinda about time [ghost_wink] But your mileage may vary!
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It's time for Hollywood to understand that people who are 18 don't have that much money or sophistication. Okay, so a movie like The Avengers has broken records. It happens. The bottom line for Hollywood is the almighty buck. That's understandable. The 1% need to eat, too (even chateaubriand every day). But if the over-24 crowd is appreciated and things are marketed towards them, then maybe the 1% can have some Bernaise Sauce on their chateuabriand. I have no intention of seeing The Avengers. Neither do any of my friend (most have no concept of what it is).
I'm not writing to defend the Avengers, just to clarify. I don't think it should be put in the same category as Avatar. The Avengers has a history dating back to WWII with the introduction of Captain America. For me, the Avengers are almost as near and dear to my heart as DS. I collected Marvel comics and waited with bated breath each month for the new "CAP", Iron Man, Hulk (he was not an Avenger when I collected), and many, many others. Like DS these stories continued on and on like a soap opera. We learned in Avengers 57 that the android Vision was created from the burned out body of WWII era Human Torch. DS had multiple Quentins. Marvel had two versions of the Human Torch, one an android, the other a human altered by cosmic rays (see the Fantastic Four). I believe the Avengers deserves all the success it has achieved. It is the movie that I had wanted to see since I was ten years old and wondered if Thanos would conquer the universe with THE COSMIC CUBE. This little relic made the rounds, like the Hand of Count Pefofi. Doctor Doom wielded it, so did The Red Skull, and many other meglomaniacs. I could go on and on about parallels between Marvel comics and DS. I'm going to defer instead by merely stating that I think the appeal of the film goes back to the generation that first watched DS. Joss Whedon wrote a script that is true to that long and rich history.
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Probably not a good sign that 73% of the DS movie audience was from people over 25/27 years of age(?). I guess the Avengers sucked the under 25/27 crowed up. Hopefully it will find the younger audience next week.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/studio_estimate/2012-05-13
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Probably not a good sign that 73% of the DS movie audience was from people over 25/27 years of age(?). I guess the Avengers sucked the under 25/27 crowed up. Hopefully it will find the younger audience next week.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/studio_estimate/2012-05-13
I hope this motivates TPTB to quickly change their marketing strategy for DS. The film that was promoted was not the film I saw. (Thank heavens!)
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true,
the film was in the end NOT really a comedy per se.
and certainly not along the lines of something like "love at first bite".
that ad campaign didn't do anybody any favors.
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My only teensy tiny nitpick with that is that she's rehearsing introducing herself, starts to say Maggie and then sees a poster that makes her change her name... but what had she said her name was when she answered the ad?? I mean, didn't she have to give a name??
I noticed that as well and thought it rather sloppy, given that Elizabeth was clearly anticipating her arrival. Ah well, it wouldn't be DS without a few plot holes. [ghost_wink]
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that was very weird and i noticed it too. don't you have to give a name when you apply for a job? and references? where was she living between her escape from windcliff and collinwood?
speaking of windcliff now it does make sense as to why her hairdo and fashion sense are sort of early 1960's.
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Just wondering why she felt the need to invent another identity in the first place. Was she trying to elude her parents? Afraid of being sent back to the mental institution?
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How bad is "Dark Shadows"? It makes you long for a "Twilight" movie. That's bad.
Despite the fact that I have yet to see it, that seriously made me [a1f5]. I want to enjoy it like many of you, but I fear I may have a similar reaction.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120511/ENT02/205110317/1034/Review-Depp-Burton-s-Dark-Shadows-terribly-dull
Now with both audience and critic reaction in the rotten categories on RT, I wonder if Warner Bros. is happy with the route they took with this film.
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Yes she was afraid of having her escape and real name found out by liz and fired. i just had a tought. if her interview was pre arranged like in the tv show, how do u explain her making up her new name on the train? perhaps it was not a pre arrainged interview and she was just showing up to aply but i think willie says something like we been expecting u when he opens the door. sorry if these are spoilers but i dont know how to hide the text in spoiler format.
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I think Willie actually apologizes for not picking her up at the train station, so he was clearly expecting her arrival. I'm fine with her using an alias, as a combination of a fear that she might be sent back there and that Liz might fire her if she realizes her past. I mean, maybe that exact scene could've worked better if she'd been rehearsing her introduction, and instead of looking up at a poster, she looked down at an ad that she was keeping with her papers, somehow (to remind herself of why she chose the name). I dunno. As I said, I loved this angle itself, and had no problem combining the two characters. I just thought that one aspect- seeming to come up with the name on the fly- was clunky.
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Has anyone seen this in IMAX? Is it worth the extra expense?
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saw it in IMAX friday. it was spectacular especially the opening 18th century sequence. to me it was worth the extra expense.
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I agree joe. As I posted Friday night, I thought the film was amazing in IMAX! [thumb]
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Thanks, guys. I'll try to get there this week.
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Just wondering why she felt the need to invent another identity in the first place. Was she trying to elude her parents? Afraid of being sent back to the mental institution?
perhaps her past was so painful she just wanted a "fresh start" and thought a new identity that didn't carry all the emotional baggage was the way to go.
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IS THERE any CHANCE of another film with the bad box office?
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I do think the biggest mistake regarding the film has been its marketing.
First of all, it all started rather late, only two months before its premier. In the highly competitive film market (made more so by the high cost of deciding what, and what not, to see), one needs to get the upper jump. Of course, too much saturation can also spell doom.
Second of all, shooting for the supposedly lucrative market of 18-24 is like putting all of one's eggs in one basket. They ain't the only ones going to movies (like I said, everyone, save for one, in the theater when I saw the film was not only well-over 24, but well over 35). Folks older often have more expendable income, especially in today's economy, but when all they see are films that appear geared towards an audience that doesn't include them, well, of course they're not going to go. Even though a huge percentage, if not a majority (and probably a huge majority) of people (kids, actually) have never heard of DS, and Warners apparently wanted to somehow reach out to them, there still are hordes of people my age who have heard of it, who experienced it, who loved it and certainly don't mind having more. I can't tell you how many people my age, even a decade younger, when I told them I was going to see this film suddenly became excited and had no idea there was a new film. I'm talking like this past Thursday and Friday. Many of them, a decade and even more younger, had their only exposure through the '91 version and remembered it fondly and enjoyed it (and were terribly upset when it was canceled). They thought that seeing a new version of that version was a great idea and would say: "if I've got time, maybe I'll go see it." How did the marketers miss all of them (both OS and '91, and a combination of both)? I think if there had been some ads among the many aired and in print aimed at this audience that referenced the original - maybe a tag-line like "Some Legends Never Die" or some-such, maybe a few photos or quick live-action captures - they would've heard and gone seen.
Third, refering to the corporate-minded target audience of 18-to-24's, when it comes to Johnny Depp, he's still a box-office draw, but he's hardly the 21 Jump Street star he once was. He's just this side of the hill of a half-century old (ancient by Hollywood standards). He's older than what Jonathan Frid was when he created Barnabas Collins. Thinking that somehow Depp can still draw in teens is not thinking. Most teens today would have no idea what 21 Jump Street is. Their parents were teens when it aired. Even all the Pirates movies are old news by now.
Fourth, using only out-of-context comedic snippets to make this film appear as a more fun-loving version of Twilight, was a marketing error. I saw this movie, along with 31 other friends and aquaitances. None of us considered it a comedy. It was more horror-action. All the Indiana Jones films contained great deals of comedy, including slapstick, but did that make them comedies? They weren't marketed as such, and they all made tons of money (well, maybe not the last one because by the time it came out, the audience had moved on, but it was still an enjoyable film). They had, in trailers, a little bit of everything. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the humor in the DS film (as did my co-movie-goers) and considered it spot-on. My co-goers laughed at the right moments, groaned in grief at the right moments, cheered at the right moments, and registered shock at the right moments. All the right moments are there, so why couldn't the PTB at Warners use them in a nice balance in various trailers?
One of my friends, who went along with us on Saturday, called me today and said that after his church service was over and coffee and donuts were being devoured, he talked constantly about the movie and how much he enjoyed it and encouraged them to go, including several who were fans of the OS and had no idea that there was such a movie (even though my local theater showing it is only a block away from their church). Now that should tell us how Warners blew its marketing. What type of people do they have working in that department? How much are they being paid?
Meanwhile, I'm still basking in the after-glo of having seen this wonderful film. I still think the opening-credits scene of the train carrying Victoria/Maggie to the wilds of the Maine coast, while Nights in White Satin served as the soundtrack, was simply brilliant. I missed not hearing our "traditional" musical introduction, but this worked just fine and was totally appropriate. If only the marketing did.
Gerard
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I also saw the movie in IMAX and it was defiantly worth it.
About Maggie/Victoria. I got the feeling that she was answering the ad when she came to the house. Maybe I am wrong?? Films go by so fast. That is why I want to see it again. I had to run to the restroom at one point and even though I literally ran to the bathroom I still missed Roger leaving. I think that was a great setup for a future movie, if we get one?
I did read that DS opened # 1 in France. I looked for a link; however, Chris Pennock posted that on his Facebook page! So hopefully overseas will be great and hopefully by the end of the weekend we will have good returns.
I also know several people who are going during the week and next weekend! Fingers crossed!
PS...Gerard I love your posts and writing.
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Gerard, I totally agree with much of what you said about the marketing of this film. It was terribly askew from what it actually should have been. The crowd in the theater when I went to see it was rather small, but then it was still mid-afternoon on opening night, a weekday, and many people had yet to leave work. Nevertheless, there was a decent mixture of young people like myself, and older folks who were most likely there because they were reminded of the original series when the trailers for this movie started appearing on television. The only trailer in which it could be argued that WB took advantage of having a small built in audience was the one that had the title screen saying "He's back!" but then, that could also mean in terms of what happens in the movie.
Third, refering to the corporate-minded target audience of 18-to-24's, when it comes to Johnny Depp, he's still a box-office draw, but he's hardly the 21 Jump Street star he once was. He's just this side of the hill of a half-century old (ancient by Hollywood standards). He's older than what Jonathan Frid was when he created Barnabas Collins. Thinking that somehow Depp can still draw in teens is not thinking. Most teens today would have no idea what 21 Jump Street is. Their parents were teens when it aired. Even all the Pirates movies are old news by now.
Also, while Depp is closing in quickly on 50, he still is a major Hollywood heartthrob and a huge box office draw. I'll admit that his heartthrob status is probably palpable for folks in their twenties and above, but most teenagers definitely know who he is and have probably even grown up with him at this point. If you go all the way back to Sleepy Hollow (1999) or even the first Pirates movie (2003), there is a large swath of young people who could have been as young as six or seven and who are now between 14 and 24. Look at the major hits during those years: Sleep Hollow, Pirates 1, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005) Pirates 2 and 3 (2006 & 2007), Sweeney Todd (2007), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Pirates 4 (2011). That's not even including some of the lesser grossing box office films that I personally love like Secret Window, Rango, Finding Neverland, etc.
In the course of about 10 years or so, which let's face it is a long time for someone who is a teenager, thats 9 films that have come out starring Depp. It's safe to say that those who have "grown up" with him would definitely be a large group to market to.
And, if I may be so bold, with the current parenting techniques that I've witnessed over the past few years where the child is super special and gets what he or she wants all of the time no matter what it is or how ludicrous the request, a simple demand of going to the movies to see Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows" would seem like a small price to pay.
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Box Office Mojo reports that the film took in $65 million worldwide in 3 days. It will easily turn a profit, which means more DS films are coming!
I'm sure we'll be as divided on those films as we are on this one, HODS, and the 1991 TV series!
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Does that include tonight's receipts??
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Does that include tonight's receipts??
It includes today's estimates. Every weekend what is widely reported are just estimates. However, and I have no idea how they do it so accurately, but the estimates are more often than not extremely close to the actual figures which come out on Monday afternoons. [ghost_smiley]
2 days 18 hours 40 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Taeylor: yes, right now these are projected grosses that will be updated tonight, but Box Office Mojo is run by industry insiders who know their stuff. The projected figures are usually correct by a 2% margin.
BTW: the Reelz Channel special Dark Shadows: Beyond the Grave is quite good. Brand new interviews with Depp, Burton, Pfeiffer, Green, Heathcoate, Moretz & Carter, a nice nod to the TV series, and a look back at all the Burton/Depp films. It'll be on twice more tonight.
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Good points Brandon, though I would leave Sweeney Todd out of the mix, as it was rated R (therefore not really directed at the younger set) and it also barely cleared $50 million. (Don't get me wrong, Sweeney Todd is probably my personal favorite Depp/Burton collaboration, but the combination of a horror musical gorefest was admittedly a tough sell).
In general, we must remember that Johnny does not guarantee a huge box office, even if he does have a lot of young fans. His last film before this, The Rum Diary, did quite badly (Edited to add- egad, it was even worse than I thought- it only made a TOTAL of $13 million- less than half of what DS made domestically this weekend alone), but luckily, unlike DS, it had a small budget.
In any case, while I understand the need to market everything these days toward a younger market, I do feel it couldn't have hurt to have at least one trailer directed to a bit of an older audience (and maybe showing more of the dramatic aspects of the film, to balance out the comedy-centric trailers). But what do I know- I'm a ticket buyer but I'm too old to be relevant as far as most big businesses are concerned [ghost_wink]
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The marketing of this film sucked beyond belief. I wonder why the decision was made to release it against The Avengers?
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Marketing toward the younger demographic for the past 25 years has ruined -- nearly destroyed -- U.S. soap-operas. I just hope the same mistaken tactic hasn't hurt this film.
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Don't forget to watch MAD MEN tonight ep is entitled DARK SHADOWS and it's now confirmed to have DS in the show per Shadowgram!!! Perhaps this will help. Maybe there will be spots during the show.
However, no one could forecast how big THE AVENGERS would be. I think the money made so far is respectable and I know many people going next week and weekend! So lets continue to hold out hope. I know I am going again...
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I suspect the marketing was done by 25 year old hipster suits who have no idea what DS is.
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Maybe there will be spots during the show.
The reviews spots are still running because I've already seen two tonight. And at least one new reviews spot ran last night during ABC's showing of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. I don't know if any others ran because last night I only scanned through the first hour of that and I haven't gotten back to it.
2 days 20 hours 24 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Good points Brandon, though I would leave Sweeney Todd out of the mix, as it was rated R (therefore not really directed at the younger set) and it also barely cleared $50 million. (Don't get me wrong, Sweeney Todd is probably my personal favorite Depp/Burton collaboration, but the combination of a horror musical gorefest was admittedly a tough sell).
In general, we must remember that Johnny does not guarantee a huge box office, even if he does have a lot of young fans. His last film before this, The Rum Diary, did quite badly (Edited to add- egad, it was even worse than I thought- it only made a TOTAL of $13 million- less than half of what DS made domestically this weekend alone), but luckily, unlike DS, it had a small budget.
Sweeney Todd was definitely one of my favorites of Burton/Depp's as well!
As for The Rum Diary, when that film was released and even when it was being advertised before its release, I thought it looked quite bad and had no desire to see it whatsoever. Perhaps what I should have said is that, especially for the younger crowd, the roles where Depp plays a quirky, not-so-normal character tend to draw more of an audience than his regular, everyday characters do. It would be something very interesting to explore--why do the majority of people prefer Depp's quirky roles to his more normal ones? Is it because without these off kilter characters to prop him up his acting is simply boring? Or is it because audiences are becoming so accustomed to fantastical situations in films that the classic drama is steadily losing an audience? Or a combination of both?
I'll be 25 this June, so I'm right on the cusp of being both desirable and undesirable to advertisers. Perhaps I should prepare myself now to feel unwanted and undervalued in the grand scheme of Hollywood big wigs.
In any event, I'm intrigued by the various responses I've seen to this new DS movie. It seems as if there are only two options: you either love it, or you thought it was an overall bore, in terms of general consensus. I actually searched DS on Twitter last night and most of what popped up fit easily into one of these two categories. There were a lot of posts about how people were excited to go see it, then tons from people who seemingly were let down and wanted their time and money back.
I can't wait to see it again this week so I can really digest it and formulate my final opinion. And I kind of wish that I was removed from the fandom so I could experience the film on its own, as an unknowing movie goer to see how it plays out differently.
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How DS did in several key overseas markets: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3443&p=.htm
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Wow - it's that far ahead of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?! [thumb]
Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
2 days 20 hours 43 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Brandon, you may have over-looked my post -- because, I neither loved it nor found it a bore.
I (unexpectedly) liked it. But, I didn't love it. It certainly wasn't a bore.
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same here,
i didn't love it. it certainly wasn't a bore.
i enjoyed a large chunk of the movie. the ending just sort of ruined it for me.
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Brief statement from WB: "We were on the low side of expectations for the weekend, but it's hard for me to really digest where we're going when you're up against the second weekend of a blockbuster like 'The Avengers'," said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros.' president of domestic distribution. The movie performed best in the Midwest and the South, he said, adding: "I think that has to do with 'The Avengers' doing staggering business in big cities. So the old vampire got a bite from 'The Avengers,' and there's no recourse except to ride out the storm." http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-boxoffice-20120514,0,2665259.story
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I can see the ending being the start of a burst of fan fiction.
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It was not just the ending that ruined it for me. I wonder what the studio is going to do in the next several weeks to "leg" it out? Most of us agree that its marketing campaign sucked. It already has spent a fortune promoting the movie. I am all for the movie having legs but can the movie also overcome poor word of mouth which is definitely out there right or wrong? Now the studio is back tracking (and spinning IMO)saying $30 million was its estimate for the weekend. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2012/05/14/avengers-rakes-in-us629m/
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I always wondered why angie would hang out in a small fishing town for 200 years in one form or another when, with the powers she possesses she could really be a big fish in a big exciting town...after 200 years you would think she would get over her anger at the collins, plus she had barnabas right where she wanted him, and once finding out he had been released she would surely know and make a return to deal with him. someone mentioned earlier on a readers digest, a condensed verision of DS, and it was sort of what i expected. at 111 minutes they couldnt go into detail enough...the visuals were quite good, especially as liz sees a fire from the window at collinwood from her window in collinsport, and widows hill looked impressive too. Dr Hoffman was quite different from Julia from the OS and i thought that part was quite interesting. and "the ugliest woman i have ever seen" Alice still rules! and still think i have the old 8 track of T rex around somewhere. overall i would give the movie a 5 out of 10, and as i was leaving the theater with my fanatic DS brother, i seen a poster of the hunger games and wondered if maybe that may have been the movie i should have watched...there was times as i was watching DS, if i was watching the DS movie i have been waiting for months to see... Hope there is some sort of directors cut thats goes for about 3 hours that will bring more development to the characters...a little disappointed, but not unexpected.
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Now the studio is back tracking (and spinning IMO)saying $30 million was its estimate for the weekend.
Well, technically he's not backtracking as some estimates said $30-$40 million and others said $30-$35 million. So it is true that $30 million was indeed the low end of estimates. But, of course, what he's not saying is that when estimates are framed in ranges like that, they tend to imply more than the lowest number, which in this case was the $30 million, so there's definitely a bit of spin in what he's saying. But imagine that - a studio executive spinning after the fact - who'd a thunk it? [ghost_grin]
3 days 0 hours 17 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I saw on fox news tonite, that it took in 29.9 million this weekend, I assume thats United States gross alone. An earlier thread said over 60 million worldwide, to me thats great when you consider the business that Avengers is doing.I will say what I said earlier this weekend, put me in the I liked it a lot category, my friend whom was not a Original DS fan looked at me and said, order the Blu Ray when its preordered. He enjoyed it alot. Now lets hope that House and the restored Night of Dark Shadows come out soon.
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Okay, I got to see the new DS movie today. My brother, my mom and I (whom all are unapologetic DS nuts - original series) went to a Matinee showing. The theater was packed! Even though I pre-paid for tickets, it was hard for us to find a seat. We live in the Pittsburgh, PA area.
The audience was very receptive to the movie - and so were we. I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. The way the movie ended, we all thought that there should be a sequel!
I will be watching this movie again. It isn't exactly like the original series and nor should it be. The spirit of Dark Shadows was still there, and that's the most important thing.
We thought the beginning was outstanding, including the use of "Nights in White Satin" (which I admittedly love because it's going to be one of the songs my fiance and I are going to play at our wedding.) We also liked the flashback scene of when Barn was little and then his life after his family came to the USA. I also liked the cameos during the party scene. And I don't know about anyone else, but I thought the scene when Julia gets...intimate...with Barnabas was a hoot! Finally! {evil grin}
I thought the use of the ghosts were great, especially David's mom. I personally liked seeing the demise of Angelique, but then again, as my brother said - is Angie ever really gone? It was sad to see the burning down of Collinwood and the cannery, but as Elizabeth said in the film, they will endure.
One thing I didn't like was that Maggie/Vicki was turned into Barn's vampire bride of sorts. However, the twist with Julia at the end makes me want more....I'd love to see what they'd do with Julia as a villain.
The key to my brother, mom, and I liking and truly appreciating this movie was taking the attitude that it's going to be different from our DS, a PT version of sorts, but an homage to it at the same time...and that's okay. It's different, but different can be cool.
Off my soapbox... ;) xo
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Nothing related to the review of the movie (for what it's worth, I found the first 30 minutes engaging, the rest - kind of dull) but when Barnabas is walking through Collinsport and he looks at the movie theater, it seemed to me that one of the posters was for the Spanish version of House of Dark Shadows. I could be imagining, but it certainly looked like it to me - if so, that would be a nice nod to the series.
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Danny Elfman explains his score. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2012/05/14/dark-shadows-danny-elfman-score/
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Apparently the promotional interviews are still continuing because I was pleasantly surprised to find one with Jonny Lee Miller and Jackie Earle Haley on this morning's edition of ES.TV - and this time around JLM actually got to make several comments. And when I checked my DVR's listings for the show for the week, I discovered that Johnny Depp is on Tuesday and Helena Bonham Carter is on Thursday.
Also, on Entertainers, the weekend edition of the show, they ran a longer version of the segment they did with Michelle Pfeiffer that ran on Friday.
I still have yet to check some of the other entertainment shows that I recorded over the weekend...
3 days 14 hours 28 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Danny Elfman explains his score.
Very interesting. Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
And apparently Elfman doesn't realize how perceptive DS fans are because many of us recognized the motifs he took from the TV score and weaved throughout his own. [ghost_wink]
3 days 14 hours 38 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I still have loads of Google Alerts to go through, but I had to post a link to this article/video right away because according to the rundown of what subjects are gotten into, Seth Grahame-Smith discusses some specifics of the scenes that didn't make it into the film:
Seth Grahame Smith Talks DARK SHADOWS, the BEETLEJUICE Sequel, Tim Burton’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING, UNHOLY NIGHT, and More (http://collider.com/seth-grahame-smith-dark-shadows-beetlejuice-2-sequel-interview/165537/)
I haven't watched the video yet, but I certainly will once I get the chance...
3 days 14 hours 59 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Actuals were just recently posted on Box Office Mojo, and DS made $29,685,274, which is almost $1 million more than was estimated, which is a lot better than $1 million less. [ghost_wink] It's also closer to what Warner Brothers was claiming last night was their estimate, so they're looking a little better. [ghost_grin]
3 days 15 hours 47 minutes 17 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks for the link to the SGS interview, MB! Very interesting. For anyone who hasn't heard it yet, I won't "spoil" the deleted scenes, but he describes 2 of them, and for the first one, I think it was very wise decision to cut that out and have it as it was in the film (though I'd love to see the scene on the DVD later). The second one might've been interesting, though.
I'm glad that the film's actual box office was closer to the upper end of the estimate! Now, I hope that it will hold pretty well for the next few weeks. As to the question of why it was put up against The Avengers, I think that once the decision was made to release DS this spring, there probably wouldn't have been a better alternative. Being released right after what might be a record-breaking film was unfortunate. But pretty soon, other blockbusters are coming out- Battleship, Prometheus, Men In Black, etc. etc. Plus, I imagine The Avengers isn't going away any time soon. It would've been up against some competition, no matter what. The best DS could hope for was to offer itself as an alternative for those who might happen to want to see something different than the usual blockbuster. And at least this way, the kids are getting out of school in a couple of weeks and will want to start going to the movies more during the week, so weekday box offices for all films are usually a little better in the summer season.
Maybe in retrospect it would've been better to release DS in the fall or winter, as I think we've discussed. This way, they would be competing with more of the Oscar-bait films, that aren't as big box office hits as the summer movies. And DS even takes place in the fall, as noted by the pumpkins! On the other hand, I see that Twilight is coming out in Nov., and I'm sure they wanted to steer clear of that film, too. Maybe October could've worked, but oh well.
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Box Office Mojo reports the film made 1 million more than they projected it too.
[also reported in Reply #145 above --admin]
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But pretty soon, other blockbusters are coming out- Battleship, Prometheus, Men In Black, etc. etc.
Potentially too far off topic, but they showed previews for Battleship before Dark Shadows. I don't know if it's just me, but that movie looks like a big stinker.
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Hmmm - even though my DVR's schedule is listing a totally different edition, I just noticed online that tonight's Jimmy Kimmel is being listed as the recent one with Depp. So, there may have been a last minute change. And if anyone missed it the first time around, you may be getting a second chance...
3 days 21 hours 38 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The Dark Knight Rises preview is also showing before the movie, and I for one am thankful that DS didn't go up against that one.
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^ Oops yeah, I was going to add Dark Knight Rises to the list of blockbusters, but then I forgot when it was coming out and was too lazy to look it up! Somehow I had the feeling it was coming out later in the year. But it's July. July is good for me- I do want to see it and that's my birth month [ghost_wink]
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i'm not sure what this means but i just came from seeing it a second time...
a funny 6 o'clock showing near where i work with only about 15 people in the theater.
still processing.
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In my news alerts this evening- The Killers covered The Raspberries' Go All The Way for the DS film (it plays over the closing credits), and you can hear an audio-only (with a still photo of Tim Burton and I guess the band members) of the song on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFg9aXJVLaI
Articles:
http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-killers-cover-raspberries-go-all-way
http://www.nme.com/news/the-killers/63782
I'd meant to remark on the song after seeing the movie, but forgot all about it. I knew it wasn't the Raspberries' original, but I really enjoyed it playing at the end of the film, and I was irked that it's not on the Soundtrack. I wonder why they couldn't include it?? And the whole thing about it only being an mp3 format or as a $$$ import is just bothersome! [ghost_tongue]
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i'm not sure what this means but i just came from seeing it a second time...
a funny 6 o'clock showing near where i work with only about 15 people in the theater.
still processing.
I wouldn't read too much into a dead Monday showing at that hour. When a new movie comes out, I usually see it between 4 and 6 on the first Friday. It's usually much slower than the other offerings. People are leaving work, having dinner, etc. It's not a good sign, but I'd not read a lot of dire forbodings into it either. I think next weekend will be telling.
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15 is not good at all unless everyone went to get a bite.
WB Pictures tweeted this 15 minutes ago. Why on earth are they still trying to sell this as a comedy? The linked trailer is not the one they should be showing.
Warner Bros Pictures@wbpictures
#JohnnyDepp is "devilishly dapper" and "hilarious" as Barnabas Collins - #DarkShadows is now playing nationwide! http://youtu.be/U9UZwJDe0Gs
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sorry i didn't mean how many people were in the theater but more what it meant that i went to see it again after the negative reaction i had to the film's climactic scene the first time around.
i knew it would be quiet at that time which is one of the reasons i went.
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Just in time for the new movie, here's an interview with Alexandra Isles about DS and working with Jonathan Frid: http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/original-dark-shadows-tv-actress-remembers-past-lives-191456566.html
ProfStokes
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^ Oops yeah, I was going to add Dark Knight Rises to the list of blockbusters,
Oh, I wasn't criticizing at all, I swear!
michael c, I thought of you when I watched the train scene (nice that they devoted more than a little screen time to that, yes?) and hope you enjoyed it better the 2nd time around.
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thanks midnite,
the train scene was lovely. i just found the "magtoria" angle discombobulating.
i can't decide "who" that character really is.
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Half the time I never bother to watch video of any of The Vampire Diaries' casts' talk show appearances. But something must have told me to watch this one because when the original DS is brought up it leads to talk about the DS film's after party, which the actor attended:
Vampire Diaries' Steven R. McQueen ... on Good Day LA on May 9, 2012 (VIDEO) (http://www.wetpaint.com/the-vampire-diaries/video/vampire-diaries-steven-r-mcqueen-reveals-what-the-r-stands-for-on-good-day-la-on-may-9-2012-video)
4 days 12 hours 57 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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On Monday DS retained the second spot with a quite respectable $2,311,455 (especially opposite The Avengers), bringing its current domestic gross to $31,996,729
Monday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-14&p=.htm)
4 days 15 hours 52 minutes 39 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB. I was just poking around in BOM for some lifetime totals, because there've been a lot of articles the last few days implying that Depp isn't loved anymore and DS is a failure, etc. etc. because it couldn't knock one of the biggest blockbusters EVER from the #1 spot [ghost_rolleyes] But I hadn't seen today's total yet. Mainly, we Depp fans were saying that if you take the 4 Pirates films and Alice In Wonderland out of the equation, the box office of the rest of his films haven't really been that extraordinary, and we shouldn't have expected DS to be an extraordinary box office hit. Other than Platoon (one of Johnny's first films in which he had a very small role) and 21 Jump Street (in which he has a small uncredited cameo), he's only had 8 films that made over $100 million. So, we just don't see DS as the sinking ship that some of the media would like to claim it is! (And MB, I know you always like to point out the "failure" of The Tourist not really being a box office failure at all, but for the entertainment media, it makes a good story [ghost_rolleyes])
Anyway, a couple of points. First, DS's Sunday to Monday decline is about the same as that for The Avengers (-74.8% vs. -74.4%). Second, another recent horror film, The Raven, which I thought looked pretty good from the trailers but which got ripped apart in the reviews, has made less than half of what DS has made already ($14.9 million). Why isn't anyone ripping on John Cusack? [ghost_wink] DS will probably pass Cabin In The Woods (currently at $39.9 million) this weekend. This seems a lot of hoopla about nothing. I would like to see DS top $100 million. I don't think that is guaranteed- we'll have to see how sharply it drops. But I think it will end up looking respectable compared to similar films in this genre. Just MHO.
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Great post ! Thanks so much.
I am still also staying very optimistic about Dark Shadows. If we could make a million a day and then rake in a good sum this weekend then DS should make a respectable amount of money. Hopefully, THE AVENGERS will slow down by then.
I have a question? Does DVD sales factor in when a sequel is being considered??
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Thanks for posting the box office figures. I don't think WB is considering thoughts of a sequel at this time. I think the studio is very concerned just to break even at this point in time. I read somewhere to break even the movie would have to gross at least $300 million worldwide. I would think DVD sales may help in consideration of possible sequels. The HR says the DS movie opened strongly overseas. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-1-billion-international-gross-324745
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Okay, we keep seeing figures now saying the movie's budget was anywhere between $100 million and $150 million. When first announced, the budget was a more modest $60 million. Did the budget really balloon that much? Or is the budget now being talked about the combined production/distribution budget? In the "old days" it seems I remember always hearing that a movie would need to bring in roughly twice the production budget in order to break even, because promotion and distribution would cost just as much as the production itself. So are we talking maybe $60-70 million production and another $60-70 million or so promotion and distribution?
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Since my first viewing was in a regular theater, I decided to check the movie out again in IMAX. Also, since I knew the various plot twists, there were a few things I picked up on with the benefit of hindsight.
First, IMAX added to my enjoyment of the film. I don't know if some of the details I'd missed the first time were simply easier to see because of the clarity of the screen or the fact that I was paying better attention since I didn't need to worry about following the plot. Having said that, I really enjoyed the crispness of the fall colors as the camera follows the train. By the way, I'd be curious to see what Amtrak's logo and railcars looked like in 1972. Both seemed a bit more modern than I recall.
Now to some of the details. I think Burton dropped a few hints about Carolyn's "curse." The full moon in the painting that the painters refurbished is on the wall in the dining room, and there are several shots of Carolyn in that first meal where Victoria meets the family where the camera clearly has panned back to make it appear that Carolyn is right below the full moon. I also think that Angelique's first interaction with Carolyn was worded quite carefully. Angelique says something akin to (I don't have the benefit of the script) "You must be Carolyn. You're becoming quite the ravishing creature." Considering that we know Angelique was the one who turned her into a werewolf, that can't be an accident. Finally, when Barnabas is in Carolyn's room, there's what appears to be a Polaroid picture of an animal that at least resembles a wolf pinned to the wall above her left shoulder. In all, it was probably still far too subtle to not have her fate seem to come out of left field, but there were other hints than what I'd mentioned earlier.
A few other details I hadn't particularly picked up on. There's a scene where Julia walks into the breakfast room late and reacts VERY strongly to the sunlight glaring in. While I simply took that as a result of her hangover, I think it was probably also intended to be a hint about what she was doing with Barnabas' blood. I also found it interesting that they made Julia so vain. Not only in her search for youth, but the way both Elizabeth (intentionally) and Barnabas (innocently, it seemed to me) so easily appealed to that vanity - Elizabeth by getting her to pipe down about her indignation and become "fascinated" with studying Barnabas and Barnabas' polite remark about how she must have been very beautiful if she gets half as pretty every day.
Another thing I hadn't really appreciated as much was how Victoria's empathy for how he saw his mother's ghost was borne in part out of the fact that she had seen Josette's ghost her whole life. In fact, they really made Josette a much more active driver of the outcome of this than I had picked up on. Think back to what she says to Barnabas as they profess their love to one another in the beginning. Again, I don't have the exact wording, but she says something like "Promise me we'll be together forever." In fact, her last words to Barnabas were "Help me," which I found haunting since she repeats them to Victoria several times, and the last time Victoria speaks to Barnabas before going over Widow's Hill, I think we're meant to assume that Josette has already possessed her.
I had seen somebody point out that one of the movie posters at the theater in Collinsport may have in fact been for House of Dark Shadows. The night that Barnabas is released and walks through town, they show the theater and one of the posters does indeed look like the poster. It went by so quickly that I couldn't be sure, but I will definitely look for it when I can stop the picture on DVD somewhere down the line.
I hadn't picked up on it on my first viewing, but I think we're supposed to assume that Roger is fiending for cocaine in many of his scenes. You can see his hand twitching, his jaw moving from side to side and his eyes blinking rapidly. Since he clearly isn't opposed to drug use - he supplied the coat attendant with the pot she was smoking - it's not out of character. The thing is, I was 10 and too oblivious to know about what drugs were readily available in 1972. Was cocaine so readily available? I remember it more as a late '70's drug.
I know we'd talked about potential corporate sponsorship in the movie. It seems reasonable to assume Shell and Coca Cola paid to have signage represented in Collinsport. I had also originally assumed that Chevy might have paid to have the joke about "we don't have horses, we have a Chevy." I also think Angelique was driving a 1972 Chevy Corvette convertible. But since other makes were shown, including multiple VW vans, I'm not sure. However, I chuckled to see that the car they used to haul Maggie off to Windcliff (I hadn't noticed the Windcliff name on my first viewing) was a Ford. Maybe Chevy indeed snuck that in, so the "bad guys" were driving a rival car. In the early seasons of 24, the good guys all used Apple computers while the bad guys all used PCs.
I was paying attention to the cameo scene. I hadn't picked up that right before their first appearance, Carolyn laments that Alice Cooper wasn't there, and Barnabas suggests she check out the evening's entertainment. Then Barnabas turns to the door as the four of them arrive. Not only does TLATKLS say "Thank you for having us," but Jonathan Frid says at the same time "Good evening." In the other scenes, I think it's supposed to be inferred that Frid is behind Elizabeth, since the other three are clearly seen with what amounts to a person-sized void between them and obscured by Elizabeth.
More details if I think of them...
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Okay, we keep seeing figures now saying the movie's budget was anywhere between $100 million and $150 million. When first announced, the budget was a more modest $60 million. Did the budget really balloon that much?
I have been wondering this, too. Today when I was looking up the box office stuff on Box Office Mojo, I clicked on DS and saw that it lists a budget of $150M and thought, wow, that can't be right. I seem to recall hearing it having inched up to about $100. I can't think why it would've cost $150. Johnny is a coproducer and while I'm sure he's going to get a decent salary, I was kind of thinking that he'd probably be taking most of it on the back end, just to help the film get made. I could be wrong, though. I can't imagine the other stars demanding a particularly huge salary. Of course, the sets were very elaborate, but Burton had built whole towns for both Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd, and the budget wasn't nearly so much for those. And Burton keeps saying that the special effects were pretty modest. I think that Alice in Wonderland cost a lot more to make because there was SO much CGI involved, and also of course the 3D-- good thing it made a billion! [ghost_wink] There was also almost nothing of DS done on location, and that was one of the major reasons why Johnny's current film, Lone Ranger, was originally over $200M (and now cut back to I think something like $180). Also, Lone Ranger is casting tons of extras, whereas I think DS had a pretty modest-sized cast. But who knows...
BTW usffan, I agree that the IMAX really looked wonderful- very crisp and sharp. I certainly plan to see this again, and I will want to see it on IMAX again.
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Cocaine would no doubt have been available to someone in their social standing. Angelique could have got him hooked on it. Perhaps that's why Roger is helping himself to people's valuables.
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Most if not all of the results of a Google search regarding the budget of the movie say that the film's budget was 150 million, for what it's worth.
There's a scene where Julia walks into the breakfast room late and reacts VERY strongly to the sunlight glaring in. While I simply took that as a result of her hangover, I think it was probably also intended to be a hint about what she was doing with Barnabas' blood.
Thanks for pointing this out. I hadn't even considered that possibility when I saw the film, and I'll pay closer attention to it when I see it again this week.
All of the things you pointed out were definitely very subtle clues throughout the film that, once realized, really do add a level of integrity to the story and makes it a little less lacking.
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Don't forget that Angelique when she first comes to Collinwood she comments on Carolyn, " She has grown into a lovely creature" or something to that effect. I didn't make much of it until the end! ;)
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Okay, so I saw the film. I will write more later, but I have to say I was not disappointed like I thought I would be. It was a decent movie. I love how the movie was broken up by the crashing waves... Episode breaks. Probably the biggest homage to the original in there. Barnabas's verbatim line to Victoria = love. Wish there could have been more. Less humor, less sex and it would have been golden. (There were seriously awkward moments in this film that everyone in the theater was made uncomfortable by... And I can say everyone, because there were only 9, and they were all sitting around me. Two people left in the middle of the picture. But I didn't find anything so offensive that I would have to leave. The sex-related material was not overplayed. There was just a little too much of it... like every other scene for awhile there. And I think this couple had enough of it.) More later... 3/5 stars.
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CB glad you went to see the movie. When I went to see it again I did pick up on the various discussed clues.
American Pie:Reunion performed better in the U.K. than the DS movie. Unacceptable. http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/avengers-assemble-holds-uk-box-office-number-one/268547
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Here is a nice little piece about an extra from the film.
David shares set with Jonny Depp (http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/local/david-shares-set-with-jonny-depp-1-3845242)
I'll have to see if I can spot him next time I see the film (which unfortunately will probably not be this coming weekend, so hopefully the weekend after). I'm glad to hear he had a nice experience on the set. I wonder why Hugo was so unpleasant- was it just a more hectic shoot, was Scorcese difficult, was it because of the 3D... but I'm glad DS was pleasant! [ghost_smiley]
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Very interesting. It's nice to hear that working on DS was so pleasant. The main actors have been saying that - but it's nice to hear that it was as pleasant for the extras as well, which isn't always the case. And yes, his remarks definitely make one wonder what it was about Hugo that wasn't so pleasant.
Thanks so much for the link, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
5 days 14 hours 6 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS did even better on Tuesday with $2,611,208, bringing its current domestic gross to $34,607,937.
Tuesday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-15&p=.htm)
Unfortunately though, with The Dictator opening today, this is probably the last time we'll see DS in second place.
5 days 15 hours 35 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks for the links. Are they going to be reducing the amount of non IMAX screens for the DS movie because of the new movies being released?
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It's interesting about American Reunion because DS is actually doing comparatively better in the US than that film did in its first 5 days because AR had only grossed $26,046,725 - and it didn't have anything like the box office competition that DS has with The Avengers. Yes, AR was dealing with The Hunger Games - but that film was starting to wind down pulling a combined $40,548,057 for the weekend and Monday and Tuesday. DS has had to contend with The Avengers bringing in $119,453,917 in DS' first 5 days.
But it just goes to show how different films do differently in different countries...
5 days 15 hours 52 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Are they going to be reducing the amount of non IMAX screens for the DS movie because of the new movies being released?
I don't know. All I've seen is that DS will be playing in IMAX through the 31st. But at the same time, in the article that I saw there was no mention of any other films opening in IMAX before June 1st.
5 days 15 hours 54 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB. I'll paste the article here because some people can't view Variety's articles. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118054140
Posted: Wed., May. 16, 2012, 11:48am PT
'The Dictator' draws $600K in midnights
Matches 'Dark Shadows' take on half the screens
By ANDREW STEWART
Paramount's "The Dictator" opened Tuesday to $600,000 in midnight screenings -- similar to the start of last week's "Dark Shadows" but at half the locations.
"Dictator" screened at 800 midnight playdates vs. approximately 1,600 for "Shadows" last Thursday, which grossed $550,000.
Par incorporated roughly 300 single promotional screenings before midnight into the pic's latenight gross.
"Dark Shadows" wound up grossing $29 million in three days -- affected by the holdover presence of "The Avengers." Latter pic should impact "Dictator" as well. But based on its midnight perf, "Dictator" could overperform five-day estimates in the low-to-mid $20 millions.
"Dictator" will likely build word of mouth going into the weekend, but it'll face competition not just from "Avengers" but also from Universal's "Battleship" and Lionsgate's "What to Expect When You're Expecting," both bowing nationwide on Friday.
"The Dictator" launches wide today at 3,003 Stateside engagements; pic also unspools day-and-date in 29 overseas markets.
Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com
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I just looked up info on Battleship, and apparently it's supposed to have a "limited" IMAX release in "select international IMAX theatres." But who knows what that means? Though I'm sure we'll find out and how or if it affects DS...
5 days 16 hours 9 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Another fan just sent me a link for a page on eBay that has on display a number of marketing trinkets tied in for the 2012 movie. The title and the "Strange is relative" logo are featured on these tchotchkes. There's a wine stopper, a Barnabas cane letter opener, a sleeping mask (!), a cherry-red flight bag that seems very "Pan Am," and a t-shirt with BarnaDepp on the front.
I would hope that WB has a shop, either on the movie page or elsewhere, where fans could purchase these items. It's hard to imagine they were dumb enough to only produce a few as giveaways at premieres but maybe that's what they did?
Just getting the word out because I know some of you out there will want to collect ALL of these goodies.
happy hunting!
G.
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Gothick I sure hope you are right. It's been my experience on Ebay that most promotional items given to the crew or media are never provided to the general public. Perhaps WB will make some available at its website.
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Johnny is also known for giving the whole crew some kind of gift to commemorate the show- usually a t-shirt or jacket but I think there have been some others (I don't really keep track, because it's depressing that the mere mortals can't get them easily ;D ) But sometimes some end up on eBay, usually for $$$$$ if they're the real deal.
Besides The Dictator opening, many films do better on Tuesdays than Mondays because a lot of theaters offer Tuesday discounts or free popcorn or something. I didn't know that until I started hanging out at the old Box Office Mojo discussion board, but now when I see a good Tuesday I'm happy but I just keep in mind that Tuesdays are usually better. I'm HOPING that the audience for The Dictator will be different than the DS audience, and that the effect of it opening will be minimal, but I guess we'll see.
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If they keep marketing Shadows as they are, I can't imagine a different kind of audience. If they actually represented the whole film in their ads, maybe...
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The film made about 6 million more on Mon/Tues.
Worldwide gross has passed $71 million--it should break even sometime next week.
By the time pay-per-view, premium channels & DVD/Blu-ray kick in, profits could be considerable.
I'm sure there will be more DS movies after this.
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If we do see other DS films, which I am still uncertain of at this point, I wonder if they will come in the form of sequels or reboots. I wouldn't necessarily mind a reboot. Burton has had his vision of "Dark Shadows." And it was his vision. We have to respect that. But I'd love for another director, screenwriter to be brought on board for a different take on the material. IMO, you can maintain Depp as Barnabas, but it needs a fresh perspective. There was only so much you could do with the 70s music and the cute montages... It can't continue and be anywhere as effective, despite the fact that I didn't think it was all that effective here. So how about 1795 on film? Or Dark Shadows without Barnabas? The character set-up was so good before he arrived, and then it all went to pieces. Kind of like in the original. [ghost_wink]
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I agree with you CB.
The special effects team discusses how they did it. http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3358282
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All the details about the CGI were very interesting - thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
Though why whoever wrote the article had to offer the opinion that the original show was "frankly terrible" is anyone's guess. But I suppose we should be used to it by now...
6 days 11 hours 25 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I think it's more likely we'll see a sequel rather than a reboot. I can't imagine Burton, having been such a big fan of DS, wanting to hand over the reins over to someone else so quickly.
Honestly I really enjoyed watching Barnabas trying to fit in to the 20th century, and truth be told, there's really only so much you put into a 2 hour movie. I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more of the triangle between Barnabas, Josette and Angelique, but that is my only quibble.
It remains to be seen whether a sequel will be in the cards. Even if it isn't, I am satisfied with what we did get. For other DS fans who weren't satisfied, well, we still do have the original show and the 1991 revival.
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I'm so fed up with the dissing of DS left and right. If you don't like a show, don't watch it.
Star Trek had sub-par episodes, and great episodes, just like DS.
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On Wednesday DS slipped down to third place with $1,841,116 - but that's hardly a surprise given the release of The Dictator. Its current domestic gross is now $36,449,053.
Wednesday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-17&p=.htm)
6 days 16 hours 12 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Sometimes the reply feature disappears here and now it reappeared. The Avengers also dropped to 25% from yesterday. The number of screens remained the same for DS.
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It's interesting. As madscntst pointed out yesterday, Tuesday's box office tends to go up because of theater promotions. But I wonder what it is that tends to make Wednesday's box office the lowest of the week? (Check back through the charts.) Maybe it's midweek blues and fewer people want to see a film. Or maybe a lot of people have already spent all of their disposable income before Wednesday so they need to wait to get paid. [ghost_wink]
The number of screens remained the same for DS.
If the screens are going to change, I would suspect they won't change until Friday...
6 days 16 hours 26 minutes 52 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I went and saw the film again today, and I have to admit that it definitely plays better the second time around. Generally it takes time for things to sink in for me before I can really enjoy then fully and get a well-rounded opinion of whatever I'm watching.
Where before I thought there wasn't enough development with almost all of the characters, now I limit that list primarily to Roger and David, and their ensuing storylines and relationships therein. Angelique did seem as if she was some sort of throwaway foil for Barnabas, but I think that their past was adequately explained enough for the remainder of the film to make at least some sort of sense for the progression of the plot.
Also this time around, the film struck me more of an adaptation of HODS, just with the inclusion of Angelique at the villain instead of Barnabas.
I know there was speculation as to why Angelique began to crack up during the climax fight. My theory is that perhaps when Barnabas bit her outside of Collinwood he drained whatever life she had in her and this caused her to start to fall apart. Another, and perhaps more forward thinking theory in terms of a sequel is that maybe this was not the real Angelique but possibly a decoy she put into place so no harm would come to her. In any event, just because they showed her "dying" does not mean that she is truly gone, as we all know too well.
All in all I enjoyed the movie much better this time around, and I think it helped that I was one of three people in the theater because I attended the first showing of the day. Without the laughter from other audience members to so abruptly call out the sometimes absurd moments of the film, it was much smoother as a whole and the light humor wasn't as blatant.
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Star Trek had sub-par episodes, and great episodes, just like DS.
Original Star Trek doesn't get respect either. I've even heard the same old DS-ish "camp" dismissal used against it. We've got an increasingly superficial society in which surface polish is valued more than human drama and substance.
To retzev, who was nice enough to ask my opinion on the new film in a PM-- I can receive PMs here, but not send them, for whatever reason. I'd like to say this to Taeylor, too....
retzev-- I can't get to the theater to see it yet. Thanks for asking.
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Angelique's "shattering" (for want of a better word) didn't surprise me. Even though she was a powerful witch, one who could live for hundreds of years, if not into infinity if something didn't disrupt that, she wasn't immortal. Neither is Barnabas. He can live into infinity if things don't cross (pardon the pun) his path, like a wooden stake, sunlight, silver (I loved the scene where he "pings" the fork and discovers it won't cause him to burst into flame because the original had been cheaply duplicated and then pawned), or garlic-laden pasta. Vampires aren't immortal. Barnabas, Elizabeth, et. al., found Angelique's Achilles heals. Being hundreds of years old, her soft, supple facade turned into what she really was from the ravages of time: dry and stale. I thought it was a brilliant way to show her demise, rather than having her age into some old crone (which would've been a good way to dispatch her, but it's been done before, including in the OS). But then again, is she really, totally, completely dead? No matter the various ways she was offed in the OS, she always managed to return. If there is a sequel to this wonderful film, don't necessarily expect her not to show up (and don't expect the Collins family not to rebuild Collinwood - I'm sure, after Barnabas had them arise back to prominence, they had purchased home-owners insurance).
Gerard
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www.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=film&article=996
From this week's Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco, my review of Depp Shadows: includes a tribute to Jonathan Frid.
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Some interesting weekend predictions from Box Office Mojo (including DS pulling in about $14.6 million):
Forecast (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3444&p=.htm)
We shall see how things play out...
7 days 11 hours 5 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The Dictator dropped on Thursday to 2.8 million from over 4 yesterday. I think WB will be ok with 15 million this weekend. http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/dictator-off-to-slow-domestic-start-international-box-office-begins-stronger/
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More from the special effects team-mouseover photos. http://www.studiodaily.com/2012/05/dark-shadows/
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All of that is really interesting! Thanks so much for posting the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
I was really fascinated when I saw in one of the online featurettes that in addition to the outdoor set they built a 1/3 scale model of Collinwood and also used it for many shots. And I have to say they blended everything seemlessly. [thumb]
7 days 15 hours 10 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Review by Mark Rainey: Moments of Shadow (http://stephenmarkrainey.blogspot.com/2012/05/moments-of-shadow.html)
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On Thursday DS brought in $1,689,368, bringing its current domestic gross to $38,138,421.
(And wow, yes, jimbo, dropping 31.4% doesn't look like a good sign for The Dictator - but who knows...)
Thursday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-17&p=.htm)
Now we have to wait until Monday afternoon until we get the actuals for the weekend. Until then it's all estimates. And it will be interesting to see how the film opens in Mexico, Brazil and Japan...
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I have high hopes for Japan. If it does well there, who knows? Can you say Anime series boys and girls? Manga books? It's not a probability, but it seems like a reasonable hope.
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From my point of view, a film that takes in 75 million in one week is hardly a bomb. Hollywood needs to spend less money making these films. DS could easily have been made for less money.
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I have high hopes for Japan. If it does well there, who knows? Can you say Anime series boys and girls? Manga books? It's not a probability, but it seems like a reasonable hope.
I'm hoping for some quality doujinshi at least! I'd welcome an anime/manga style as long as it wasn't uber shounen.
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For whatever it is worth. My nephew saw it on Wednesday. Never saw any version of Dark Shadows. Only knew of it because of me, and he was frightened of Barnabas and Angelique as a youngster. He just graduated from Pace college, and he liked it a lot. My best friend of all time, with only seeing Dark Shadows very few times with me when we were kids saw it and enjoyed it a lot also.Hopefully, other non fans of the Original, Revival series will go and see it.
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I went to a retailer today in search of the score. And I could not find it. I love it so much. It's not perfect, but it would have been had Elfman just finished what he started in the last few seconds of Track 19. [ghost_wink]
There is no real theme here, other than the "Love" Theme and "Widows' Hill," and I feel that appropriate since nothing can replace the original. If I can find this CD in the stores, I will definitely pick it up. I couldn't believe how little of Elfman's score actually made it into the final cut of the movie. What was there was powerful, though. It seems as if the middle part of the movie was carried by the 70s tracks. To me, it seemed like a lot of those snippets of scenes, especially the ones that were seen during "Top of the World" were actually intended to be full scenes. But they went the montage route to save time. And while "Top of the World" was quite hilarious (and one of my favorite non-traditional things in the film), I felt that condensing those parts really took core parts our of the story, especially in regards to the Barnabas-Maggie relationship. The Barnabas/Maggie-Vicki walk was great though, and that marks the 3rd time that has been done. I guess it has become a necessity. (And it's fine by me, since those scenes are some of my favorites in the previous incarnations.)
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I am planning on seeing DS again this weekend. I hope that it will pull in more money. Has it opened in all overseas markets???
Thanks again for everything everyone shares! :)
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I order virtually all my CDs on Amazon.
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has anyone posted this article from 'new york' magazine?
http://nymag.com/print/?/movies/reviews/dark-shadows-2012-5/index1.html (http://nymag.com/print/?/movies/reviews/dark-shadows-2012-5/index1.html)...
it looks back at the series with some fondness, the usual inaccuracies(who knew barnabas and julia hid adam in a closet before he disappeared forever?), and the typical commentary on the show's bloopers, "nonsensical" plotting and "torturous" pacing.
still i think the author likes it.
he speaks of the film(a "camp travesty")not so well. [ghost_blink]
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Thanks micheael C for the article. Tim Burton was clearly the wrong director for this movie IMO.
It seems the DS movie is a domestic big flop. It only took in an approximate $3.7 million on Friday and is projected to only reach $11.5 million for the weekend. No matter how we try to rationalize this the movie is a flop for WB and they largely share the blame. The reviews overseas aren't that good as well. We shall see. http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/dictator-off-to-slow-domestic-start-international-box-office-begins-stronger/
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it's not really striking me as a "flop".
i know lots of people...not people in fandom either...who went to see it. most of them enjoyed it. without the baggage and expectations "we" have for it it's probably two hours of harmless fun.
considering how obscure the source material is...a 45 year old soap opera...it seems to be holding it's own.
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I meant in terms of what the studio paid for and its expectations. There is no doubt in my mind that at the minimum it was hoping for a $300 plus worldwide intake. From what I have read to break even on an 150 million dollar budgeted movie that movie's box office needs to double that production cost. Studios have its own weird financial record keeping. I'm not saying it may be an artistic flop but I don't think WB is going to be happy with a domestic $75 million intake which seems may be the case. But the bottom line is if we are happy with the movie that's what really counts.
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IF the film doesn't make its money back theatrically, it most probably will with DVD/Blu-ray sales/rentals. And if the latter turns out to be the case, it would hardly be the first or last film to become a financial success thanks to DVD/Blu-ray. [ghost_wink]
Also, who knows what the budget was? The Hollywood Reporter has said $100 million, Variety has said $125 million, and places like Box Office Mojo have said $150-$175 million. Obviously they can't all be correct...
8 days 10 hours 31 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I honestly don't know why Deadline says in that article that DS is on life support because it's estimated to have made $3.7 million yesterday because I went back through all the charts for this year, and if that's being on life support in a film's 8th day in release, then an awful lot of films that have been released this year were on life support in their 8th day. In fact, only a handful of films have made more on their 8th day - and with several of them, their cumulative gross up to the point of their 8th day was less than what DS' was in its 7th day. (I didn't do a head to head 8th day comparison because Friday's figure for DS is still only an estimate. But if I had, then there would be even fewer films this year that have done better than DS as of their 8th day.)
Also, as of yesterday, with only its first 7 days in release, DS was #38 on the 2012 Year To Date chart. And even if it makes the $11.5 million that Deadline is predicting, it should still jump up into the Top 30 by the end of the weekend - and that will only be with its first 10 days of release, with many more to come....
8 days 10 hours 59 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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i would also anticipate that this film will have a huge afterlife in the DVD market.
especially if it contains deleted material that helps flesh some of it out.
it's the kind of trippy thing that could sustain it's own fanbase. i can see college-age kids getting stoned and watching it. [ghost_rolleyes]
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I'm wondering why there appears to be a preoccupation here with commercial success of the movie. There seems to be a lot of defending/rationalizing the fact that the movie hasn't been a wild success to this point. Even if the movie were a ridiculous flop (not saying it is), that doesn't affect whether the original was worthwhile and doesn't reflect negatively on fans of the original show in any way. I like the movie for the most part and intend to watch it many more times but it's no surprise to me, knowing what I know about Tim Burton and recognizing that the promotional campaign was rather ill-advised (I don't know anyone - fan of the original show or not - who, after seeing the trailer, expected the movie to be good), that the movie hasn't been a raging success.
Let's face it, when you tell people your favorite show is Dark Shadows, you're already exposing yourself as somewhat unusual. Now, after the movie, the reason for that perception may be somewhat different, but I don't quite see why being a fan of the original show necessitates being an apologist for the movie or arguing that it is/should be a commercial success.
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I guess one answer to my post might be that people are hoping for a sequel. If it's Tim Burton, I don't think I'd be crazy about a sequel. I'm more hoping for someone to eventually make a real, better version of the movie. Similar to how the original Batman looks like a big joke when compared to Dark Knight. The original Batman was OK but Burton clearly didn't do it "right".
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i suppose at this point nothing should surprise me but there are a couple FB "boycott" and hate groups that have gleefully reproted every negative review and disappointing box office report as some sort of validation or vindication of their position on the film...despite the fact none of them have actually, you know, seen it.
none of them can generate more than 70 or so "members" but it's still gross.
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I like Burton's Batman a lot than the Dark Knight. I'll see The Dark Knight Raises when it comes to cable, maybe.
I hope WB understands how important the fans of the OS have been for the movie. Many of us have seen it many times. One guy on FB says he's seen it 7 times only because he wants more DS movies. I'm going back this afternoon with my neice, her mom and my wife.
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It's also interesting how FB groups like that myopically ignore the good reviews. But then, anything that praises the film wouldn't fit into their agenda, now would it. [ghost_nowink]
8 days 12 hours 33 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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i suppose at this point nothing should surprise me but there are a couple FB "boycott" and hate groups that have gleefully reproted every negative review and disappointing box office report as some sort of validation or vindication of their position on the film...despite the fact none of them have actually, you know, seen it.
Link?
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one of them is literally called "boycott dark shadows movie".
i can't recall the specific titles of the other. sorry.
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one of them is literally called "boycott dark shadows movie".
i can't recall the specific titles of the other. sorry.
Weird group... Why do they hate it so much? Are they fans of the original series who just hate Tim Burton?
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Facebook is a breeding ground for all kinds of hate and negativity. I'm really turning off to the whole fad.
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It's odd because I don't see anything negative on Facebook. Then again, I don't use it for social groups or anything like that - just to keep in touch.
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I'd be surprised if this movie actually took 150 mil to make. I don't see it on screen. Sure, the sets look great but what major studio film doesn't have good looking sets? The CGI sequences are brief and not especially elaborate or ground breaking. Much of the film is people sitting or standing around talking, soap opera style. Seems more likely the budget was closer to the intially reported 50 mil in which case they'd be closer to breaking even and going into the black, and paving the way for sequels. Yay! It also doesn't seem likely the studio would take such a major gamble on an unproven commodity as a Burton/Depp helmed DS reboot. You'd think they would stick with a fairly modest budget first time around. But I actually have no idea. In any case, having just seen The Avengers, it's obvious (and should have been so to the highly paid WB studio muckity-mucks) that DS should have never been pitted against such a large scale spectacle. Maybe they will release the DVD around Halloween when people are more into the spooko (as DC used to say).
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I'm not sure you can look at the movie as a "bomb" just yet for a variety of reasons. First, as has been pointed out several times, ALL movies have paled in comparison with The Avengers, which took in $400MM domestically in two weeks and has set a number of box office records. Even The Hunger Games hasn't made that in the United States in nearly 2 months of release, and it had most of that time to earn income before The Avengers came out. Second, let's look at a few other films that are in release right now. Battleship, which supposedly cost $200MM to make, made $9MM in its first night of release compared with Dark Shadows' $9.6MM. The Dictator has taken in just under $12.8MM in its first 3 days of release (and I believe was promoted more heavily than Dark Shadows - to the point that I was sick of the commercials). Dark Shadows took in just under $30MM in its first 3 days. To be fair, that was 3 full weekend days compared to The Dictator's Wednesday release, but I'm willing to bet Dark Shadows will still be ahead after 5 days, when both will have had a full weekend for comparison. In only 8 days, Dark Shadows has already surpassed The Three Stooges, The Cabin in the Woods and The Raven. Plus, as MB points out, this movie has a fair amount of potential to make money in the DVD/Blu Ray market, so I am not in any way worried about the "bomb" label just yet. I think when people think of films that bombed in 2012, John Carter is going to far surpass any other.
And, to answer why some people are worried about the commercial success, I for one am hoping that it's enough of a success that it will allow whatever hurdles remain to get the restored version of Night of Dark Shadows released. I really want to see that movie as it was originally intended. I would not be as opposed as others to a sequel, either.
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having depp and burtin was a mistake to bad depp did,nt make this movie years ago when he was at his boxoffice prime. im sure there will be no other ds films the wb and no other studio will be interested and depp makes so many movies he has proberly has already moved on to the lone ranger.
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The way Hollywood is these days, they could easily spend 50 million on salaries for Burton/Depp/Pfeiffer!
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I couldn't care less what a handful of people on Fazebook have to say. I don't belong to Fazebook and never will (call me a contrarian). Depp/Burton didn't deliver a film they wanted - so what? Let them gloat because it wasn't the number-one-box-office-smash. I loved it. I really don't care what a bunch of people who can only find meaning in their lives by posting every day that they had toast with butter for breakfast. So, I'm suppose to take what they say with any consideration? Go and tell others that you added jam to your toast and butter; maybe somebody will care. These people, for the most part, boast and brag that they haven't even seen the movie. So how do they know? From what other anti-DS-movie people told them? Oh, right. I scraped together enough money to go and see it again today by myself. I'll go without food for lunch or supper. Watching the beautiful, poignant, appropriate opening credits with Nights in White Satin playing was well worth it. As for those Fazebook members who think creating a "social network" group with 70 people will somehow punish those who didn't give us the original (which was flawed beyond belief, but we true fans still have always loved it) in just another same-old, same-old form, get a life. No one cares about what you do every day.
(Paraphrasing): "Fifteen and no husband? You must put those birthing hips to use, or else your womb will whither and...die." Now that's brilliant! Why didn't Dan Curtis think of that? It's funny, but it's true.
Gerard
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I have a FB group called the Jonathan Frid Fan group and I am very strict about not allowing negativity towards other members.
Fortunately, there are facebook pages based on DS that also have admins who don't allow nonsense.
As for the groups that are called ". . .hate so and so" I don't bother with them apart from laughing at the stupidity of its existence.
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This following link comes from jimbo but he didn't think he could post it using his mobile phone. It's to a photo on Facebook of what looks to be them shooting a cut sequence during the party where Barnabas and Vicki were dancing together:
http://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=457966587562754&id=100000482497867&set=o.190716234316441&refid=13&m_sess=soBlJrCJ-KXv8f_2-&ref=nf
You may need to login before it will let you access the page because I had to login first...
And thanks so much, jimbo. [ghost_smiley] I definitely agree with you that I wish the scene had been in the film. But hopefully it will show up in the deleted scenes...
8 days 23 hours 31 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It makes more sense that something went on between B & V at the party for her to wistfully tell him on the balcony that she knew she had caught his eye, which then led to their first kiss.
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Five of us ending up going tonight. All but one were OS fans. We all liked the movie and I liked it better the second time. The theater was about 1/4 full. As we were leaving one of our group saw a friend in a long line to getting into the theater. She was going to see DS. Here's to a strong second weekend.
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While I would have loved to have seen more of Barnabas and Victoria's budding romance, it's hard to envision a 1972-era Alice Cooper song to which they could have slow danced.
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I'm wondering why there appears to be a preoccupation here with commercial success of the movie.
In my case, I want it to be a commercial success so that it will fuel other projects. For example, the restoration of NODS could hinge on whether or not this film gives the project enough positive name recognition. I'd also like to see a sequel.
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I find it atrocious how much of this film we didn't see. I honestly feel that a three hour DS movie would have been fine, and then the climax would have worked better. It wouldn't have been so uneven and so choppy. As fans of the show, we can appreciate a lot of the little story details that are merely referenced. But I can't see how this movie makes a great deal of sense to the general public. Sure there exists a basic storyline that everyone can follow. But I can't help but think the average moviegoer who actually cares about plot doesn't feel a little left in the dark when it comes to the story. There is so little about so many of the characters, namely Victoria. I feel that her explanation of her past was rushed. And it looks like it was initially longer. These flashbacks and montages have a lot in them, and they leave viewers to guess at certain plot points, because they don't fully flesh out the details. I really, really want to see the Victoria story (and her relationship with Barnabas) told in full.
In all honesty, I think that the mistakes made with the storytelling decisions are the biggest tribute to the show. Because this movie manages to recreate so many of the plot development mistakes in the original show. The only thing it manages to correct is offering an identity to the governess. Other than that, the underdeveloped romance, the lack of plot for major family members, the monster-mash finale... All things done in the original that shouldn't have been repeated. And I frankly think Warner Bros. had a lot to do with it. Like SGS, I'd like to see a director's cut of this film released, but I doubt that is likely.
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There are groups like mine and Nancy's who totally do not accept flaming, etc. I pretty much employ the same technique you guys do. You get a warning or two, maybe three; if you don't get your act together then off you go.
I am going to see DS again this weekend. It cracks me up that this movie has been out 7 days, came in second last weekend yet it's a flop? If it only took 60 million to make (of course there are different stories out there) then I am sure it will break even and even make a profit once it's released on DVD.
I hope they do a directors cut.
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unlike previous tellings of the story where victoria is given this rather nebulous history and backstory here at least it's solid. and it doesn't even hint that she's somehow related to or connected with the collins family or, more importantly, elizabeth. that's out.
her purpose is just the runup to the josette revelation at the end. we don't get to know much about her otherwise. she's prim and rather reserved. that's about it.
funny but bella is not really playing two characters but three. unlike past variations on the story where vicki or maggie is some sort of present day incarnation of josette here the three are linked inextricably. but in the end she's josette. who she really is, or is pretending to be, almost becomes irrelevant in retrospect.
still bella's charming. i wish we had seen more of her. i love the early dinner scene where she's sitting at the dining room table calmly eating her new england boiled dinner while all these crazy people act out around her. and the fact that they gave her this rather girlish, early 1960's fashion sense(which makes sense over time)sets her apart visually in an arresting way. it was an interesting choice on the part of the director and costumer.
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good observation about julia coming into breakfast and demanding that the drapes be closed. i wouldn't have picked that up. that's another subplot that needed more time to be properly fleshed out.
in terms of the carolyn "reveal" at the end whether it was "hinted" at our "out of the blue" is for me somewhat beside the point.
it didn't add anything to the film. a competent filmmaker has a responsibility the the audience to provide closure and resolve to the film at hand. not just market a franchise or promote a sequel. that's all this accomplished.
it didn't explain anything about the character we had been watching for two hours. she was sullen and bratty. so what, ALL 15 year olds are sullen and bratty. not just werewolves. it did a tremendous disservice to viewers of this film who wanted to enjoy it on it's own terms and are not seeing it in relation to a hypothetical sequel some two years out who don't know who the heck quentin collins is.
and on a visual level it was unsightly and disturbing to have this pretty 15 year old girl morph into what looks like some sort of dog. it was gross.
so again this monster-mash ending left a sour taste in my mouth.
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I went to see DS on the IMAX and my impressions are much more positive. I don't think it was the IMAX experience. Yes, it intensified some of the more dramatic scenes and made them seem almost 3D, but that would not be enough to grant salvation to a movie that's without substance. I went with 2 friends, Ron and Sonja. Ron has almost no exposure to the original DS except for the 4 hour condensation of the Maggie story I showed him. He's seen HODS a few times and watched '91 DS. Sonja watched the original but has few memories of it. They both liked it. Ron MIGHT buy it on DVD.
I found that I still was annoyed by the "humor" that seemed to pop up at inappropriate moments. That scene of him brushing his teeth, the one that irked me every time I saw it in the trailers, does not bother me much now. It was not in a dramatic place in the film. The montage shows him settling into 20th Century life, so he's broadening his horizons. I wish the scene of him on fire had not broken the tension of his "coming out" to the family. But all in all, I enjoyed it much more the second time around. I still think the sex and vomit scenes were stupid, but I ignore them, grateful that these characters were brought to life at all. After the failure of '91 and the pilot, Burton and Depp might have been the only people who could make this happen. I just hope they do an extended cut. I think that will transform this film the way Star Trek the Motion Picture was when it ran on ABC and was out on VHS. If they don't do the extended cut, I may do my own edit. I've done this before. I took most of the deleted scenes from Godfather's I and II (I omitted one scene because it was very inconsequential and was the only one that was only available to me on a medicare VHS recording) and edited them into my "Ultimate Cuts". I'll do that with DS if these scenes are available but relegated to a special features section. Once that's done, it'll be fairly simple to save "the Ultimate Cut" and then make a second edit, softening the blow of some of the more silly scenes. It'll be an experiment I'll inflict on people LOL. Sometimes I have WAY too much time on my hands!!!
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i enjoyed it more the second time as well. save for the two plot developments i've already called out.
the humor didn't bother me. not in the least. since the promotional material has lead one to believe it was an all-out farce it was rather underplayed in the end.
the "macrame" scene was actually sort of cute. and the ultra-wierd dining room scenes fun.
visually and in terms of costuming of course it was stunning. the collinwood set was incredible. and only in DS could a story about a vampire and a witch have a backplot about a fish cannery. [ghost_rolleyes]
the ball scene seemed like alot of buildup and bother for not alot of payoff. and as i knew it would the alice cooper cameo took one "out of the story" so to speak. i get it. but i think it was a misfire.
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I also liked the movie a bit better the second time around. I am still bummed out that the classic DS theme and music box weren't used in the movie.
DS performed better on Saturday and should break $50 million this weekend in the U.S. I hope this movie succeeds because I don't want the media to hawk it as one of the biggest flops of the year.
http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/dictator-off-to-slow-domestic-start-international-box-office-begins-stronger/
Thanks MB for posting that pic for me. It was greatly appreciated.
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Gee, with Saturday's numbers I see there's no more mention of DS being on life support. But then, as I pointed out, that comment was just ridiculous on so many levels. [ghost_rolleyes] And now that's she's upped her estimate for DS for the weekend, it will be interesting to see if places like Box Office Mojo report a similar estimate once they post the "official" estimates for the weekend later today.
Going off topic briefly, though it's not entirely OT because the continued mega-success of The Avengers is what's affecting practically every other film currently out, but I'm really surprised by the estimated numbers for Battleship and What To Expect When You're Expecting. I didn't think Battleship would open huge, but I was thinking a lot more than what it's supposedly done. But considering it appeals to the same sort of crowd as The Avengers, I suppose that perhaps a lot of people simply went to see The Avengers again rather than see Battleship. And I really thought What To Expect When You're Expecting would come in higher than DS, if only for the fact that it's a new opening. Though I'm certainly not going to complain - particularly considering that both What To Expect When You're Expecting and DS were supposedly tracking well with women but apparently more decided to go to see DS even though some Web sites predicted What To Expect When You're Expecting would be more likely to siphon women away from DS to the point that it would come out ahead of DS. So, about the only major film opening this weekend that seems to have lived up to expectations was The Dictator. But then, expectations weren't high to begin with because Sasha Baron Cohen is such an acquired taste - and a taste that may not be shared all that much with the audience that was likely to see the other top 5 films this weekend...
9 days 11 hours 39 minutes 41 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I also returned for seconds, this time on not-IMAX, and besides the size of the screen and the picture clarity, I really noticed a difference in the sound. And this second viewing certainly allowed for catching a lot of little things. I tried to reconcile a couple of the plot holes noted here involving Vicki changing her name while already on the train, and the size of the family that boarded the ship in Liverpool (also, who helped Mrs. Johnson escape the flames?), but there wasn't any. Oh well, at least we finally got an appearance by Angelique's mother!
And speaking of Angie, I caught her checking her face before getting out of her car in town, and not in any normal way. She almost tugs at it to make sure the whole thing is on right-- a foreshadowing that what you see of her is not real, and so her ultimate state at her destruction ("death" doesn't feel quite right) didn't come as far out of the blue. And hey, she didn't just murder Barnabas' parents-- she killed the family dog!!
My daughter noted that only Roger was made to resemble the original character, and I thought hmm, why was that?
Was that a portrait of Josette that catches fire in the finale? If so, why would David point out Barnabas' portrait but not Victoria's obvious resemblance to Josette?
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yes midnite that was a portrait of josette in the final scene.
they obviously went to alot of trouble having it painted, and i'll bet somewhere on a cutting room floor there is a scene, or scenes, of someone noting the resemblance between it and vicki.
strange she didn't note it herself upon her arrival at collinwood. it would have added another dimension to that scene.
i'm still confused about the scene with barnabas catching fire. it didn't necessarily call out "vampire". just that he was, what?, i'm not sure?
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and it seemed to me that not just roger, but also barnabas and julia, were meant to resemble the original actors who played the characters.
but the rest, no. i wonder how those decisions were made?
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And now that's she's upped her estimate for DS for the weekend, it will be interesting to see if places like Box Office Mojo report a similar estimate once they post the "official" estimates for the weekend later today.
Her estimates are about the same to within a couple hundred thousand here or there. Though her DS estimate is lower than the "official" one: $12.5 million vs. the official estimate of $12,770,000. And if either of those estimates hold, the cumulative gross for DS' first 10 days in release will cause it to jump up to #28 for the year so far, with, as I said, many more days in release to come.
9 days 12 hours 31 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/ The estimates are in.
I hope they auction off some of the movie props in the near future.
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For what it's worth, DS is doing far better than the atrocious Battleship.
When Europe/Asian box office is all tallied up, followed by pay-per-view, premium channels & DVD/blu ray, DS will have made some money.
The question remains: will it make enough money to warrant a sequel or a new TV series?
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as it was left dangling...
julia and vicki vampires, carolyn a werewolf, angelique dead, collinwood and the business burnt down, plus the entire town knowing barnabas is a vampire, a sequel seems like a hot mess. and completely implausible.
i vote for a new take on the series.
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and even if there are no new movies after this one, DS is hardly dead.
The audio dramas & comic books are doing quite well, as are books by Scott & Parker.
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I, too, have mixed feelings about the scene, mixing drama with comedy, of Roger abandoning his son and family with no feeling of remorse. It was truly moving, especially seeing little David standing with tears in the doorway watching him leave. Added to the emotion was seeing Barnabas' reaction which was filled with equal pain and compassion for that child for whom he had become so attached. It was so well done, and all my friends sitting around me groaned in heartbreak. It was immediately followed by Barnabas with his mind still consumed by his affection for David that he didn't realize he had stepped back into sunlight and began to smoke and then burn while his family and friends standing around him looked with eyes wide and mouths opened. It was funny, downright funny, but tempered by what had just happened. When Willie threw that bucket of water on him from Mrs. Johnson mopping the floor, totally amiss at what has happening around her, it was slapstick-appropriate hillarious. But it was probably too much to quick in combining the action. If Burton would've directed that David be taken to his room, or some other such action to cause a better transition, ti would've been a flawless scene.
Gerard
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as it was left dangling...
julia and vicki vampires, carolyn a werewolf, angelique dead, collinwood and the business burnt down, plus the entire town knowing barnabas is a vampire, a sequel seems like a hot mess. and completely implausible.
i vote for a new take on the series.
I can actually see all those danglings as leaving a huge number of possibilities for a direct sequel. I'm even tempted to pen a plot-line just for fun.
Gerard
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yes midnite that was a portrait of josette in the final scene.
they obviously went to alot of trouble having it painted, and i'll bet somewhere on a cutting room floor there is a scene, or scenes, of someone noting the resemblance between it and vicki.
Thanks! And good point, sigh.
strange she didn't note it herself upon her arrival at collinwood. it would have added another dimension to that scene.
I think one of the coolest reimaginings is Josette's constant presence in Vicki's life. So what do Josette fans think of her ghost's manipulation of a living person? It seemed that on Widow's Hill, it was Vicki that came to the realization that there was only one way she and Barnabas could have a future together, and Vicki that made the decision to end her own life in order to be with him... or was it?
i'm still confused about the scene with barnabas catching fire. it didn't necessarily call out "vampire". just that he was, what?, i'm not sure?
And it happened right after he demonstrated one of his super powers while saving David's life.
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To me the ending was a great soap opera cliff hanger ending.
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I, too, have mixed feelings about the scene, mixing drama with comedy, of Roger abandoning his son and family with no feeling of remorse. It was truly moving, especially seeing little David standing with tears in the doorway watching him leave. Added to the emotion was seeing Barnabas' reaction which was filled with equal pain and compassion for that child for whom he had become so attached.
At first, I thought we should have seen more interaction between David and Barnabas that would have created that emotional bond between them, but it hit me (duh) that the murder of Barnabas' parents, which drove him mad, already served that purpose.
It helped that while discussing the movie, Nicky pointed out that Roger fits in with Burton's recurring theme of the bad or distant father. Taking that a step further, how often did Burton show the devastating impact of a father's death (Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood [with Bela Lugosi as the imperfect father figure])? And while Barnabas didn't follow his first instinct to kill Roger, he gave him a choice, so it was Roger who ultimately left David without a father, leaving Barnabas essentially blameless.
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I had to run to the little boys room while all the Roger/David stuff was happening so that will be great to see. I missed the water, David crying etc. I shouldn't have bought a large drink. Note to self: Do not drink much before watching movie!
I am glad DS is still making money. NO ONE could have known what how big THE AVENGERS was going to be. Joss Whedon has a great fanbase plus you have all these different characters that have great fanbases as well. It's pretty much blowing everything out of the water. I thought Battleship looked horrible.
I loved loved loved that Josette was with Victoria all her life. I thought that was a great re imagining! And it was cool to see Angelique's mother although we didn't see her face.
What a thrill it would be to see Lara Parker play her mother in a sequel if we were to get one. Maybe she could bring her back to life? I also was so pleasantly surprised to see Laura. I did not expect that AT ALL! I thought that was a huge nod. Laura doesn't get the respect she deserves in my humble opinion.
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it was my impression that vicki was under angelique's spell when she took the leap.
didn't barnabas demand that ang release her from her spell before she died?
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I haven't seen the movie yet due to some family obligations but look forward to it very much. Usually I don't put much stock into if a movie does well at the box office or even reviews good or bad. I will go and probably love it from what I have seen and heard so far. I see the DVD in my future as well!
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I had to run to the little boys room while
I think I've mentioned this before, but the first time I saw hoDS I had to use the men's room partway through - but I suffered in silence and didn't budge from my seat until after the final credits had rolled (and that was back in the day when you could pay once and stay and see a film multiple times).
Where is the dedication from the new generations of DS fans? [sad3]
[b003]
9 days 15 hours 56 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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My take on the Barnabas catching on fire scene reads thusly: [ghost_wink]
Burton took one of the most dramatic scenes in the film and took us out of the moment with comedy... Why? Because that is how he saw the original series playing out a lot of the time. There would be a great bit of drama, and then someone would flub a line and kill it. I think that is the effect he was going for here. And he really succeeded. Everyone was just standing around trying not to notice (a la the actors in the original series when one of their fellow players messed up). And then they picked up and carried on with the rest of the scene. It was a fairly genius concept. But not something other people would pick up on. But I think this scene captures the tone Burton had in mind from the beginning. Whether it works on the level I believe it was intended is another matter, but that is the purpose of the scene in my opinion.
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I had to run to the little boys room while all the Roger/David stuff was happening so that will be great to see. I missed the water, David crying etc. I shouldn't have bought a large drink. Note to self: Do not drink much before watching movie!
Alright, Taeylor, come clean. We know you're hiding something. Nobody can afford to buy a large drink at a movie theater anymore, not even Bill Gates.
Gerard (Who remembers when his mom gave him a dollar to see HoDS and with that dollar was able to pay the admission price that included two movies [the first one was a western], previews, and cartoons - and don't forget intermission, buy popcorn, candy and a soda and had to bring the change home)
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I am not hiding anything. I live in a small town in Kentucky where prices are not what everyone is used to. It only cost 6.50 to get into the movies. The drink was about 4 dollars with free refills. That matinee is about 3.50!
As for going to the bathroom I had taken my high blood pressure pill which has 50 mgs of diuretic in it Plus a LARGE drink. LOL However, maybe I am not as dedicated as the first generation of fans! [ghost_wink]
[ghost_nowink] LOL HUHHHMNMMM...
Okay now back to the movie. I was looking through my Dark Shadows scrapbook (which I have added all of the movie stuff to) and was reading the article ET Weekly did on the Revival. I found it interesting that at the end of the article Dan Curtis says, " I don't know what the hell you call it.Once you enter the Dark Shadows door, your in a whole new universe. It takes itself seriously, but you can laugh at the darkest moments."
So I agree. I think that is what Tim was trying to achieve.
I do remember double features just a bit. We saw one at the drive in when I was a child. I cannot remember what was playing though as I was about 4.
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Did anyone else pay attention to the part in the beginning of the movie, set in Liverpool, when Angelique is staring at Barnabas as he boards the ship and her mother says "Angelique! Stop staring at him!"? I thought it kind of sounded like Eva Green speaking the line in a whispered French accent. Maybe it's just me, but I wonder if there's a way to find out if she did or not.
Also, EW.com is reporting that DS came in 4th place this weekend, and has taken in 50.3 million domestically and over 80 million worldwide, with a budget of 125 million. If these are all accurate, then with those combined numbers DS has already broken even and everything from here on out is pure profit.
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International wrap up. http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-avengers-sherlock-holmes-dark-shadows-johnny-depp-dictator-327004
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i had a large coffee and missed the scene where angelique first finds out barnabas had been released at the construction site on my first 8:00 viewing.
for the second viewing i was more prudent with diuretic beverages. [ghost_wink]
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I am not hiding anything. I live in a small town in Kentucky where prices are not what everyone is used to. It only cost 6.50 to get into the movies. The drink was about 4 dollars with free refills. That matinee is about 3.50!
What? $3.50 for a matinee and free refills on sodas? And you didn't tell us about this, dear Taeylor, why? Do you know it would've been cheaper for many, if not most, of us to buy airline tickets and hotel reservations to fly to your humble abode mixed with paying those prices at your theater than what it cost to seeing it where we live (not counting refreshments)? Dare I tell you what a matinee costs where I reside, and it ain't like I'm living in Manhattan? No, I dare not, for, for me to recount it, would give me the vapors.
The next time a DS movie comes out, please be a true cousin and invite us (we may overflow your home, but we'll all chip in for eggs and bacon for breakfast, not to mention playing spin-the-bottle before we all retire).
$3.50 for a matinee and free refills and you didn't tell us? Oh, the betrayal!
Gerard
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I just can't believe how many of you hadn't learned before that you should abstain from beverages for at least an hour before a movie, and make sure you visit the restroom during the trailers, ESPECIALLY when going to see a movie as momentous as DS!
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Lots of love for Dark Shadows in Japan and France. That is good to hear... and it makes sense. I wonder if that will be enough for Warner Bros. to look into additional avenues.
Thanks for the links, everyone.
And, yes, drinking soda while at a movie like Shadows is a huge no-no! [ghost_cheesy]
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Y'all are cracking me up.
Yes Gerard! PLEASE COME ONE! COME ALL! We will have a hoe down! ;)
I am hoping it cost 60. However, like Brandon said if it was 125 then from here on out is profit.
I know of people who have went like eight times now!!!
I am going to try and go at least three!
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I'll be there, at your home, Taeylor, for the next DS movie, along with lots of others of us! (How's that for bad grammar?) We'll have more than a hoe-down, we'll have a riot! We'll serve libations, order pizza and make prank phone calls ("This is WLOW with our question of the week! Answer it correctly, and you'll win our prize! What did George Washington say when he chopped down the cherry tree?...I'm sorry, but 'I cannot tell a lie" is incorrect. The correct answer is: 'Timber!'" - oh, the things we did as kids before caller ID) along with playing spin-the-bottle.
I went to see it for my second and last time. The reason why it's the last time is two-fold. That's all I can afford (I really couldn't, so I'll be eating lots of peanut butter for awhile), and our little theater is only showing it for a few more days. There were less than a half-dozen, if that many, in the seats. Who cares? I have to now save up to buy the two soundtracks. And, when it comes out next Thursday on DVD (I'm kidding - but not too much; you know how Hollywood is), I have to buy that, too. I said DVD, not Blu-Ray. You think I'm made of money?
Gerard
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I just bought the score at Best Buy. They had three in stock, and a special placement card for it. Very nice to see. Only 9.99.
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As we discuss this film (whether one thinks it's wonderful or not), word has just been spoken that another member of of the culture we, who watched the OS, grew up with passed away. First, we lost our beloved Jonathan Frid. Then it was Maurice Sendak who gave us little ones back then Where the Wild Things Are. Add to that, George Lindsey who we all (who grew up watching DS and so many other shows) who was Goober on The Andy Griffith Show. Then came Donna Summers. Now it's Robin Gibbs of the Bee-Gees.
We OS watchers grew up with them all. We are watching our era passing away. Thank goodness that some of it has been preserved through this movie. Thank you, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. You both have made us feel young again.
Gerard
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For what it's worth: of all the underperforming films that followed the release of The Avengers, DS had the highest above all grosses for it's opening weekend. I hope WB takes note of that.
Very sorry to hear about Gibb. My heart goes out to his still living Mom, who's now buried three of her four sons.
Godspeed to that poor woman.
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So how much does DS need to make to break even? I heard somewhere that it was twice it's budget. Is that true? Does it need to make 300 million? Imdb lists the budget at 150 million. Is that accurate? That figure seems an unlikely target for it to hit.
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It won't make $150 million in the USA, but it could make that amount worldwide.
It'll certainly be a profitable film once television showings and DVD/Blu Ray kick in.
As long as the film turns a profit, more DS films are possible, though I suspect WB would lower future budgets.
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If my math is correct the DS movie has earned an estimated $118.6 million worldwide to date. It includes an estimated domestic take of $50.9 million plus overseas earnings of $67.7 million in two weeks (37.3 million week 1; 30.4 million week 2).
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According to Entertainment Weekly, DS' foreign gross so far is $81.3 million. The $37.3 million figure was what the film made last weekend, and the $30.4 million figure is supposedly what it made this weekend - though neither of those figures takes into account what it made during the week - hence the larger figure of $81.3 million for its current total foreign gross. However, I suspect the $30.4 million figure, like the domestic figure of $12,770,000, is an estimate for this weekend. The actual amounts won't be revealed until tomorrow...
It's also worth noting that EW would seem to be aligning with Variety's belief that the budget is $125 million. And if that is true, then with this weekend's worldwide box office take, DS' current worldwide gross will have surpassed its budget...
Though much of what I've just said was already explained by Brandon Collins back in reply #267. [ghost_smiley]
9 days 23 hours 16 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Currently posted at Box Office Mojo: the film has so far taken in $132 million worldwide in ten days, so it'll definitely be profitable while still in theaters.
Here's hoping for a few sequels!
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Even more impressive than I thought. I seemed to have missed some posts. My apologies. I guess WB will soon be putting out some ads in the trade magazines reflecting the movie's worldwide performance.
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Hi all, catching up after being out of town for a few days (I popped in a couple of times but didn't really have time to contribute). I'm glad to see that the film is doing well overseas. Of course, it can't be anywhere in the same universe as The Avengers, but it was never going to be.
Among Johnny's movies, the domestic box office has just surpassed that of Secret Window (domestic lifetime gross of $48M; realize that I am not adjusting for inflation), and will catch Finding Neverland ($51.7M) in the next couple of days, and Sweeney Todd ($52.9), Blow ($53.0), and Corpse Bride ($53.4) probably by the weekend or so. I also think that even though The Avengers will be the film to profit the most from Memorial Day Weekend, I do think that the holiday will be good for all movies, hopefully including DS! I hope to see it my 2nd time over the weekend, and by the way I'm happy to see that more folks than not seem to have enjoyed it better the second time around [ghost_smiley]
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By the way, since Chloe Moretz has been such a hot commodity recently, I was curious to see how her domestic box offices have been stacking up. Her films with the biggest box offices so far, from Box Office Mojo:
0. Bolt (voice) $114M (they don't count this one in her averages because maybe her role was too small)
1. Hugo $73.9M
2. Big Momma's House 2 $70.2M (ha, I didn't know she was in this!)
3. The Amityville Horror (2005) $65.2M
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid $64M
5. Dark Shadows $50.9M
6. Kick-Ass $48.1M
7. (500) Days of Summer $32.4M
8. The Eye $31.4M
9. Let Me In $12.1M
So DS has already gone past both Kick-Ass and (500) Days of Summer, both of which I thought were moderate hits, and it's totally decimated Let Me In (which I thought was great btw and I'm sorry to see that its box office was so low).
So this is just another perspective on where DS fits in. Note that I don't think it's worth it to try this for Helena, because she was in all the Harry Potter movies, and the the other cast members aren't really known for being in a lot of blockbusters.
Edited to add- and worldwide, DS is in 3rd place for Chloe, and very soon to catch Big Momma's House 2. Hugo is at $182.6M, though.
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i think that there are certain character/storyline changes that can be sort of jarring on a first viewing. at least for me there was.
once absorbed subsequent viewings are more enjoyable.
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I went to see Dark Shadows for the 3rd and 4th time over the weekend at the Silvermoon Drive-In in Lakeland Fl. It was paired with The Lucky One and admission was only $4.00 per person and $1.00 for kids. It was pretty awesome watching seeing Dark Shadows on a huge outdoor screen under the stars. The weather was great and I watched the after midnight showing on the ground in front of my car. The drive-in has 2 screens and while the DS side was pretty well attended, the side with Battleship and The Avengers sold out quickly and that caused some overflow business for DS. So the drive-in was pretty much sold out - which I was thrilled to see. Got to give out club flyers prior to the movie for what its worth, many were fans of Dark Shadows or somewhat familiar - but many others weren't and were checking out Dark Shadows for the 1st time. I think this is what Tim Burton had in mind - make it familiar enough for the diehards but reaching out to a whole new audience. As for me, I'm finding I'm falling for this movie more and more each time I see it - and even noticing some things I missed the 1st or 2nd time around.
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even noticing some things I missed the 1st or 2nd time around.
I have plans to see the film for a second time tomorrow, and I'm expecting that I'll also notice things that I may not have picked up the first time. That's one of the reasons I haven't posted about the film beyond what I said the day it opened. I'd made quite a few notes for what I want to post about it, but I decided to wait to post my thoughts until after watching the film for a second time to see what sort of new things I might pick up. [ghost_wink]
And wow - not just $4 per person - but that there are even drive-ins in your area. The last of the ones around here must have closed at least 20 years ago...
10 days 12 hours 20 minutes 31 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Haven't been to a drive-in in centuries. That had to have been a great experience.
I did catch I guess a sort of a blooper the second time around. When Willie pours the bucket on BC the inside bottom of the bucket is dry and rusted. Did anybody catch any bloopers? Hope I didn't miss that discussion.
Tonight there is a live chat on Twitter with SGS. http://dailyfig.figment.com/2012/05/18/live-chat-seth-grahame-smith/
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it's really seeming like the ball scene was drastically cut down.
over on FB there is a sweet picture of barnabas and vicki slow dancing at the ball itself. not just the scene of them on the terrace. we get a full view of vicki's gown which we never saw in the movie.
it did seem like alot of effort for such a short scene.
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For anyone who might have missed it, back in reply #234 jimbo provided a link to that FB photo of Barnabas and Vicki dancing. [ghost_smiley]
And yes, it definitely seems like a lot of the party may have been cut because back when we were closely following the tweets during shooting, it seemed like they spent quite a few days shooting for the party. But then it wouldn't be the first time in a DS film that a great deal of the party footage ended up on the cutting room floor because that was the case with the party in hoDS. [ghost_sad]
10 days 16 hours 22 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This week it turns out that DS made a bit less than the official estimate: it took in $12,583,338, bringing its current domestic gross to $50,721,759. But that was still good enough to bring it up to #28 on the 2012 Domestic Grosses Chart. And depending on what it makes during the week, it could actually be in the Top 25 before Friday.
10 days 17 hours 0 minutes 34 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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it was my impression that vicki was under angelique's spell when she took the leap.
didn't barnabas demand that ang release her from her spell before she died?
Yes, and that seemed to help build tension as we see Vicki walking toward the cliff, but she stops and turns when Barnabas calls to her, which makes me think she was not under a spell; maybe it ended once Angelique was gone? And she talked about how they couldn't be together because she alone would age, and then went over the edge willingly and knowing that Barnabas would bite her.
Love this by usffan, though my take (which could change, lol) is that Josette takes over sometime after Vicki goes off the cliff, perhaps when Vicki dies:
they really made Josette a much more active driver of the outcome of this than I had picked up on. Think back to what she says to Barnabas as they profess their love to one another in the beginning. Again, I don't have the exact wording, but she says something like "Promise me we'll be together forever." In fact, her last words to Barnabas were "Help me," which I found haunting since she repeats them to Victoria several times, and the last time Victoria speaks to Barnabas before going over Widow's Hill, I think we're meant to assume that Josette has already possessed her.
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not just the ball but there were several points in the film where it seemed like it had fallen victim to some harsh editing...
during the "top of the world" montage there were numerous shots that looked like they were supposed to be actual scenes with dialogue(such as the shot of barnabas and vicki reading 'love story' on the beach)that just ended up being blended into that pastiche.
and it certainly seemed like there was much more to the barnabas/julia plot that hit the cutting room floor. that felt really underdeveloped.
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and indeed just who's exactly in charge as vicki goes over the cliff...josette, angelique or vicki herself...is certainly a mystery.
she does appear to be under some sort of influence as she walks towards it, but in her final seconds before she falls back, she seems to be "herself" again.
incidentally this haunting ending was much more suitable than the werewold nonsense that immediately preceded it. and the flash of julia opening her eyes under water would have provided just enough of a "tease" for future stories.
it would have changed the entire tone of the film for the better.
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Seth Grahame-Smith has commented in a few post-opening interviews that much of what was cut featured Jonny Lee Miller, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gulliver McGrath (particularly almost an entire subplot involving David and Barnabas). Hopefully much of it will show up in the deleted scene.
And on first viewing I had the impression that Vicki became Josette upon waking as a vampire. But like Midnite, that opinion may change. I'll pay close attention tomorrow...
10 days 18 hours 52 minutes 54 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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To me, I don't feel as if much from the montage was meant to be separate scenes. Or maybe that is just my own opinion, that if they really had full scenes of such clips, the film would be too literal and too bogged down. I felt that that part was perfect the way it was, seeing Barnabas adjust to the time and to the family.
However, I do sense that there was, or should've been, slightly more to the Julia/Barnabas and David/Barnabas relationships. And Roger was almost a throw-away character-- Jonny Lee was great with what he was given, but what he was given wasn't much, unfortunately.
My sense of Vicki at the end, based on only one viewing, was that Vicki was "herself" by the end, and she was jumping because she knew she couldn't be with Barnabas as is, and she was relying on him to change her so they could be together. I'm not sure when Josette was "there"- whether she was there yet when Vicki was standing on the cliff or only later. But I didn't take it as a possession; simply an insight or understanding that they were one and the same (reincarnation; integration, what have you). It's a bit of semantics, maybe, but I guess I don't like the idea of Josette using or manipulating Vicki and so I choose not to interpret it that way, at least on only one viewing. I may change my mind when I watch again.
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if i'm recalling this correctly the last time vicki saw barnabas before widows hill was when he caught fire.
she ran from him in fear. and that didn't exactly call out "vampire". just that he was some sort of supernatural creature.
so i can't see how she "knew" he'd bite her on the way down unless josette was involved somehow. [ghost_huh]
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Vicki said near the beginning of the movie that she came to Collinsport to meet or because "an old friend" or words to that. Did she intentionally lie to the hippies or did she really mean it. The writer left things intentionally vague at least in the edited version.
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I don't think she was lying. I believe she was referring to Josette pointing her there and perhaps giving her some sort of indication that she was going to meet Barnabas, though not necessarily by mentioning Barnabas by name. I don't think she fully realized Barnabas was the one until after she actually met him.
10 days 23 hours 19 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I agree. Vicki seemed very excited/wishful about her destiny.
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I didn't realize there were 30 photos form the special effects people: http://www.fxguide.com/featured/dark-shadows-retro-old-school-vfx-with-a-modern-twist/ Click on the first photo and continue.
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fyi post. Some projections. DS movie is projected to gross 9.3 million over the four day holiday in the U.S.. Hope it will be more.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/weekendwarriornews.php?id=90492
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I agree. Vicki seemed very excited/wishful about her destiny.
i feel like bella/vicki was also the victim of some overzealous editing.
she only has maybe three or four major scenes before the big "josette" ending. for such a supposedly important character she gets short shrift in terms of screentime.
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I totally agree. Because of the lack of Josette scenes the audience had a connection to Vicki and may have even been disappointed that Vicki was killed.
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Sorry for the double post but I have been asked to provide Monday's Box Office results which I am glad to help out with. http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-05-22
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Thank you, jimbo. [ghost_smiley] And never worry about double posts when you're posting new info. [ghost_wink]
With Monday's box office bringing the current domestic gross up to $51,976,918, that means DS jumped up to #26 on the 2012 Yearly Domestic Grosses Chart. And considering that the 2012 portion of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's gross, which stands at $52,177,103, is currently #25, that means DS will in all likelihood reach the Top 25 with Tuesday's box office, which I was happy to contribute to today. [ghost_wink]
11 days 20 hours 57 minutes 17 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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For all DVD and Blu Ray fans. I just read on Blu Ray .com that Avengers will be out on Blu and DVD on Sept 25. Hopefully, Dark Shadows will not be far behind, and perhaps a release date for House and Restored Night. Lets keep hoping.
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Vampire Reviews (part of the Nostalgia Critic site), reviews the 2012 movie, as well as reflects over the original series & HODS:
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/team-nchick/vampire-reviews/35341-vampire-reviews-dark-shadows
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[pointing-up] She's no Penny Dreadful, but there's some good food for thought in her review. Thanks, Sara Monster.
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I don't know - basing so much of the review on the notion that the horror (and a horror for all the wrong reasons) that is hoDS is an accurate distillation of the original series is disingenuous at best, if not outright ridiculous. Frankly I'm thrilled that the new film is so far removed from hoDS because the last thing we needed was another hoDS rehash. [ghost_rolleyes] And she's kidding herself if she thinks hoDS was beloved in its time and it's only with the passage of time that it can be looked upon as flawed.
Also, apart from her hoDS comparisons, she faults the new film's sex scene between Barn and Ang as something that he instantly regrets and will therefore try to treat as if it never happened. Well, can't the same be said for the implied sex scene between Barn and Ang on the original show when she first arrived at Collinwood in 1795 as well as the depicted sex scene between them under similar circumstances in the '91 DS? Depicting the aftermath that way is actually perfectly in keeping with what had come before. So, if she wants to fault the film's aftermath of the sex scene, she should also be faulting that aspect of the original and '91 shows, too. [ghost_wink]
12 days 11 hours 55 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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boxoffice.com is reporting the Tuesday box office numbers. Like last week, the number is slightly up on Tuesday: $1,303,235, for a domestic total of $53,280,153. DS has now officially overtaken Depp's films Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd and Blow, and has only ~$70,000 more to go to overtake Corpse Bride.
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I didn't get the chance to check out the fxguide.com article until a short while ago. What a fascinating article - and the videos showing how certain sequences were put together are fantastic. Thanks so much for posting the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
12 days 15 hours 16 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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With that much eye shadow, it's hard to take anything she says seriously. She makes Elvira look tasteful and restrained.
I don't know - basing so much of the review...
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Like last week, the number is slightly up on Tuesday
It's interesting that DS went up a bit, but the Top 3 all went down despite it being Tuesday (though The Dictator made virtually the same on Tuesday as Monday).
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-22&p=.htm)
a domestic total of $53,280,153
And that sent DS up to #24 on the 2012 Domestic Grosses Chart. It now has its sights set on leaping past The Woman in Black (currently #23 with $54,333,290), This Means War (currently #22 with $54,675,934), Project X (currently #21 with $54,731,865), and American Reunion (currently #20 with $56,525,405) to get into the Top 20 for the year. And that's something it should probably do at some point this upcoming weekend, possibly even on Friday...
DS has now officially overtaken Depp's films Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd and Blow, and has only ~$70,000 more to go to overtake Corpse Bride.
Very interesting. Thanks for the info, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
12 days 15 hours 59 minutes 55 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I haven't watched much television lately but I get the feeling WB is no longer promoting the movie. I wonder if it has abandoned the movie or will blitz more ads for the crucial holiday weekend. I think it is make or break for the movie at least in the U.S. unless it develops good legs.
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They've already been replacing (with other movies) the billboards, and ads on buses and bus stops, in Chicago over the last several days. [ghost_sad]
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There have been a few random reviews TV spots here and there - and Eva Green was featured on this past weekend's edition of Entertainers. But it's very, Very, VERY rare when any film is still being promoted beyond 2 weeks after opening. So if the billboards are being replaced, I'd say that's pretty normal - especially with films like The Amazing Spider-Man, Ice Age:Continental Drift, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Bourne Legacy coming up in July and August.
12 days 17 hours 29 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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My goodness, did that lady video reviewer ever miss the boat. It's obvious she's a big DS fan, but like several, she's living in the past when it comes to comparing the original to other manifestations, including this wonderful film.
She makes the point that Barnabas changed the perception of the vampire, making it a forlorn, angst-ridden creature. DS's Barnabas was the turning point. It's now been manifested in many ways, from Interview With the Vampire to True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. Oh, and don't forget Twilight (yuck). The problem is, it's been 45 years. It's a dead horse now. That's why I can't get into TB, TVD and especially - yuck again - "T." Something new, fresh and different needs to be brought onboard. To me, this film is it. It retains some of the "sympathetic, reluctant" stuff, but brings in other stuff, such as having to adapt to different times (and even a reluctant vampire will make serious mistakes in trying to hide his past and needs someone, like Elizabeth in the movie, to cover for him - the film version of Barnabas shows a different sort of weakness, that of being not always thinking, and that makes him more sympathetic).
As for HoDS, I loved it when it came out and still do. Back when I was 13 and saw it, I thought it was a masterpiece of cinema, one of the best movies ever made. Well, what does anyone expect? I was obsessed with DS and I was only 13. Now, of course, I see all the warts. The storyline was butchered by editing, and filming still couldn't escape all the Dan Curtis bloopers - even with the ability to say "cut" and try again - from microphone booms waving around in scenes and studio lights blatantly obvious in illuminating the empty swimming pool. I like that HoDS attempted to show more of what the original storyline was suppose to be, with Barnabas being completely evil from beginning to end. The original story, before it began to veer off from that because of astronomical ratings, did have a bit of trying to show a tad of sympathy for the vampire Barnabas character who had lost his girlfriend and was trying to get her back, but his ways of doing it would've hardly garnered support from anyone. The original Barnabas was a murderous stalker. Stalkers do what they do because of psychologically bent obsessions. One can spend maybe a moment "understanding," but when they abduct and murder, they lose any sympathy. That was, apparently, suppose to be the original storyline of the series, but those ratings began to push things in a different direction. Dr. "Julian" Hoffman wasn't - most likely - going to try and cure Barnabas. Dr. Hoffman was suppose to be Van Helsing, a nemisis of the vampire and both were to be destroyed while destroying each other at the end of 13 weeks. Then Jonathan Frid would have enough extra income to find a better place to reside in Los Angeles while teaching college drama classes, his "bit" role as a vampire on a now successful daily soap forgotten by his students who weren't middle-aged housewives watching "daytime dramas" when they took a break from waxing the kitchen floor.
That was all a part of the original reality, and this video vampire/DS-fan reviewer either forgot that, or didn't totally know it.
And HoDS, apparently from MGM's demands, turned what could've been a much better movie into a typical, blood-and-gore, rather than character-driven, Hammeresque film, focusing more on the Christopher Lee movies (and quite a few Roger Corman ones) popular at that time. The movie didn't have to do with great cinematic art - it had to do with getting gabillions of kids (like me) who fervently watched the show to pack theaters to keep the studio from going under. It worked. MGM is still around. It even managed to gobble up UA a few decades later.
When I saw HoDS, kids started lining up (and virtually everyone in the theater were tweens) two hours before the doors opened. There were so many, the theater allowed them to sit in crumbling balconies and box seats, highly unsafe, but back then things weren't as restrictive when it came to "public safety." There wasn't a seat left. When I saw the latest film version, I and my 30+ friends was the largest group. Other than several scattered groups, the theater was empty. This was on the second day. Where was everybody? And there were no kids, not a one. That's because HoDS catered to a different demographic and with its blood-and-gore and minimized story and characterization, that's what we tweens wanted to see back then. Our parents didn't allow us to see Taste the Blood of Dracula because it was too bloody-and-gory and it played only at night.
The lady video reviewer is comparing apples to oranges. I didn't want a rehash of HoDS (the '91 prime-time remake was a version of that, and it failed in celluloid expectations). I didn't want a re-telling of even the original, with all its illogical faux-pas'. And I certainly didn't want another version of TB, TVD and - one more time, yuck - "T." I wanted my DS done with a different, bold and fresh take. And that's what I got. And I loved it.
Gerard
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Maybe its better WB doesn't promote the film the way it has to date. Unless it has strong legs DS probably won't pass $80 million in the U.S. but one never knows. No new numbers here but a brief article from Japan about the DS box office there. http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/05/japan-box-office-report-%E2%80%93-may-19th20th/
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I went back to see the film again this afternoon and decided to spring for the IMAX version. Maybe it was the time (4:45pm), maybe it was the ticket price but there only 4 other people in the theatre.
This time around I was even more impressed with Michele Pfeiffer. She does some very good work as Elizabeth. Her acceptance of Carolyn's curse was a nice touch. Gully McGrath does some nice work as David although he didn't seem as disturbed as early incarnations. More Laura next time, please.
Bella Heathcote carries the earlier part of the movie just as Alexandra carried the series. Unfortunately, like Alexandra, she kind of disappears and the movie suffers for it. The sequence at Widows' Hill seemed a little too rushed. But, for Tim Burton, that was probably a happy ending.
The IMAX didn't really add anything to the experience.
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Uncle Roger, I also went to see the movie again, in IMAX, last night. This was the "real" IMAX (wide format film, not digital; I'm curious to see what the digital IMAX is like--I suppose one of these days I'll check that out).
The film played much better the second time through, and I'm sure that is due to being prepared for everything this time around. While I'm still not crazy about a few things, and still don't like the vomit scene and the werewolf scene, I try not to let them bother me, because so much of everything else is done so very well. The ruthless editing is a shame, because many things make much better sense when you're able to fill in the holes. The whole thing taken together most definitely does fit into the basic spirit of Dark Shadows. And there are so, so many details that were carried over from previous versions in one way or another. This project was created with deep knowledge of and affection for the original series, no doubt, even if there are things that don't work so well.
The characterizations, and the acting, are all wonderful. I think what they did with Julia Hoffmann is a riot, and I hope there are additional or extended scenes on the home video release. Having Elizabeth take Julia's place as Barnabas' confidante and ally helps to give her character more importance; in HODS and the 1991 series, Liz had hardly anything at all to do, and her removal from the story would not have affected anything. Here, she is undoubtedly the head of the family, and fully in charge of things.
Additional scenes with both Roger and David are sorely lacking. We need more, in order to see more deeply into Roger's loathesome character and to feel more deeply David's anguish. We need to see more of David's interactions with Laura, so she becomes less of a deux ex machina at the end.
Willie is supposed to be Barnabas' servant, but all he seems to end up doing is being a driver. But in the scenes we do have, Jackie Earle Haley is fantastic. Although he isn't the devious kind of character the original was, he's also not the goofy doofus from the 1991 series (although I like that one a lot, at times it went well over the top). And I absolutely loved it when Barnabas bid him to reveal his innermost thoughts, and Willie starts snoring! Perfect!
Bella Heathcoate was fabulous as Vicky/Maggie/Josette. But the Maggie background story was a bit of a puzzle--did she apply for the governess position immediately after escaping Windliff? And if so, what in the world were her credentials, and how would she have explained her change of name when appearing at Collinwood? But having seen the movie before, watching it again knowing what's to come makes the title sequence much more powerful. And I understand now why she didn't seem totally surprised the first time we see her confronted by the image of Josette.
I have mixed opinions of the way Angelique was written and acted. Eva Green's accent/vocal inflections seemed to fluctuate. I'm still not totally clear on the nature of Angelique's being. Are witches immortal? She was shown as a small child, so did she become immortal and ageless at some point? Or was the Angelique we see some kind of golem-like thing, thus the cracking at the end? And how much power does she have? Does she become so powerful near the end because it's born of her intense love/hate for the Collins family, and does the expenditure of all that energy cause her cracking up? Okay, the vomit scene: that was totally unnecessary, and took me out of the movie for a moment. It had no dramatic purpose and was played entirely for laughs, out of step with the tone of the rest of the movie.
Barnabas: Mostly, Johnny Depp was magnificent. I do have quibbles with the makeup, which almost always looks to me like an vast amount of greasepaint, not pallid skin. But I find myself able to look beyond that, letting Johnny's performance carry me through the story. He is excellent at expressing the bewilderment at being suddenly thrown into a world that is at once familiar and alien. And throughout the movie--and especially at the end--he is having to deal with the nature of his existence and what is to to do with it.
Carolyn: My biggest problem with the movie may be the way Carolyn was treated. I thought Chloe Moretz did an excellent job of portraying teen angst. But the reveal at the end, of her being a werewolf, was way too much and totally unnecessary. Seeing the movie again, I could spot the "foreshadowing", but those things were so very subtle that they were totally ineffectual for someone watching the movie for the first time. And the way she "came out" to her mother was done in such a jokey fashion that it bordered on breaking the fourth wall. (And did we really need that "Woof!" Why not just have a big "Laugh" sign flashing, as if she's delivering a joke to a sitcom audience?)
The fight and destruction of Collinwood was a bit overwrought, but the second time through I was able to put everything in perspective, and it didn't feel like it did the first time, where it seemed like it went on for a third of the movie.
In conclusion, I feel much more positive about the movie than I had previously. The "IMAX Experience" was interesting. I was quite surprised at the amount of dirt showing up on screen, that appeared and disappeared and moved around a bit. I'd never seen that before in an IMAX movie, but I've only been to a few. I wonder if they're having maintenance problems at the Navy Pier theater in Chicago? But the picture was very steady, sharp, bright, and free of scratches. I'm curious about the aspect ratio, which looked like it was the standard 1.44:1 IMAX format, since it filled the entire screen and looked close to the old 1.33:1 standard. My first viewing appeared to be a 1.85:1 digital projection. I'm hoping to remember some of the image compositions (like placement of text in the main title sequence) to compare when it comes out on Blu-ray later this year. Curious to see how much was taken off or added to the top, bottom, and sides to create the IMAX version.
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On Wednesday DS took in $1,051,401, bringing its current domestic gross to $54,331,554.
Wednesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-23&p=.htm)
13 days 16 hours 15 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Interesting, KMR. This was my first IMAX movie as well. I may see it again over the holiday weekend but I'll stick to the regular version.
I think we can agree that we're lucky that the vomiting sequence was NOT in 3D!
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I think we can agree that we're lucky that the vomiting sequence was NOT in 3D!
Don't even go there! [ghost_blink]
13 days 16 hours 52 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB for the Wed. numbers- I saw the amount for DS on boxoffice.com a little earlier, before numbers were available for most of the films, and I thought, ugh, that looks like a big drop. But on your link, compared with most films, the drop (-19.3%) is the same as for The Avengers and much better than the drops for Battleship, The Dictator or What To Expect When You're Expecting (all -24% or more)! I wonder why yesterday was such a bad day for the movies?? Maybe everyone is just waiting until the long weekend to relax [ghost_huh] At any rate, DS has now surpassed Corpse Bride's box office domestically [ghost_smiley]
Thanks KMR for your thoughtful remarks regarding your second viewing! I still need to go for my 2nd time (I hope to get at least 3 viewings in while it's still in theaters) but when I think about the movie, the Carolyn reveal seems like the most unnecessary and incongruous part of the film to me. Not that I mind her being a werewolf, really, but as KMR (and others) have said, if they were going to bother going that route, they should've brought it out more during the film and not just had a couple of hints that we might only notice later ("Oh, there was a full moon, so she must be a werewolf!") Plus, her identity as a werewolf isn't important to the story other than to add to the list of family secrets- she is still ineffective against Angelique, and she doesn't really DO anything except transform, and it seems like just an excuse to show some cool effects. Even as a werewolf, she's pretty much still a victim, so why transform her at all? I'm still not minding the other plot points that I recollect, so it'll be interesting to see how I feel when I see it again.
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Thanks MB for the Wed. numbers- I saw the amount for DS on boxoffice.com a little earlier, before numbers were available for most of the films, and I thought, ugh, that looks like a big drop. But on your link, compared with most films, the drop (-19.3%) is the same as for The Avengers and much better than the drops for Battleship, The Dictator or What To Expect When You're Expecting (all -24% or more)!
It was definitely nice to see that DS held on better than others. [ghost_wink]
I wonder why yesterday was such a bad day for the movies??
Like I sad last week, Wednesday seems to be the worst day of the week for overall attendance. I don't honestly know why -
Maybe everyone is just waiting until the long weekend to relax [ghost_huh]
- though waiting not just for this upcoming long holiday weekend but every weekend could certainly be as good a theory as any.
The funny thing is that, before it was switched to Friday, for decades Wednesday was the day of the week that all the new films opened. So, it most certainly wasn't always the worst day. It must be something that developed after the change to Friday openings was made...
At any rate, DS has now surpassed Corpse Bride's box office domestically [ghost_smiley]
Good to know. [ghost_smiley]
13 days 17 hours 24 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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studio lights blatantly obvious in illuminating the empty swimming pool.
Gerard,
I loved reading your evocative memories of seeing HODS as a kid. You'll like this-- referring to your quote above; they weren't studio lights, they were sunbeams appearing through gaps in the pieces of black draping used to cover the glass roof of the poolhouse. :-)
Oh, the tale of HODS saving MGM is a myth that always pops up, but it's not true. The studio was being sold off in huge pieces, both the land, and it's vast immensely valuable holdings. HODS was a decent moneymaker, and what the people running MGM liked was that it was cheap yet made money. They didn't have to spend vast Ryan's Daughter type dollars with the high risk. It became the studio's business model for the next few years while Aubrey was running the show. Lower budgets, and a consistent release calendar. Comparatively, TICK...TICK...TICK... made 5 times more than HODS did, and it's relatively unknown.
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Wow - ...tick... tick... tick... - talk about a blast from the past. Not that I saw it (the subject matter wasn't exactly something that appealed to the 13-year-old me), but I remember the trailer and posters for it. And even then it seemed like George Kennedy was in every other movie. [ghost_wink] But who knew that it made 5 times what hoDS did? Though somehow that shouldn't really surprise me and I suspect that today I might enjoy it 5 times more than I do hoDS - particularly because, even as a 14-year-old (and no offense meant, Gerard) I didn't think hoDS was anything approaching a masterpiece, and my opinion of it has only grown worse over time. (If only it could have an entirely new cut, with so much of what was never even included put in - but alas...)
One thing's for sure, though - I definitely enjoy the Depp/DS film more than 5 times more than I do hoDS...
13 days 18 hours 39 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Oh, the tale of HODS saving MGM is a myth that always pops up, but it's not true. The studio was being sold off in huge pieces, both the land, and it's vast immensely valuable holdings. HODS was a decent moneymaker, and what the people running MGM liked was that it was cheap yet made money. They didn't have to spend vast Ryan's Daughter type dollars with the high risk. It became the studio's business model for the next few years while Aubrey was running the show.
I'll bet MGM was still traumatized by having shoveled money at 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Hey guys...
Everyone always seems to be on top of things here so therefore I have a question? Someone on my DS group posted that Tim Burton has already said there would be no sequels to DS. Of course they haven't backed it up with any links, or articles for me to read. So I was wondering if anyone had read this anywhere. I checked all through the posts I had read up until the most recent and I didn't see anyone commenting on that.
I also did a google search and can't find that that in any article. My question is: If this were to be true and Burton had no plans of doing another why did he leave everything up in the air? If it lack of making more money then I can unerstand why and I can understand that he left it up in the air because if the movie would have made more money there could have been a sequel.
I do hope this isn't true. DS is going on it's third week in all my local theaters and from what I can tell if the 125 million buget was right then they have already made a nice little amount of money on the movie. That is I guess if the promotion was included in the price tag?
Just curious if you guys have heard this or seen this from any articles etc?
Thanks
I would love to see a sequel; however, I would really love to see a series made out of DS. I think a series could mine so much more than movies. Three version of DS have been made in my lifetime and countless other tries to get it on the air have been made in my lifetime so I still have hope. I know DS will live one way or the other! :)
Hugs from Cousin Tae! :)
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I haven't seen anything in which Burton specifically says there won't be a sequel. However, I have seen several interviews in which he said that he didn't end the film the way he did with the deliberate intention of making a sequel. Perhaps that's the comment the person on your FB group is referring to...
14 days 11 hours 11 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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My question is: If this were to be true and Burton had no plans of doing another why did he leave everything up in the air?
Just one more reference, perhaps, to the original series, in which a few things were left up in the air at the end.
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If Depp wants to do a sequel, it'll get done with or without Burton. If Depp does not want to do a sequel, one won't get done. That's my take anyway.
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I don't believe WB wants to do a sequel. JD will need to take it to another studio if he wants a sequel imo.
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even with multiple viewings vicki's trajectory to collinwood is impossible to work into a coherent timeline...
she(i guess she's still "maggie" at this point)escapes from windcliff, then we see her(still wearing the same wet clothes)in a diner with the ghost of josette reading the advertisement for the governess position. so it would seem that virtually no time had passed.
so again how did she apply for the position? was she homeless at this point? how did she even have the money for trainfare if she was a mental hospital escapee? where and when did she get the little blue suitcase and all the cute early 1960's dresses and tights and shoes?
i know we're not supposed to focus on such mundane things but they took the trouble to create this rather elaborate backstory for her and then through some sloppy writing/continuity gaffes made it sort of nonsensical. [ghost_huh]
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David Selby has posted some comments about the new movie on his blog:
http://www.davidselby.com/blog/2012/05/25/comments-on-tim-burton-and-johnny-depps-dark-shadows/
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Well, we can't necessarily blame some of the holes in Maggie/Vicki's backstory on sloppy writing - it might simply be a case of unfortunate editing. When she gets off the train and sees the policemen, she tries to be as inconspicuous as possible. I basically interpreted that as her hoping they haven't been informed of the escaped patient and that they won't recognize her as such. But what if she actually committed crimes (possibly with the help of Josette's ghost) to get the money and clothes necessary for her to make her way to Collinwood. If so, she would have even more reason to want to avoid the police. Though we may never know if anything like that was supposed to be case unless we get deleted scenes that show it or we eventually get to read the script...
14 days 12 hours 12 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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she(i guess she's still "maggie" at this point)escapes from windcliff, then we see her(still wearing the same wet clothes)in a diner with the ghost of josette reading the advertisement for the governess position. so it would seem that virtually no time had passed.
And I wonder if she was at Windcliff straight through from childhood to her escape, or if she had multiple stays there? I can't remember if anything about that was stated explicitly in the film.
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Though we may never know if anything like that was supposed to be case unless we get deleted scenes that show it or we eventually get to read the script...
Ooh, ooh, let's get the script(s), please! [beg]
And how about a novelization? If this were really a movie from 1972, there would most definitely be a novelization! [beg2]
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With a set of pictures in the middle!
And how about a novelization? If this were really a movie from 1972, there would most definitely be a novelization! [beg2]
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If only. But these days film tie-in paperbacks seem to be issued if the film is based on a book. The days of turning the script into a novelization seem mostly behind us, unfortunately...
14 days 14 hours 38 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thursday's box office resulted in another $1,151,342, which moves Dark Shadows' domestic box office to $55,482,896, which is currently good enough to place it at #19 for the year to date:
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/alltime_numbers/domestic/data/2012
Although I anticipate that Men In Black III will leapfrog Dark Shadows this weekend, I also suspect that there are 5 or so movies that could fall behind Dark Shadows this weekend.
While there has been quite a bit of concern expressed that this movie will be viewed as a bomb, I don't share those concerns. I feel reasonably certain that the "bomb" label will go with movies like John Carter and Battleship long before it gets attached to Dark Shadows. And I do expect the movie to do well in the aftermarket.
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I finally just got around to checking out Seth Grahame-Smith's Twitter chat from the other day and came across these two exchanges regarding the DS film that also relate a bit to what we've been discussing today:
Kim Karalius @kkaralius
@sethgs How did you handle balancing Victoria Winters / Maggie Evans / Josette when writing the screenplay? #figlitchat
7:34 PM - 21 May 12
Seth Grahame-Smith @sethgs
@kkaralius According to some reviews, not very well. But tried to stay close to the original show's ideas about reincarnation. #figlitchat
7:37 PM - 21 May 12
That might have been the perfect time for him to mention if anything with Vicki had been cut. But I suppose either he didn't think or he was simply thinking about the reincarnation angle. However -
Kevin M. Randall @kmr_kevin
@sethgs Hoping for possibility of extended cut of Dark Shadows on Blu-ray w/more of the story you wrote. #figlitchat
7:36 PM - 21 May 12
Seth Grahame-Smith @sethgs
@kmr_kevin I wish I had the power to force an extended cut, but there WILL be lots of deleted scenes on BluRay/DVD. #figlitchat
7:38 PM - 21 May 12
- that's at least the third time that he's said there will be lots of deleted scenes, so let's hope it definitely turns out that way...
14 days 15 hours 4 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thursday's box office resulted in another $1,151,342, which moves Dark Shadows' domestic box office to $55,482,896,
Thanks for posting those numbers. And I also see that similar to how on Wednesday DS was one of the films to fall off with the smallest percentage, on Thursday it was one of the ones with the largest gain:
Thursday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-24&p=.htm)
which is currently good enough to place it at #19 for the year to date
Excellent! We didn't even need to wait for Friday's box office for it to leap into the Top 20.
It's also interesting to note that one of the films it lept past was The Woman in Black.
Although I anticipate that Men In Black III will leapfrog Dark Shadows this weekend, I also suspect that there are 5 or so movies that could fall behind Dark Shadows this weekend.
Box Office Mojo is forecasting both Men In Black III and Chernobyl Diaries. But even if DS places 6th or 7th for the weekend, that wouldn't be anything to get upset about.
While there has been quite a bit of concern expressed that this movie will be viewed as a bomb, I don't share those concerns.
Nor do I. I'm pretty sure some people will say it - but just like some of the other things that have already been said (like how it was on life support [ghost_rolleyes]), that won't make it true.
And I do expect the movie to do well in the aftermarket.
Definitely. [ghost_wink]
14 days 15 hours 42 minutes 52 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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MB, you mentioned many pages ago that you were waiting to give your own detailed analysis of the movie until after you'd seen the movie a second time. Now that you've done that, I for one would be very interested to hear your thoughts. [ghost_smiley]
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And I definitely plan to post them. But I probably won't get any chance to do it before Sunday...
14 days 15 hours 50 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I think there are definitely some things to question with Magtoria's backstory and how she came to Collinwood. Certainly, it doesn't really make sense for her to be making up a name on the train to Collinsport. And if she didn't give a name to someone at Collinwood, how would they know who to expect would be arriving?
It makes sense to me that perhaps she stole the things we see her show up with in Collinsport, after she escaped from Windcliffe, which would also explain why she was trying to hide from the cops when she saw them. I keep trying to think of a way to explain the gaffe with the name, but nothing comes up. I thought maybe it would be possible that she gave her original name to Willie or something, and then he simply forgot it. But this wouldn't make sense given how protective Liz is shown to be over the children in the movie. She would want to know the name of the person coming to watch over them. There really is just no good way to explain this oversight.
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since it was not(that we're aware of)written into the script i suppose all any of us can do is randomly speculate...
but it doesn't really seem "in the character" of the girl we saw to engage in criminal activity like theft.
she struck me as the classic "virtuous" DS ingenue. but that's just my take on her.
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Perhaps an effort to convey that image could be the very reason why Burton decided to cut whatever she had to resort to in order to get to Collinwood. Well, that is if what she did was even spelled out in the script. There's also the possibility that all along her reaction to the police was meant to hint that there was more to it than met the eye, but instead of being fully explained in the script, if was meant for the audience to use their own imagination. Who knows? But if the latter was the case, I suppose it was a successful ploy because here we are trying to decipher what her reaction to the police meant and how really significant it was in relationship to her getting herself to Collinwood...
14 days 19 hours 17 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It obviously was a flub that Maggie Evans quickly came up with a fictional name while on the train to Collinsport, since it was equally obvious that she had applied for the job and had been hired before journeying north. Well, so what? Aren't flubs all part-and-parcel of DS? Didn't they exist in every incarnation of it? Without them, they wouldn't be DS. Maybe Depp/Burton intended it and wanted to see if anyone caught on. After all, Cameron, who wanted to make everything on Titanic to be historically perfect had smoke coming out of the fourth stack - he did that deliberately for Titanic buffs, since the fourth funnel was a dummy that served as storage for deck chairs. And S.E. Hinton somehow got the publishers to retrain one "flub" in her reworked novel, Hawkes Harbor (the obvious original title must've been Collinsport), for us DS fans. I'm surprised JP didn't go ballistic over that and started filing multiple lawsuits. You know how finicky he is about anyone taking away one penny regarding DS from what he thinks he is the ultimate guardian of every cent that goes to, well, whom? Keep those youtube videos shut down and banned, JP. We all know that if they're on there without making one cent for anyone, somehow whomever you want to get a penny isn't getting it. Good job.
Anyway, now that my rant is over (how much money did JP and his "clients" get from this film? - alright, alright, rant is over), in the movie, from how I took it, Maggie was pretty much on her own for quite some time after she escaped Windcliffe (or however one wants to spell it). She just didn't climb down those bedsheets and within days was on a train. She spent time living on her own, doing what she had to do to survive, for quite some time before she saw that ad. I can picture her slashing hash at a diner while offering the best cup of coffee around and a free piece of pie and telling people they were "jerks" for whatever reason, and then consoling them by calling them "honey." It was 1972 and a couple years before. It was easier then to do that. She lived in a bedroom in a boarding house, using the shared bathroom down the hall with women named Buffie Harrington (the only one who had a TV with rabbit ears), biding her time, wanting to find the answers to her dilema. And then one day she busy a newspaper with an ad for a governess. From there, the movie begins.
Gerard
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The IMAX version has been replaced by Men in Black 3, in my local theatre. The regular version is still there.
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I thought maybe it would be possible that she gave her original name to Willie or something, and then he simply forgot it. But this wouldn't make sense given how protective Liz is shown to be over the children in the movie. She would want to know the name of the person coming to watch over them.
And Liz asks Vicki some questions that weren't on the application.
Aren't flubs all part-and-parcel of DS? Didn't they exist in every incarnation of it? Without them, they wouldn't be DS. Maybe Depp/Burton intended it and wanted to see if anyone caught on. After all, Cameron, who wanted to make everything on Titanic to be historically perfect had smoke coming out of the fourth stack - he did that deliberately for Titanic buffs, since the fourth funnel was a dummy that served as storage for deck chairs. And S.E. Hinton somehow got the publishers to retrain one "flub" in her reworked novel, Hawkes Harbor (the obvious original title must've been Collinsport), for us DS fans.
Sooo, are you saying that the palm trees in the 1991 DS were intentionally left in to drive you to distraction? [wink2] [winkb] [winkg]
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No, Midnite! Those palm trees were evil...e-v-i-l...EEEVVVIIILLL!!!
Gerard
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a friend of mine wanted to see the movie so this week i went, yes, a third time.
on first viewing i found the "magtoria" compromise and the carolyn "reveal" to be extremely discombobulating.
the explosive, overstuffed "climax", as someone else pointed out, also felt like about a third of the movie's running time.
but in reality it was only about 10 minutes.
so my feelings about the film have softened considerably. it's just become part of our "vocabulary" if you will. a different variation on the tale. flawed to be sure, and what version of the story isn't, but quite enjoyable. i wasn't "mesmerized" by it the way i was the OS but i don't dislike it either. hopefully a "director's cut" dvd will help flesh some of it out.
i still don't really go for "magtoria" and i will forever despise turning carolyn into a werewolf in the last ten minutes of the film but otherwise it's fun.
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They've already been replacing (with other movies) the billboards, and ads on buses and bus stops, in Chicago over the last several days. [ghost_sad]
it's happened in new york as well...
for a few weeks "they" were looking down on us from everywhere. now they're gone. a little moment in time and now they'll begin to retreat from the public consciousness and become "ours" again soon.
and for whatever this means when i went to see it wednesday at 7:00pm there were only about 20 people in the theater. [ghost_shocked]
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I was surprised when I went to see the film on Tuesday afternoon and there were about 40-50 people there. But as we've seen from the box office figures, Tuesdays seem to have the highest attendance during the week. And it would actually be interesting to know if the highest attendance for the film is still in the midwest and the south, as was reported for the first weekend, or if it's spread out to other areas of the country...
And speaking of box office figures, because of the holiday weekend we'll probably be getting estimates right through Monday, with the actuals not coming out until Tuesday...
15 days 10 hours 45 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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David Selby has posted some comments about the new movie on his blog:
http://www.davidselby.com/blog/2012/05/25/comments-on-tim-burton-and-johnny-depps-dark-shadows/
Seems to have been taken down. Anyone have it saved?
EDIT: Disregard - just found the twitter post where Mr. Selby said he took it down because he wanted to revise it.
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most billboards and ads are gone in los angeles also.
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Speaking of LA, it was fun to watch Extra these past few weeks and to see the banners and marquee for DS whenever they were shooting the show in The Grove.
15 days 13 hours 14 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The DS billboard at Van Ness and Pine in San Francisco has been replaced with a McDonald's billboard.
[ghost_sad]
I'm glad that the film is doing so well in Europe and Asia, and that it did better than Dictator/Battleship, but it still did only half the USA biz that Warners was hoping for.
Europe/Asia will put the film into the profit column shortly, but Warners ain't happy about those US ticket sales, and that could interfere with future films or a new TV series.
[ghost_sad]
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There's still quite a bit of US box office to play out. Plus there's the US DVD/Blu-ray sales/rentals. So it still remains to be seen how profitable the film will be strictly in the US...
And speaking of box office, I see on Box Office Mojo's Friday estimates chart that DS is now playing in 3404 theaters. That a loss of only 351 theaters - and that's not bad.
15 days 13 hours 52 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I wouldn't read too much into the removal of advertising from billboards, bus shelters, etc. A lot of that ad space is purchased in advance for a limited period of time to coincide with the opening of a film and then it is removed.
Similarly, anecdotal evidence about the number of people in the theater at any given performance can be misleading. Otherwise, based on seeing Cold Mountain in the theater during a matinee several years ago, I would have to conclude that no one under 70 saw the movie and that I was the youngest person to ever watch it. [ghost_cheesy]
I went to a Tuesday 12:45 pm IMAX screening of Dark Shadows this week, and my sister and I were the only people in the theater; however, (a) that particular theater is not anywhere near a shopping mall and (b) many of the local schools had not let out for the summer at that point.
The theater is beside an interstate, and they purchase space on the rotating billboard at the nearest exit. It currently features Dark Shadows.
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I of course expect the billboards to come down as new films open. But I walk by that intersection daily, so it was sad to see Johnny go.......
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I would have to conclude that no one under 70 saw the movie and that I was the youngest person to ever watch it. [ghost_cheesy]
I've been to those sorts of showings, too. [ghost_wink] And in terms of people in the theaters, up to and including Thursday DS was never any lower than the 4th biggest moneymaker for the day - and there are dozens of films in release that are still being tracked. And if Friday's estimates hold, with Friday's box office DS already reached the Top 15 for the year so far. And throughout the holiday weekend it should only climb up higher...
And as far as the billboards, banners, and whatever go, we need to keep in mind that hardly any films are ever promoted beyond their 2nd week of release. Yesterday DS started its 3rd.
15 days 14 hours 44 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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With today's estimate of just over $2M, DS's unadjusted box office (~$57.5M) has now surpassed 2 more of Johnny's films: Once Upon A Time In Mexico and Edward Scissorhands. Up next: another ~$10M needed to reach The Tourist [ghost_smiley] The numbers don't look as good if you look at figures adjusted for inflation, how ever they calculate that. But I've also heard from some film buff forums that it's not really fair to do that, either, because movie attendance in general has been on the decline for years, since we now have so many more choices available to us nowadays (DVDs coming out so much more quickly, cable, on demand, streaming, etc. etc.). So even though there are breakouts like The Avengers, it's tough for a typical box office of today to compare with that of years ago.
I *still* haven't made it for my 2nd viewing, but it looks like tomorrow is going to be the day. It has been taken away from IMAX at the theater near me, but there are still 2 other IMAX theaters in the general DC area that still have DS airing(s), so I may shoot for a 6 p.m. showing at one of them. Otherwise the theater near me (non-IMAX) still has plenty of showings.
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One of my best friend's (and he went with us on our three-dozen-or-so excursion that first Saturday to see the movie) parents, who live not far from Philadelphia, went to see the movie. My friend's mother, who watched the OS on-and-off (primarily because of Joan Bennett), absolutely loved the movie. It brought back memories of the OS, and she thought it was a perfect blend of drama and comedy. She'd see it again. My friend's father didn't like it. He wanted more gore, blood and guts and horror in a dark, Hammeresque fashion.
Both are 80 years old.
Gerard
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I would have to conclude that no one under 70 saw the movie and that I was the youngest person to ever watch it.
That's very telling. I mentioned in previous posts, when I saw it (two times), the overwhelming, vast majority of those in the seats were what would be considered "middle-aged" (in their late forties and up). As I also stated earlier, the first time I left the screening room, those waiting outside were around "our" age and were asking us: "Is it good? Is it like the show? Will we like it?" (I said yes.)
So, it now seems to me that those who wanted to see the movie were original fans. They saw it in droves (despite those stupid anti-DS-film fazebook people). Those unfamiliar stayed away. The question is, why? Again, I blame WB marketing. Despite the current vampiremania (which I think is now waning - zombies are the latest thing, and I love those critters, too), the studio just did not know how to promote it. It wanted that apparent money-spending crowd of tweens, teens and 20-somethings. WB thought that it could connect with the Twilight crowd, but Twilight has seen it's light of day (pardon the pun) and is waning. But it didn't want to market it as a Twilight rehash. It didn't know what to do. It tried to market it as an American Graffiti that those of us in the early seventies flocked to see because of nostalgia. The problem is, the post-generation-X crowd doesn't care about what happened last year, let alone several decades ago. Things have changed in attitude.
Gerard
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I would have to conclude that no one under 70 saw the movie and that I was the youngest person to ever watch it.
That's very telling. I mentioned in previous posts, when I saw it (two times), the overwhelming, vast majority of those in the seats were what would be considered "middle-aged" (in their late forties and up).
The comment that's being quoted here was in reference to the film Cold Mountain to illustrate the dangers of drawing conclusions about audiences based on attendance at any one screening of a film.
It wasn't the case with the first screening of Dark Shadows that I attended with the Central Florida DS Fan Club, and it wasn't the case at the second screening I attended (because no one was there other than me and my sister).
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there are still 2 other IMAX theaters in the general DC area that still have DS airing(s), so I may shoot for a 6 p.m. showing at one of them.
I had to mention a funny thing- I was watching a Dateline-style program on our local news station earlier, and during the hour they had not one, but two commercials for DS being at the 2 IMAX theaters I just mentioned this afternoon! So at least in this area, they are still advertising DS and specifically promoting the area IMAX screens to see it on [ghost_smiley]
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at all three screenings i've attended the audience has been very multi-generational. definitely not skewing towards one age group or another.
at the opening day showing, which was packed, there was a small round of applause when the four OS actors appeared onscreen. which would make sense as die-hard fans likely attended on the first day.
at subsequent shows the audience had no reaction to the cameos and likely didn't know who they were.
and again, i think this is going to have a huge afterlife in the DVD market.
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So at least in this area, they are still advertising DS and specifically promoting the area IMAX screens to see it on [ghost_smiley]
Local commercials promoting showings at specific theaters used to be a mainstay of film promotion back in the day, but I haven't seen commercials like that in my area in decades. It's fascinating that they're doing it in your area with the DS film.
And something else that's interesting is I was quite surprised to see some new interview material featuring Chloe Moretz and Bella Heathcote on this weekend's installment of Entertainers. I'd pretty much figured last weekend's stuff with Eva Green was the last that show would have featured to promote DS. But I was happily wrong. [ghost_smiley]
16 days 11 hours 8 minutes 47 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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David Selby's blog post on the new movie is back up after some tweaks. It does contain spoilers:
http://www.davidselby.com/blog/2012/05/25/comments-on-tim-burton-and-johnny-depps-dark-shadows/
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Box Office Mojo predicts that DS will take in 7.5 million in the USA this weekend. Add Chernobyl Diaries to the list of films that opened after DS that did poorly, DS did considerably better than Diaries, along with Battleship, Dictator and What to Expect.
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Box Office Mojo predicts that DS will take in 7.5 million in the USA this weekend.
And that figure doesn't even include the estimate for Memorial Day Monday.
And speaking of box office -
movie attendance in general has been on the decline for years, since we now have so many more choices available to us nowadays (DVDs coming out so much more quickly, cable, on demand, streaming, etc. etc.). So even though there are breakouts like The Avengers, it's tough for a typical box office of today to compare with that of years ago.
- more recently the economy has to be factored in because fewer people are willing to pay to see a film in a theater when they can rent it on DVD/Blu-ray or even pay for on demand for a much cheaper price. And at the beginning of this year in particular, weekend box office figures were very low. I mean, many of the first place films for the weekend struggled to bring in $25 million, and at least a couple couldn't even bring in $20 million. The fact that DS is already one of the Top 15 films of the year so far and its run in theaters probably isn't even half over yet is a testament to how much more successful it has been than so many other films this year so far...
16 days 14 hours 11 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Audience decline in theaters is very apparent (in my hometown, a few months ago, a six-screen theater shuttered its doors, leaving the other six-screen theater going, but that's a loss of half) and the reasons, as listed are obvious. What it boils down to is that it is too expensive to see movies in theaters and fewer people have the money to see them. One would think that the heads in the studios would grasp that, but they now have the corporate mind of if-we're-not-making-enough-money-charge-more. Yeah, that works. When I saw HoDS at the cost of 35 cents for admission for the first Saturday matinee (the evening one cost 50 cents), the line started two hours before, went out the door, down the block and around the corner. There wasn't a seat left. When I saw DS at $7.95 for the first Saturday matinee, we had not only our pick of seats, but our pick of rows.
Hollywood needs to start chopping off some of those corporate heads. They need to hire people like us who know how to bring the flocks back to the theaters. We'll even do it for only 1% of what they are paying those heads. Even at that salary, we'd all live according to a lifestyle to which we could become accustomed. I don't know how much Johnny Depp made portraying Barnabas (and he did it perfectly), but even his name wasn't enough to bring in bigger bucks. A true Hollywood head would tell him that his salary demands are way over the edge, that he's now - to repeat what was said to Joan Crawford - "box office poison." When the actors and actresses demand an upper eight-figure salary for doing a film and are told they'll only get just barely seven, they'll still do it. What other alternative do they have? Putting on a blue vest and asking customers "how may I help you?" They'll still have their lavish homes, yachts and lear jets. Maybe not as fancy as they once got, but they'll still have them. Again, what's their alternative? Sharing a two-bedroom apartment with three roommates and driving a Yugo held together with rust and coat-hangers? Let's be honest, they give us pleasure and enjoyment, but how much does that improve the human race? I work with disabled children and get minimum wage. I don't try to toot my own horn, but I think what I do is more valuable. I'm not bitter, mind you. I'd just like to know when was the last time Johnny Depp, or Michelle Pfeiffer tried to change the loaded diaper of a 300 pound cognitively disabled 17-year-old who was trying to punch and bite them for eight-something an hour rather than have all-expenses-paid trips to Europe to film a movie and still get mucho-millions on top of that to make a very good movie that, for now, is just barely struggling to break even. Not that I'm bitter, mind you. At least I can hold my head high and say, that at my job, I'm not "box office poison."
Gerard
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Movie production costs are way out of line, but that's old news. I think another part of the problem is the way distribution/exhibition finances are done. The distributors take such an extremely high percentage of of the box office that the exhibitors need to charge higher prices in order to make a profit, which then results in people being more selective and cutting down on their moviegoing , which means less box office intake, which means higher ticket prices to make up the difference, which results in... (you get the picture). You would think that a lower percentage for the distributor, in addition to lower ticket prices, might bring more people back into the theaters, and make the exhibitors more profitable (and maybe even enable them to improve the exhibition itself).
I think the healthiest arena for the combination of cinematic arts and business is the premium cable sector. I'm not sure how much longer the traditional movie theater model can survive.
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You just may be right, KMR. Who knows how long it will be before the studio heads and moguls will price the existence of theaters right out of, well, existence and all movies will be viewed in the comfort of one's home at affordable prices again,which will mean less money for the studios, the moguls, the heads, the actors, the actresses, the directors, et. al. But they'll survive. A rapidly changing techno-market will force them to adapt accordingly. Did anyone think, years ago, when our beloved DS went off the air, that the day would come when we could watch it again whenever we wanted by first slipping boxes into machines in our homes, and later circular discs? The whole concept was even beyond Star Trek or Lost in Space. One doesn't even need a cable/satellite channel (like SyFy) anymore to enjoy it. There's even youtube where it can be watched totally for free (although someone by the initials of JP, hmmm-hmmm-hmmm, is still futilely trying to defy that).
Gerard
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Movie tickets are like everything else these days--it's all going up. This trend isn't going to change any time soon, either. As long as corporate greed continues to rule the economy the prices of everything will continue to be jacked up in favor of making more profit. The difference between movie ticket prices rising and most everything else going up is that going to see a movie is a luxury and not necessary to live life. As a result, theater owners and Hollywood at large will continue to see a drop in audience members attending.
It's also interesting to note that within the last number of years, we've seen more films that have a laundry list of A-list actors in them (look at the Oceans movies, holiday themed movies like Valentine's Day etc). Why does this happen? Most likely it's because these actors surrender some of their normal salary in order to be part of a film after lots of studio convincing. The more actors there are, the more likely it is that people will go and see your film because one of your favorite actors is in it.
I remember a couple of years ago there was a big stink because Hollywood business was looking in to direct-to-home opportunities for new release movies, like On Demand and other services, to alleviate the time and planning it supposedly takes for someone to go to a theater and sit through a film. The idea was to make movies available to the audience in their home on premiere night, or at least within the first week, in order to generate more revenue. I could be wrong, but I also recall that the prices were going to be more than your normal On Demand for films (2 to 4 bucks) and be close to that of an actual movie ticket--all in the name of convenience. But this did not really get off the ground because theater owners cried fowl, claiming that Hollywood was giving up on them after years of driving revenue, and basically accused Hollywood studios of abandoning them and dooming their business if this occurred.
While this business model certainly would have cut into the profits of theater owners, I don't think it would have completely put them out of business immediately. Personally, it does sound convenient to be able to watch DS 2012 at home even now, having seen it twice. But movie purists like me enjoy going to the cinemas and watching it all play out on the big screen, with the sweeping sound systems. There is nothing like this anywhere else, unless you're one of those Hollywood corporate bigwigs who can afford to have a theater in his or her own home. Eventually the audience would dwindle down to nothing but these purists, and we might see the demise of cinema houses everywhere, but I don't think it would've happened for a long while.
The lack of an audience is also why there are more 3D films and "IMAX Experiences" being promoted, because those tickets cost significantly more than a $5 matinee during the middle of the day. It's been proven in business time and again that the model of convincing someone that they're paying for an "experience" means that you can eek out just a little more money from their wallet in exchange for promises that may or may not be fulfilled. I've seen several movies on IMAX screens, but I can say that there is a major difference between seeing a film that is shot on regular stock in IMAX and seeing a film that was shot in IMAX on an IMAX screen. For example, the IMAX sequences of The Dark Knight were much more clear and engrossing that those that were shot with regular film, and I plan on seeing The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX the first time I see it, as opposed to waiting for the second (or potentially third) viewing.
In relation, the lack of an audience is also why indie films are catching the eyes of corporate Hollywood more and more--because they are produced cheaply, have messages that resonate, and are very profitable when they connect with people.
As far as the box office success of DS 2012, I think it will make back it's budget if it hasn't already. We can't really know given the various reports of what the budget actually was. I am still shocked that the budget could have been as high as $150 million, because I simply cannot see where all of that money went. The only thing I can figure is that having to build all of those intricate sets, and a whole town really, drove the budget sky high. Truthfully, there have been movies that are just as visually stunning that have cost a lot less.
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the imax sequences from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE were also impressive. i went to see MIB3 tonight. TIM BURTON has a cameo but u really got to look close (he is shown on a tv screen)to see it. i also peeked into a theatre showing DARK SHADOWS and it was about 95% full!
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i also peeked into a theatre showing DARK SHADOWS and it was about 95% full!
Wow - that's certainly interesting. [ghost_cool]
17 days 11 hours 31 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I went to 1:50 showing yesterday that was about 50% full at least. I was pleasantly surprised.
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I usually confine my filmgoing these days to the Castro Theater here, where classic films and film festivals are screened. I find multiplexes unpleasant, though I did go see Depp Shadows twice.
Going to see it in Imax on Wed.
The only other new films I'll be seeing in cinemas this year are Woman in Black (LOVED THAT) and Dark Knight.
everything else can be seen at home.
I'd go more often if multiplexes weren't so damn ugly!
The Castro is a single screen, 90 year old beautiful palace--saw HODS & NODS there in 2008!
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DS took in an estimated $9,405,000 for the 4 day weekend. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2012&wknd=21a&p=
The international gross is at $106,000,000 as of May 27th but it doesn't seem to include major markets like Japan, Mexico etc and some totals like France and UK don't seem to include last weeks totals as well so the overseass total should be much higher.http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkshadows.htm
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[ghost_smiley]
DS was predicted to be #6 this weekend, but it came in at 5!
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I'm going to see it for the 3rd time, and I'm just as excited as the first! I'm also interested to see what a 1:45 showing will look like on Memorial Day in Missoula, Montana ... I'd be totally cool if it were just my friend and I in the theatre. :P
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DS was predicted to be #6 this weekend, but it came in at 5!
Some sites were even predicting 7th. And what was most interesting was that they were very split over Chernobyl Diaries - but as the weekend progressed and it got a dreadful D+ rating from Cinemascore, they began to revise there predictions in DS' favor. Though some are still saying it will do better than DS, and honestly it looks too close to tell with just estimates because the two are only $105,000 apart. And when it comes to What to Expect When You're Expecting, Friday's estimates indicated that it may have brought in more money than DS on Friday, but it's looking like it might also be a case that it faded as the weekend progressed. But if the estimates hold, and if DS really does place 5th for the entire 4 day holiday weekend, that will be quite good. Though as I said Friday, even if it does place 7th, that wouldn't be anything to be upset about - especially if the actuals end up being as close as the estimates.
17 days 15 hours 48 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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just came back from seeing chernobyl diaries at the same complex where i saw mib3 last night. this was a late afternoon showing on a holiday. once again i checked the same theatre that was showing dark shadows last night. it was about 70% full! the theatre showing chernobyl was only about 25% full. i thought chernobyl was pretty good despite the negative reviews.
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That' encouraging Joe. DS did finish in 5th. Monday estimates are already in. http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/
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so where are these types of numbers leaving the film?
not a blockbuster. not a flop. a "modest hit"?
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Not actually sure at this point. DS was projected to gross 120 million in the U.S. So if it winds up making $80 I guess some bloggers/websites will consider it a major disappointment and some will use the flop word even if it makes $250 million worldwide.
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i think the gravy train is really going to be the DVD market.
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I made a boo boo earlier: DS came in at #6 this week, not 5.
According to Box Office Mojo, it's the #1 film, ahead of Avengers, in the following countries:
Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain.
Worldwide gross now stands at $171 million.
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i think the gravy train is really going to be the DVD market.
I think you might be right, especially if it is released close to Halloween. (Although I sure wouldn't mind seeing it come out sooner!)
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Honestly, it feels like it will be one of those "Halloween" films, the ones like Hocus Pocus and Nightmare Before Christmas. It just has that sort of feel to it. And that may be how it will live on. Just a hypothesis.
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I made a boo boo earlier: DS came in at #6 this week, not 5.
You didn't make a mistake - as this link (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=21a&p=.htm) to Box Office Mojo shows, estimates for the 4 day holiday weekend put DS at #5. Though as I said back in reply #387, DS is leading Chernobyl Diaries in the estimates by only $105,000, so it will be very interesting to see the actuals tomorrow because the estimated difference is so close that it could go either way.
As for when the DVD/Blu-ray might come out, someone posted that they heard the last week of September.
17 days 23 hours 7 minutes 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Even though it was a smaller theatre, it was packed full. And my friend, who is not a DS fan, loved it. The rest of the audience seemed engaged as well.
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Chloe Grace Moretz repeats. If anyone missed the David Letterman and/or Jimmy Kimmel appearances of Chloe, they are both being repeated on the Tuesday night (Wednesday morning) shows. It really seems funny that it would be repeated so soon and that they would both be doing it the same night.
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I just have to say that I am really happpy at how well DS has done for a cult show that has been off the air for 45 years! I think it's personally held it's on. I hopped over to Boxofficemojo.com and it looks as if it's made 171, 488.000!
I think that is a great number for a worldwide release.
I personally think with the economy as it is and things such as netflix and Hulu people tend to watch stuff at home more than not. So all in all I feel as if DS has done pretty well. If it cost 125 million to make then it's made a profit of 46, 488.000 in profit. Once DVD/Blu Ray sales are in then I think DS will at least make 100-125 million profit. I am hoping for that.
Thanks MB for answering my question about Burton. I did read that he said it would be presumputious to say that there will be a sequel and the reason they ended it the way they did was to pay homage to the soap opera aspect of the show. And I can accept that. That is cool.
I would say that people are already starting to write fanfiction about it.
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Sorry for the double post.
I meant to add that Dark Shadows is playing here in my local theater up until June 7th. It will only show what is showing up until June 7Th so apparently people are still intersted and watching here in my neck of the woods. That is ten more days..
I will let you guys know if they continue to play it.
They are also continuing to play it at the other theater in town and another two other theaters about 30 mins from where I live.
That makes me happy. Seems like people are still coming to watch it!!! [ghost_smiley]
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When I went to see DS this weekend, at a mid-afternoon showing, it was a smaller theater but was surprisingly packed- I'd say about 75%. This local theater is rarely so full at afternoon weekend shows, so this was a great sign. I'd say the audience was more into the movie than at the first showing I saw, but maybe that was because the theater was fuller. People laughed at the right moments and nobody seemed to react badly to the comedy, and people were engrossed through the movie. A lot of people were staying through the credits, which they didn't do the first time I saw it- maybe they thought there would be an "easter egg" scene at the end. All in all, the reaction seemed better than it did when I saw it opening weekend. Hmm!
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Another special effects article. http://www.artofvfx.com/?p=2676
ot What ever happened to the Dark Shadows: Art of Film book? I thought it was suppose to be released at the end of May.
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I love these SFX articles. Thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
As for the book, who knows what's going on?! All anyone who ordered it from Amazon US has to show for it is a message from Amazon saying "We'll notify you via e-mail when we have an estimated delivery date for this item." However, the last time I checked Amazon UK the book wasn't even listed anymore. Or at least it didn't come up when I searched for it. And I didn't take that as a good sign.
18 days 13 hours 7 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB I also find them interesting. Another interview this time from the person who created the film titles. http://www.shootonline.com/go/index.php?name=Release&op=view&id=rs-web3-1656449-1338311353-2
I assume they wouldn't cancel the book project. The item should be near completion one would think. I look forward in obtaining it. Thanks for the update MB.
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The DS actuals are in on boxoffice.com
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/actual_extended_estimate/2012-05-28
It makes it look like DS is in 4th place for the 4 day weekend, but that is because The Dictator is not yet on the list- once it's added, I'm sure that it will cut ahead and DS will be in 5th. But it did beat Chernobyl Diaries! The actual for the 4 day was a bit better than the estimate, at $9,439,246 (the estimate was $9,405,000), bringing the domestic total to $64,922,142.
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Very interesting. And yes, DS ranked 5th for the 4 day weekend:
4-Day Weekend (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2012&wknd=21a&p=)
(Don't be fooled because it says estimates because the actuals are really listed on the chart but they forgot to change the name.)
It's also interesting that DS' rank jumped around a bit throughout the 4 days because on Friday it was #7 (with both Chernobyl Diaries and What to Expect When You're Expecting bringing in more), on both Saturday and Sunday it was #5 (with both Chernobyl Diaries and What to Expect When You're Expecting falling below it), and on Monday it was #6 (with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel bringing it just $42,681 more). So, it will be very interesting to see where it places on Tuesday.
And as far as how successful DS has been so far, I like to keep an eye on how it's performing relative to the other films released this year. As of Monday DS was in its 18th day of release, and relative to all the other films' first 18 days of release, DS places at #11 when it comes to its domestic gross as of its 18th day - and that's 11th out of the 46 films that have so far played in wide release this year. So, even if some places want to point out that DS may not be doing as well as it might have, still, any way one looks it, DS is doing quite well by comparison to dozens of this year's other films. And considering how hard it's been this year for many films to bring in the amounts of money that many may have made in years past, perhaps the so called pundits should reevaluate their thinking in light of what a huge factor the economy has had on the box office this year so far. [ghost_wink]
And for anyone who really is interested in seeing just how this year's films stack up when compared head-to-head as of their 18th day*, I've attached a list. (The first column is obviously the name of the film, the second column is the film's gross as of its 18th day, the third column in the date it hit its 18th day, and the final column is what the film brought in at the box office on its 18th day.)
(* MIB III is the only film that wouldn't otherwise be on the list that prior to its 18th day in release has grossed more than DS, so that's why it's included on the list.)
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I think DS only falling 25% from last week is a good sign in light of the fact that Battleship and The Dictator had more of a decline from the previous week.
Mojo has the DS International gross at $106,600,000. But if you look at the breakdown it only has France's 1st week and not its second, it doesn't include Japan, Mexico and other markets. The UK box office seems to be correct. It is possible then that the DS international box office intake is over $150 million bring the worldwide DS gross to be over $200 million as of today?
Thanks MB for the detailed analysis.
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Went back for my third time this afternoon. There was a somewhat larger crowd than last week but that may have been influenced by the $5 admission on Tuesdays. This audience was into the movie. They laughed at all the right places and seemed to enjoy being there.
A couple of observations here. The scene where Vicki follows the ghost of Josette down the hall to the foyer reminded me very much of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney World. Did anyone else pick up on that?
Who drove Vicki to Widows Hill at the end? I don't think it was Angelique because uniting Barnabas with Josette would have been the last thing she would do. But what if Josette had led Vicki there? She had led Vicki places before. The jump from the hill may have been what was needed to motivate Barnabas to save Vicki the only way he can.
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Who drove Vicki to Widows Hill at the end? I don't think it was Angelique because uniting Barnabas with Josette would have been the last thing she would do. But what if Josette had led Vicki there? She had led Vicki places before. The jump from the hill may have been what was needed to motivate Barnabas to save Vicki the only way he can.
I don't think that Angelique drove her there. If she had, I think that Vicki would've jumped long before. Vicki ran off (in fear?) when she saw Barnabas burning, but then a LOT of time passed after that. Barnabas went to Angelique to give an ultimatum to make him human again, and she trapped him in the coffin. 20 minutes passed, and Laura instructed David to find the coffin. Meanwhile, the cannery was burning to a crisp. They all eventually went back to the house, along with half the town, and had a huge knock-down, drag-out with Angelique. And THEN Barnabas went off to find Vicki heading toward Widow's Hill. The timing just doesn't fit, and if Angelique was destroyed by then, then I wouldn't think that any control over Vicki would still hold true.
But I don't really think that Josette was possessing her, either. On my second viewing, I noticed that Vicki was very lucid at the end. She was looking over Widow's Hill, but I don't think that she was preparing to jump just yet. Barnabas came up to her and they embraced. But then Barnabas says something like he thought he'd lost her, and she told him that he already had, because she lives in the light and she will grow old and die, and he will not. She sounded very sane, calm, and logical. I don't remember the exact exchange but I think she was challenging him, because he said something like he'd never do that (make her like him). I think that Vicki knew full well what she was doing when she jumped, and I don't think she was under anyone's spell. I think that sometime between seeing Barnabas burning and that point, she had come to understand what Barnabas was, and that there was only one way to be with him, and the only way he would change her was if her death were the only other choice.
Now, how does Josette fit into all of this? Well, I think that Josette may have guided her, and I think that in her heart she realized that she essentially *was* Josette. But I don't think that it was possession in the sense that she was losing her own self, but just that she was just realizing that Josette was a part of her all along, and that made all the ghostly visits she had since childhood and her feeling that she belonged in Collinsport all make sense to her. So maybe I'm just an optimist, but that was kinda how I saw it on my first viewing, and that feeling was only enforced seeing it again. Now, I'm not entirely sure that the film conveyed this perfectly-- I do feel as if some scenes were missing, and that there are gaps we have to fill in. How does she realize that he's immortal/a vampire, really?? All she knows is that he starts to burn in the sunlight. What is she doing during the time when the rest of the family is battling Angelique (and by the way, this is when he's displaying his powers, but she doesn't witness any of that)? If Josette speaking and explaining things to her offscreen, just as Laura speaks to David offscreen? (On the second viewing, I realized that Laura does a lot more than I first thought- she tells David where Barnabas is in the Collins mausoleum, and she tells David to tell Barnabas where to find Vicki). So I do feel like I have to just roll with it a little bit. But I kind of like the way I see the story playing out.
Your mileage may vary, of course ;)
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I've been operating under the impression that it was Josette who led Vicky (I HATE spelling it like that) to Widow's Hill in the end. I know some people aren't really digging that idea, but I think it's fantastically creepy, and gives the film -- and Victoria's role in it -- an entirely new resonance.
Also -- I meant to pay attention when I was watching it yesterday and forgot -- but did anyone notice if Vicky's fingers and fingernails got all extra knuckle-y and yellow pointy like Barnabas'? They made such a big deal about his finger transformation when he was originally vamped that I was really interested to see if the same thing happened to Vicky.
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Honestly, so much happened at the end that I don't even ask for logical explanations. This film seems to have been cut to pieces. The much edited NoDS has a more coherent story, imo. It's like they were afraid that they'd never be able to make a sequel so they threw everything they could into the last 10 minutes.
The fact that Laura just appears out of nowhere and saves the day is the most jarring and upsetting plot point. (As an aside, has anyone really taken a look at her clothing? Does it look like something from the 1960s? Because it looks to be from a much earlier period imo. Wish that was explored more than just the fleeting reference to reincarnation.) Why does she care about Barnabas or Maggie? (I too refuse to use the "y" spelling of Vicki, so I shall call her by her given name.) Is it just because they were two of the only people (along with Liz) who actually did anything for her son?
And speaking of David... In order for the film's ending to make any sense, we would have needed to have heard David talking to Laura at some other point (preferably multiple points) during the movie. David is clearly the most important character in this story, as he links everything together. But he has so little screentime. The fact that we are missing out on so much of his interactions makes the whole story discombobulated and almost senseless. It's like you just have to sit there and accept it all. I don't know what Tim Burton was thinking here, but he didn't do the screenplay any favors by cutting David's scenes. And even if there were no scenes with him communicating with his mother, we would have at least been clued into the fact that she wanted to help him and the Collins family at some earlier point.
As for why Maggie headed for the cliffs... I have no idea. It sort of had a Romeo and Juliet element to it. (I can't be with you, so I shall kill myself.) But there was no build-up to that either. And I think it would have been a much more powerful scene had we actually had a reason for it. (I was able to be moved by it, because I knew the history of these characters from the show. But how is this meaningful to new viewers?)
I don't know what happened, but the last bit of the film is just an absolute disaster from a story-perspective. It's like 1968, but with no rhyme or reason. And I don't want it to be that way. I honestly feel that with all of the scenes in-tact, this ending would have been perfect (sans the nonsensical Carolyn subplot, which was A) stupid and B) irrelevant). But we needed to know more about Laura's story and Maggie's motivations. Because, as it is, an otherwise enjoyable popcorn flick is very lacking in the story department. And the only reason I accepted the ending at all was because of the great scenes between Barnabas and Angelique (the moral message made it worth it) and the Barnabas and Maggie climax (because who didn't want that to happen?).
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On my second viewing, I noticed that Vicki was very lucid at the end. She was looking over Widow's Hill, but I don't think that she was preparing to jump just yet. Barnabas came up to her and they embraced. But then Barnabas says something like he thought he'd lost her, and she told him that he already had, because she lives in the light and she will grow old and die, and he will not. She sounded very sane, calm, and logical. I don't remember the exact exchange but I think she was challenging him, because he said something like he'd never do that (make her like him). I think that Vicki knew full well what she was doing when she jumped, and I don't think she was under anyone's spell. I think that sometime between seeing Barnabas burning and that point, she had come to understand what Barnabas was, and that there was only one way to be with him, and the only way he would change her was if her death were the only other choice.
Like you, I didn't completely pick up on it the first time around either. It wasn't until the second time I saw the film that I realized that Vicki specifically says to Barnabas that there's only one way they can be together and then she deliberately falls, thereby forcing Barnabas to "save" her the only way he can. But I also think the entire idea of doing what she does is connected to Josette and Josette's appearances to her, begging Vicki to help her, and then falling. It's all as if Josette is begging Vicki to help reunite her with Barnabas. And I think that all ties in when Vicki declares herself to be Josette once she awakens as a vampire.
It's a very interesting twist. And it completely explains why plotwise, unlike in previous versions, Barnabas is not already a vampire when Josette falls from the cliff. If he had been, he could have "saved" Josette in the same way he saves Vicki - and, of course, that would have been the last thing Angelique would have wanted.
19 days 0 hours 9 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Laura is such a key character during the climax and yet we aren't given very much information about her. Is she merely a ghost or something more? Phoenix? Banshee? Or did she just appropriate that scream from Black Canary?
If her motivation was to protect David and avenge herself, could she have done it earlier? Or was Angelique more vulnerable during the finale?
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I would love to know more about Laura as well. It would just be so delightful to get a sequel because there is so much more story to tell. I am not for sure that will ever happen.
I loved the new movie. I think it's amazing. I loved everything about it for the most part. However, truly it would be great to see DS resurrected as a series. There is SO SO much to story to tell and if the used all the twists and really shook it up like they did with the movie it could be such an amazing show. If the CW would do Dark Shadows and pair it with The Vampire Diaries I can see it being a huge hit. I don't foresee this happening anytime soon. I am hoping though in my lifetime we get to see it brought to the small screen again with it becoming the hit it has the power to be DS (Unless there are sequels) just lends itself better to the small screen, especially if you are wanting to honor so much that came before and mine those five years worth of story.
I had no idea Laura was going to be in the movie; however, it was one of my FAVORITE suprises because Laura is such an overlooked character. She essentially got the ratings up enough to get Barnabas on the air. I thought it was an amazing insight on the writers part and a huge nod to the Dark Shadows legacy to include her in the movie. I only wish Miss Millay were healthy enough to know that her character was remembered in the movie.
I really really wish that Tim would do a directors cut. It would be the best gift in the world. Delted scenes are nice. Yet when they are put back into a movie it just makes the piece so much more cohesive and wonderful. Oh to dream.... [ghost_smiley]
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These days, it seems that most "event" movies are planned with the idea of making a sequel or sequels. It's almost an anomaly when it doesn't happen such as Superman Returns.
Burton seems indifferent to the idea of a sequel. But he did do a second Batman movie earlier in his career. And a Beetlejuice followup has been discussed.
Could there be a second film? Sure. If Warner Brothers thinks it would be profitable, then yeah.
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just lends itself better to the small screen, especially if you are wanting to honor so much that came before and mine those five years worth of story.
I completely agree. There are so many characters that it becomes impossible to flesh all of them out in a single film. This one definitely did a better job than House of Dark Shadows; but because it added a whole additional set of characters, the eventual edits just seemed to undermine the development and the film overall.
While half of HoDS is dedicated to the gory Carolyn plot and could have been given to the characters of Julia, Elizabeth, and/or Stokes, this new film really only lets us get to know Barnabas (still a definite improvement over HoDS, which didn't really allow us to understand him at all). Angelique is fleshed out a bit, but even her character is rather one dimensional. Her motivation is somewhat lacking. The audience is left to assume she is just crazy and unbalanced. Maggie and Elizabeth are slightly better characters, but only because of their exchange at the beginning of the movie. Carolyn, Willie, Roger, Silas, Laura, David, and Julia (I feel one of the biggest mistakes) are virtually ignored. I honestly even questioned what Julia's purpose was in this whole story. Yeah, it was a nice twist, but we didn't see enough of her to be bothered to care about her as a character. She herself is rather one-dimensional. And because she plays such a pivotal role in the story, I couldn't help but feel disappointed that we saw so little of her. I really had to pay attention to know that Julia was "treating" Barnabas, because we only have one scene that shows that, which is undermined by something else, again with little relevance to the plot. How does she even have the knowledge to treat him? All of this was left unexplained. In all honesty, I feel she could have been left out. (She didn't really do anything for Barnabas anyway.) Since the original characters of Liz and Julia were combined into the new Liz, I felt that having Julia and Angelique in this thing was a bit too much. Too many villains spoils the plot.
So, yes, a TV series would definitely help with story and character development. And I might actually be able to care about these characters like I do the originals if I have the chance to see them every week. [ghost_wink] Because, in this film, the only reason I cared for these characters was because of my previous attachment to them.
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The reality is that there is not going to be a sequel. I also wish for a new DS project on the small screen. WB was probably expecting a box office of $300-500 million or more. I am trying to be objective here and not just being negative. The box office intake does not warrant a sequel. I think WB was taken back by a lot of the negativity to the movie and its marketing campaign and probably doesn't want to go through how do we market this movie again. I also think WB was not happy with the finished film delivered to them although the studio has some blame for sure. I do agree that the DVDs sales will be good and eventually the movie will show a profit but not enough to warrant a sequel. Plus it will take another 4 years before we would see a sequel. Just my opinion. I do hope there will be new DS projects in the very near future.
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I really had to pay attention to know that Julia was "treating" Barnabas, because we only have one scene that shows that
Actually, there are two scenes: the first where Julia brings up the subject of treating Barnabas, and then a later scene in which she's seen supposedly giving Barnabas a "treatment" and he remarks that he doesn't feel himself becoming human.
And speaking of remarks, I absolutely love when he muses that if it's possible for a man to become a monster maybe it's possible for a monster to become a man.
How does she even have the knowledge to treat him? All of this was left unexplained.
Julia actually tells him that she has no idea if what she's doing will work. Unlike in previous versions where Julia discovers a cell in Barnabas' blood and creates a serum/vaccine to eliminate it, in the film all she says she's attempting to do is to try to cleanse Barnabas' blood through "transfusions". Though of course we soon discover that she wasn't really even attempting that because what she was doing with each "treatment" was stealing some of Barnabas' blood and merely replacing it - and then transfusing herself with his blood. There's no need to explain how she may have knowledge to treat him because apparently she has none - she only put on a pretense.
19 days 10 hours 55 minutes 59 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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WB was probably expecting a box office of $300-500 million or more.
Their initial worldwide box office estimate was $325 million, and it's not likely to make anything like that. But -
The box office intake does not warrant a sequel.
- films that have made less than what DS has already made worldwide have had sequels. In fact, the Underworld franchise has had multiple sequels. However, when it comes to the sequels, they've had smaller budgets than the DS film had, so if there ever is a sequel to the DS film, it would probably be a film with a smaller budget.
Though at the same time, there have also been films that have had sequels mostly because they were very successful on DVD/Blu-ray.
The truth is there is still a great deal to be played out when it comes to both the DS film's box office and its DVD/Blu-ray release, so it's still a bit premature to ponder with any certainty what the future may bring...
19 days 11 hours 9 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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MB everything you said is all true of course. It all depends on how the studio views its expectations and we don't really know what they are. Perhaps its threshold for a sequel is if the movie and DVD brings in $250 million for example. Or maybe it wants a higher threshold. It also of course depends on JD and his company if they want to do a sequel. I guess if they do and WB doesn't I assume the producers can bring the movie sequel project to another studio? As you said it is a bit premature to be thinking of a sequel. At this point I am just hoping the NODS is released fully restored.
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Sequel-wise I suspect a lot depends on how much Warner Brothers wants to create a franchise with DS, what type of potential offer they might be willing to put out when all is said and done between box office intake and DVD/Blu-ray sales/rentals, and how much whoever may be involved with a possible sequel is willing to accept any potential offer. We were told several times, including from Warner Brothers itself, that DS is something that they've looked upon as a potential franchise - but when it comes to the latter two, things are still very much up in the air.
19 days 12 hours 24 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It will be certainly interesting to watch out for. The comingsoon website predicts the movie will earn just $4 million this week. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/weekendwarriornews.php?id=90778
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If one looks at how the box office trajectory tends to play out for most films, that could be about right. If anything, given what the percentage of drop off tends to be, DS made more this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday than what tends to be the case (and Monday being a holiday helped it even more). So, if it does bring in $4 million, that would still be a bit higher than might otherwise be expected.
19 days 12 hours 40 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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My two drachmae for what it's worth--don't expect rationality from studio decision-makers. They may or may not decide to do a Shadows sequel upon any variety of pretexts--and the project could spend years in development and wind up being squelched by some other studio suit's whim. A lot of what they say is just dust blowin' in the wind (as the saying used to go).
BTW I am loving the OS theme this month. It looks as if 1897 Laura's wig is eating her brain at the moment. lol!
G.
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For some strange reason Box Office Mojo has posted Monday's figures instead of Tuesday's even though Monday's figures were already available yesterday as part of the 4 Day Weekend Actuals chart. But maybe they'll post Tuesday later today.
However, from what I've been able to piece together from boxoffice.com, which has Tuesday's numbers for only 5 of the top films, it looks like DS came in 8th with $761,174, bringing its current domestic gross to $65,683,316.
And before anyone gets upset that Tuesday's gross came in below $1 million, at this point in DS' run that was actually to be expected (see the 18th Day chart I attached yesterday). But what is interesting is that even though they brought in more than DS, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Chernobyl Diaries, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel also each came in below $1 million - and they haven't been in wide release as long as DS has. And though the other 4 films above DS weren't listed, I'm certainly presuming that MIB III, The Avengers, Battleship, and The Dictator each brought in more than DS.
19 days 14 hours 43 minutes 34 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Actually, there are two scenes: the first where Julia brings up the subject of treating Barnabas, and then a later scene in which she's seen supposedly giving Barnabas a "treatment" and he remarks that he doesn't feel himself becoming human.
And speaking of remarks, I absolutely love when he muses that if it's possible for a man to become a monster maybe it's possible for a monster to become a man.
Interesting, MB. Thanks for the insight. I loved the "monster becoming a man" line. That was great. But, again, I felt like there wasn't enough to support this whole subplot. It didn't even allow Barnabas to walk around in the day. At least in HoDS, Julia's cure drove the plot forward. Barnabas was able to court Maggie because of Julia. Julia gets jealous, and we know the rest. There was a reason for it. Here, it just seemed to be thrown in. And, objectively, it was of little importance to me or the story. It was a cute twist, but nothing new members of the audience really gained anything from. Again, the more I think of it, the more disappointed I become with the story. Really wish that A) there would have been less or BETTER cuts or B) we would have had a more streamlined story from a more proficient writer. As it is, the script is lacking. There are some great moments and lines... But they are few and far between. I think all of the focus on script rewrites for the purpose of adding humor didn't do any favors to the final product. Because, rather than focusing on building a cohesive, sensical plot-line (which HoDS and 1991 definitely had), the focus was on making the script "better." Who really cares about the script's lines when a huge chunk of the story makes such little sense in the final cut? (Don't get me wrong. They had me up until the last 10 minutes. And, at that point, I really just gave up.) Because the plot so heavily relied on David (and he was cut) and because there were a great many scenes involving unnecessary characters (to the plot), I really question the whole thing. But too many loose ends in the end kill this movie for me more than anything else. But I want to see it again, because I enjoyed a good deal of it. It's just that the decisions made story-wise undermine the first hour worth of relevant plot.
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Like I said the other day, without having read the script, I wouldn't necessarily blame the writing. What I might blame is unfortunate editing. [ghost_sad]
And as for Julia's interest in Barnabas and where the whole notion of having her involved with him comes from, well, I suppose it can be traced back to the exchange between Julia and Liz after Julia has just discovered Barnabas is a vampire and Liz says she's surprised because she would have thought Julia would find him fascinating, to which Julia replies that from medical, psychological and physical standpoints he is fascinating, and Liz tells her to be fascinated. [ghost_wink]
19 days 15 hours 45 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yes, it's either the writing or the editing. It could be both, but my inkling would be editing as well... Like you said, we have to get our hands on the script to find out.
Haha, another one of the best exchanges in the whole film. And, yet, I can't keep justifying these terrific scenes leading into less than stellar story-points. I can't. I just can't! [ghost_wink]
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The fact that Laura just appears out of nowhere and saves the day is the most jarring and upsetting plot point. (As an aside, has anyone really taken a look at her clothing? Does it look like something from the 1960s? Because it looks to be from a much earlier period imo.
It looks like a '60s empire waist floor-length
dress, no? (http://www.dsboards.com/images/laurasghost.jpg)
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I tend to blame the editing more only because we learned that the studio wanted the film to run under two hours. Personally I think it would have hardly been a terrible thing if the film had run something like 140 minutes instead of 113. 27 more minutes certainly wouldn't have forced theaters to run any fewer showings. But then a lot of times when things get cut they necessitate that other related things also get cut because they're no longer going to make sense, so you end up with a film that's 113 minutes rather than closer to 120.
The thing I think is really going to be fascinating is to see what people have to say on the DVD/Blu-ray release - and particularly what they hopefully have to say when it comes to what was cut and why...
19 days 16 hours 6 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It could be, Midnite. It probably is. The sleeves and the waist bother me, though. But the shot of her and David together really reminded me of clothing from an earlier period. Again, I can't remember it all that well at this point, but she didn't look modern. Again, probably just the fact that we didn't see enough of her to get an accurate picture. [ghost_rolleyes] [ghost_wink]
And, yes, MB. I can't wait for the DVD features. Because I really want to know!
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Tuesday's chart at last - and DS did indeed place 8th:
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-29&p=.htm)
And it's interesting because unlike a typical Tuesday, everything was way down. But I suppose that's what happens whenever there's a Monday holiday.
19 days 16 hours 19 minutes 7 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS is leaving our theater tomorrow. It'll still be in a larger town 16 miles away. We have 10 screens; McAllen has 17.
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It could be, Midnite. It probably is. The sleeves and the waist bother me, though. But the shot of her and David together really reminded me of clothing from an earlier period. Again, I can't remember it all that well at this point, but she didn't look modern. Again, probably just the fact that we didn't see enough of her to get an accurate picture.
I agree, CB, that the way she appears so briefly in the film does seem to give the impression of someone from an earlier time. But looking closely at the still shot, I agree with Midnite that it is very 1960s.
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I agree, CB, that the way she appears so briefly in the film does seem to give the impression of someone from an earlier time. But looking closely at the still shot, I agree with Midnite that it is very 1960s.
Wouldn't that make sense, though? She was lost at sea before Julia was brought in, which was at least 3 years before (if I'm remembering the dates mentioned in the movie), and we don't know how much time elapsed between Laura's death and Julia's arrival. So that puts Laura's death back to at least Halloween, 1969, and I think it's safe to assume that neither a ghost, a banshee or a phoenix would have updated their wardrobe after death. [ghost_wink]
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But then a lot of times when things get cut they necessitate that other related things also get cut because they're no longer going to make sense, so you end up with a film that's 113 minutes rather than closer to 120.
I agree with CB that the Julia subplot seems totally extraneous. As the film plays now, you could cut all of Julia's scenes out of the film entirely and it would make no difference whatsoever to any of the rest of the plot. There are no threads to connect her to the story; just references to her (that still don't influence any path that the plot takes). In fact, the infamous "doctor/patient confidentiality" scene actually undermines what may have been a way to justify the sex scene with Barnabas and Angelique. Because I could not detect any chemistry between B & A, and given B's professed love for Josette and devotion to his family and his hatred for A, why did he give in to her so easily? I was thinking that maybe he was just dealing with 196 years with no "release", but since there had been that recent incident with Julia...
Mind you, I'm definitely not saying that Julia (or her subplot) shouldn't be in the film! I really like this take on the character. But I am dying to know what else may have been in there originally.
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As far as the box office goes, I think it's safe to say that Dark Shadows will pass Contraband before this weekend. I think it's possible that it will catch Act of Valor, but I'm kind of hoping that it can hang on long enough to catch John Carter. I desperately want to have as much ammunition as possible to argue whenever somebody suggests that the movie was a flop, and to be able to point to real flops like John Carter clearly was (and Battleship is shaping up to be) certainly helps.
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Wouldn't that make sense, though?
Oh, yes. I guess the way I wrote my post wasn't clear that I thought the dress was quite appropriate. The brief time it appears on screen (and in a ghostly way at that) it does give the impression of something way older, but looking at the still it's exactly right. Perhaps part of the reason it looks so much older in the film is that we're used to seeing Josette's ghost, and portraits of other ancestors from the distant past, and we're then somewhat conditioned to thinking of a ghostly image as belonging to a character from a much earlier time.
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I desperately want to have as much ammunition as possible to argue whenever somebody suggests that the movie was a flop, and to be able to point to real flops like John Carter clearly was (and Battleship is shaping up to be) certainly helps.
I hear you! [ghost_grin] It's just maddening that so many people are calling DS a "flop" or a "bomb" or a "disaster". Compared to any typical movie it's doing quite well! The thing is, it came out at the second-worst possible time. Look at the grosses of everything else around, and you'll see that The Avengers had a humongous impact on every other picture, all around the world. Under the circumstances, DS is performing just as well as anything else. The only worse time for DS to be released would have been the weekend before! [ghost_shocked]
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This is an interesting discussion, and I thank everyone for pitching in their thoughts. A few more of my own:
1) Regarding Josette and Vicki- in my (rather long [ghost_wink] ) post from yesterday I didn't meant to try to claim that Josette wasn't involved in Vicki's actions. But rather, what I was trying to say was that I don't feel that Vicki was being possessed or put under a spell by Josette, and that I felt that she was in control of her own actions. I think that the flashbacks were meant to show that Vicki (or I guess I should say Maggie) always felt close to Josette- even as a child, she considered her as a companion rather than an entity that she was afraid of. Even when Maggie was locked up, Josette was her only companion. I think that she always felt this strong connection to Josette, even if she didn't always fully understand why, until the end when I think it must've all come together for her and she realized/remembered that she was Josette. So sure, I think that Josette led her, and even demonstrated how to fall a couple of times, but I still feel that the decision was Vicki's to make. I do agree that this could've all been conveyed better in the film, and perhaps I am making these leaps because of my past familiarity with the characters.
2) I wish that Laura's character would've been brought out slightly more in the film, but on the second viewing I did realize that they refer to her a lot more than I caught onto on the first viewing. There were the things I mentioned yesterday- that it is Laura who leads David to find Barnabas in his coffin, and it is Laura who tells David to tell Barnabas where Vicki is. But there is also David in the sheet, multiple mentions at the beginning to both Vicki and Barnabas that David thinks he sees/talks to his mother, and there is the conversation at the shore between Barnabas and Vicki. So there is a lot there already. I might be in the minority here, but I don't think that I would've wanted to see David and Laura chatting. I'd rather that be kept a mystery, and not really know if David is really talking to her or if he's just imagining it all.
3) Regarding Julia's "treatment" of Barnabas, I second MB's thoughts on this. Julia's first reaction to finding out that Barnabas is a vampire is anger- she can't believe that Liz would endanger the family by letting a vampire stay under their roof. Liz vouches for him, but more importantly she plants the seed that he could be an interesting case for her to study. I don't think that really occurred to her until Liz suggested it, but once she did, Julia started to realize the potential of what might be in it for her. Once she and Barnabas had their conversation about the curse of vampirism vs. aging and dying, I think she was sold on the idea of totally trying to use him to her own purposes (immortality and youth). I don't think she ever really cared that much about curing him, per se. Personally, I can accept that this is a different Julia than the one we know, and as much as I loved the OS Julia and her quest to cure Barnabas, I'm okay with this being a different take. Oh, and as for whether her subplot should've even been in the film at all, I'm okay with it and don't feel it's out of place. It serves to show (even if too briefly) that Barnabas had a hope of a "monster becoming a man", and having that reduplicated when he wants to be with Vicki (when he storms into the lab and discovers her treating herself, he is coming in to beg her to work harder to cure him). It also shows him being used yet again, and losing hope in his situation.
4) About Barnabas walking around in the day- in this incarnation, Barnabas was able to be outdoors as long as his skin wasn't directly exposed to sunlight, and I don't think that Julia's treatments (or lack thereof) had any bearing on that. I don't have a problem with him being able to walk outside during the day- even Dracula could walk outside during the day, as I recall, but he was just weakened. But I really wish they had added even a sentence or two about this, just to make it make more sense. In one of the interviews with Johnny that I read, he mentioned that he liked the idea of having to use heavy sunblock. This agrees with all the theories that popped up when we saw the first photos from the filming, and it explains why his makeup looked even more exaggerated outdoors than indoors. But there was never any mention of it in the film, and I wonder if something got edited out. They could've just said that just like the supposed allergy to silver, he had an allergy to sunlight too. I mean, how do they explain to the family that Willie needs to stand there holding an umbrella over Barnabas? I am just guessing that the audience is supposed to assume that this all happened offscreen. In some ways, I think it's better not to spell out every single detail, because then it makes a film tedious if it keeps stating the obvious too many times. But there is a balance, and they probably could've just clarified this a bit better- like I said, even a sentence or two might've done the trick.
Sorry, I've gotten long-winded again! [ghost_wink]
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Mind you, I'm definitely not saying that Julia (or her subplot) shouldn't be in the film! I really like this take on the character.
I do as well. And I also wish there was more of her.
But I am dying to know what else may have been in there originally.
Definitely! And particularly when Seth Grahame-Smith has lead us to believe that Helena Bonham Carter was one of the actors who was most affected by what was left out. Supposedly there was much more interaction between Julia and Barnabas and between Julia and Vicki. And I recall HBC talking about stuff involving Julia actually treating David - but if Liz didn't tell us that Julia was David's doctor, apart from a few passing remarks that Julia makes, we wouldn't really get much of an impression of that.
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I desperately want to have as much ammunition as possible to argue whenever somebody suggests that the movie was a flop, and to be able to point to real flops like John Carter clearly was (and Battleship is shaping up to be) certainly helps.
Considering that John Carter cost like twice as much as DS but has so far made about the same amount of money as DS, that should make it very easy to distance DS from being anything like John Carter.
Though speaking of John Carter, and I'll keep the JC bits brief because it's mostly OT, but I found it very interesting when I read an article that said JC had a totally different ad campaign in Europe than it did here in the US and they credit the different campaign as at least part of the reason why JC did so much better in Europe than here. And even thought it's doing quite well in Europe, just think of how much bigger DS might have been there had it, like JC, had a different ad campaign there as well. Just think of how much better DS might be doing here in the US if it had had a different ad campaign. But alas, that's water under the bridge at this point. Though at the same time I do think that in that respect word of mouth has quite possibly been helping DS because I know of several people who after seeing the film told their friends that it wasn't like the trailers and TV spots made it seem - and that prompted those friends to see the film - and when they enjoyed it, they in turn told their friends.
It's just maddening that so many people are calling DS a "flop" or a "bomb" or a "disaster".
Sadly, the people using those words to describe DS are greatly exaggerating. But then, that's what they do. [ghost_rolleyes]
19 days 18 hours 13 minutes 47 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Wouldn't that make sense, though? She was lost at sea before Julia was brought in, which was at least 3 years before (if I'm remembering the dates mentioned in the movie), and we don't know how much time elapsed between Laura's death and Julia's arrival.
My impression of seeing the dress on film was that it looked to be much earlier than the 1960s. But the still shows that it probably is modern. It's just those sleeves that bother me.
As the film plays now, you could cut all of Julia's scenes out of the film entirely and it would make no difference whatsoever to any of the rest of the plot. There are no threads to connect her to the story; just references to her (that still don't influence any path that the plot takes). In fact, the infamous "doctor/patient confidentiality" scene actually undermines what may have been a way to justify the sex scene with Barnabas and Angelique. Because I could not detect any chemistry between B & A, and given B's professed love for Josette and devotion to his family and his hatred for A, why did he give in to her so easily?
It would have been nice had Julia actually stumbled upon a way to cure Barnabas even though she was just using him. And that this accidental cure could have led him to become a day-walker, as opposed to just being one inherently. In all honesty, this should have all been saved for a sequel. It would have been great to give this new Julia her due.
Like you, I don't get a lot of the motivations behind Barnabas's actions in this movie.
Regarding Josette and Vicki... I think that she always felt this strong connection to Josette, even if she didn't always fully understand why, until the end when I think it must've all come together for her and she realized/remembered that she was Josette.
I find this to be a very interesting observation. And it leads me to another question... Does Josette's Ghost actually exist, or is she just in Maggie's mind? Maggie is the only one who can see her. (Her parents can't see her. No one else at Collinwood saw her.) So is this "ghost" just a figment of Maggie's very active imagination, an external symbol representing the fact that she is someone else?
I wish that Laura's character would've been brought out slightly more in the film, but on the second viewing I did realize that they refer to her a lot more than I caught onto on the first viewing. There were the things I mentioned yesterday- that it is Laura who leads David to find Barnabas in his coffin, and it is Laura who tells David to tell Barnabas where Vicki is. But there is also David in the sheet, multiple mentions at the beginning to both Vicki and Barnabas that David thinks he sees/talks to his mother, and there is the conversation at the shore between Barnabas and Vicki. So there is a lot there already. I might be in the minority here, but I don't think that I would've wanted to see David and Laura chatting. I'd rather that be kept a mystery, and not really know if David is really talking to her or if he's just imagining it all.
Like you, I did not want to see Laura before the end. But I needed more to verify her existence. While they talk about her a lot, we don't hear any specifics about conversations with her from David or Julia (This would probably tie Julia back to the main plot). It would have been cool to hear David talking to Laura from the other side of his bedroom door, a la 1991 (with David and Sarah). If Vicki had conversations with David about his mother, and what his mother had to say... Anything to let us know she was actually an important character. To me, she seems to have replaced Sarah Collins. And we all know how important Sarah was. With Sarah, though, we got to see/hear a lot more from her. They could have made Laura prominent and still kept the mystery going about her existence in any number of ways without actually ever showing her.
It serves to show (even if too briefly) that Barnabas had a hope of a "monster becoming a man", and having that reduplicated when he wants to be with Vicki (when he storms into the lab and discovers her treating herself, he is coming in to beg her to work harder to cure him). It also shows him being used yet again, and losing hope in his situation.
Barnabas storming in on Julia treating herself was great. It was a complete flashback to HoDS. But it was way too short. Again, no real build-up.
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The film will also be leaving my hometown after tomorrow, meaning it played here for three weeks. That's pretty good. It will leave the theaters of the larger town we saw it in during the first Saturday afternoon matinee after one more week - a month - also pretty good. But it certainly doesn't match the "staying power" of Titanic that played in some theaters for up to half-a-year and even longer. Well, I got to see DS twice, and hopefully it'll play for a few days in our local 99 cent "cheapy" theater for a couple nights and, if I don't have to work, I'll be able to see it one more time. After that, I'll just have to wait for the DVD release in several months. (I still need to buy the soundtracks).
It wasn't the massive "hit" we were hoping for. It'll make a profit in its release, but that's about it. I don't fault the movie. I loved it. Like I said several times before, I fault the marketing. It just seems to me that we waited five years for this, and - at least with me - it came and went in less than a month. Am I a tad disappointed? Well, yes. It took almost three years to build the Titanic, and she was lost in less than five days (I'm not comparing the two as "disasters," I'm just saying that something magnificent that takes so long to finally hit the public can be tragically brought quickly to an end because somebody at the top made a bad decision on just one thing). Eventually, the threads here on our long anticipated movie will slow down and die and maybe we can look forward to still shots added to the "Caption This" and "Complete the..." threads.
Gerard
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Just checked. It leaves the Drive-In tomorrow. But the other theaters are still showing it rather frequently. It is losing two showings after tomorrow, but it's still around (4 shows at 4 theaters per day). Hopefully it will be here long enough for me to catch it again.
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interesting observation about laura's ghostly attire...
i never even thought about it but "we" are so used to seeing DS ghostly apparitons in old fashioned(meaning 18th and 19th century)attire that i didn't stop to try and date laura's gown. perhaps the explosive and overstuffed nature of the film's climax and her sudden appearance were otherwise distracting. but, yes, it would have had to date from the mid-to-late 1960's.
and true that, unlike the daily series, which gave us over a thousand episodes to pour over and analyze over and again the two hour structure of the movie will not permanently support daily discourse and will die down eventually.
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[quote author=Cousin_Barnabas link=topic=37211.msg210343#msg210343 date=1338419764I find this to be a very interesting observation. And it leads me to another question... Does Josette's Ghost actually exist, or is she just in Maggie's mind? Maggie is the only one who can see her. (Her parents can't see her. No one else at Collinwood saw her.) So is this "ghost" just a figment of Maggie's very active imagination, an external symbol representing the fact that she is someone else?[/quote]
Yes, I believe she actually exists. First, if I can believe all the other weird goings-on in the movie, why not believe in Josette's existence, too? [ghost_grin] Second, other than seeing and interacting with Josette, Maggie/Vicki seems very level-headed to me, and not someone who just goes around imagining random things. And really, that house could've been a fertile environment for strange imaginings! [ghost_wink] And finally, and perhaps most importantly, I think that the audience is meant to see the parallels between David and Vicki- that they both have been misunderstood by their parents, and that Vicki understands what it feels like for people not to believe them. There are a couple of sweet moments between Vicki and David, but it really would've been nice if they could've developed their relationship more.
It would have been cool to hear David talking to Laura from the other side of his bedroom door, a la 1991 (with David and Sarah). If Vicki had conversations with David about his mother, and what his mother had to say... Anything to let us know she was actually an important character.
Yes, agreed, and hearing a conversation from the other side of a door might've been a nice approach- similarly, they could've done something with strange noises (and not sexual ones!!) coming from Carolyn's room. Nothing too overt, but just a couple more little hints here and there throughout the film.
Edited to add- it looks like all the theaters in my area will still have DS on Friday, though most of them have less showtimes. One theater near me does still have about 8 showings, though, which is a little surprising. Also, the 2 IMAX theaters are still showing DS through June 7- you can pre-purchase tix as late as that date.
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Yes, agreed, and hearing a conversation from the other side of a door might've been a nice approach- similarly, they could've done something with strange noises (and not sexual ones!!)
[ghost_cheesy] Oh, how do I agree with this statement? Let me count the ways. Talk about awkward dinner table conversations... [ghost_wub]
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maybe we can look forward to still shots added to the "Caption This" and "Complete the..." threads.
You can definitely look forward to that. In fact, I was going to hold off starting Games boards for the film, but by you bringing it up already, I've gotten an idea of how I can take random screen caps from the various videos clips that have been provided on the Internet along with the TV spots and then post something from them. The quality won't be quite as good as what I might post later on - but it will be a start for anyone who might want to begin playing those two games sooner rather than later. [ghost_wink]
20 days 12 hours 16 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS's Wed. box office was $628,309, down from Tues. as expected, but not as much of a decrease as most other movies, and it did better than Chernobyl Diaries (which had only $612K). That should put it in 7th place for the day, but not all the numbers are in yet. The total is now $66,311,625.
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Yup, DS came in 7th for Wednesday - Box Office Mojo just posted their chart:
Wednesday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-30&p=.htm)
And both compared to the other films as well as for a Wednesday, DS' percentage drop was excellent. It's also very interesting that there's only $239,280 separating the films at 3rd and 8th place.
Also, boxoffice.com has posted their predictions for the upcoming weekend:
Weekend Predictions (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/long_term_predictions?w=1)
And to me, anyway, their forecast of $3.8 million seems more likely for DS than the $4 million comingsoon.net predicted. Though DS surprised me by bringing in more for this past 3 day weekend than I was expecting, so who knows?
20 days 16 hours 30 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It certainly seems that the film found its audience.
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DS is showing in at least 7 theaters in Dallas, TX this weekend, and around 30 including all of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex area.
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According to Box Office Mojo, DS lost 402 theaters but is still playing in 3002 theaters. That is still pretty good! I am hoping to get to see it for my 3rd time this weekend. I'll possibly make the trek to the IMAX since I think it'll be leaving after the 7th, but I have to say that the film looked really good in non-IMAX, as well (so far I've seen it once each way).
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To still have 3002 theaters is very good. [ghost_wink] And according to boxoffice.com (which brings up the list up automatically whenever one goes to DS' page there) DS is still playing in all 5 of the theaters that it was playing in within a 20 mile radius of me. And in all likelihood the film's run still has several more weeks to play out - but it's only natural that it will continue to lose theaters each week as its run winds down.
21 days 11 hours 7 minutes 47 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yeah, I hope that if there continues to be at least a modest number of folks filling seats, that it will only gradually lose theaters. This week, the only big release is Snow White and the Huntsman, and to be honest I don't really feel that there is a huge clamoring for this film (while I love Charlize Theron, this one just doesn't look all that interesting to me). But next week, both Prometheus and Madagascar 3 are going to be much more serious competition for theaters, I'm afraid. I still hope that at least the larger theaters will keep a few showings of DS (either on one screen or even sharing a screen with another film) as far into the summer as possible, so that it can take advantage of the older kids and college kids being out of school.
Interestingly, we just heard yesterday that Johnny's next film, The Lone Ranger, was moved from May to July of 2013. Even though it's Disney and not Warner Bros., I wonder if any of that decision had anything to do with DS having to follow Avengers so closely, and maybe a different strategy would be to wait until the May blockbusters have died down a little bit so that they're a little less of a competition. The article mentioned other films coming out next spring/summer but I didn't really pay attention, as I have trouble thinking that far ahead ;) But with DS this year, I don't know how much a July release would have helped since Spiderman and Dark Knight Rises are also going to be huge films. (Yeah, I've said it before and so have a lot of you- maybe they should've just done a fall release [ghost_sad] )
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My local friend (as opposed to those I know online) and his family went to see the film and his 12 year old daughter in particular loved it. All they knew about DS was from me, and what they'd heard over the years about its being "camp", and I showed my friend one ep once from 1897, a couple years ago, and he had called it "hokey" or something. Anyway, I was surprised to hear they'd gone to the film. Maybe the daughter will want to see some old DS tapes of mine someday...
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Back when I suggested a September release, I was thinking of the film as being a more serious take than it is. Not that I'm faulting the amount of humor in the film because I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. And not that there haven't been films with humor that have done well in the fall - but that time of year tends to be a time when more serious films do really well. So, given that DS had humor running through much of it, I suppose I can see Warner Brothers thinking that coming out as a summer film might be a good idea. Though some things that I read several weeks back have me wondering why in hell Warner Brothers picked the week they did to release DS? The first is that it's apparently very well known throughout the film industry that the second weekend in May is always (the article itself actually put the bold emphasis on that word - it's not just me) a tough weekend to launch a new film because the first weekend of May typically launches the first blockbuster of the summer (and boy did it ever this year with The Avengers) and any film coming out the following week suffers because audiences continue to be occupied with going to see that first blockbuster (which is exactly the situation DS found itself in). Plus, I read in a different article that Warner Brothers has had bad experiences in the past trying to launch a film the second weekend of May because apparently they tried in '06 with Poseidon (which was overshadowed by Mission: Impossible III) and in '08 with Speed Racer (which was overshadowed by Iron Man) - and both became disappointments. So, given all that, one has to wonder what Warner Brothers was thinking? Why gamble releasing one of your tent pole films on a weekend that has burned you not once but twice in the past?! Or maybe they were hoping third time's the charm. Who knows?! Though in a way it is the charm because the good thing is that both domestically and internationally, and in only its first 20 days of release, DS is already doing better than either of those films did for Warner Brothers in their entire runs. But still...
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With the Thursday box office results now in, Dark Shadows stands at $66,973,841 heading into the weekend, which places it at #13 for the year to date in terms of domestic box office. If the weekend projections of $3.8MM are right, Dark Shadows would pass Act of Valor and be within $2MM of John Carter. I think there's a reasonable chance that it will eventually get there before its run in theaters ends.
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The numbers for DS are horrendous. I am all for putting a positive spin on its box office results but it is what it is. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel took in $97,301 more than the DS movie at 2,171 less locations. That is very telling. Apparently that movie is receiving good word of mouth unlike the DS movie. I would have to assume that the word of mouth was extremely poor among the Twilight audience because 90% or more never saw the DS movie. I was hoping the DS movie would develop legs but that doesn't seem to be the case. I have read several articles recently and the movie is described as having flopped or tanked. That is the stench right or wrong we are going to have to live with as we did with the WB pilot fiasco (not saying the DS movie is a fiasco). I wish WB promoted the movie this week at least a little bit.
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I think WB did a disservice to Dark Shadows by having a trailer which cast out the Twilight fans. Sure, if there was a straight trailer, the comparisons to Twilight would have been inevitable, but I don't know what harmed it more. In all honesty, that is what I kept hearing from all sorts of people... "The Twilight Parody with Johnny Depp..." Some people were happy about that and some weren't. But no one really seemed to think of it as any sort of new franchise. I think they kind of took it along the lines of "Vampires Suck," but classier.
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The current issue of Make-up Artist has a short but quite interesting article on the DS movie. They describe the different prosthetics used on Johnny Depp's face and fingers. Apparently they toyed with the idea of giving Barnabas rattlesnake-like fangs before they settled on the "very traditional" fangs that were used.
Chloe Moretz did some tests with werewolf makeup but they ended up using digital effects. Because Chloe is a minor, there was a strict limit on the amount of time that she could be in makeup preparation and removal.
The Angelique transformation could have been quite different. They toyed with the idea of her cracking like an eggshell to reveal much older woman underneath. Alternately, she could have been "this withered bird creature underneath, with malformed wings and weird talons."
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I would disagree with the Web sites who are of the opinion that DS has flopped because so many of them are only too eager to proclaim something a flop or a bomb and to hold onto that belief whether it's actually true or not - and more significantly, even if the story hasn't even completely played out yet. And I hate to keep harping on The Tourist as an example of how wrong they can be, but not only does it remain a perfect example of a film that was extremely prematurely declared a flop, but it's also a film featuring Depp. And when the film in question stars someone like Depp and is made by someone like Burton, well, they're all the more eager to scream flop. [ghost_rolleyes]
Has DS done as well as it might have? Well, no - there's certainly no arguing with that. But as I've been saying and as I've demonstrated with the 18th day head-to-head comparison chart, relative to the other films released this year, DS IS performing well. Not as well as some pundits may have predicted. But keep in mind that those were merely predictions of how they thought DS might do. Apparently none of them took into complete consideration what a huge juggernaut The Avengers would become and/or the effect it would have on so many other films during May. I mean, with the economy being the way it is, and because of that, with the way so many people are being quite discretionary about going to theaters, The Avengers sucked up a massive amount of discretionary spending that might have otherwise been spread around to other films. And if DS is a flop or a bomb, then those sites are going to have to come up with much worse terms for, say, a film like Battleship because, unless its fortunes somehow change drastically, that film isn't likely to bring in anywhere near as much at the domestic box office as DS will. And as far as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel goes, that film is only in its first week of wide release (after having been in very limited release), so it's not a fair comparison, regardless of the amount of theaters, to weigh its current numbers against the current numbers for DS, which is in its third week of wide release.
Now, with all that being said, I actually thought it was great that by bringing in $662,216 on Thursday, DS had one of the highest percentages of increase of any of the films making less than $1 million but more than $500,000.
Thursday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-05-31&p=.htm)
And I also thought it was great that not only did DS pass Contraband, but it realistically has its sights set not only on passing both Act of Valor and John Carter, but passing them by what could quite possibly be a significant amount of money. [ghost_wink]
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Fact is, as we've all seen and discussed, the entertainment media need to spin a story to make headlines. A film is either a record-breaking success (Avengers) or it's a flop. If they kept saying this or that film did just okay, then nobody would read their stories because folks aren't interested in reading about things doing average.
I would call DS a box office disappointment, but far from a flop. And, it's still in theaters so the story isn't over yet, and the foreign box office results are going to take a while to catch up. I'm pretty satisfied that it's doing decently enough that when all is said and done (with DVD sales, etc.) it will probably make its money back, which is what I wanted in the first place. And other than that, as long as I enjoyed the movie for the most part, then selfishly, that's the most important thing to me [ghost_smiley]
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I am pretty sure we had a discussion here way back and I thought most of us believed that WB was going to attempt to tap into the Twilight fan base. I mean that was a no brainer. But somehow WB decided on going Disney. It wanted DS to be a family movie. Here is where I am torn a bit. WB ultimately approved the trailers we have seen. But the studio had to deal the hand it was given. To me the blame is mostly on Depp. He was the one who rejected August's script because he wanted a more "stranger" movie. JD wanted a script where he could use his comedic talents instead of using his dramatic acting skills. It was his decision to go in the direction he did. Now did WB influence his decision on making DS a more family/comedic movie? I say it doesn't matter. JD and his company could have taken it to another studio if JD wanted a serious dramatic take on the movie. But he didn't. If we had a JD/TB serious vampire flick I am sure it would have taken in a hundred million without blinking. It is true that The Avengers did suck earning power from the DS movie. But another studio executive was quoted anonymously that you can't blame the poor showing for the DS movie based on Avengers. He said that was part of the problem but it didn't help matters that DS was a bad movie. Where was the Twilight audience? Why weren't they targeted as CB asks.
I am also curious about how The Tourist managed to develop legs. What did the studio do to make that possible. In both of two New York biggest newspapers today there wasn't one single advertisement for the DS movie. So how is DS suppose to develop legs? By just word of mouth? The word of mouth is really bad no matter how we justify it here. The bottom line is just that. I hope it manages to stay in a high number of theatres in the coming weeks but the movie is on its own. It seems WB is cutting its losses. The John Mars movie cost its studio over a hundred million to market it in addition to its 250 million dollar budget. I have a feeling WB paid almost that much for the DS movie.
I'm not saying the movie flopped or tanked. But its out there and we would have a better leg to stand on if the movie grosses something near $100 million domestically which right now is an extremely long shot. But I remain hopeful.
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It's definitely true that the entertainment media feels the need to spin a story to make headlines. Would that that wasn't true and that they actually focused on confirmed facts rather than spin and/or innuendo. But then the overwhelming glut of tabloid magazines and Web sites quite obviously shows that far too many people aren't interested in facts - they want the spin and the innuendo - and it often seems that the worse you can paint something, the more people are likely to be interested in hearing about it. It's a odd quirk in much of society. But then, this isn't a sociological discussion site, so I'll leave that part of the discussion at that. And the final thing I'll say on the subject of spin is that the sad fact of the matter is that saying that a film they've declared a flop will in all likelihood make its money back when all is said and done isn't in the least bit tantalizing, so it's no wonder that these entertainment sites never quite seem to bring that up, or even acknowledge it when it happens. And as for these sites quoting executives from other studios, well, even when they're identified and they speak on the record, I take that sort of thing with a grain of salt because they have their own agendas to promote - but when they hide behind anonymity, well, as I've said before, I take what they say with pounds of salt. In fact, I often wonder if the so-called studio exec even exists and isn't simply made up as a way to bolster the opinions the writer has already formed and wants to promote. The sad thing is that at one time no one would dream that people might make up parts of their stories - but today that's no longer the case.
As for whether or not DS would have made more money had it been completely serious, that's a hard thing to say either way. But what is known is that, in general, vampire movies do not bring in bucket loads of box office money. A look at the vampire genre chart on Box Office Mojo will show that. Outside of the Twilight films, which already had a built-in audience thanks to the books being current and so popular, box office rarely approaches anything like $100 million, much less surpasses it. It's probably truer than it rarely even approaches half of that.
As for what Warner Brothers did to help The Tourist make money, they did as much as they're currently doing for DS. Like I said, films are very rarely promoted by their studios after two weeks of wide release.
And I would also question whether or not DS has bad word of mouth. As I said the other day, it's certainly not true of the people I know of who've seen the film because they have definitely recommended it to their friends. And one thing we most certainly shouldn't do is necessarily judge based on what may be being written on the Internet because the Internet is almost completely a place where more people are likely to complain about anything and everything than they are likely to defend it. The fact is that DS received a B- from the audience polling outfit Cinemascore, and not only when I went to school, but when I taught college, B's were considered good grades. Sure, some entertainment sites have said a B- is a "poor grade" - but the ones with any grasp on reality realize that isn't the case - and believe it or not the other day I actually came across a site that described the D+ received by Chernobyl Diaries as a "poor grade" - and hello, that's far more accurate. There's no way a B- and a D+ are synonymous in reality. The only place they might be synonymous is in the delusional worlds of some Internet entertainment sites. [ghost_rolleyes] But in the real world A's are Excellent, B's are Good, C's are Average, D's are Poor, and F is Failure. [ghost_wink]
21 days 20 hours 25 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I enjoyed the film overall. But that trailer was a big turn off.
The film definitely did less than expected in the USA, but still did better than other films. It was such a smash in Europe, however, that it cannot be called a flop.
Here's hoping for two more films and a new TV series!
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Thanks MB for the various explanations. I just think if the word on the street about the movie was positive, more people would see the movie. I don't think that is an over simplification. I think what is keeping the Twilight fans away is bad word of mouth. Those in that particular audience may have spread the word that the movie is silly or too comedic. There has to be a reason why they apparently have not seen the movie. If only a segment of their audience went to see the DS movie it would have performed better. It seems the movie is drawing in an "older" audience from the articles I have read.
I just saw another article that indicated that DS movie had "bombed". I do agree those type of hot words get readers' attention and make for headlines. I'm just saying we need to be prepared to deal with this negativity for the rest of the year. At least Mojo in its analysis referred to DS as a disappointment compared to its take on Battleship as a disaster. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3453&p=.htm
David I agree with your trailer statement but the international sales have been described as "soft". I don't know what to believe anymore.
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Correction: For the record Mojo referred to DS as unimpressive.
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I just think if the word on the street about the movie was positive, more people would see the movie. I don't think that is an over simplification. I think what is keeping the Twilight fans away is bad word of mouth. Those in that particular audience may have spread the word that the movie is silly or too comedic. There has to be a reason why they apparently have not seen the movie. If only a segment of their audience went to see the DS movie it would have performed better. It seems the movie is drawing in an "older" audience from the articles I have read.
What could be keeping many Twilight fans away could be as simple as that Depp and his take on Barnabas is certainly no Robert Pattinson and Edward Cullen. (And to that many would joyously cheer Hallelujah!! - but that's beside the point.) That and the fact that the entire premise of the DS film isn't that it's a romance, which is basically the entire premise of the Twilight franchise.
And I've also read the articles that have said that the film definitely skews over 25. But the interesting thing is that for the most part, the younger people who I know of who've seen the film have enjoyed it.
I just saw another article that indicated that DS movie had "bombed". I do agree those type of hot words get readers' attention and make for headlines. I'm just saying we need to be prepared to deal with this negativity for the rest of the year.
Even if the film was to make a gazillion dollars profit from DVD/Blu-ray sales and that spurred 15 sequels, we would not just hear from some corners for rest of this year, we would still hear for the rest of our lives and then some that the film bombed. As I've said before, that's just the nature of the current entertainment culture. And even beyond that, as DS fans we're certainly well indoctrinated into hearing how bad the original DS was (even though it certainly was not and was actually a step above its contemporary soap opera competitors), how NoDS bombed (even though it didn't), how the '91 series failed to attract an audience (even though that's untrue and the fact of the matter is that it not only came in first in its time period most weeks, it ruled in the 18-49 demos), and how the '04 pilot was such a disaster that it was completely unsalvageable (even though that isn't the case, either). So nothing that will be said about the film will be in any way new to us...
21 days 21 hours 21 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Correction: For the record Mojo referred to DS as unimpressive.
Though they also say its box office thus far is "decent for a gothic horror comedy." And honestly I think that perception of the film has trumped everything else about it. Though as I said, even if it was straight up gothic horror, I don't know if that would have made more money. For example, I thought The Woman in Black was wonderful. In fact, I bought the DVD last week on the day it came out, which just happened to coincide with the day I went to see the DS film again, and the more I watch it (I've watched it both by myself as well as with a group of friends) the more I (they) like it. But as great as I (we) think it is, the fact remains that it only brought in $54,333,290 in the US. [ghost_sad]
21 days 21 hours 33 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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If the studio heads tried to cash in on "twilightism," then the studio heads needed to have their heads on the chopping block. Twilightism is dead. It had its momentary flash-in-the-pan, fifteen-minutes of fame. Twilightism (and I, as a perpetual vampire lover, tried reading the first novel and got got sick two paragraphs in and put it down and never read another word, nor saw any of the film adaptations) has been just that. The last movie got horrific reviews and its box office take has shown it to becoming the latest pet-rock thing. The only ones, I found from my own experience, who got into the whole twilightism thing were tween girls and middle-aged women. Here today, gone today (not even tomorrow).
Again, as I said before here, the problem with this movie was marketing. The studio heads (how much do they pay these guys [and gals] to make such serious mistakes?) didn't know what to do. Yet, they still get the big bucks, and when films flop, they get golden parachutes to go to another studio and mess it up again. I loved this movie. As a DS fan, I think I would've known how to market it and would've done it for a fraction of what they paid the WB heads and made it a blockbuster hit. I'm tootin' my own horn, and I think those of us here on our beloved board would've been able to do the same thing. But nobody asked us. WB has only itself to blame.
Gerard
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The Woman in Black was a superb, scary as hell, old fashioned ghost story that only grossed $53 million on it's entire USA run.
Playing it straight is no guarantee of big box office.
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But, sadly, I don't think WB really thinks it can blame itself.
How do we know that WB was dissatisfied with the final film? I am left with that impression from various comments, but I don't know where this is all coming from. More than anything, I think they were confused by the film, just as many of us were/are. I think that they mandated cuts and changes as a result of their confusion. And I think those changes eventually proceeded to confuse those involved in the project, like SGS. (Remember what he said about the trailer's music choice and how that was not representative of the story?) Turns out that the trailer's music was far more representative of the film than anything in that trailer, because the movie played like one music video after another (in parts). What we are left with is a very flawed, somewhat nonsensical final product that has a great deal of potential. (I wish they'd let me recut this film, because I could create a masterpiece, I'm sure. - Just saying [ghost_wink]) The point is that it has all of the right elements. It's just that those elements are buried and cut and mishmashed into a confusing product that cannot be easily sold to the general public or any of us for that matter. I don't think anyone here was really sold on the film before seeing it. Some were hopeful. Some were disappointed. But no one was absolutely certain that this was going to be good. And a lot of us still don't know if "good" is a word that can be used to describe it. It's just weird... Not in a good way. Not in a bad way. It managed to capture that component of the original series, but it has blown it up completely out of proportion. Whereas, the original show can be described as a Gothic soap-opera combining horror and romance, this film still doesn't have a six word description that really conveys what it is. And I think it's a case of too many cooks in the kitchen.
1966 - Gothic Soap
1967 - Supernatural Soap
1968 - Monster of the Week Daily Serial
1969 - Gothic Soap
Films
1970 - Horror
1971 - Gothic Romance
1991 - Gothic Romance
2011 - Gothic comedy-horror-romance-soap-opera-monster-mash spectacle
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From several of the things I've read, it certainly seems as if not only was Warner Brothers sold on there being humor in the film, they may have indeed pushed for it. And if they asked for cuts, I suspect it wasn't out of confusion but the fact that they thought parts of the film were too dark. As I mentioned before, Burton just about comes out and says as much in one of his interviews.
21 days 22 hours 34 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well, that is what I was referring to: the fact that they were expecting a light movie, and they ended up with such dramatic, dark material in the mix. Come to think of it, though, even in January when WB released its press kits, Dark Shadows was billed as a sort of suspense/thriller, not as a comedy (if I remember). So who knows what really happened here... The whole thing is just strange. (Should've kept The Doors' song in the trailer. [ghost_wink])
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The thing is, though, that the Warner Brothers execs in charge of the film had to have read the script, so they shouldn't have been surprised in any way by the mixture of humor and dark. However, what I suspect may have ultimately happened is that at some point they decided that the humor would be a better sell for them, and that's why they may have pushed for the darker material to be lightened or eliminated entirely during the editing process. And that's quite possibly why the trailers and TV spots presented the film in the way that they did.
21 days 22 hours 58 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yes, and we do know that Warners loved the script... loved, loved, loved the script. So perhaps they were reading it differently than Burton was? I have no idea. But the final product makes it clear that a lot of editing went down... and it wasn't to the film's benefit.
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Plus there was the under two hours edict. [ghost_sad]
Though even at that I still think that for the most part the necessary info needed to make sense of the plot and connect the dots is in the film. I just wish there had been no such edict and the film could have run longer than it does.
21 days 23 hours 41 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Amazon has an image for the Dark Shadows Art of the Film book (which, according to the photo, is actually called the Dark Shadows Visual Guide). It also contains a foreward by Tim Burton. Expensive, but I really want one ...
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Art-Film/dp/1781162557/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338614229&sr=8-1
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Thanks for the update, Nicky. [ghost_smiley]
22 days 11 hours 7 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks too Nicky for the update.
Friday estimates show DS earning 1 million which is what had been projected more or less. http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-opens-to-1-383m-midnights-from-1092-theaters-better-than-mib3/
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With the Friday estimate, DS has now surpassed The Tourist's domestic box office. By the early next week, it should pass Chocolat to enter Johnny's Top Ten films in terms of domestic box office (not including cameos). Remember, too, that 4 of those Top Ten films are Pirates movies, which kind of skew everything.
By the way, I was noticing that one of the two IMAX's in the DC area that are still showing DS, at the National Museum of Natural History, has now committed to showing DS through June 21. So even if it may get hard to find on IMAX, it's not totally disappearing from IMAX for another 3 weeks.
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May 31st was the last day DS played in the IMAX theater where I saw it. However, the two other IMAX theaters where it was playing in my vicinity (well, between 30 and 40 miles away) are still showing it - and they're both still showing it four times a day. So, yes, it's still possible to see DS in IMAX in some parts of the country if you're willing to track it down and drive a bit farther than you might otherwise. Though as far as I'm concerned, seeing DS in IMAX was well worth it. [ghost_wink] In fact, I'd love to see DS in IMAX again, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to find the time.
And thanks for the link to that Friday estimate, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
22 days 12 hours 27 minutes 55 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This is probably (but not necessarily) off topic-- Johnny Depp will be the recipient of the MTV Generation Award, which will be presented tomorrow night at the MTV Movie Awards. I believe he is expected to attend, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith will present the award. I'm hoping that there will be a DS pitch and some film clips or something.
I groaned when I found out that it's airing tomorrow night at 9, because that is the same time as the Game Of Thrones season finale. Argh! What makes it even worse is that in recent years, the MTV Movie Awards has become really painful to watch. Oh well, I will just have to catch the GoT repeat at 11.
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Thanks for the heads up, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
22 days 13 hours 27 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I thought I heard the movie surpassed 170 mil worldwide days ago? This is a flop? I have no evidence but I personally don't believe the budget was as big as has been reported. I think it's probably been in the black for awhile. To the outside world that doesn't care about the source material this would be a pretty typical Burton movie, whimsical, weird, visually cartoonish. I don't see where people would be especially confused.
I saw it three times over three weeks in mostly full houses with very engaged audiences. Various Facebook pages have people posting constantly about how much they love it. Bad word of mouth? Burton has his haters which eviscerate pretty much everything he does. The love it or hate it aspect of the movie might actually work in it's favor. In any case I never thought a sequel for this particular enterprise was a given. Burton doesn't do many sequels ( I can only think of Batman) and nether does Depp. Pirates, sure, but that's a Disney cash cow. Dark Shadows is more like a small art film with a big budget. I think the movie will definitely find it's legs on people's TVs for years to come (where it was big in the first place!).
With Dark Shadows remakes currently arriving 20 years apart (Not counting 2004's abortion. I saw the snippet on Alec Newman's web site. Was that The Barnabas Diaries?) I may not be around for the next one but I'm hoping for a series mash-up of classic Marilyn Ross and Gold Key comics plots which put a new spin on Barnabas, his master-of -disguises cousin Quentin, and Hare, Barnabas's faithful manservant. Ok, not really.
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With Dark Shadows remakes currently arriving 20 years apart (Not counting 2004's abortion. I saw the snippet on Alec Newman's web site. Was that The Barnabas Diaries?) I may not be around for the next one but I'm hoping for a series mash-up of classic Marilyn Ross and Gold Key comics plots which put a new spin on Barnabas, his master-of -disguises cousin Quentin, and Hare, Barnabas's faithful manservant. Ok, not really.
Oh Myyyy! [ghost_rolleyes]
Petofi
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true...
without the baggage and expectations "we" brought to the film to a general audience it probably reads as the typical burton folly.
a bit all over the place but otherwise a self-contained world. they're not spun out on the possibility(or lack thereof)sequels. no one who i know(oustside fandom)who saw it was "confused". they just accepted it on it's own weird terms.
while i found the vicki/maggie merger highly disorienting they thought nothing of it. she was just some girl using an alias. neither name meant anything to them. ditto the carolyn werwolf "reveal". while i found it repugnant they just saw it as another weird element in an already weird story. they had no emotional jolt from it. and without knowing the elaborate history of the barnabas/julia relationship on the series she was just some pill-popping lady doctor who gave a vampire a bl**j*b. they certainly didn't find it as jarring as fans certainly did.
so without any preconceived notions it was what it was. and while "we" waited for five years with baited breath, devouring every press clip and photograph, for them it's just another movie they saw among hundreds of others.
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I was going to hold off starting Games boards for the film, but by you bringing it up already, I've gotten an idea of how I can take random screen caps from the various videos clips that have been provided on the Internet along with the TV spots and then post something from them.
And part of that is exactly what I've just done. I've created the "Caption This! - Dark Shadows 2012" board and to get started I've posted some of the screen caps that I've already made from the various trailers/TV Spots. I've also split all the promotional clips into frames so that I can pick out stuff from those, but I haven't gotten around to going through the thousands of frame that have been created. But all in good time. [ghost_wink]
The new board can be accessed here by first reading a gentle reminder of one of the rules:Dark Shadows 2012 Rules
And I hope those who decide to participate have fun. I know I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll come up with because if any DS version is ripe for having fun with, it's this one. [ghost_grin]
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I know a great many people who were confused by it... for different reasons. (None of these folks really saw it as I did: a typical popcorn flick. Because if you view it as anything else, you start asking too many questions... like us.) People I have spoken with online and in-person were confused by the ending. They were confused by the out-of-place humor... (Same people who were confused by Alice, and hated it for that reason.) And these are folks who aren't fans of the show, but who like Horror and Burton, etc. Even some critics were confused by it and its completely uneven nature. I have decided that it's due to a really poor editing job. And I have not seen a movie with such an uneven pace or tone in quite a long time. (In fact, after having recently watched other modern films [from less acclaimed directors], I really asked myself "How? and "Why?" in regards to Dark Shadows. And this is where my criticism is really coming from.) But I guess this all goes back to Burton's vision and sense of style. And I just have to think of it as a mindless popcorn flick in order to actually accept it as it is. Because it's so... weird. It's not bad. I'd give it a "C" rating. But it's really uneven.
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The film is now 1/2 million away from a $175 million world wide gross, and that's before it opens in Latin America. There are at least 2 weeks to go on USA playdates.
Love it or hate it, the film is making money, so sequels and/or a new TV series remain on the table.
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DS is likely to be playing in the US for longer than 2 more weeks. If one looks on Box Office Mojo at how many days most major films in wide release have been playing of late, the shortest amount of time seems to be 56 days/8 weeks with several going 77 days/11 weeks and longer. DS only began its 4th week yesterday. [ghost_smiley] And one thing we do know for sure is that it will be playing in certain IMAX locations for at least 6 weeks. [ghost_wink]
22 days 15 hours 46 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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ditto the carolyn werwolf "reveal". while i found it repugnant they just saw it as another weird element in an already weird story. they had no emotional jolt from it.
I didn't find the werewolf thing "disorienting" or objectionable in any way as being part of the story. The problem I have with it is the incredibly clumsy way it was handled, with no effective foreshadowing, blatant jokiness, justification after the fact by a throwaway line of exposition, and--maybe worst of all--nothing to tie it in with any of the rest of the plot. If it had turned out that Carolyn actually ended up being the ultimate cause for Angelique's demise, it would have made more sense. As it was, it's just bad storytelling on an objective level, quite apart from any knowledge or affinity for the classic characters.
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Hmm, well, I agree about the editing, or the (apparent) deletion of scenes that might've fleshed out the story better. But I personally didn't have any problems with the pacing or the tone. I really did not find the comedy jarring, and to me it didn't feel out of place (and I actually maintain that this film is much less of a comedy than it's been described as). Even the Top of the World montage, which is arguably the lightest, most comedic portion of the film, was done in such a way that it worked for me to just sort of represent Barnabas starting to fit in with the everyday world. Maybe the end confrontation could've been a little more streamlined and concise, but I can kind of understand the need to have a "big climax" scene in the film. But there was never a point where I felt the film was dragging or feeling tedious, and I didn't think it was too long (and I agree with those who have said that it could probably have been a little bit longer without any detriment). But as we all know, we all have different feelings about this. I'm just glad it works pretty well for me!
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i guess what i meant is that the people i know who saw it, and filmgoers in general, would not be "confused" by what "we" would be confused by or would find disorienting or out of place knowing the source material so well.
as a film on it's own terms perhaps it was somewhat disjointed/choppily edited/etc and for that one could certainly find it a confusing story.
but they would not find, say, julia's "actions" as out of left field and out of character as someone familiar with the story would. they don't know the history of the character.
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DS is likely to be playing in the US for longer than 2 more weeks. If one looks on Box Office Mojo at how many days most major films in wide release have been playing of late, the shortest amount of time seems to be 56 days/8 weeks with several going 77 days/11 weeks and longer. DS only began its 4th week yesterday. [ghost_smiley] And one thing we do know for sure is that it will be playing in certain IMAX locations for at least 6 weeks. [ghost_wink]
Oh yeah, it'll still be in theaters for awhile yet. However, it's going to lose theaters, and in the theaters it's in, it will lose screenings as more time goes by. Its theater loss has been pretty minimal so far (DS like most films kept the same number of theaters in weeks 1 and 2, and then lost a few hundred in each of weeks 3 and 4) but don't be surprised if a week or two from now the theater count goes down by 1,000 or more. I think it will probably take a big hit next week with Prometheus and Madagascar 3 coming in- they're both blockbusters that will need a lot of screenings. This will hurt the box office, but it happens to every film (even The Avengers, but since that is still doing so well it'll probably take a lot longer for that one to go away :( ;) Also, that one has the potential to break the all-time box office record, so there will be pressure to keep that film in theaters forever to milk the box office for all its worth [ghost_cheesy] ) At some point, DS will start being in discount and dollar theaters, before eventually leaving theaters. I think that folks in major cities will have no problem finding showings in the coming weeks, but those in smaller towns may start to notice it going away [ghost_sad] We'll see!
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i guess what i meant is that the people i know who saw it, and filmgoers in general, would not be "confused" by what "we" would be confused by or would find disorienting or out of place knowing the source material so well.
as a film on it's own terms perhaps it was somewhat disjointed/choppily edited/etc and for that one could certainly find it a confusing story.
but they would not find, say, julia's "actions" as out of left field and out of character as someone familiar with the story would. they don't know the history of the character.
I totally agree. Because what I was confused by was not what my friend was confused by. The whole vampire lighting on fire scene made perfect sense to me in the context of the movie, but my friend didn't understand why it was there. She also was put-off by the weird comedic bits just thrown in. I didn't find those as jarring as the fact that Laura just pops up at the end... with no real build-up. My friend didn't find that confusing at all. We both found the Barnabas-Maggie love thing confusing, and the fact that Barnabas just has sex with everyone (namely Angelique) when he supposedly only loves Josette and Angelique killed her 200 years before. (And his justification was so off-basis that it was laughable.) So, different parts of this thing affected different people in different ways. But confusion definitely was in play with a number of folks with whom I've spoken.
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Some of the user reviews for this film at imdb are so nasty, they come across like personal vendettas. [ghost_angry]
How about some of us post positive reviews at imdb and put a little balance into this situation? [ghost_smiley]
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Well beyond the thoughts of the original series DS fanbase, there's this oddly assorted contingent of folks who have as one of their chief goals in life the desire to bury Tim Burton alive, career-wise. Particularly any project Burton does with Johnny Depp. So, it was pretty much on the cards that this project was going to attract some particularly vicious, vitriolic criticism from that quarter.
I haven't looked at those reviews and I don't really have time, but I would bet you dollars to doughnuts that the "Tim Burton must be destroyed" league is at work again... just my thoughts.
G.
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The last time I noticed, the page for the film on Amazon featured far more positive reviews than negative ones. But that may be because the haters haven't realized that the film already has a page on Amazon. And maybe I'm making a mistake by even posting about it because I may be tipping the haters off that the page does indeed exist. [ghost_wink]
22 days 23 hours 11 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks for the heads-up, MB. I'm on it right now... [ghost_cheesy]
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Apparently reviews have continued to surface because thanks to Gothick (who wasn't sure if it had already been mentioned) I was alerted to this review from Video Watchdog:
Pause. Rewind. Obsess.
107. DARK SHADOWS (2012) (http://www.vwpro.blogspot.com/2012/05/107-dark-shadows-2012.html)
And after having read it, one should definitely check out this review because it's so similar and yet so different:
Review: Dark Shadows
Tim Burton's best film since Ed Wood (http://thephoenix.com/boston/movies/138208-dark-shadows/)
But then, critics are no different than the people here on the forum, so it's another perfect example of how, quite fascinatingly, people can see the same film, hit on many of the same aspects of it as well as compliment many of them (I couldn't agree more that the use of Alice Cooper's "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" is both brilliant and amazingly moving), yet ultimately come away having had a different experience and drawing different conclusions.
Gothick was also kind enough to mention that Video Watchdog is preparing a "round table" feature focusing on the original DS, and it's expected that other versions of DS, including this film, will likely be covered as well. There's no word yet on when the issue is due out. But no doubt it will be posted about once it does come out. [ghost_wink]
23 days 11 hours 54 minutes 39 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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what's notable is that in nearly every review...good, bad, or indifferent...is the almost universal opinion that the bulk of the cast, minus depp and green, went largely underused. i wonder what the solution would have been or even if there was one?
and also somewhat ironic given that the original series, when major characters disappeared for days or even weeks at a time, suffered from the same flaw. [ghost_huh]
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Without having read the script, it's hard to really draw an accurate conclusion, but one possibility is that the script was simply too ambitious for what would ultimately have to end up being a less than 2 hour film. Back when the casting of roles was being announced, we were frequently told that each character would harbor their own individual secrets. Some of those secrets were touched upon - but some obviously were not, or at least some aspects of them were not. For instance, we were told as part of Liz' background that she hadn't left Collinwood in 10 years - but not even the slightest hint of that is given (and we can pretty much be sure that it wasn't something that was merely picked up from Liz' background on the original series because then they would have said 18 years). (Though one intriguing instance in the film that may have hinted of that aspect of her character comes when Carolyn narrates the first few lines from "The Ballad of Dwight Fry" that deal with a missing father and the expression on Liz' face certainly seems as if it could have instantly burnt through the toughest substance in the universe. As is, it simply plays as a overwrought reaction to Carolyn being "on stage" and coyly referencing her missing father. But given the original description of Liz, I strongly suspect that look was prompted by a hell of a lot more than just the simple fact that Carolyn brought up her apparently absent father. But as the film stands, we have no idea what the real motivation was.) Plus, when Julia was described, we were lead to believe that there was some sort of a connection between Julia and Angelique. But, again, there's no such evidence for that in the film. In fact, Angelique and Julia don't even share a glance, so much as a scene. And then there's Roger. I forget what secret was hinted about with him - but his part was so cut down that, sadly, he barely even registers in the film, so there's even less than a hint of what it might have been. [ghost_sad]
About the only thing we can hope is that the much promised deleted scenes will at least fill us in on what might have been in the film had it run longer.
23 days 13 hours 45 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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and remember when those character portraits were released it said that david, who believed in ghosts, had found an "ally" in victoria?
but other than their introductory scene at the dinner table the two shared virtually no screentime. and certainly no scenes of david being "tutored", or anything else, by vicki. one has to wonder how much of that relationship ended up on the cutting room floor as well.
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and even if there was something...at script stage...that had kept liz secluded at collinwood for ten years, not only is it not alluded to in the film itself, but also the situation's resolution is not explained, as we clearly see liz at the cannery in several shots. [ghost_huh]
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Does anyone know if Thomas McDonell filmed any scenes as the younger Barnabas? They made such a big deal out of casting him that it was surprising not to see him in the film.
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i don't watch alot of contemporary films. but didn't a film used to run for a proper two hours or even more?
when did studio execs start demanding that a film clock in at "under two hours"?
i'm not talking about a "gone with the wind" running time but the film could easily have had another five or ten minutes that helped flesh it out to no ill effect.
on my first viewing i was stunned at how much nonsense ran before the film itself actually started. apart from coke ads and "please turn your cellphone off" reminders there were at least ten trailers. one was sitting in the theater for over half an hour before the film got underway. [ghost_mad]
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Does anyone know if Thomas McDonell filmed any scenes as the younger Barnabas? They made such a big deal out of casting him that it was surprising not to see him in the film.
I'm pretty sure that both MB and I had recalled hearing a comment from McDonell (either a tweet or in an interview or something) that he had completed filming his part for DS. I do not remember a source of this; perhaps MB does. That would imply that scene(s) were filmed but ultimately cut out. I'd been hoping to find out why. I wonder if there was going to be a scene with a younger Barnabas and Angelique, to bridge between the time they were children and the time when they were getting hot and steamy. Maybe they felt it wasn't necessary, and Barn and Ang are both still fairly young (or at least they both LOOK really young!) when the curse occurs. However, I would've liked to see a tiny bit more history between them, just to flesh out why she felt so darn slighted. It wouldn't have had to be much, but just a taste of them having this history. I wonder if either the DVD or McDonell himself will ever address this publicly.
(In the case of Sweeney Todd, Christopher Lee was going to be in it, as part of a "ghost chorus"- they were going to sing the Ballad of Sweeney Todd and such, but sadly, the part and that whole aspect was cut before it was ever filmed. Luckily, one of Lee's relatives (nephew, I think??) who runs his website explained that it was cut and that Christopher understood and was okay with it, and I believe that Burton and even Stephen Sondheim spoke about it later. However, in this case, I haven't heard a similar discussion yet explaining McDonell's absence [ghost_sad] )
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in addition to mcdonell's sudden and unexplained departure i don't recall ever hearing a word about yet a third six year old barnabas until literally days before the film opened.
when the early synopsis was released it was my impression that it was mcdonell's teenage barnabas, and not a six year old, that left liverpool with his family.
three different actors playing the same character is alot. the whole thing was handled strangely. [ghost_huh]
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Interesting, very interesting. I wonder if the footage with Thomas was reshot with Johnny Depp or just eliminated.
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There were definitely tweets from Thomas McDonell about his work on the movie in London. I remember there being mention of his work coming at the end of the filming schedule.
I would guess that his material did not even make it into Burton's final cut, so it is unlikely (IMO) that his footage will make it into the "deleted scenes" on the Blu Ray (which I expect to contain the material Graham-Smith mentioned in that interview). But who knows.
I heard that the WB suits have claimed that for the Avengers disc, deleted scenes will only be included on the Blu Ray release, btw. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens with Depp Shadows. I presume that Warners owns the company that manufactures Blu Ray players or has some kind of interest in the sale of same.
cheers, G.
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It's quite often the case that deleted scenes only show up on the Blu-ray. And initially Seth Grahame-Smith only mentioned the Blu-ray release when the subject of deleted scenes came up. But in subsequent interviews he's mentioned the DVD as well, so who knows? We'll see...
As for Thomas McDonell, when I get the chance I'll check the production topic - but as madscntst and Gothick have also said, it certainly seems as if there was something that confirmed he actually shot scenes.
And when it comes to the Warner Brothers Press Release, it most definitely gave an impression of a different timeframe for the events in the 18th century than what's in the finished film. The timeframe would certainly appear to have been tweeked at some point after the press release came out.
And there definitely were reshoots in September '11 because one of the extras who worked on the film tweeted that he was hoping to get more work on them. But we've never heard what was actually reshot.
23 days 17 hours 4 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS worldwide is up to $191 million plus. I would guess once it crosses the 200 million mark the studio will release a statement or at least acknowledge it in some way. What we may never know is how much it cost the studio to market it. The industry has John Carter costing over 100 million to market in addition to its huge budget. http://www.rentrak.com/section/corporate/press_room/weekly_top_10_charts.html
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oh if i have to shell out $$$ to upgrade to a blue-ray setup just to get a couple deleted scenes i'm going to be SO annoyed.
i hope it's on DVD too.
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The publicity material also made much noise about Barnabas being some kind of playboy, which, besides his "dalliance" (love that word) with Angelique, we didn't see much of. Personally, I wish we'd seen Barnabas acting as more of the upstanding citizen -- "a good man and a Collins" -- Elizabeth seems to believe he was.
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Curiouser and curiouser. It would be nice to see a script. It's probably just a matter of time before KLS publishes it!
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i thought most dvds released these days gave u both blu ray and regular dvd versions and even a digital download copy of the movie? im just going by the ads i see on tv.
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i thought most dvds released these days gave u both blu ray and regular dvd versions and even a digital download copy of the movie? im just going by the ads i see on tv.
Disney's Blu-rays have mostly been including the DVD and digital download, and now it looks like HBO is doing it as well. But there are also DVD-only copies sold (but not Blu-ray-only). I'm not aware of other companies that are routinely doing it. I'm quite sure it's still only a minority of the Blu-ray releases that include DVD.
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Even if the packaging includes both the Blu-ray and the DVD, the Blu-ray only extras aren't on the DVD because, well, they're Blu-ray only extras. [ghost_wink] So that sort of packaging won't help DS fans without Blu-ray players if there are Blu-ray only extras when the film comes out. [ghost_sad]
I'm sure that, when it comes to people who don't have a Blu-ray player but who plan to buy one eventually, it's nice to get both in one package because then they can at least watch the DVD version, and then when they get their Blu-Ray player, they'll already have the Blu-ray version. However, most Blu-ray player owners that I know, myself included, prefer to buy the Blu-ray only package, if one is available, because the DVD will probably never get played. And it's somewhat aggravating whenever there is no Blu-ray only version released because more often than not you have to pay extra for something you're never going to use. About the only time it's less aggravating is when one side of the disc is Blu-ray and the other side is DVD because in those cases they don't tend to cost more. But in my experience, many times the Blu-ray and the DVD are separate discs. [ghost_rolleyes]
And this is more OT than not so I'll keep it as brief as possible, but while it was at 56% discount last week, I ordered the Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy of the 4th season of True Blood from Amazon because there isn't any Blu-ray only set. However, I paid the same price for it as I paid for the 3rd season Blu-ray only set, so I'm presuming it's going to be Blu-ray on one side and DVD on the other. But it's going to be very interesting if it isn't...
23 days 21 hours 26 minutes 52 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Hopefully when DS is released it does have options and t doesn't just come out in a combo pack or just on DVD. I have a blu ray player and that's what I like to buy. When I went to target the other day I was surprised that The Woman in Black didn't have a blu ray version and was only on DVD.
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The Woman in Black has a Blu-ray version. Maybe it was just sold out. However, when it comes to the extras, they're the same on both - and no deleted scenes. [ghost_sad]
But getting back on topic - and speaking of deleted scenes - I'm quite surprised that no one has mentioned that there are moments in the trailers/TV Spots for the DS film that aren't actually in the film. I haven't gone back through all the trailers/TV Spots (because frankly I still haven't gotten over trailers/TV Spots overload), but I immediately noticed two examples the first time I saw the film. Hasn't anyone else noticed?
24 days 11 hours 2 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yes. Willie's crack about "You'll have to excuse him, he's English," or something to that effect, didn't make the final cut. Willie looks as though he's speaking to someone as he sits in a car. I assume he's excusing some odd behavior of Barnabas'.
Petofi
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Willie's crack about "You'll have to excuse him, he's English," or something to that effect, didn't make the final cut. Willie looks as though he's speaking to someone as he sits in a car. I assume he's excusing some odd behavior of Barnabas'.
Yes, that's definitely one of the two I noticed. [ghost_wink]
The other may be a bit harder to pinpoint because unless you were really paying attention, you may not have noticed its absence because it's a missing part of a scene that is in the film...
24 days 12 hours 28 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Amazon has an image for the Dark Shadows Art of the Film book (which, according to the photo, is actually called the Dark Shadows Visual Guide). It also contains a foreward by Tim Burton.
Oops - I'd completely forgotten until a few minutes ago that I received a text message on my phone yesterday. And when I just finally opened it I discovered it was a tweet from GK Films to say that this book won't be coming out until November 27th. So, I checked Amazon, and their page is actually reflecting that - as well as that the price has dropped to $34.95:
Dark Shadows: The Art of the Film [Hardcover] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1781162557/ref=ox_ya_os_product)
And my order has also been updated with the new price and with an estimated delivery date between December 3rd and the 7th. I suppose it will be a Christmas gift to myself. [santa_wink] And that's all well and fine. But who knows why it's being delayed so long? But then, I guess we should just be happy that it's still coming out because for a while there I had my doubts - especially after it disappeared from Amazon UK.
24 days 13 hours 48 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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According to figures I just saw on boxoffice.com, DS came in between the $3.8 and $3.6 million estimates with $3,703,205, which brings its current domestic gross to $70,677,046. And what's interesting is that going by the $3.8 million estimate, it actually brought in a bit more on Saturday than estimated but a bit less on the other two days. However, I have no idea where it ranked for the weekend because all the figures for the other films haven't been posted yet. But Box Office Mojo should have those sooner rather than later.
24 days 15 hours 16 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Box Office Mojo just put up their chart for the actuals and, as expected, DS placed 8th for the weekend.
Also, thanks to its weekend take, DS has now bypassed Act of Valor to become the 12th most successful film of 2012 so far - and it has also bypassed Blade to become the 9th most successful vampire film. And with regard to that chart, I believe that with the exception of Van Helsing, it is the only film in the Top 10 that isn't based on a popular book or comic. (At least I don't think Van Helsing was based on a comic. Was it?)
24 days 15 hours 40 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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OK, this is really trivial and barely on topic, but ... we all know about the DS themed cosmetics campaign one of the big brands (I honestly forget which one) has launched as a movie tie-in... well, I was just in the drugstore buying a few sundries and I saw in the perfume and makeup department this huge maquette (or whatever it's called) for a new line from Cover Girl with the tag, "Don't spend your life living in somebody else's shadow." And whether I'm hallucinating or not, the model featured on the ad looked a lot like Magtoria/Josette as portrayed by Miss Heathcote.
It made me giggle...
G.
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A sweet friend of mine bought and sent me the lovely makeup collection. I don't know if I will ever be able to bear using any of it though. It's positively fabulous makeup though. Wonderful colors to get Liz, Angelique, or Julia (VAVAVAVOOOM) looks...The packaging alone is gorgeous. Again I just don't know if I can use it. I guess it will eventually dry up by the time I am old--er......decisions decisions....
Great to hear DS is still doing well. It's going still showing into next week at both theaters here....
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well, I was just in the drugstore buying a few sundries and I saw in the perfume and makeup department this huge maquette (or whatever it's called) for a new line from Cover Girl with the tag, "Don't spend your life living in somebody else's shadow." And whether I'm hallucinating or not, the model featured on the ad looked a lot like Magtoria/Josette as portrayed by Miss Heathcote.
It made me giggle...
Cute story, Gothick. The Cover Girl was probably Taylor Swift.
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I'm ready for one more big screen showing
Going with a friend tomorrow night. His first time
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I was surprised to discover that this past weekend's installment of Access Hollywood, which I just finally got around to watching, and which was dubbed the "Stars Of Summer,"had new stuff with Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloe Moretz. [ghost_cool]
24 days 22 hours 19 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Michele Pfeiffer, looking like she's in her 30s, is being interviewed on Piers Morgan Tonight (CNN) right now, it airs again in 3 hours.
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And then there's Roger. I forget what secret was hinted about with him - but his part was so cut down that, sadly, he barely even registers in the film
I haven't recalled his secret, but I suddenly remembered today that it was often said in descriptions of his character that Roger treats Willie terribly, and in at least one of the descriptions it said that Barnabas definitely takes note of that - yet there's none of that in the film either.
25 days 10 hours 55 minutes 59 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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According to figures on boxoffice.com, on Monday DS brought in $408,058, which now brings its current domestic gross to $71,085,104. And lest anyone think that Monday's amount seems like quite a fall from the $970,883 it brought in on Sunday, it's actually pretty normal - and I've prepared another list to show just that. However, I can't attach it just now because Monday's figures for MIB III haven't come out yet. But I'll definitely attach the list when I post the link to Box Office Mojo's chart after it becomes available.
25 days 14 hours 51 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS ranked 9th on Monday:
Monday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-04&p=.htm)
One thing I find fascinating - even more fascinating than when the 3rd and 8th films were only separated by $239,280 on May 30th - is that on Monday the 4th and 9th films were separated by only $153,108. But then, they are the same films even if they're in a bit of a different arrangement. And as they play longer in theaters, the amount of money they bring is inevitably going to decrease. But still, it's quite interesting how much closer they're getting, particularly when they've all been in release for different amounts of time.
But apart from that, once again for anyone who really is interested in seeing just how this year's films stack up when compared head-to-head, I've prepared and attached a list that compares them as of their 25th day*. (And once again, the first column is obviously the name of the film, the second column is the film's gross as of its 25th day, the third column in the date it hit its 25th day, and the final column is what the film brought in at the box office on its 25th day.)
(* MIB III is the only film that wouldn't otherwise be on the list that prior to its 25th day in release has grossed more than DS, so that's why it's included. And because Snow White and the Huntsman is likely to overtake DS shortly, it's also included on the list.)
25 days 16 hours 0 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS leaves the McAllen-Brownsville TX area on Thursday night. Corpus has it playing once daily next week (150 miles from me). I might try to catch it once more on Thusday. I saw it today for the $5.00 Bargain Tuesday special. 6th time!
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I checked my hometown, Newport, RI. It's playing through Thursday as well and then seems to be leaving. The situation is the same for the Providence area. I'm using the search engine from the official site. Maybe they don't have listings for Friday on yet. The info regarding the S. TX locations came from a bored manager who was all tot happy to give me info on the local and Corpus theaters.
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Looks like it will out of the theatre here this week as well. Two showings a day here, one at 2pm and one at 10pm. I went to the afternoon showing. Small crowd but not that unusual for a Gil that's been in release for a month. Overall, the audience was younger than at previous screenings. Except me, of course! $5.00 admission can't be beat.
This is my fourth time, enough to catch some bloopers. During the scene between Barnabas and Angelique in the drawing room, the lipstick on his face changes places and, at one point, disappears.
Angelique is wearing a pantsuit when she goes to the construction site but she's wearing a midiskirt and boots when she arrives at Collinwood.
Interesting to see Dan Curtis' daughters Cathy and Tracy listed as consultants.
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Many theater listings are not updated until Wed. (sometimes even later).
Try Fandango:
http://www.fandango.com (http://www.fandango.com)
and put in your zip code or town. You can also search by movie.
As of now, Tuesday evening, several theaters in my area are updated, but now only list one showing for DS. In one, it appears to be gone. In another, only Prometheus and Madagascar 3 (the new movies) are shown for now, and the showings for current films haven't yet been added. Still, as I feared, I think DS will take a big hit this week, with the two aforementioned movies being huge movies taking over a lot of theater screens [ghost_sad]
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When it comes to theaters, no two films ever play out the same way. And a lot certainly depends on how many and what types of films are opening and are in need of theaters. But just for the fun of it, here's how two of Warner Brothers other most recent films have been playing out theaters-wise:
| Wrath of the Titans | | The Lucky One |
1st Day: | 3445 | | 3155 |
8th Day: | | | 3175 |
15th Day: | 3102 | | 3005 |
| 22nd Day: | 2502 | | 2839 |
29th Day: | 1572 | | 2005 |
36th Day: | 715 | | 615 |
43rd Day: | 265 | | 404 |
50th Day: | 360 | | |
57th Day: | 255 | | |
64th Day: | 205 | | |
And 205 and 404 are the amount of theaters those two films are currently playing in. So, it will be interesting to see how DS plays out.
25 days 21 hours 35 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB, interesting. We'll soon see what the total theater number is for next week, but in my area, since I posted yesterday, the theater that is second-closest to me (the one that I said had only so far posted Prometheus and Madagascar 3 showtimes) has now posted the rest of its showtimes, and surprisingly, they will still have 6 showings per day of DS. My closest theater, as well as another local one, will have 1 showing per day (one noontime, one 9 p.m.), and in at least one other fairly close theater it will be gone. Plus, as I mentioned before, at least one IMAX near me will have it through June 21. So I have the full range! [ghost_smiley]
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I took a friend to see it for his birthday last night--really enjoyed it even more this time.
Depp, Green & Pfeiffer are awesome, and the visuals still take my breath away!
The film will still be around here next week, but tomorrow is the last night of DS in Imax locally, so I may take in one last Imax viewing while I can.
The Castro Theatre which played HODS and NODS in 2008, plans to show Depp Shadows in mid-summer. I'll probably see it there as well, just to see it in an old fashioned movie palace.
Do I need to get a life?
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Boxoffice.com has reported the Tuesday box office for DS at $458,130, which is a nice jump from yesterday (as is usually the case for Tuesdays). The domestic total is now $71,543,234, which now surpasses Chocolat ($71,509,363) to become Johnny Depp's #10 film in terms of unadjusted domestic box office (not counting films in which he had cameos). The film is also inching closer to that coveted $200 million worldwide mark!
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst - and the update on where the film now ranks in Depp's body of work. [ghost_smiley]
And speaking of rankings among a star's body of work, I was looking around Box Office Mojo earlier, and DS could quite possibly become Chloe Moretz' highest grossing film so far in her career. Currently that distinction goes to Hugo - but DS isn't all that far behind.
And speaking of Box office Mojo, they just put their chart up and DS was also ranked 9th on Tuesday:
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-05&p=.htm)
26 days 15 hours 44 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I saw it today for the $5.00 Bargain Tuesday special. 6th time!
I'm jealous! [ghost_wink]
The film will still be around here next week, but tomorrow is the last night of DS in Imax locally, so I may take in one last Imax viewing while I can.
The Castro Theatre which played HODS and NODS in 2008, plans to show Depp Shadows in mid-summer. I'll probably see it there as well, just to see it in an old fashioned movie palace.
Do I need to get a life?
Not at all! [ghost_grin] Of course many of us will watch it dozens of times once it comes out on Blu-ray/DVD - but when it comes to a film you like, there's still nothing like seeing it on the big screen - particularly an IMAX screen. [ghost_cool]
26 days 15 hours 56 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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New Facebook group:
I Love Dark Shadows 2012: Where's the Sequel? [ghost_smiley]
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The official site now lists DS for next week in several RI locations, including Middletown, the nearest major, mainstream movie theater to Newport, since the Opera House closed. I'm not going to bother rechecking Boston, Dallas, and other major cities. I'm sure it's still alive in them.
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DS made $401,114 on Wednesday, to retain its 8th place spot. The domestic total is now $71,944,348.
However, as feared, it will take a huge hit on Friday in terms of theater counts, losing 1,452 theaters and keeping only 1,550. This is at least partly to make room for Madagascar 3 and Prometheus, both of which are in wide release.
You can find the Wed. box office and theater counts on
http://www.boxofficemojo.com (http://www.boxofficemojo.com)
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Thanks for posting the box office numbers and the theaters count, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
The amount of theaters for DS' 29th day in release will be pretty much in keeping with what Wrath of the Titans had at that point in its run - plus DS has held onto more theaters longer than Wrath of the Titans did, so it's not too much of a surprise that the time has come for it to lose a good amount of them - especially with those two films opening this coming weekend. And we should only be so lucky that DS might follow suit and stay in theaters as long as Wrath of the Titans seems to be staying. [ghost_wink] Though like Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One, DS could likely see another significant drop in theaters for its 36th day in release on the 15th.
One slight correction, though - DS went back up to 8th place after being in 9th for two days. [ghost_smiley]
Wednesday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-06&p=.htm)
27 days 18 hours 39 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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One slight correction, though - DS went back up to 8th place after being in 9th for two days. [ghost_smiley]
Wednesday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-06&p=.htm)
Oops, my bad, somehow I forgot that it had dipped to 9th at all. Well, all the better that it moved up! [ghost_smiley] Let's hope that it keeps 8th place today, as tomorrow, I'm afraid it'll be dipping out of the Top Ten (I want to see Prometheus, myself!)
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Well, all the better that it moved up! [ghost_smiley]
Exactly. [ghost_wink]
27 days 21 hours 54 minutes 55 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I planned to see it ONE more time today before it left our area. I went to the 12:30 show. After it was over I had time to kill. I decided to hit the final show in Harlingen, the 3:10. That's a first for me, seeing the same movie twice in one day at a theater! I need a life! I admit that freely!
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I was surprised to see on boxoffice.com that DS is still playing in all 5 of the theaters in my area that I mentioned before - however, only 1 of them is still showing it four times a day. The other 4 are showing it twice (in 3 it's the 2nd and 4th showing - in the other 1 it's the 1st and 3rd showing).
Changing reels and going somewhat OT:I ordered the Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy of the 4th season of True Blood ... I'm presuming it's going to be Blu-ray on one side and DVD on the other. But it's going to be very interesting if it isn't
It isn't. And quite possibly what it is might prove to be a warning to DS fans who don't yet own a Blu-ray player but would consider buying the Blu-Ray/DVD Combo, if there is one, for the DS film. The DVDs in the 4th season packaging of True Blood are in a separate case, they're 2 double sided discs (both sides DVD), and with the exception of being able to choose languages, there are no extras - not even the extras that appear on the regular DVD set. All the good extras like commentaries, featurettes, and such are only on the Blu-Ray discs. And that actually makes more sense because it not only requires fewer DVDs, there's much less duplication of features. But if this becomes the norm for Blu-ray/DVD Combo releases, someone who buys such a set thinking they'll still be able to see everything that normally appears on the DVD release will have a rude awakening.
28 days 11 hours 2 minutes 35 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I wonder how WB is going to promote the DVD releases? Hopefully not the same way it did the movie.
The only positive in all of this is that there was 130 people in the audience for the DS movie. http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/06/08/anger-as-american-pie-trailer-shown-to-children/
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It will definitely be interesting to see how the DVD/Blu-ray release is promoted. [ghost_wink]
And as for the theater incident, 135 people is great, but [ghost_rolleyes] as far as seeing American Reunion instead of DS. At least they all received complimentary tickets. Though something tells me a few of the parents probably thought the damage was already done, and free tickets were going to do anything to erase that.
28 days 13 hours 45 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I see that according to boxoffice.com, on Thursday DS brought in $431,285, which brings its current domestic box office to $72,375,633 (it's slowly but surely getting ready to overtake John Carter, which it should probably do at some point during the weekend). However, at this point only four of the top films are reporting their take, so we'll have to wait for Box Office Mojo to see where DS ranks for the day. But once again it did come in with more than Chernobyl Diaries, so it will probably retain 8th place. Though Thursday is probably the last day we'll see it in the Top 10.
28 days 14 hours 41 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB! Great to see that it went up from Wed. On Box Office Mojo, it looks like all the numbers are in now, and not only did it do better than Chernobyl Diaries but it did by quite a bit, and is indeed in 8th place for Thurs.
Glad to hear that DS is likely to pass John Carter, though I see that JC did do over $200M overseas so DS is very unlikely to pass JC worldwide. Another milestone that is within DS's grasp is to pass Hugo, which as MB pointed out the other day is Chloe Moretz' best box office so far (except for a voice part in Bolt), but it's also currently Johnny's biggest movie as a producer. Hugo made $73.9M domestically so DS has another ~$1.5M to go to reach it. I didn't even realize until checking it that DS has actually already passed Hugo worldwide ($192.9M vs. $182.6M). (I adored Hugo, by the way, but it just wasn't as big a box office hit as it deserved to be).
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The movie is remaining in my town for one more week! Or I should say returning for another week. After it left the "major" theater last week Thursday, it will now start to play tonight for one week, along with The Hunger Games, at our local "cheapy" theater. The cost of admission: 99 cents. Or, if you want to really splurge, you can fork out five dollars for the "package" - admission (to both, a double feature! - I feel so nostalgic), a large popcorn (buttered), large drink and one candy bar. Well, guess what I'm doing tomorrow. I can mow the lawn any old time.
Gerard
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DS movie expected to make a profit. http://m.deadline.com/2012/06/the-avengers-soars-but-battleship-and-the-dictator-sink-in-profit-tally-kagan/
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Sorry I misread the article.
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According to this article, the DS movie cost nearly 300 million. This doesn't pass the smell test based on previous estimates (100-175 million), but then again, studio bookkeeping is notoriously unscrupulous. We may never know what the movie's true outlay is. [ghost_sad]
Petofi
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Exactly why should a movie cost $300 million to make? On what are they spending it? Have the studio heads gone out of their heads? In this economy, do they really think there are enough people who have the moola to pay nine smackers for a matinee and up to fifteen for a night screening? When Titanic was made for a cost of $100 million that was considered incredulous. Today, it seems that a B-flick showing some mask-wearing slasher chasing around and stabbing voluptuous late-teenaged doxies, made for $100 million, is considered par for the course. I don't know if the article is correct in stating that DS cost $300 million, but if it's true, that's utterly ridiculous. As I said earlier, it's time to role the heads of most of Hollywood's heads. Who's hiring these guys?
Gerard
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I think Hollywood estimates bear taking with a grain of salt. Especially when you realize that much of the Harry Potter series supposedly has not yet seen a profit. This, in my opinion, is a clerical lie designed to avoid paying taxes and those who have a percentage interest in the movies. Just my two cents, but this is a long-running scam in the movie industry. There have been cases of writers (see Buchwald v Paramount) suing to open studio books, and the studios hastily settling out of court, presumably to avoid having to reveal their books to the court. Now, why ever would they want to avoid such a thing?
Petofi
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I think Petofi is right. Depp Shadows is clearly going to gross $250 million on it's theatrical run.if that's not enough money to turn a profit then something is wrong with the way Hollywood does business.
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I am frankly astounded that anyone could suggest this movie cost $300 million. Remember that initial estimate of $65 million? Just by looking at the movie, it looks closer to that than this new number. Where would all the money have gone? Building sets is expensive, yes. But not that expensive. There was a lot of (wasted) talent in this picture, but I can't see anyone getting paid a huge salary... Something is fishy here, and it's not just Angel Bay.
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yes i agree this new 300 million dollar figure has got to be a gross overestimation of costs.
the film is visually opulent to be sure but nothing that would suggest those types of numbers. and while the cast is large much of it was relative newcomers(mcgrath, moretz, heathcote)who simply do not command astronomical salaries.
unless that's factoring in international promotional costs maybe? the cast imagery that blanketed new york for a few weeks can not have been cheap. [ghost_huh]
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We just don't have the true production numbers and we probably will never have it. I believe it was Variety which stated the budget was 60 million or so. On the other hand the box office website has the budget at 175 million and it may have cost the studio another 100 million to market it. So who is telling the truth? If WB states that it took a loss on the movie that would negatively impact its stockholders? This industry drives you nuts. It seems to me on its surface the movie will clearly make a profit especially with the DVD sales.
DS movie came in 10th place on Friday. http://tvfilmnews.com/box-office-returns-prometheus-madagascar-3-fight-for-no-1/
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It's funny that SNL Kagan should come up here on the forum because until a few months ago I had never even heard of them. But allow me to backtrack to give the whole picture:
As everybody knows, for months now I've been DVRing entertainment shows like Access Hollywood, Extra, and Entertainment Tonight so as not to miss anything they might do with regard to the DS film. But what might not be known is that I was once a big fan of Entertainment Tonight, well, until it became so tabloid that real entertainment stories were ignored in favor of seemingly endless segments about the likes of Anna Nicole Smith and Paris Hilton, at which point I gave up on it and couldn't even stand seeing the promotional ads for it, much less the actual shows. But originally I watched ET faithfully every night from the day it premiered. But even back then it wasn't exactly perfect because there used to be a host who would literally proclaim the end of the film industry as we knew it based on his belief that the box office numbers at the time proved it. Well, obviously, his dire predictions never really materialized - and fairly soon he was actually out of a job.
Fast forward to a few months ago, and I was with my friend who works in a bank, and I was telling him that ET isn't half bad nowadays and maybe he should start to check it out again like we both always did back in the day. I asked him if he remembered the host who used to proclaim the end of the film industry, and we both had a good laugh at the guy's expense - but then my friend said that he might know where the guy had gotten a new job: SNL Kagan. It seemed as if there was an article in one of the financial magazines that his bank regularly subscribes to, and because it was film industry related it caught his eye. He then proceeded to tell me about how one of the things SNL Kagan supposedly does is "analyze" box office and proclaims what film will or won't be profitable - however the article deconstructed and criticized their practices because what comes out of SNL Kagan is strictly based on guesstimating, meaning they fabricate their own figures and conclusions - they're not based on actual fact because, well, they make their proclamations long before films complete their runs in theaters and before things like complete box office numbers and actual sales/rental figures for DVD/Blu-ray releases can actually be factored in. Of course, SNL Kagan countered that everything they do is based on research and trends in the film industry. But the article came back by pointing out that if the amount of films that SNL Kagan proclaims to be unprofitable were actually true, then every film studio would clearly already be out of business because there would be no way they could all be surviving on the few blockbuster films that come out each year. Plus, they also pointed out that much of the "research" they do is in and of itself based on estimates because, for one, it's extremely rare when any of the studios release the actual budget figures for any of their films. However, one thing that they do release to their boards, stockholders, and the public is their profitability statements, and clearly not one of the studios is in as financially dire straits as what SNL Kagan would have be believed because, again, if they were, they would all be out of business. [ghost_huh]
So, take from all that what you will. But based on that article's conclusions, when it comes to what SNL Kagan has said about almost any of the films recently mentioned, it would seem that it needs to all be taken with a huge grain of salt. And another interesting thing is that there seems to be a site on the Internet called MCN whose favorite mission would appear to be to rip apart practically everything that comes out of SNL Kagan with regard to the film industry to show how outlandish many of their conclusions are. So, it's not just some of us here on the forum or financial magazines that would seem to have a problem with what SNL Kagan spouts. [ghost_wink] And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if that former ET host not only works for SNL Kagan, but if he's its CEO! [ghost_grin]
But anyway, changing the subject somewhat, we forgot to post a link to Box Office Mojo's chart for Thursday, so here it is:
Thursday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-07&p=.htm)
And thanks for sharing the worldwide numbers for Hugo, madscntst. [ghost_smiley] I hadn't realized that DS had already passed it on that front. [ghost_cool]
29 days 11 hours 19 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS movie came in 10th place on Friday.
Very interesting if that holds true when the actuals for the weekend are released on Monday. My belief that Thursday might be the last day we'd see DS in the Top 10 was based on predictions at boxoffice.com that Moonrise Kingdom would overtake DS over the weekend with a total of $1.7 million for the three days. However, I now see that they've revised their predictions and they're estimating that DS will bring in $1.4 million for the weekend for a 10th place ranking - and Moonrise Kingdom is nowhere to be seen in the Top 10. I wonder what happened? But if DS does indeed bring in $1.4 million, that would be great because, with the drop in theaters, I was thinking more along the lines of $1.2 million (and probably the last weekend we'll see it over the million mark). And while that may not seem like a big difference, at this point in a film's run every $100 thousand it might bring in is a significantly better amount.
29 days 12 hours 7 minutes 23 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Hmmm - I just noticed that Box Office Mojo has their Friday estimates chart up, and according to them DS will place 11th with $410,000 and Moonrise Kingdom will indeed be 10th with $455,000. Though, of course, those are only estimates, and we'll have to wait until Monday for the real figures. But it makes the changes to boxoffice.com's weekend predictions even more interesting.
29 days 12 hours 53 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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this weekend it's down to only three cinemas in new york...
it's run is definitely winding down.
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Still in two San Francisco theaters. 7 shows a day between the two.
Also still playing in a number of suburban towns here in the Bay Area:
Daly City, Redwood City, Emeryville, Berkeley, a few others.
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Down to three theatres in the Orlando area.
Petofi
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8 in Houston. We are going there next Thursday. I might hit the 10:15 show if the 7 hour drive doesn't wipe us out.
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5 in my area by this Wednesday, with 4 showings in the main theater, 2 in the newest theater, and 1 in the others.
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I did go to the cheapy theater yesterday (wonderfully air-conditioned as it was 90 outside, and I walked) to see if for the third time, along with The Hunger Games. I splurged and did the five-dollar package. The buttered popcorn was so big I couldn't finish it through two movies, so I took it home with me. Oh, and the theater was more than 3/4 full. It really did feel nostalgic seeing, after about 35 years, a double-feature, and paying what it cost back then (including admission, popcorn, soda and candy).
Gerard
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That's retro in a good way!
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FYI The price of the upcoming new DS movie book has dropped some more: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-The-Art-Film/dp/1781162557/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339340694&sr=1-1&keywords=Dark+Shadows%3A+The+Art+of+the+Film
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I don't even remember the last time I saw a double feature, Gerard. I'm glad you had fun. [ghost_wink]
And thanks for the update, jimbo. [ghost_smiley] It's also interesting that they're no longer saying it's an import, so I guess the book is also being published in the US - and that may be why the price continues to drop.
30 days 11 hours 36 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The DS movie is estimated to come in 10th place over the weekend. I think it will make it to the 80 million dollar mark in the U.S. when all is said and done. http://collider.com/weekend-box-office-madagascar-3-passes-prometheus-with-60-3-million-opening/172252/
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Saturday is normally the day during the weekend when films bring in their largest amount of money, so on the DS vs. Moonrise Kingdom front it's going to be very interesting to see the Saturday estimates because if DS isn't in the 10th spot on Saturday, then I can't see it ranking 10th for the weekend. Though I'm certainly hopeful that it will be 10th on Saturday. [ghost_wink]
30 days 12 hours 2 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
DS is still ahead of four major releases that followed it.
Way ahead!
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Make that 5 releases:
Battleship
Dictator
Chernobyl Diaries
What to Expect
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
DS is way ahead of them all.
That's got to be worth something in the eyes of the industry and WB.
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Box Office Mojo has its estimates up for the weekend, and like collider.com, it has DS bringing in $1,360,000. (And boxoffice.com has also changed their estimate to agree with that.) But unlike collider.com (and boxoffice.com), Box Office Mojo has Moonrise Kingdom ranking 10th with $1,579,000, and that puts DS at 11th. And it's fascinating that seemingly only Box Office Mojo is putting Moonrise Kingdom ahead of DS - especially considering that boxoffice.com also did initially but doesn't any longer.
Weekend Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=23&p=.htm)
30 days 14 hours 34 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Box Office Mojo has updated its foreign numbers, and DS is now showing $130 million overseas. More importantly, this means that DS has now passed $200 million worldwide! [ghost_smiley] The estimate is currently $203,736,000, but of course that may change slightly when the domestic actuals for this weekend come in tomorrow afternoon.
I did my part, seeing DS for my 3rd time today. Bad news was, the theater was quite empty, compared to last week. But on the bright side, the showing was before noon, and I just don't think that many folks go to the movies that early in the day (this was the only showing of the day at this particular theater).
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I don't even remember the last time I saw a double feature, Gerard. I'm glad you had fun. [ghost_wink]
Thanks, MB! And not stir up a hornet's nest (although it has already been stirred up here, including by me), why is it that I was able to see two movies that cost only 99 cents (or five bucks for the package, which I talked about earlier) and the studios and the theater were still able to make hefty profits, while both businesses try to justify gouging us to see a movie now to the point where many can no longer afford it, thus having those businesses charge even more which causes even less of us...well, you get the business model point. I just don't get what's going on with the movie industry. It wails about struggling while it makes huge profits (including from tax-write-offs) and insists that it must keep raising prices which drives more people away. When I saw DS two previous times, the theater had no more than 5% occupancy, when everyone had to pay full price (including for a matinee, and that didn't include popcorn, drink [the size of which would've put Mayor Bloomberg in apoplexy] and a candy bar). When I went for my third time, I could've paid just 99 cents for two movies, or spent (which I did) five bucks that included that buttered popcorn, the Bloomberg-inciting massive drink and a candy bar, and the theater was over 3/4 filled. Is the movie and theater industry being stupid? Are we being gouged? Is that causing the movie and theater industry to suffer? We lost one mega-plex theater here because not enough people were spending money to go to it. The cheapy theater is thriving.
Hello?
Hollywood, fire your marketers and hire me. I'll do the job for 10% of what you've paying your marketers now. I'll live comfortably and you'll make lots more money, like in "da good ol' days."
Gerard
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Thanks madscntst for the positive news. 200 million is a nice threshold to reach and nothing to be laughed at. I mean no movie is guaranteed to make over 200 million no matter its big star actors.
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Yes, thanks for posting the news, madscntst [ghost_smiley] And one thing to keep in mind is that's not even with Latin and South America in the mix because the film hasn't even opened there yet.
And, Gerard, actually there is an explanation beyond lower ticket prices for why discount theaters can thrive but the first run theaters may struggle, and it has to do with the way profits are shared between the studios and the theaters. Something that everyone may not realize is that when a film first opens the studio takes the lion's share of what the film makes at the box office. However, over the course of the weeks that a film is in release, the studio's percentage begins to decrease while a theater's percentage increases. By the time in a film's release when it opens in discount theaters, the box office sharing is to a point where even in their first week of play in the discount theaters, the theaters are getting a much bigger percentage of what they take in than the theaters that played the same film did when it first opened. The policy of percentage sharing is how the first run theaters justify charging what they do because they say they need to charge what they do in order to make enough of a profit to stay in business. That and the fact that first run theaters can't always hold onto films long enough for them to become more profitable for them because the studios want their screens to open the next new film. And there's also the real possibility that even if it's further into a film's run and thus they're able to get a larger percentage, the film itself may cease to be profitable for first run theaters because the prices they're charging aren't bringing in enough people that far into the film's run to justify keeping it. High ticket prices cut a lot ways for the first run theaters, and all of that is the reasoning behind those high prices. And though I've never managed a first run theater, and I'm not necessarily defending them, I can see why the reasoning can make some sense. But the bottom line in all this may be that if you want to run a theater, your best bet might be to run a discount one rather than a first run. [ghost_wink]
30 days 20 hours 30 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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did depp promote this film at all with his other films i saw him on late night tv the tonight show letterman but not this movie.
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Depp was all over the place. But as far as talk shows go, he wasn't on Letterman - he did Jimmy Kimmel for the first time ever, as well as Ellen Degeneres for the first time ever. Michelle Pfeiffer did Leno and Chloe Moretz did Letterman.
30 days 20 hours 44 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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thanks i must have missed most of that. do you have any idea what the final worldwide total will be any chance for 250?
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Conceptual artwork for Carolyn's werewolf. It seems some people are offended because the artwork reveals breasts inappropriate for the actor's young age. http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/nailbiter111/news/?a=61421
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Very interesting. Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
The one that may be most like what they actually went with for Carolyn would be the second drawing - though in the film she's wearing clothes. And in the end they didn't go in either direction with Angelique.
And as for the comments, well, it's hard to take much seriously when one of the people complaining has the username Chloefornication. [ghost_huh] [ghost_rolleyes] In light of what the complaints relate to, that username comes across as much more offensive than anything in the drawings might be.
31 days 10 hours 32 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I just realized today that I somehow didn't make the Caption This! board for the film accessible to anyone other than Midnite and myself. Oops! [6184] But it's fixed now. [ghost_smiley]
... I've created the "Caption This! - Dark Shadows 2012" board and to get started I've posted some of the screen caps that I've already made from the various trailers/TV Spots. ...
The new board can be accessed here by first reading a gentle reminder of one of the rules:Dark Shadows 2012 Rules
And I hope those who decide to participate have fun. I know I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll come up with because if any DS version is ripe for having fun with, it's this one. [ghost_grin]
31 days 10 hours 59 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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EW's website used the bomb word in the second paragraph. I guess we will have to get used to it. http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/11/showbiz/movies/madagascar-3-box-office-ew/index.html
Regarding that previous article I do agree with a user name of Chloefornication need we say more? Well said.
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Conceptual artwork for Carolyn's werewolf. It seems some people are offended because the artwork reveals breasts inappropriate for the actor's young age. http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/nailbiter111/news/?a=61421
i can certainly see why one might find an artistic rendering of a 15 year old girl's breasts highly distasteful.
the entire carolyn/werewolf business was the film's most colossal misfire. "woof".
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DS did a bit better than expected this past weekend, bringing in $1.41 million (over the $1.36 million estimate), according to boxoffice.com. The domestic total is now $73,785,840. It has less than $100k to go to catch Hugo! [ghost_smiley]
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/actual_estimate/2012-06-11 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/actual_estimate/2012-06-11)
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[ghost_angry]
DS is NOT a bomb--it did OK business.
It's absurd for Hollywood to expect every film to gross a half billion dollars--that's as ridiculous as what they spend producing these films.
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DS did a bit better than expected this past weekend, bringing in $1.41 million (over the $1.36 million estimate), according to boxoffice.com.
And what's nice is DS brought in a bit more each day than was estimated - it wasn't just one day where it made more. [ghost_cool]
And the good news was that Friday was indeed the day when DS overtook John Carter. However it's still ranked 12th for the year so far because, as expected, Snow White and the Huntsman climbed over it.
And speaking of rank, DS did indeed come in at #11 for the weekend. Who knows why so few places other than Box Office Mojo had the foresight to take Moonrise Kingdom into consideration? But hey, coming in 11th, especially when it brought in more money than was expected, is certainly not a bad thing. [ghost_wink]
Weekend Box Office Actuals (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=23&p=.htm)
31 days 19 hours 10 minutes 17 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well, the movie is done at the multiplex I had been going to but it is still continuing at another one that's actually closer to me. Go figure. Looks like I'll be paying them a visit this week.
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We saw it again this afternoon -- 4th time for me, 2nd time for my fiance -- and the theatre still did respectable business, with the audience audibly enjoying themselves. As for me, I've reconciled myself with the tiny flaws that bugged me before, including the ending (though I think someone needs to teach WriterSeth the meaning of the word "bastard"). Now I desperately want a sequel, mostly because I'm left wondering: what's going to become of the human members of the Collins family?!?
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As for me, I've reconciled myself with the tiny flaws that bugged me before, including the ending (though I think someone needs to teach WriterSeth the meaning of the word "bastard").
This too had me confused. Is this part of some subplot that was cut? Is David not really a Collins? Is this some weird homage to the original? What the heck is going on? [ghost_cheesy]
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I chalked it up to Angelique just being as disagreeable as possible. [ghost_tongue]
Petofi
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I was impressed that I actually felt badly for her again in that last moment -- she doesn't generate the same amount of empathy I feel for LP's version of the character (and though I love Lysette Anthony, I have NEVER felt sorry for her Angelique) -- but there's something in her face in that final moment where I'm reminded of that raggedy little girl standing on the dock waiting for the Collins family to board.
Yeah, yeah, she's a psycho; I know. [ghost_tongue]
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i haven't seen the flix yet. i hope it's good. but i do got a bit off topic question though. did they do a video game to this? i know for the last couple "Tim Burton" films they did one for. but did "Dark Shadows" get one does anyone know? i can't seem to find any info on this whatsover!
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I think we would have heard if a video game was being released. I'm disappointed in the lack of licensing associated with this film.I had hoped for a tie-in at least, if not a series of books. Lost in Space was a flop, but there were about 6 teen novellas and one adult novel, in addition to the script adaptation. I believe there were comics too.
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I was waiting for an influx of merchandise as well; if not in mainstream stores, at least in Hot Topic (which I would have been more than willing to drag myself across the threshold, braving the smell of decomposing plastic and sullen teenagers with shaggy dyed mullets and swoopy bangs). I was particularly looking forward to a novelization, but I guess it's not to be. My new hope is that this long-awaited visual guide or whatever they're calling it now will contain the shooting script.
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I hope we can read the original draft by August. I'm curious about it. I have a feeling that Carolyn was originally an adult and those werewolf conceit pictures were based on that idea.
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no video game and no porn spoof either!
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Monday's numbers for DS are in at boxoffice.com, and it brought in $181,043, which now brings its current domestic gross to $73,966,883. And once again, lest anyone think that Monday's amount seems like quite a fall from Sunday's amount of $392,662, it's actually pretty normal. In fact, it's one of the higher amounts brought in this year by a film in its 32nd day and playing in about the same amount of theaters that DS currently is. And, yes, once again I've prepared a list, and this one will compare DS to this year's other films in their 32nd day of release. However, like last week, I can't attach it just now because Monday's figures aren't in for all the films I want to include on the list (Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is the culprit this time). But I'll definitely attach the list when I post the link to Box Office Mojo's chart after it becomes available.
32 days 15 hours 38 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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no porn spoof either!
If only - if just to see how the infamous Julia/Barnabas scene in the lab might play with a full-fledged porn treatment! [ghost_cheesy]
32 days 15 hours 44 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS retained its 11th place - and it was also among the films with the smallest percentage drop from Sunday, regardless of the day in release:
Monday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-11&p=.htm)
(And if you haven't checked out one of the lists already, refer to the explanation in reply #537 on page 36 of this topic because the premise is basically the same with the 32nd day's list attached here.)
32 days 16 hours 6 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Visit #5 today. $6.50 admission which was nice. Especially when I got a private screening. Yes, cousins, I was the only one in the theater, which was a unique experience.
Who do you think is the old friend who drew Maggie/Vicki to Collinwood? I think it has to be Josette. Has There been some magical interference with her job application? When she introduces herself as Victoria Winters, Willie says they have been expecting her. Not Maggie Evans.
There's a lot of discussion early on about how disturbed David is. However, aside from the early incident with the bedsheet, David seems like the most normal one in the family, next to Elizabeth.
Irony, I suppose.
Laura appears to be wearing contemporary clothing in the picture of her with Roger and David that appears on the piano. So why is she wearing a period outfit as a spectre? Standard supernatural outfit? Courtesy of Ohrbach's Under the Sea? Aquaman?
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[ghost_grin]
Remember my long ago thread about a possible DS porn spoof?
Deep Shadows!
With Ron Jeremy as Prof Stokes!
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DS retained its 11th place - and it was also among the films with the smallest percentage drop from Sunday, regardless of the day in release:
Monday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-11&p=.htm)
(And if you haven't checked out one of the lists already, refer to the explanation in reply #537 on page 36 of this topic because the premise is basically the same with the 32nd day's list attached here.)
Very interesting. In today's film exhibition economy, would DS be classified as a film that "has legs"? At any rate, since it hasn't yet been released in all markets, let alone home video, it's way too early to call it a "bomb" (let alone "outright bomb" as some moron has called it).
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In all honesty, I just want Night of Dark Shadows to be restored. I think the film and its marketing did a disservice to everyone. If we can't get a restored NoDS out of it, I will consider it a bomb no matter what.
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Amen to that, Cousin Barnabas. ALL of it.
G.
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WB seems to be doing its very best to ensure DS does not develop legs. I understand the studio has to give up some locations but I think its pretty ridiculous that the movie is only playing in something like 3 locations in New York. There is one theatre near me in NY and that only now has two showings a day. It is clear to me that WB just wants to cut its "losses" for lack of a better word, hope it does ok in Latin America and prepare it for a DVD release. This movie is not going to be able to develop any legs with the studio butchering it IMO
I totally agree with you CB.
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Actually, Warner Brothers isn't treating DS any differently than any of their other films this year. The film is pretty following the same path theaters-wise as Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One have before it. In fact, if one checks the charts on Box Office Mojo, one can see that it's pretty much following the same path as most similarly wide-released films have this year. Though one exception is that it has brought it more money than most any of them have - and that's proven by the fact that it's currently the 12th most successful film of the year so far. [ghost_wink]
32 days 19 hours 41 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS is a totally different species than any other WB film and it should be treated as such and allowed to develop legs. I think the movie still has some potential to do well if permitted to remain around at a good number of locations. I believe WB should not use its typical formula of removing its movies from locations. It seems the studio is content with the movie grossing something like 78 million as opposed to it having the potential to do several millions more.
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The studios don't remove films from theater locations (well, until they decide to completely take them out of circulation) - they want each and every one of their films to stay in each and every theater they're in for as long as possible. But a whole slew of factors affect how long any individual film may remain at any given theater - and the studios have little control over the vast majority of them. But chief among the factors is that theaters have already made commitments to show upcoming releases - and the theaters can't simply say to a studio, "We know we committed to showing your film, but surprise, we're not going to!" - well, not unless they want to be sued for breach of contract. [ghost_wink] They can, however, hold onto a film for as long as possible if they feel they have room for it - and that's why many times two films will share screens and divide showings between them. And the fact that DS is in a position currently where it is sharing screens in many theaters is actually a good thing because in many cases the theaters could have just as easily dropped DS completely in favor of showing a newer film in its place.
32 days 20 hours 12 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This whole movie industry can be confusing at times. It seems to me that there are those movies that get hot and linger around for many months. I am guessing that the theaters view DS as a movie with limited growth potential at this point. I think it's safe to argue that the DS movie doesn't have leg potential. In any event its domestic run is nearing the end.
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Honestly, it will be very interesting to see how long DS remains in theaters. Warner Brother's Wrath of the Titans has been playing in between only 360 and 150 theaters for 5 weeks already and pulling in well under $50 thousand a day - even well under $20 thousand a day much of that time. And it's not impossible to imagine that Warner Brothers may allow DS to do the same if theaters are willing to keep showing it. And situations like that are what I meant when I said that quite often its in the long haul where films can continue to make money because even those smaller amounts of money add up over time. [ghost_wink]
32 days 20 hours 56 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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no video game? that sucks, cause i was dying to play as one of the characters. even if the game is cheesy it would still have been fun to play ya know? & really no porn spoof? they have one for pretty much everything else but no "DS" honestly that surprises me as well. you would think that with them putting out a "Beavis & Butthead" one or a "Mario Bros' one 2 of those actually
that "DS" wasn't one of them? it doesn't make me mad by any means just surprised by it that's all.
it'd prolly woudln't be 'Professor Stokes" but "Professor Stoker" or something close to that at least.
anyways, i do wonder if a sequel will come from this? i think i read that "Tim Burton" doesn't want to do it but i wonder if "Johnny Depp" or any of the other cast will if it''s someone else at the helm?
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And situations like that are what I meant when I said that quite often its in the long haul where films can continue to make money because even those smaller amounts of money add up over time. [ghost_wink]
And somewhat ironically, films can sometimes make more money for the exhibitor later in the run with a lower box office gross than they do at the beginning of the run with a higher gross. I really can't see WB pulling a movie out of a theater that's still selling tickets--unless they have a shortage of prints and there's another theater itching to show the print and there's a guarantee of more rental coming in at the new place.
Yes, DS was a bit of a disappointment boxoffice-wise. But that's because expectations were pretty high. Seen in perspective with other releases, it's doing reasonably well, and I have no doubt it will eventually end up being profitable for WB.
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In my opinion, the new movie was as good as it could be. One has to consider that it would be impossible to follow the original series too closely. That would have made the movie less appealing to the modern audience. Depp and Burton did a fine job recapturing the spirit of the series without allowing the movie to appear dated. It makes me proud to be part of the original hardcore fan base and this film would never have happened without the strong interest we show. We keep Dark Shadows alive for ourselves and future generations. [ghost_wink]
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I heartily disagree that it was "as good as it could be." After really processing it and distancing myself from the whole ordeal, I find it to be rather lackluster for a modern work of cinema. In fact, with the sheer amount of talent involved, it should have been a hundred times better. All of the actors are immensely talented people, yet I can really only think of two stand-out performances in this whole film: Michelle Pfeiffer and Gulliver McGrath. Eva Green was genuinely good, though I disliked much of the characterization. Bella Heathcote did well with what she had, but it wasn't enough. In the end, I felt that both Depp and HBC could have done far better. In comparing their takes to those of Frid, Hall, Cross, and Steele, I can safely say that I don't think anyone's favorite versions of Barnabas and Julia will be those portrayed in this film. (These two actors may have many talents, but, after seeing the film, I don't think they were right for these roles.) Jonny Lee Miller was severely shortchanged and should have been given a lot more screentime. This could have and should have been an "epic supernatural love story," not a mixed bag with tons of loose ends. It had its moments, and for that I am grateful. But it really isn't that good in my opinion. Maybe it just wasn't the kind of film I like... I don't know. But I won't beleaguer my stance. Just give me NoDS, and I will be thankful that Depp Shadows came along. Don't give it to me, and I will continue to think about all of the ways it could have been improved.
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I was looking around YouTube and came across this featurette that we haven't posted about:
Mroczne Cienie - Fragment Filmu: Sketch to screen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98mniJEviLg)
I think everything on the page is written in Polish - though the featurette is in English, so it's interesting that Warner Brothers US doesn't seem to have also posted it.
33 days 11 hours 35 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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As usual, DS's box office take went up on Tues., this week by an impressive 14%. It made $206,145, bringing the domestic total to $74,173,028.
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Thanks so much for posting Tuesday's numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
And I see that once again DS came in 11th:
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-12&p=.htm)
33 days 18 hours 56 minutes 55 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Had my 4th viewing last night. About 50 people in a smaller auditorium, love the film more and more each time.
Though I still think the vomiting and teeth-brushing scenes need to go.
Saw it with a friend, and we've both concluded that Ray Shirley (nu-Mrs. Johnson) is a drag queen.
Anyone want to comment on this?
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I love it more each time I see it too, David.
And ACTUALLY, I'm feeling more like Eva Green belongs on the next season of RuPaul (can I say a million times how much I love her growl or her reading of the line, "Where on Route 9?"). I'd consider going as Greengelique for Halloween this year ... [ghost_wink]
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LOL, Green is VERY over the top, kinda drag-queenish when she crashes the party in that flaming red dress!
But she's very much a woman.
Not so sure about Ray Shirley....
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DS is definitely winding down around here. Starting tomorrow it's down to one theater in town, two matinee shows a day, plus a few suburban locations. Get ready for the DVD!
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Judging by the theater pattern with other films this year, tomorrow DS should probably drop to about 700 theaters. Then the following Friday it could drop to somewhere around 250. However, it could quite possibly stay around that level for several weeks.
34 days 15 hours 43 minutes 19 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I just checked on Wrath of the Titans, a Warner Brothers film whose domestic theater pattern DS has been similar to, and tomorrow it will be beginning its 12th and quite possibly final week in theaters. And the reason it could be its last week is because, if they haven't already done so, studios often tend to pull films out of theaters by the Thursday before their DVD/Blu-ray releases - and the Wrath of the Titans' DVD/Blu-ray comes out June 26th.
So, IF DS was to similarly stay in theaters for 12 weeks and then release its DVD/Blu-ray, which of course is not a given, but if, then its DVD/Blu-ray would not be coming out until August 7th. However, DS has not followed Wrath of the Titans' foreign release pattern in that DS didn't open in Latin and South America at the same time that it basically did in Europe, Asia and Africa, and Australia and New Zealand. DS doesn't begin to open in Latin and South America until June 22nd. And video piracy being what it is these days, Warner Brothers may hold off releasing DS on DVD/Blu-ray until after the film has run its course in Latin and South America - and who knows when that will be?
34 days 16 hours 34 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS doesn't begin to open in Latin and South America until June 22nd. And video piracy being what it is these days, Warner Brothers may hold off releasing DS on DVD/Blu-ray until after the film has run its course in Latin and South America - and who knows when that will be?
Maybe the Latin and South America film release dates fit into a plan for a Halloween home video release? If we're looking at about two months or so for DS to play out in the US, allowing for two months of release in those other markets would mean that they could comfortably schedule a September or October DVD/Blu-ray release without conflicting with theatrical exhibition. I've got my credit card ready whenever it goes up for sale!!!
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Someone on one of the Depp boards that I was checking out a few weeks back had posted that they'd heard the DS DVD/Blu-ray is supposed to come out on September 25th - but they didn't say where they'd gotten that info. But it would follow your theory, KMR.
34 days 17 hours 34 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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On Wednesday DS brought in $181,241, which brings its current domestic gross stands at $74,354,269. And something that's interesting about the amount it brought in is that it's like $200 more than it brought in on Monday whereas normally Wednesday is the day of the week on which most films bring in their lowest box office take. But this Wednesday several films did better than they did on Monday, including a few of the other films around DS' placement on the chart, which was again 11th:
Wednesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-13&p=.htm)
I also checked the theater count for tomorrow and, as expected, DS will be dropping down to 680 theaters.
34 days 18 hours 18 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I don't know about Ray Shirley - but I do know that one of the funniest bits in the film for my friends and I is when Mrs. Johnson just suddenly zooms in and out of frame while she's presumably on a riding lawn mower during the "Top of the World" montage. [ghost_grin]
And just for you, Nicky:
[spoiler]http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Route9.swf[/spoiler]
(You may need to right-click on the image and uncheck/check "play" to start it. And you may need to uncheck "play" to stop it.)
34 days 19 hours 12 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I don't know about Ray Shirley - but I do know that one of the funniest bits in the film for my friends and I is when Mrs. Johnson just suddenly zooms in and out of frame while she's presumably on a riding lawn mower during the "Top of the World" montage. [ghost_grin]
That was my favorite of all the sight gags.
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I'd love a remix of it. "Where-where-where-where where off route 9? Wh-wh-where off r-r-r-route 9? Nuh nuh nuh nine?" Interspersed with the Vampire State Building's STUNNING rendition of "Barnabas".
(Thanks, MB. You make my day.)
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I was even more surprised than last week to notice that DS is still playing in 3 out of the 5 theaters it was playing in my vicinity last week - and the 1 that was showing it 4 times a day is still showing it 4 times a day. (The other 2 are still showing it 2 times, though one has changed it to the middle two shows and the other to the last two shows.)
35 days 11 hours 36 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS took a much bigger hit in my area this week [ghost_sad] The one theater that still played it 4 times daily this past week will now only have one late showing (~10:30 p.m.), and it's gone from most others. It's still playing in one IMAX in downtown DC through the 21st, and two places a bit further from me.
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Equally surprised that the film is still playing at the theatre I went to last Tuesday, also at four screenings a day. So I guess I will be paying them a visit this week.
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I've found 7 theaters in the Chicago metro area (one in Chicago itself) that are still showing DS. In Fandango, if I search by my Zip code it only brings up the one theater in Chicago. Searching by Chicago brings up 5. Searching by the other specific cities brings up various combinations of two or three. One of them only comes up if you search for St. Charles, even though it then returns a list that includes Elgin, but if you search Elgin, you don't get the theater in St. Charles. (What kind of geographical radius does Fandango default to? And why isn't it consistent??? Or maybe Elgin doesn't like St. Charles...)
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As some members have already noticed, I've just finished posting another batch of screen captures on the film's Caption This! board.
Happy captioning! [ghost_wink]
35 days 15 hours 23 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I wonder what our chances are of another film, or a new TV series on the CW or HBO?
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DS held onto 11th place yesterday, making $178,359 for a domestic total of $74,532,628. I'm guessing the numbers are going to drop a lot next week due to the loss in theaters, but hopefully it can make an even $75 within the next week [ghost_smiley]
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but hopefully it can make an even $75 within the next week [ghost_smiley]
I think you mean $75 million within the next week. (Let's hope it makes much more than $75 during the week!!) [ghost_wink]
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but hopefully it can make an even $75 within the next week [ghost_smiley]
I think you mean $75 million within the next week. (Let's hope it makes much more than $75 during the week!!) [ghost_wink]
Sorry, was lazy and attempting shorthand [ghost_wink]
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If I can believe the official website, there are no more theaters in Houston showing DS. I went one last time yesterday (my 9th). I doubt I'll be able to catch it in any second run theaters. I'm going Newport RI on the 25th. South Texas has a ton of second run theaters, but I don't know of any near Newport, and I'll be relying on public transportation. It's also not playing anywhere in RI (or at least no where in the Newport or Providence area). It's still showing in 2 theaters in Boston.
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OK, I read some previous posts and discovered Fandango. DS is playing in some of the areas I mentioned. It's not in the Newport County area, but if you are willing to drive a bit, you can see it in the Providence area. Dallas has quite a few theaters showing it and so does Houston.
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DS is still playing in New Bedford - but from Newport that's probably further away than Providence. [ghost_smiley] If only you'd come to Newport this past week because DS was playing in Middletown.
And as for the gross reaching $75 million, it's not hard to imagine that DS could bring in between $400-$500 thousand this weekend, so I could see it reaching that mark by Sunday or Monday.
And thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. Here's a link to Thursday's chart:
Thursday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-14&p=.htm)
It's really nice to see that DS was pretty consistent on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. [ghost_cool]
35 days 21 hours 46 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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i'm noticing that in the original EW cast photograph...which images make up the perimeter of this board...depp looks much less heavily made up, and his hair less spiky, than he does in the movie itself.
he almost looks "normal".
i wonder why they decided to tone him down for this image?
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[ghost_huh]
DS does not appear in the Friday estimate listings at Box Office Mojo.
Still in four Bay Area theaters.
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Given that the cast photo was taken before shooting actually began, it may have been the case that they decided to make Barnabas' look more pronounced for the film rather than toning it down for the photo. Who knows? Though there's certainly no denying that his face and eye makeup definitely looks more human in the cast photo:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/b0.jpg)(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/b1.jpg)
Though the bangs are still pretty much the same - they were just pushed more toward the right of his face. And when one thinks about it, it's actually quite amazing that the position of his bangs stayed perfectly the same throughout the entire 1972 portion of the film. He must have discovered some great early-'70s hair product! [ghost_grin]
And changing reels somewhat, I'm actually quite glad that you brought up Barnabas' look because while I was going through stills to locate a good one to use for comparison I came across this scene with David and Barnabas from one of their scenes that isn't even in the film:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/DSH-05479Gr.jpg)
And presumably that took place in David's bedroom, which I don't recall ever even seeing in the film...
And changing reels entirely, I see that in the Quick To Judge Films Sweepstakes we have two new films that have already been judged to be duds: Rock of Ages and That's My Boy. The first was forecast to bring in $28.6 million this weekend, but based on Friday's numbers they're now saying it will only bring in $15.3 - and the second was forecast to bring in $24.5 million, but now they're saying only $13.1 million. And of course, how they can be so certain of those numbers at this early stage I don't know, but it will be very interesting to see how things really do play out for those two films this weekend. But if the estimates really do prove true, it just goes to show how much better DS did in reality vs. forecasts on its opening weekend because it was forecast to bring in between $35-$30 million and at least it ended up bringing in $29.7 million. [ghost_wink]
36 days 12 hours 22 minutes 31 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_huh]
DS does not appear in the Friday estimate listings at Box Office Mojo.
Box Office Mojo tends to add films over the course of the day. Though quite often when it comes to films at the point in their runs that DS is in, its a case that they don't show up until the full weekend estimates or even the actuals chart.
Even boxoffice.com, which breaks up their weekend estimates into three separate categories: films playing in 1000+ theaters, between 100-999, and between 1-99, doesn't have a full list yet. In fact, the 100-999 list, which is where DS should place, currently only has 1 of the 10 films that should ultimately be listed.
36 days 12 hours 32 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
So far, DS is the most succesful Warner Bros film this year, though that will probably change when Dark Knight opens.
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Actually, DS is in third. [ghost_smiley] As of Thursday Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is in first with $103,617,522, and Wrath of the Titans is in second with $83,472,818. Though, of course, both of those are sequels with already established audiences. But DS is currently Warner Brothers highest grossing non-sequel film. [ghost_wink] And it will be interesting to see if that changes because I honestly haven't been paying attention enough to know what other non-sequels Warner Brothers might have coming up later this year.
36 days 12 hours 46 minutes 55 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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we definitely didn't see david's room in the film. from the picture it looks like a cool set...
if i'm recalling we only saw bedrooms for victoria and carolyn. and i guess the room barnabas was using.
the collinwood set was huge and splashy but we didn't actually see too much of the house really. what did we see? the entrance/foyer/grand hall space with the stairwell. elizabeth's study. the dining room. julia's laboratory. the cavernous basement space where the jewelry/valuables were hidden. the labyrinthine upstairs hallways where vicki followed josette's ghost around...
is that it?
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[ghost_cool]
I just Facebook friended actor Gabriel Frielich, who played the blonde hippie in the film--he sat right next to Depp at the campfire. I'm going to try to get an interview with him for the film's DVD release.
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And when one thinks about it, it's actually quite amazing that the position of his bangs stayed perfectly the same throughout the entire 1972 portion of the film. He must have discovered some great early-'70s hair product! [ghost_grin]
Maybe Dippity-Do? That stuff could make your hair stiff as concrete!
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Dippity-Do! Now there's a blast from the past! When did they stop making it? I can just picture Barnabas trying it. At least he would've just barely escaped "that greasy kid stuff." And how would he have reacted when told, on the sorcery box in Carolyn's room to "take it off - take it all off?"
Gerard
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A comprehensive behind the scenes. http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2012/06/blood-relations-making-of-dark-shadows.html
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Dippity-Do! Now there's a blast from the past! When did they stop making it? I can just picture Barnabas trying it.
There is/was also an alternative product [ghost_wink] A few years ago, on a promotional stop in Japan, someone presented Johnny with a gift- let's see if I can attach this photo (didn't work the first time)...
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Both Box Office Mojo and boxoffice.com have added another $5 million to DS' foreign gross, bringing it up to $135 million so. But it's going to be very interesting to see how much in brings in next weekend once the film opens in Latin and South America.
Neither Web site is reporting anything for DS for the weekend, so I suppose we're going to have to wait until the actuals are released tomorrow afternoon.
37 days 17 hours 44 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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A comprehensive behind the scenes.
Very nice article. Thanks so much for posting the link to it, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
37 days 17 hours 59 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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We can add Rock of Ages and That's My Boy to the list of films DS did much better than. Surprised about Rock which was a big hit on Broadway, but DS' opening weekend did twice as well. [ghost_smiley]
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Yes those 2 movies are being described as "thuds". DS pulled in $2.7 Million internationally over the weekend at 2,900 screens in 50 markets which I think is a good number as it is playing at far less locations than the top movies. That brings the total international take at $135 million. It should do better when it opens in more markets later next week. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/foreign-box-office-madagascar-3-snow-white-huntsman-prometheus-rock-ages-338555
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The weekend numbers have finally been posted at boxoffice.com. DS brought in $189,061 on Friday, $254,576 on Saturday, and $179,751 on Sunday, which totaled gives it $623,388 for the entire weekend (which is more than I was anticipating), and that brings its current domestic gross to $75,156,016. [ghost_cool]
Box Office Mojo hasn't posted their actuals chart, so we'll have to wait a bit longer to see where DS ranked for the weekend. But judging by the estimates chart it should be somewhere in the high teens.
38 days 15 hours 17 minutes 39 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Very interesting - Box Office Mojo now has both their daily actuals and weekend actuals charts up for the weekend, and though DS placed 14th on Friday, 15th on Saturday, and 16th on Sunday, it came in at 14th for the overall weekend:
Daily Weekend Actuals (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-15&p=.htm)
Weekend Actuals (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=24&p=.htm)
38 days 15 hours 33 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Quite interesting that while the number of screens dropped from 1500 to 680 for this past weekend, the average gross per screen didn't drop at all! Granted, the total gross was down from last weekend, but that's to be expected when more than half the screens were dropped. But this is the first time the average per screen didn't go down. I really wouldn't have expected that.
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Well, it's gone from Missoula, MT, which bums me out a bit (even though I saw it four times!). I was going to go again tomorrow; guess I'll just have to wait 'til the DVD ...
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I was in NYC over the weekend and passed the usual bootleg guys selling DVDs of the Avengers, Rock of Ages and Madagascar 3. Dark Shadows was not among the titles I saw on display.
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Trailers en Español are out there. More than one version, if I understand correctly. I don't know if these were edited specifically for the Spanish language market, or if they're simply dubbed versions of existing trailers. The voice-overs are interesting, and I think the "foley" might be over-dubbed as well. YouTube has some, but they don't offer a linkable link if you're using a lowly iPhone. But, VIMEO does. Behold:
SOMBRAS TENEBROSAS!
http://vimeo.com/40770097
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and I think the "foley" might be over-dubbed as well.
Nope. I was eager to use that word I just learnt, and headphones reveal a bit more than the iPhone speaker. Sounds pretty kosher to me.
If I can find a way to stop wasting time, I'll see if I can't interpret any peculiar wordage.
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Thanks so much for sharing the link, retzev. [ghost_smiley]
That particular Spanish trailer looks to be the same as the European version - it includes both the shot of Barnabas between Angelique's legs and the shot of her dragging her nails across his back (both of which were apparently just too shocking for US audiences to handle in a trailer but obviously perfectly fine seemingly everywhere else in the world [ghost_rolleyes]).
That trailer also includes the second bit that doesn't appear in the film but no one else as yet would seem to have realized it isn't actually in the film. [ghost_wink]
39 days 11 hours 20 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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no bootleg dvds of ds? the powers to be are probably patrolling and reporting any of the bootleggers. nothing gets by you know who.
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Fangoria Mag told me to interview Gabriel Frielich, the blonde hippie from Depp Shadows.
The young man just responded and said yes.
Should be interesting to get his perspective of being on that set.
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Definitely, David. I'll certainly be looking forward to the interview. [ghost_smiley]
39 days 13 hours 31 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Monday's numbers for DS are in at boxoffice.com, and it brought in $79,483, which now brings its current domestic gross to $75,235,499. And once again, what DS brought in on Monday is pretty normal. In fact, it's one of the highest amounts brought in this year by a film in its 39th day and playing in about the same amount of theaters that DS currently is. And, yes, once again I've prepared a list - now one that will compare DS to this year's other films in their 39nd day of release. However, like past weeks, I can't attach it just now because Monday's figures aren't in for all the films I want to include on the list - but it will definitely be attached when I post the link to Box Office Mojo's chart after it becomes available.
39 days 15 hours 17 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It looks like on Monday that DS may have retained its 14th place overall weekend placement - however, at this point in a lot of films' runs Box Office Mojo no longer assigns them a number on the list - and that is the case with DS. But looking at the weekend's number, at least one of the two films that placed ahead of DS on Sunday (Bernie) came in on Monday with numbers lower than DS - but the other film (For Greater Glory) wasn't tracked on Monday, so it may or may not have brought in more. But at any rate, we can be certain that DS isn't any lower than 15th.
Monday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-18&p=.htm)
I also noticed that DS finally opened in Turkey this past weekend. It was the highest debuting film and came in 3rd for the weekend behind Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and only $2,617 behind Prometheus.
(And again, if you haven't checked out one of the lists already, refer to the explanation in reply #537 on page 36 of this topic because the premise is basically the same with the 39th day's list attached here.
And it's worth noting that this is the first week in a few weeks that nothing that was released is likely to overtake DS on the 2012 Yearly Grosses chart. [ghost_happy])
39 days 16 hours 4 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This might ramble a bit.
I'm thinking about that Spanish trailer, and wondering if "big" films like DS12 are typically released in foreign language markets on DVD with foreign language dubs, or are they usually released with foreign language subtitles alone.
From what I've gathered, subtitles are a tricky business, and they can take a couple of different forms.
Let's say you're watching an Italian horror film from the 1960s on DVD. The original Italian language track is included, as well as an English language dub. You might opt to watch it in the original Italian language with the English subtitles on, in order to best experience "the directors's vision".
Hopefully, the subtitles are "good" subtitles. Assuming they're clearly visible, are they well written? Are they a faithful rendering of the original language dialogue? Or, are they what are known as dub-titles, transcriptions of the English language dub? If they're dub-titles, and the English language dub is a fairly accurate representation of the original foreign language track, all might be well and good. But, as is often the case, if the dubbed English dialogue strays far from the original language track, you might not be getting everything you bargained for.
My favorite scenario is a foreign language film on DVD that includes an English language dub, with "true" subtitles in English. It can be a lot of fun to watch a favorite foreign language film in its English language dub with the English subtitles on, and enjoy the often significant differences in translation, emphasis, nuance, etc.
I'd love to get my hands on some foreign language versions of DS12 that include English language subtitles of the foreign language dialogue.
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That could be very interesting and possibly even quite enlightening - especially if the translations are really way off. [ghost_wink] Though the problem with foreign release DVDs are that they're most often released with a different region code, so unless one has a player that can handle them practically (like not having to reset the player's region code so often that the ability to do so ever again eventually gets completely lost), checking out foreign DS DVDs might ultimately be more of a problem than the fun of watching them might be worth. [ghost_sad]
40 days 10 hours 54 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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As expected, DS' box office was higher on Tuesday, bringing in $91,379, which brings its current domestic gross to $75,326,878. And it also seems as if DS retained its 14th or 15th placement:
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-19&p=.htm)
DS also had one of the highest percentages of increase within the films in the Top 15.
40 days 18 hours 41 minutes 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It is slowly approaching the $80 million mark. I don't see the movie earning more than that doemestically.
The DVD release date in the U.K. is October 22, 2012 http://www.sainsburysentertainment.co.uk/en/Films-TV/DVD/Johnny-Depp/Dark-Shadows/product.html?product=E11100575
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Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley] And I learned something because of that Web site because I'd always presumed that the region codes for Blu-rays are the same for DVDs, but apparently that's not true. I noticed that on that site the DS DVD, as would be expected, is region 2: Europe and Japan - but the Blu-ray on the site is region B: Europe, Australia and New Zealand. So, not only are there different region codes, but the regions are comprised of different countries (Australia and New Zealand are part of DVD region 4). And I guess part of my confusion stems from the fact that 70% or so of Blu-rays have no region codes on them, or so I've read, so I've never really realized until I read it tonight that the Blu-ray region code for the US is region A. It's also interesting that while there are 6 regions for DVDs, there are only 3 for Blu-rays. Who knew? [ghost_wink]
As for how much DS will ultimately gross domestically, a lot of that will depend on how long Warner Brothers keeps it in theaters, how many theaters it will ultimately be playing in, and what it might gross in those theaters. But just as an example, since also dropping down to begin its 6th week in release to about the same level of theaters that DS is currently playing in and decreasing in theaters thereafter, Wrath of the Titans has so far brought in an additional $2,414,035 - and that's over the course of a not quite complete 7 week period as Wrath of the Titans is currently in its 12th week of release. DS is currently in its 6th week of release, so if DS was to gross about the same amount during a similar additional 7 week run in theaters, it probably wouldn't even reach $80 million domestically over that period of time. Though, of course, there's no way to predict how well DS might do from here on in or how long Warner Brothers will keep it in theaters. Only time will give us the answers to those questions. Though one thing that is nice is that in its first 5 days of its 6th week in release, Wrath of the Titans brought in $537,277, whereas DS has brought in $794,250 and done so while also playing in 35 fewer theaters. [ghost_cool]
40 days 22 hours 0 minutes 38 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'm interviewing Gabriel Frielich (blonde hippie in Depp Shadows) tomorrow--should be fun, and he's excited to be appearing in Fangoria.
Looking at his head shots, I'm realizing that he's much younger than I thought. He's doing another horror film now.
I've got about a half dozen questions (so far) ready for him.
Anything anyone would like me to ask him?
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MB I did not as well know about the different DVD region code variations. Interesting stuff. I assume we will know shortly when the U.S. DVD release will be.
TB in this new interview discusses in part how he feels the test screening process is not helpful to him (which may explain why changes apparently weren't made based on the DS test screening phase). He also talks about that it is painful to him that filmed shots are left on the cutting room floor and mentions that his films don't typically have many deleted scenes. http://collider.com/tim-burton-beetlejuice-2-sequel-interview/174738/
Good luck with the interview David. Besides the obvious questions, how long did the campfire fire scene take to film and if parts were left on the cutting room floor; if he has any props from the movie etc...if he has heard any talks about a possible sequel although he won't be in it unless he became the walking undead.
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Having all the hippies, the workmen and Julia back as vampires could make for a fun sequel!
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Most of the cheapie DVD players that can be had for about $30 at big box stores and drug stores, etc, are easily permanently hacked to region 0, and will play just about any DVD you put in them. All it usually takes is a google search of the model number and the words region hack, which should lead you to a series of commands to enter on the remote control, and presto cheapo region free DVD player
for 30 bucks. I'm not sure about the Blu-ray side of things, I haven't made that leap yet.
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My sixth viewing today. Another "private screening". I think this might be the last week in this theatre. We'll see if it hits "the nabes", as Variety used to call neighborhood theaters.
Some observations.....
Julia is absolutely right when she calls Vicki a liar, with secrets. Not that Julia doesn't have a few of her own.
Vicki has come to Collinwood to tutor David. But what about Carolyn? She's only fifteen. Is she being home schooled? Or going to Collinsport High School? Or just being moody full time?
When we see Carolyn outside the house with David and Elizabeth, it's just for a second or two. Did she still have the werewolf makeup on?
Any comments, cousins?
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I think she de-werewolferized herself after Liz carried her out. My question is: how long has Carolyn been transforming? We know Angelique sent the werewolf to bite Carolyn "in her crib," but does that mean she's been changing since she was a baby and Liz had no idea? I was under the impression that either a) she started transforming recently, or b) that was her first change.
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I thought that Carolyn had only begun transforming recently. David makes reference to her making noises at that early breakfast scene. But she would not have been able to hide that from her mother and David indefinitely. Such a big deal is made about her age, so maybe that's part of it also.
I'm not sure if she broke the curse herself or if the spell simply ended with Angelique's death.
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I just took it for granted that Carolyn's lycanthropic curse started taking effect when she hit puberty, but even then only gradually. And it appears she does have some control over it.
Gerard
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WHAT is the current worldwide total?
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Current worldwide gross is just over $210 million.
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Thanks for the link to the Tim Burton interview, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
It's no secret that I share Burton's dislike for test screenings, mostly because the more I read about how the studios react to them and how they can affect films, the more it seems that actors dislike how many of their favorite scenes end up being cut and directors believe their vision is frequently compromised. I have yet to read an article in which any person on the creative end of filmaking has said they felt the test screening process made for a better film.
And Burton's comments about not normally having a lot of cut scenes is interesting. Apparently DS was the exception rather than the rule with him.
And going somewhat OT, it's going to be very interesting to see how Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter does because the industry box office predictions are dire to say the least - and some of the worst reviews that DS received would easily be considered glowing by comparison to what I've been hearing many of the initial reviews are like. And honestly all of that surprises me because the second time I went to see DS I saw a newer trailer for AL:VH and it looked great. But then we all know how trailers can be deceiving when it comes to what a film might actually be like. [ghost_wink] And if the film really does do as badly as is currently being predicted, one can't help but wonder how that might not just affect the potential Beetlejuice sequel, but the entire future of Seth Grahame-Smith's screenwriting career?
41 days 15 hours 39 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It was interesting seeing TB disdain for test screenings. I was kind of surprised he was that emphatic and thought he would tale a slightly more politically correct stance on the matter knowing that studios may be watching. Good for him.
Plus Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is rated R which may hurt its box office receipts. SGS is a hot writer but hot can go to cold pretty fast in this industry. I have a feeling this movie will not do well and I was not really impressed with its trailers. It just seems to me that studios don't know how to market movies any more.
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Interestingly, for the second week in a row DS brought in more on Wednesday than it did on Monday even though Wednesday tends to be the worst day of the week at the box office - and once again it wasn't alone because a few other films also did better on Wednesday. But as for the numbers, DS brought in $81,328, bringing its current domestic gross to $75,408,206. (And in a head-to-head 6th week comparison it's now outperforming Wrath of the Titans by even more because at this point Wrath of the Titans had $574,536, whereas DS now has $875,578.)
As for its rank, DS seems to have come in at 15th because Bernie brought in more (in fact, Bernie was actually one of a handful of film to bring in even more than it brought on Wednesday). Though because For Greater Glory isn't being tracked, DS may have even been 16th.
Also I checked the theater count for tomorrow, and as expected DS will once again be dropping down - though not by as much as I was expecting last week because it will be playing in 302 theaters starting on Friday.
41 days 19 hours 4 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It was interesting seeing TB disdain for test screenings. I was kind of surprised he was that emphatic and thought he would tale a slightly more politically correct stance on the matter knowing that studios may be watching. Good for him.
From what I've read it doesn't seem like there are many if any creative types in Hollywood who aren't very open about their dislike of the test screening process. It certainly seems like the only ones who like it are the studios - but then, they would. [ghost_wink]
Plus Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is rated R which may hurt its box office receipts. SGS is a hot writer but hot can go to cold pretty fast in this industry. I have a feeling this movie will not do well and I was not really impressed with its trailers. It just seems to me that studios don't know how to market movies any more.
True, it is R rated, though no one seems to be basing their forecasts on that. For example, earlier this month Box Office Mojo simply said "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is the closest thing to a sure-fire miss that this Summer has to offer." They also said "its chances of becoming a hit look slim." And just earlier this week boxoffice.com said "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is shaping up to be one of the summer's biggest duds." Most are forecasting that at the most it's likely to bring in $14 million this weekend and that it will be lucky to gross $40 million. Compare that with other R rated vampire themed films like, say, Blade, which opened back in '98 with $17,073,856 and went on to gross $70,087,718, and even Underworld Awakening, which earlier this year opened with $25,306,725 and went on to gross $62,321,039. If the forecasts hold, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter's performance will be fairly pathetic - and certainly a hell of a lot worse than DS.
41 days 19 hours 41 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I guess if DS had been rated R its box office performance would have been much less. I guess then WB and
T-P-T-B made the right move.
fyi Seller on ebay has 25 official production stills from the movie. We have seen the images before just not as shown. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dark-Shadows-JOHNNY-DEPP-Rare-25-B-W-press-Photos-Chloe-Grace-Moretz-TIM-BURTON-/320931093334?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab8fbdb56
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as of today, down to one Bay Area theater, two shows a day.
it's winding down.
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Great collection of stills, Jimbo! Thank you so much for sharing.
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Uncle Roger they certainly do look great. I think the price is a bit too high at least for me.
I didn't expect to see the DS movie being called a flop and bomb in the same article. The Tourist didn't bomb so I guess this writer's credibility could be at question. WB seems to be hesitant greenlighting the next Depp WB project. http://moviehole.net/201254985have-dark-shadows-and-empty-pockets-delayed-depps-the-thin-man
And a related atricle states that WB isn't happy with DS' performance. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Johnny-Depp-Thin-Man-Remake-Might-Having-Brakes-Put-31529.html
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For those who like The Onion...
http://www.theonion.com/audio/johnny-depps-indentured-servitude-to-tim-burton-en,28610/
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I agree that those stills on Ebay seem to be way overpriced - particularly when excellent, high-resolution, color versions of them would all seem to be available on the Internet for free. Simply having copies with the DS and/or WB logos on them isn't worth it.
And actually, when it comes to those articles, a lot more than credibility might be at question, particularly with that second article because what I see is one entertainment Web site jumping to conclusions based on what one other entertainment Web site wrote. The cinemablend.com site states: "but apparently Warners is none to happy with the performance of Dark Shadows" as if that is fact (and honestly, what's more apparent is that they don't know the difference between "to" and "too") - however, they cite Deadline as their source and what Deadline actually says is "Warner Bros can’t have been too happy with the performance of Dark Shadows," which is clearly stated as an opinion, not as a fact. [sad3] But as we know only too well, opinions often get run with as facts by far too many sites because we can never forget the whole DS-IS-Completely-Dead-Fiasco after Entertainment Weekly offered an opinion that DS was going to be "backburnered" in favor of Depp's Disney slate of films and was going to be "kaput for now." Just how many Web sites actually picked up on the "for now" part or acknowledged that what EW had written was pure opinion? Uh, none. ::)
Of course, it could easily be true that Warner Brothers is disappointed with DS' performance - especially given some of the forecasts the various entertainment Web sites put out before the film was released. But there's no way to know if it's to the extent that cinemablend.com insinuates when there are no facts to back it up and their source is nothing but an opinion that didn't even originate from Warner Brothers but from another entertainment site. So, like myself and others have stated more than once, a lot of this stuff has to be taken with a huge grain of salt - especially whenever it can clearly be seen as exaggerating what an original source has said.
42 days 11 hours 53 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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For those who like The Onion...
Oh, that's hysterical, usffan - thanks for sharing the link. [ghost_smiley]
42 days 12 hours 9 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS is still playing in 2 theaters in my vicinity. And though both are showing it only twice a day, one of the showings is still the prime first evening showing. So, DS must still be doing fairly well around here for there to still be 2 theaters showing it when there are now 302 theaters in the entire country showing it - and to still be showing it when the theaters are likely to be doing their best business of the day.
(And BTW, I was wrong when I said that Wrath of the Titans might have been closing yesterday because its DVD/Blu-ray release is this upcoming Tuesday because it's still playing in 70 theaters, meaning it's beginning its 13th week in release today. We should only be so lucky that Warner Brothers will keep DS in theaters as long.)
42 days 12 hours 36 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS' box office performance continues to be quite interesting this week because on Thursday it brought in $84,454, bringing its current domestic gross to $75,492,660 (and means that in its 6th week in release it brought in $960,032, which far surpasses the $615,593 Wrath of the Titans did for Warner Brothers in its 6th week in release at 35 more theaters than DS was in. And it's definitely going to be very interesting to see if DS can continue to outperform Wrath of the Titans and bring in more than it did in its 7th week.)
(And if anyone wonders why I keep comparing DS to Wrath of the Titans, it's because it's the one Warner Brothers film this year that closely resembles the path that DS has been on. And more notably, according to many sites it supposedly cost $195 million and has brought in $83,594,880 domestically thus far, yet no one is saying it was a bomb, or a dud, or a flop, or whatever other derogatory descriptions they can come up with.)
42 days 15 hours 48 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I happened to like this article because it shows contrasting and balanced reactions/reasoning to WB's decision holding off on JD's The Thin Man. Unfortunately more websites will be going with Deadline's take something you touched upon MB. http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/thin-man-remake-hold-kerbl.php
It is true. I haven't heard any of those derogatory descriptions regarding Wrath of the Titans. It would even be better if DS overtook said movie but that seems unlikely.
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It might have been nice had that article also mentioned that DS has grossed more than some of Depp's more recent films like The Tourist and The Rum Diary - though, of course, if they had, then Deadline's opinion on DS would have been rendered much less effective, and, of course, we wouldn't want that. No. Perish the thought.
But moving on the some things that aren't matters of opinion but are actual facts, I see where Box Office Mojo has posted its Thursday as well as its weekly charts and the actual rankings for the week are in because For Greater Glory is included. As expected, DS placed 14th on Monday and Tuesday and placed 15th on Wednesday. And on Thursday it held onto 15th (and was actually one of a handful of the Top 15 films to have a percentage gain from Wednesday):
Thursday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-21&p=.htm)
And as for the week, DS came in 15th (missing 14th by only $1,020):
Weekly Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=2012&wk=24&p=.htm)
42 days 19 hours 51 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I got the feeling the writer was trying to defend JD and not accept Deadline's position. Yes it would have been nice if the writer had indicated DS surpassed The Tourist at least domestically. I presume DS will be losing more locations from last week as of today.
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I presume DS will be losing more locations from last week as of today.
So, DS must still be doing fairly well around here for there to still be 2 theaters showing it when there are now 302 theaters in the entire country showing it
[ghost_smiley]
42 days 20 hours 23 minutes 41 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Sorry I didn't catch that. It really is winding down.
Smart movie by Universal to delay the Bourne Legacy. DS is referenced.
http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/bourne-legacy-delayed-week-avoid-dark-knight-rises/
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It really is winding down.
Though films often play at that level and less for several additional weeks. For instance, as I've mentioned, Wrath of the Titans went into its 13th week of release today and is playing in only 70 theaters. In the previous 6 weeks it had been playing in 265, 360, 255, 205, 150, and 105 theaters. And it doesn't even have to be a film that's been doing particularly well at the box office because Cabin in the Woods went into its 11th week of release today in 196 theaters. In the previous 4 weeks it had been playing in 203, 136, 113, and 224 theaters. And those are but two examples. [ghost_wink]
42 days 20 hours 48 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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SGS very briefly commented on the DS movie. "It largely didn't work..." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505270_162-57458589/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-author-speaks-out/?tag=socsh
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To be perfectly honest, other than here, I've never heard of that Titans movie. None of my friends have. I admit, I don't follow movies much anymore because I can't afford to see them. Yet, my friends were all psyched about DS, even the ones who never like the OS. They heard about it (other than through me). They all loved it. I think that says a great deal about the DS movie. Althought it didn't make as much money as WB hoped (because of its shoddy marketing), it still has been a money-maker. And I think that says a great deal, too.
Gerard
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DS was in 3D - hmmm - I must have missed that.
[ghost_rolleyes]
It is nice to read, though, that SG-S is proud of the film. I suspect he should be because it's not his fault how it was edited or marketed. And we probably have months before the Blu-ray comes out, but I can't wait to see those promised deleted scenes to see what the film might have been had Warner Brothers not issued their under 2 hours edict.
42 days 21 hours 33 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yes that I caught but there is nothing we can do. There always seems to be a mistake in most DS articles/references. I have given up pointing them out unless it truly effects the story. Perhaps one day....
Wasn't the Titans suppose to be a franchise or at least a trilogy? I too don't know much about it.
Here is another production interview. It seems to be a bit different than the last one I linked to here. http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/dark_shadows_vfx
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SGS very briefly commented on the DS movie. "It largely didn't work..." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505270_162-57458589/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-author-speaks-out/?tag=socsh
I think he's being self-deprecating. Not that that's a bad thing, because humility makes one a better artist. But if DS "largely didn't work," it's because of the stupid heads at WB who didn't know how to market it. SGS wrote a wonderful screenplay that captured the essence of DS and removed the inconsistencies and made it relevent. In many ways, it logically worked better than the OS, the '70 film and the '91 TV remake because it dealt with a Barnabas who muddled his way through trying to understand the culture and technology of 200 advanced years, rather than some guy who showed up knocking at the door of Collinwood in a few days, wearing his Robert Hall suit and Thom McCan shoes trying to bluff his way in being able to hold his own about a discussion regarding the last episode of Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, or The Cosy Show. Considering that SGS appears to be to young to understand those various time period and cultures, he was very adapt at bringing parts of them to life.
Gerard
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Getting back to how DS stopped production on The Thin Man:
how the hell does Thin Man, a drawing room comedy, cost $100 million? [ghost_shocked]
Budgets and expectations are out of control across the board.
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how the hell does Thin Man, a drawing room comedy, cost $100 million?
It must be the dog.
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[pointing-up]
[nodassent]
I love the original Thin Man movies, and I really can't imagine them being redone. My hope is that if a new one ever came out, it would be in black and white. (But that is probably asking too much.)
It's interesting that WB and SGS all seem to be disappointed in DS when it doesn't seem to have flopped. But it certainly wasn't recognizable as DS from their marketing standpoint. I honestly don't understand a studio wanting to own a property and then make it something it isn't, has never been, and will never be at anytime in the future. It's strange... very strange. And for them to complain about it (externally or internally) is just silly. They brought it on themselves with their marketing, their editing edict, and their approval of the screenplay. They made poor decisions, but it's not the fault of the property. It's how the property was handled.
I see there are Frankenweenie toys already available. The fact that there was no additional marketing or tie-ins for it really makes me question what was really going on in the months leading up to its release. It's not normal for something the studio was allegedly expecting to be a "summer blockbuster" or "tentpole" to not have any promotions relating to it. I wonder if we will ever know everything that went down. Maybe Jim Pierson will have something to say at the festival. That should be fun... [ghost_wink]
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All things are relative, I suppose. If Warner Brothers expected the film to be a major blockbuster that would pack the theaters through the summer, then they probably were disappointed. But the film didn't bomb. It found an audience and was reasonably successful. You'd think that would be enough.
It Is very odd that, other than a couple of makeup items, there was hardly any merchandising done. I doubt that McDonalds would have done a Happy Meal promotion based on what happens in the film. Can you picture the slogan? When you think of Satan, you're thinking of McDonalds.
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That would have been impressive! [ghost_wink]
And while I was not expecting Mephistopheles... er... Mickey D's to produce toys, I was expecting some sort of tie-in with a food company (probably some giveaway or drawing, like the Spiderman stuff at Hardee's), as well as high-end dolls or action figures for the main characters, or at least Barnadepp. Maybe T-Shirts at Hot Topic? The fact that we got nothing is astounding, especially since this was a PG-13 film. Even the Wolf Man got some deluxe figures, and that was R and not a summer release.
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When I visited the official Web site about three weeks ago to see if anything new had been added I noticed that they were offering T-shirts and caps. But honestly I didn't pay that much attention to them because neither really interested me - and though I may be mistaken (I've been too lazy to check) I was thinking that someone had already mentioned them here and I'd just forgotten about it. But if I didn't read it here, I must have read it somewhere else because I did read it somewhere. And perhaps they'll eventually show up in stores like Newbury Comics because they tend to carry a lot of film merchandise that isn't otherwise distributed through other chains.
As for Seth Grahame-Smith, I suspect the framing of much of what he says in the article is his concerted effort to genuinely try to salvage his screenwriting career. Rightly or wrongly, he got blasted for DS (even though it remains to be seen whether or not his script hadn't fleshed out a lot more than was seen on screen) - and he's getting blasted even worse for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Though at least with the latter he probably should have realized that might be the case because a whole slew of book critics fell all over themselves to blast him for the book, so with that already in mind, there were probably a whole slew of film critics just waiting for the opportunity to do the same with the film (even though, as I understand it, the film is different from the book). Sadly and often quite unfairly, that's sometimes the way it is with film critics. Though given the dire box office forecasts for the film, maybe it really is as bad as so many indicators are foreshadowing.
43 days 10 hours 55 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Here is another production interview.
I'm really looking forward to checking that out. But last night and still today when I tried again I couldn't get the images to completely download. But I'm sure they'll download for me at some point, so I'll just have to keep trying.
43 days 11 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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MB that site is using a great deal of flash in each image and also has a short video. Perhaps that is why its taking some time to load.
Vampire Hunter is estimated to have only taken in $6,300 million on Friday for a $17,500 million estimated weekend gross, the latter as per Deadline. Mojo doesn't list DS' performance as of this writing.
I will need to check out those shirts and caps. Thanks for the heads up.
I just checked the official website. I didn't see the shirts/caps although I may be looking at the wrong sections.
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It's always fascinating how different sites get the same Friday estimates but come up with different predictions for the weekend because boxoffice.com is saying they think AL:VH will bring in $15.75 million. Though either way, it's still higher than the $14 million that was being predicted by many forecasters earlier in the week. But then, predictions are just that, predictions - and sometimes they're low - and sometimes they're too high. [ghost_wink]
As for DS, none of the sites had estimates for DS last weekend. The numbers for DS weren't revealed until the actuals came out on Monday. And it'll probably be the same this weekend.
Wrath of the Titans brought in $214,933 for its 7th weekend - we'll see how DS compares.
43 days 12 hours 51 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Hey all, lurker here popping out of the shadows...
I didn't see the movie. It seems real good, but I just don't go see movies or watch them much at all. I've read all the posts and pics and watched the youtube videos and such. I plan on buying the DVD when it's out.
I'm glad that most everybody here enjoyed the movie and seen it multiple times! [ghost_cool]
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FYI The DS movie is up to $218,492,660 million worldwide (estimated) week ending June 24, 2012. http://www.rentrak.com/section/corporate/press_room/weekly_top_10_charts.html
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Doesn't look like that chart has factored in what DS made domestically over the weekend because the domestic amount is still the same. And it also looks like DS' foreign take during the week was something like $1.1 million because the total foreign take for the week was about $8 million (as it jumped from $135 million to $143 million) and the weekend foreign take was $6.9 million. It will definitely be interesting to see the individual foreign charts once Box Office Mojo posts them. [ghost_wink]
And speaking of foreign box office, I was originally thinking that this past weekend's wave of openings in Latin and South America were the last for DS, but apparently I was wrong because the film doesn't open in Venezuela until August 17. Who knows why so much later than the rest of the world? But that could be another reason why it looks like the DVD/Blu-ray release may not be until October.
Thanks for posting the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
45 days 11 hours 29 minutes 51 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I was looking around the Venezuelan FB page for DS and this video is included as part of their official videos:
Dark Shadows Bloopers (Johnny Depp Impression) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AvguXCSZoco)
It's not actual bloopers - but it is funny. [ghost_grin]
45 days 11 hours 57 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Looking around on YouTube I discovered that the person who did the above video also reviewed the film (in fact, the above video is actually a part of the review):
Dark Shadows - Movie Review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=yl0074amTKQ)
The end of the review also includes some quite funny outakes from the supposed bloopers. [ghost_cheesy]
45 days 12 hours 12 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I see that according to the numbers just posted on boxoffice.com DS continues to outperform Wrath of the Titans by comparison because in its 7th weekend DS brought in $260,447 ($82,055 on Friday, $108,624 on Saturday, and $69,768 on Sunday). Though the numbers aren't up yet on Box Office Mojo, so we'll have to wait to see how the film ranked over the weekend.
45 days 15 hours 4 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I've been on vacation for the past week and didn't have too much time online, but it was great to check in here and keep up to date with all the latest news and box office, so thanks to all for all the updates!
Boxoffice.com now has the box office actuals through yesterday- I'm too lazy to add up the weekend results but it looks like DS made about $260K, and the domestic total is now $75,753,107. (Edited to add- crossposted with you, MB- thanks for the exact total- I was close!) They have the worldwide total at $219,353,107. I was sad to return home to see it playing in only one theater in the whole DC region this week; it's a discount theater and I doubt I'll make it there this week at all, and I don't know if they'll keep it next week. I'm glad I did get to see it 3x in theaters, but I'd be up for one more time if I can.
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crossposted with you, MB
No problem at all - especially when you shared info that I didn't. [ghost_wink]
45 days 15 hours 10 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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As I mentioned last week, DS had reached a point where Box Office Mojo doesn't always number all the films on their charts. However, from what they are listing and what I've also been able to piece together from other sites, it looks like DS was probably in 20th place on both Saturday and Sunday, and then in 22nd place on Sunday, which ranks it 21st for the weekend overall. But also like last week, we probably won't know that for certain until Box Office Mojo posts their Weekly Chart on Friday.
Weekend Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=25&p=.htm)
(And on the AL:VH front, it brought in $16,306,974, $193,026 less than the studio's estimate - but over $2 million more than what the so-called expert forecasters were initially predicting. [ghost_wink] Though as the weekend progressed, it made less every day (whereas Saturday is normally the day films bring in the most), so that may not be a good sign.)
45 days 19 hours 39 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Now we even have the Wall Street Journal referring to the DS movie as a bomb in a political article. I don't think I will ever get used to this misrepresentation. The numbers as MB and the others have presented here don't indicate the movie bombed. A major disappointment yes but not a disaster. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577488774200644182.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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Oh, gee! [ghost_rolleyes] Including DS is bad enough because its box office performance has been nothing on the scale of disappointment as either John Carter or Battleship, but who knows why they've also included The Dictator because it was never expected to make a ton of money and is actually performing only slightly below what was predicted. But then I supposed they think that every Sacha Baron Cohen film has to perform as well as Borat or else it's a bomb. After all, the chief reason DS is being called a bomb and a dud and a flop is because it hasn't made as much as some of Depp's and/or Burton's other films have, so I suppose Sacha Baron Cohen is just getting the same treatment regardless of the facts involved. [ghost_sad]
45 days 20 hours 9 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I may be naive but I expected a more accurate description for the DS movie from the reputable WSJ. MB you are right it should not have been grouped with the others. Even though the article was posted in the publication's Opinion section, WSJ should know that there is a huge difference between a movie disappointing than saying on the record that the movie bombed especially in light of its impressive worldwide gross totals to date. I would be more accepting of this from a blogger. Again I may be just naive.
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as a group we've spent the better part of forty years being the underdogs of fandom...
perhaps it's just our destiny. now "bomb" can join "campy" and "bloopers" as part of our legacy.
it's unfortunate, because to me it seems like the film did relatively well and the description is hardly accurate, but i'm not going to get upset or defensive about it.
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I'm with you, Michael.
The only thing that really upsets me about that article is the fact that I have to pay to read the rest.
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It's probably not naive to be surprised that some newspaper opinion pieces might use standards more appropriate for an Internet blog because there was a time not too long ago that most never would have dreamed of doing so because they held themselves up to a higher journalistic standard. And I don't know it the program is available across the entire country, but my local PBS station carries a program entitled Beat The Press (hosted by Emily Rooney, the daughter of the late Andy Rooney), which features a roundtable discussion scrutinizing (and also celebrating) all manner of news media (newspapers, local TV news, cable news, radio news, etc...), and they often take newspapers to task for their reporters behaving more like bloggers than professional journalists who should be holding themselves to a higher standard. But they also concede that in this day and age newspapers are fighting for their lives because of competition from the Internet, so rightly or wrongly, some newspapers which wouldn't have ever gone that route are having certain reporters begin to lower their standards to operate like bloggers in order to attract readership. It's just the new reality in a media fighting for survival.
And as for the "bomb" word being bandied about, well, like I said a few weeks ago, seeing it is really nothing new for fandom because NoDS has been described as a "bomb" more times than I can even begin to remember - yet it was not a bomb because it made money. But once that impression gets out in the world, it takes on a life of its own regardless of whether it's based on real facts or not. Again, just look at how many times The Tourist continues to be described that way, with the latest example being just the other day. Sadly, the people doing the describing don't really even care if it's true or not because, as madscntst pointed out, all they actually care about is making bold statements in the hope of attracting as many people to their writing as possible.
46 days 11 hours 12 minutes 54 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Monday's numbers for DS are in at boxoffice.com, and it brought in $34,538, which now brings its current domestic gross to $75,787,645. And once again, what DS brought in on Monday is not only pretty normal, it's one of the higher amounts brought in this year by a film in its 46th day and playing in about the same amount of theaters that DS currently is (it's actually more than $20,000 over what Wrath of the Titans brought in on its 46th day of release). And it's probably no surprise that once again I've prepared a list to compare DS to this year's other films in their 46th day of release. However, just as in past weeks I can't attach it just now because Monday's figures aren't in for all the films I want to include on the list - but it will be attached when I post the link to Box Office Mojo's chart after it becomes available.
46 days 15 hours 18 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It would seem like DS is still holding at 22nd - though there is a small possibility that it could be either 21st or even 20th because, like last week, For Greater Glory isn't being reported during the week and apparently Think Like A Man has also joined that club. Both of those films came in ahead of DS on Sunday (with Think Like A Man only slightly ahead), but we probably won't know what they make each weekday this week until Box Office Mojo posts its Weekly Chart on Friday.
Monday Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-25&p=.htm)
(And again, if you haven't checked out one of the lists already, refer to the explanation in reply #537 on page 36 of this topic because the premise is basically the same with the 46th day's list attached here.)
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One thing that continues to be quite interesting is that, as KMR alluded to last Monday (or Sunday if you're not on the East Coast ;)), even though the number of theaters showing DS has been decreasing, its average per screen has been staying fairly much the same:
| Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu |
| 1,550 | $279 | $377 | $253 | $117 | $133 | $117 | $115 |
680 | $278 | $374 | $264 | $117 | $134 | $120 | $124 |
302 | $272 | $360 | $231 | $114 | | | |
Basically a pretty similar amount of people are going to see DS in each theater that's showing it - they're simply doing it in fewer theaters.
46 days 16 hours 59 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Another $9 million added to the overseas gross according to Box Office Mojo.
Worldwide gross now $219 million.
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For a film that supposedly is a bomb, 217 million worldwide is excellent. But may I ask a simple question? Is worldwide grosses only supposed to be talked about in a positive note when it the Avengers? Which, by the way I liked. I guess because 217 million for DS doesn't rate because its Darkshadows. What hypocrites t mass media is.
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Well it has happened. Now the only place showing Dark Shadows is the cheapy theater - $3.00 per show. I'd go see it, but it's showing so late! [ghost_embarrassed]
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As per usual, DS went up on Tuesday to bring in $37,461, which brings its current domestic gross to $75,825,106.
And as far as its rank goes, it may be 23rd because a film that was lower than it on Monday brought in a more than it did on Tuesday - but it may also be 22nd or even 21st depending on how the two missing films did.
Tuesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-26&p=.htm)
47 days 19 hours 4 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well it has happened. Now the only place showing Dark Shadows is the cheapy theater - $3.00 per show. I'd go see it, but it's showing so late! [ghost_embarrassed]
Three dollars? Like I said before, I saw it for the third time at our cheapy theater for 99 cents - and it was a double-feature with The Hunger Games! You fancy people need to get out of Silver Dollar City and come to the nickelodeon here in Bugtussle! You can even enjoy Jethrine May entertaining you on the pie-annie before the show begins!
Gerard
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Haha, Gerard. Yeah, it is mildly disappointing, but that is the cheapest it gets... until the free showing at the local university. So, if I wanted to see Hunger Games and Shadows, I'd have to pay 6 dollars, since both are currently showing - Hunger Games at the decent hour, and Shadows at the not-so-decent hour. [ghost_tongue] Consider yourself fortunate. I don't even know if the cheap theater here has food... [ghost_sad]
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Depp Shadows plays at the Castro Theater on Wednesday July 18. Four shows I'll finally see it in an old fashioned movie palace!?
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DS hasn't opened in any discount theaters around here yet, it's still playing in first-runs. But the discounts all charge $1.99 - no 99 cents theaters for us (or double features). [ghost_nowink] But that's still cheaper than $3 - and they all offer popcorn, candy, and drinks.
48 days 10 hours 45 minutes 42 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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In two first run Bay Area theaters next week, both in outer suburbs. Twice a day in one, five shows a day in the other.
I'm really looking forward to that Castro screening!
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I don't think we have any $1 theaters in the DC area, either. The one cheapy theater that is playing DS this week (and I'm relieved to see that it will also show there next week), I think I recall costing $2.50 or $3 the last time I was there. So "cheap" is relative, I guess [ghost_grin] Now that I know it's been extended there one more week, I may try to get there this weekend for what would be my 4th time. Not certain that I'll make it, though.
Enjoy the Castro, David-Elijah!
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For what it's worth, DS is actually *gaining* some theaters this coming week. It'll go up to 365 theaters, which is 63 more than this week, according to Box Office Mojo:
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=26&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=26&p=.htm)
(So I guess it had 302 this week). I imagine that most or all of these additions are discount theaters, which won't bring in as much $, but at least will keep the film out there for those who still wish to see it [ghost_smiley]
Also, DS made less Wed. than the other weekdays this week, at only $29,644, which brings the domestic total to $75,854,750. (Come on, $76 million! We can do it! [ghost_wink] )
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Again we were posting at the same time, madscntst. [ghost_grin] So, I've removed all the redundant info from my post and the only things I'll still say are these:
It's really getting to be quite fascinating how DS is so closely following Wrath of the Titans' release pattern because Wrath of the Titans also added theaters in its 8th week in release to play in 360 theaters.
And about the only thing DS hasn't been following suit with recently when it comes to Wrath of the Titans is how much money it's been bringing in because its box office has continued to surpass what Wrath of the Titans was doing at the same period in its release - but more on that tomorrow when the full week's numbers are in. [ghost_smiley]
48 days 19 hours 4 minutes 12 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I imagine that most or all of these additions are discount theaters, which won't bring in as much $, but at least will keep the film out there for those who still wish to see it [ghost_smiley]
We might be surprised because in its 8th week with the additional theaters, Wrath of the Titans brought in $651,413 - which was more than it had made in its 6th week when it was playing in 715 theaters - so I'm guessing all 360 of the theaters weren't discount theaters. [ghost_wink]
48 days 19 hours 16 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
My interview with Gabriel Frelich went really well. He's a very happy and enthusiastic young actor. He's working on another vampire flick and shared some great stories about Burton Depp and Bella Heathcoate. He does half time in London and half time in LA, so I'm gonna ask him if he'd ever like to attend a fest.
and now to type my story up for Mr Editor at Fangoria!
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Oops - I forgot to post the link to Wednesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-27&p=.htm)
DS made less Wed. than the other weekdays this week
It is funny how Wednesdays seem to be the low point of the week for most films.
48 days 19 hours 56 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'm fascinated by all of the posts about "cheapie" theaters. There hasn't been a second- or third-run theater in my area in years, and I really miss them! It seems that today was the last day of the DS movie's theatrical run in my area (Philadelphia, birthplace of a certain Divine One...). Saw it twice and enjoyed it more the second time, and was really hoping for a third theatrical viewing.
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I'm surprised, Claude, that in a metropolitan area of that size that you don't have one. I live in a one-horse town with just one movie theater (eight screens), and we have our cheapie cinema. It's extremely popular (obviously for that price of 99 cents) and often showings are sold out. When I saw the DS-THG double-feature, there was nary a seat left to be found and the auditorium is huge. The other two times I saw DS in regular theaters, I would dare say that less than 10% (and that's being gracious, overly-gracious) of the seats were occupied. DS was, undoubtedly, far more profitable in the theater that charged less than a buck as opposed to the ones that charged over seven bucks for a matinee viewing. Right now, that macabre version of Snow White is playing and even on weeknights the cars fill the curbsides for blocks around the theater.
Gerard
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Very interesting - in my area DS closed in one of the two theaters that were showing it twice a day - but it opened today in two first run theaters that had never been showing it. Both first runs are showing it four times a day - and in the other theater, which has been showing DS since May 11th, it still has the prime early evening slot as one of its two showings, which must mean that DS is still doing well there.
DS still has yet to open in any of the discount theaters in the area.
49 days 11 hours 21 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The Avengers DVDs are being released on September 25th. Let's hope WB doesn't make the same mistake twice. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=92084
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The numbers are in for Thursday and DS had the second highest percentage of increase in the Top 25 films and brought in $32,608, which brings its current domestic gross to $75,887,358.
Thursday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-06-28&p=.htm)
As far as rankings go, the weekly numbers are in and DS placed 20th on Monday, 22nd on Tuesday, 24th on Wednesday and Thursday, and 23rd for the week overall.
And as I alluded to yesterday, in its 7th week DS continued to outperform Wrath of the Titans. In its 7th week that film brought in $268,728, whereas DS brought in $394,698. [ghost_cool] And given that as I said yesterday, Wrath of the Titans brought in $651,413 for its 8th week when it added new theaters and was playing in 360, we can only hope that DS will continue to outperform Wrath of the Titans now that it has added new theaters and is playing in 365 theaters in its 8th week. [ghost_wink]
49 days 19 hours 0 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I was just over checking out the various charts on Box Office Mojo, and even though Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter isn't exactly raking in money, at least those involved with the film, though chiefly Seth Grahame-Smith, can take some consolation in the fact that it's doing better than both That's My Boy (apparently Adam Sandler should never release a film when there are superhero films to compete with it because those superheroes tie up his young male fanbase) and Rock Of Ages (a seemingly real bomb for Warner Brothers). But that may not continue for long if what's happening around here is happening elsewhere in the country because I also noticed that 8 out of the 14 theaters within a 30 mile radius of me have reduced AL:VH to only two showings a day in only its 2nd week in release. [ghost_huh] And much worse: 1 one those 14 theaters is only showing it once a day! All of that is practically unheard of! [ghost_blink] I mean, the vast majority of films never have their showings reduced until weeks into their releases. It most certainly does not bode well for AL:VH to have it happening at such an early point in its release. [ghost_shocked]
To think that at one point I was worried that if AL:VH was released before DS, it might have overshadowed DS. But I'm guessing there probably wasn't ever any worry of that. Actually, it's quite possible that if DS had come out after AL:VH and even if it was to bring in the same amount of money at the box office that it currently is, it would have been heralded as a hit (certainly a hit by comparison for both Seth Grahame-Smith and Tim Burton) by all the snarky film commentators instead of as a bomb or a dud or a flop. But then, timing is everything.
And something else that I also noticed on Box Office Mojo is that Warner Brothers closed Wrath of the Titans on Thursday after its 13th week in release. We should only be so lucky that they might leave DS in theaters that long - particularly considering how DS has been outperforming it lately. Although, something else that I noticed today that I'd never paid attention to is that when it comes to head-to-head comparison of Mondays through Thursdays at the box office, DS has actually been consistently outperforming Wrath of the Titans since their 3rd weeks in release, with DS bringing in $2,689,413 more than what Wrath of the Titans was grossing during weekdays in its 3rd through 7th weeks. I don't know what it means or what may have caused it - and I may be the only one - but I do find it fascinating. [ghost_wink] Particularly when, once again, no one is calling Wrath of the Titans a bomb or a dud or a flop.
50 days 12 hours 7 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I’ve been waiting for it to get to our MaxiSaver ($1 all tickets), assuming it eventually would. So, it’s finally there and I was able to see it on Friday. Up until now I’ve been gingerly following this thread, and every time something seemed to be referring to the plot, skipping the rest of the post. I did manage to avoid any spoilers!
There’s one other theater in the region (the county to the north) that has it. That one is $3.50 each and I think it’s been there for a while. Those are the only 2 to have it now.
I liked it. While it’s very different from what we’re used to, which we certainly expected (and didn’t want another “repeat” anyway), I felt the major aspects were true to the original. I’ll do the rest as spoilers as I plan to mention some specifics.
[spoiler]I thought the opening background was good. It set up the situation, and while a bit different than the original story, was close enough to it. In the modern story I thought that Barnabas’ relationships with Vicki, Julia and Angelique were suitable for the Barnabas that we’re familiar with. So, while there were drastic differences in the story, and obviously the production values and special effects made it seem very different, the essence was sufficiently what it should be for me to enjoy it. I kept trying to think what effect it would have on someone with no knowledge of the original, but that really isn’t possible.
There were some interesting little touches. I liked the Maggie Evans - Victoria Winters name thing. Carolyn was obviously different, but Roger seemed perfect. I liked David.
I knew that there would just be a brief glimpse of the “original” actors in the party scene, so I was paying close attention. However, it seems to me, that if they were going to include them, get them to go to England (especially Jonathan given his age and, evidently, his health), they could have at least made sure to show each one for at least a couple of seconds, so that those who knew who they were would be sure to see them. Otherwise, what was the point of it? A few extra seconds to the movie certainly wouldn’t have hurt. I think they could even have given them a brief line, being welcomed to the party or something, but at least show them!![/spoiler]
Anyways, I can now go back and see what everyone else had to say!!
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[spoiler]I knew that there would just be a brief glimpse of the “original” actors in the party scene, so I was paying close attention. However, it seems to me, that if they were going to include them, get them to go to England (especially Jonathan given his age and, evidently, his health), they could have at least made sure to show each one for at least a couple of seconds, so that those who knew who they were would be sure to see them. Otherwise, what was the point of it? A few extra seconds to the movie certainly wouldn’t have hurt. I think they could even have given them a brief line, being welcomed to the party or something, but at least show them!![/spoiler]
[spoiler]There's been some stuff written that Burton supposedly wanted to do more with Frid but Frid just wasn't up to it. So perhaps, if there was more stuff shot with the other three original actors, it simply wasn't used in the final film in deference to Frid so that it wouldn't look like they had been given more to do than he was given. Who knows? Maybe we'll find out once the DVD/Blu-ray is released - and perhaps even a deleted sequence of two with the other three actors might even be included.[/spoiler]
Speaking of the DVD/Blu-ray release, it always seems to take me at least a week to get around to finish reading an issue of Entertainment Weekly, and last night while I was finishing up last week's issue I came across their DVD/Blu-ray review of 21 Jump Street. And the reason why I mention it is because the review made a specific point of reminding readers that the reworking of 21 Jump Street gets "what so many TV shows-turned-movies don't: that being reverential is death" because that quite often seems to be the case, both creatively and financially. And I know that has been mentioned in this topic before - but it was very interesting to be reminded of it again in a magazine that has being a commentator/analyser of film as one of its main missions. It's also interesting that EW loved both 21 Jump Street and DS as they gave both a B+.
And one other thing worth mentioning about the 21 Jump Street DVD/Blu-ray review is that it mentions that apparently only the Blu-ray version includes 20 deleted scenes. Hopefully for the sakes of DS fans who don't yet own Blu-ray players it won't be the case that the deleted scenes from DS will only be included on its Blu-ray - but even if that does turn out to be the case, we should only be so lucky that it will include as many as 20 deleted scenes (or dare I hope, even more). And it also includes "a Depp-on-the-set featurette" - something I certainly wouldn't mind Depp also doing for DS.
And finally, something else that was also interesting in the DVD section of last week's EW is that apparently Warner Brother's Project X has been issued with both the 88 minute theatrical version and a 94 minute extended cut. An extended cut is something we can only pray for when it comes to DS!
51 days 11 hours 42 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I went to see DS at a 2nd run in Rumford, RI today. The sound was HORRIBLE and the picture was not much better. I'd only seen pristine digital presentations before this and assumed that was the norm. But it was only $1.99, so I guess I can't complain.
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$1.99? At the cheapie theater, and it wasn't digital? And I paid 99 cents and saw it digitally with The Hunger Games, also in digital? My goodness, but you fancy people need to come here, like I said, to Bugtussle.
Gerard
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$1.99? At the cheapie theater, and it wasn't digital? And I paid 99 cents and saw it digitally with The Hunger Games, also in digital? My goodness, but you fancy people need to come here, like I said, to Bugtussle.
I hope no one in South Texas sees this post!! I'm constantly going on and on about how great Rhode Island is. The cheapie theaters in Weslaco, Harlingen, McAllen, Pharr, and Brownsville are all showing it digitally in its second run!
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I wasn't even aware that there's a discount theater in Rumford, RI. But with the place being as bad as you say, I suppose not many people would be recommending their friends to go there. [ghost_wink] And it's interesting that it doesn't seem to come up on either Box Office Mojo or boxoffice.com as one of the theaters showing DS. But maybe both have had it banned from their lists of theaters. [ghost_grin]
But anyway, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience - especially when it might be the last time you'll see DS in a theater. [ghost_sad]
52 days 11 hours 6 minutes 3 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
When I see the film (for the 5th time!) at the Castro in SF on July 18, it'll be projected on film!
The Castro has a Friday night series called Midnight For Maniacs, triple bills of older B & cult films. I'm going to email them and request that they do all three DS films at the Midnight series--HODS & NODS packed the place in 2008.
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The Castro has a Friday night series called Midnight For Maniacs, triple bills of older B & cult films. I'm going to email them and request that they do all three DS films at the Midnight series--HODS & NODS packed the place in 2008.
It would be quite interesting to have all three of them play together, David. [ghost_smiley]
Changing reels, I see where Box Office Mojo is reporting that DS brought in $4.2 million this weekend in foreign markets, bringing its current foreign gross to $151.6 million. [ghost_cool]
With the increase in theaters, it will definitely be interesting to see what DS brought in domestically this weekend. But those figures aren't up yet.
52 days 12 hours 37 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I found the Rumford theater on Fandango. It's at 60 Newport Ave.(which might also be Route 1?). It's a ten screen building right on the RIPTA Bus line. The price was dine, but the effort expended to get from Newport to the theater made me regret making the trip for such a poor copy of the film.
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DS did quite well this past weekend, so adding theaters definitely helped! It made $393,406, bringing the domestic total to $76,280,764. Currently in 20th place on Box Office Mojo for the weekend, but I don't know if all the numbers are in yet. Worldwide, the total is now $227,880,764.
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It was #22 last week--that's great! For a so-called flop, DS is hanging on nicely!
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Thanks for posting the weekend numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
Currently in 20th place on Box Office Mojo for the weekend, but I don't know if all the numbers are in yet.
The nice thing about Box office Mojo, as opposed to sites like boxoffice.com, is that they don't post their charts until all the numbers that are going to be reported are in. So, if you see their charts are up, you know nothing is missing. [ghost_wink]
And speaking of DS' ranking for the overall weekend, the fact that it came in 20th is actually quite interesting because over the weekend it was doing battle with Battleship, The Hunger Games and Safety Not Guaranteed to see who could best whom. On Saturday DS placed 18th with $117,139, besting both The Hunger Games and Safety Not Guaranteed, but Battleship bested it - on Saturday, its highest grossing day of the weekend with $156,037, it placed 20th because all three of the other films did a bit better - and on Sunday it was back to being 18th again, that time with $120,230, and managed to best both Battleship and Safety Not Guaranteed, though not The Hunger Games. But in the end Battleship and The Hunger Games managed to make $10,074 and $3,739, respectively, more than DS to overtake it for the overall weekend. But at least it did overtake Saftey Not Guaranteed for the overall weekend, which is something it hadn't been able to do for the past two weekends - and it also managed to best Battleship on at least one day of the weekend, which is something DS had never done - though, of course, that's because DS has been out a week longer - and in the overall scheme of things, Battleship isn't ever likely to gross more than DS has domestically.
One other thing I noticed is that during the weekend DS' per screen averages were the highest they've been since its 4th weekend in release for Friday and Saturday and its 3rd weekend in release for Sunday. [ghost_cool]
adding theaters definitely helped!
Yes - and adding theaters helped it to become only 1 of 3 films in the Top 20 to have a positive percentage from last weekend - a very nice +51.1%.
52 days 17 hours 40 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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For a so-called flop, DS is hanging on nicely!
Yeah, well - we can pretty much suspect that the main reason most of these places are calling DS that is because it's a Burton/Depp film and apparently in their minds Burton/Depp aren't allowed to have a film that doesn't gross hundreds of millions of dollars domestically. That despite the fact that supernatural genre films and vampire films in particular very rarely gross anything like that. As it is, DS currently places 9th on Box Office Mojo's Vampire Genre chart (which goes back to 1978) and 7th on their Horror Comedy chart (which goes back to 1980). But apparently none of that means anything. And truthfully it's getting to the point where getting upset about the film being called a flop is pretty useless because the people doing so aren't ever going to change their perception. All we can really do is live with it, just like we live with everything else that's ever been said about DS that's derogatory though not really true.
Although, before I close the book on that, something I discovered today thanks to Box Office Mojo providing a link to their ALL TIME: R-Rated Openings chart (because Ted opened so well this past weekend), The Wolfman (a film which I'm sure many got tired of me mentioning featured a good deal of the same behind the scenes personnel as DS did) being featured on it, and my then checking out its main page, is that The Wolfman only managed to bring in a domestic gross of $61,979,680 and a foreign gross of $77,810,085, for a worldwide gross of $139,789,765, which is well under what DS is already at on all three of those fronts. But does anyone remember that film being described as a flop? I don't. Yet its budget was supposedly equal to or even higher than what some Web sites are citing DS' budget at. [ghost_huh] (But then, even though a great deal of the same people worked on it as worked on DS, neither Burton nor Depp worked on it. Hmmm...)
52 days 18 hours 18 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Oops - again I forgot to include the link to Box Office Mojo's chart:
Weekend Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=26&p=.htm)
52 days 19 hours 0 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Approaching $230 million dollars and that's a flop? I'd be happy to earn 1/230th of that and be called a flop. Heck, I'll take 1/460th of that. I'll even take 1/anything-th. I'm trying to save money to have my gas turned back on. "Showering" in the Little House on the Prairie fashion has gotten old. Or how Willie had to do it when he lived with Barnabas in the Old House.
Gerard
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Willie showered?
Okay... maybe John Karlen, but the rest... [ghost_wink]
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The question of whether or not it is a flop depends upon how much it makes versus how much it cost to produce it. Our information regarding the latter has been inconclusive at best.
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Considering some sites say the film cost $100 million, some say $125 million, others say $150 million, and still others say $175 million, I'd say inconclusive probably doesn't even begin to describe it. [ghost_wink] And the thing is that what many of the sites doing the saying would appear to be doing is seemingly simply pulling a figure out of a hat, so there's no way to tell who might actually be closest to being right and who's just so way off that it's not even funny. And as jimbo rightly points out, we're likely to never really know the actual figure because studios are loath to reveal film budgets. And the sites doing much of the saying also know that. So what they're saying is really just based more on their own perceptions of the film and those involved with it than anything else - and certainly more than actual facts. [ghost_undecided]
52 days 23 hours 3 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Wow - it's looking like on Monday DS may have jumped up to 17th place, or at least back to 18th, by bringing in $62,569, which brings its current domestic gross to $76,343,333.
53 days 15 hours 34 minutes 19 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
LIKE!
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I might have a fourth chance to see it! And it would be at - are you ready for this? - a drive-in theater! There's one of the few ones left in a small town not far from here. And it would be, again, a double-feature if they run it (not sure what the other film would be). And the cost, you may ask? Are you also ready for this? Two bucks a car, no matter how many are in it! You don't even have to hide everyone in the trunk! I haven't been to an outdoor theater for well over thirty years, if not more. The last film I was at one (while on vacation in South Carolina) was the spooky George C. Scott horror film, The Changeling.
I grew up with drive-ins. The first film I saw at one was Hey, There, It's Yogi Bear. The next one was Mary Poppins. As teens (where we did do the hiding-in-the-trunk thing) and young adults, we went all the time. We mostly saw horror movies, from Prophecy to the original Dawn of the Dead (which was filmed in a shopping mall I often patronized after I moved to Pittsburgh, PA, and - ironically - even though it was filmed in Toronto, the remake was set in a mall in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee being only an hour away from where I live - small world, ain't it?). Drive-ins required a rather resiliant form of movie goers. First of all, there were the speakers one attached to the driver's side window and it gave only a scratchy sound (it was better to open the windows and listen to the better clarity of all the speakers going), and you never got one that didn't have bird poop on it. Then you dealt with the mosquitoes. The options in battling those blood-suckers (and maybe I'll get to see our favorite blood-sucker one more time) was limited. You could close the windows, but then they fogged up, so you had to turn on the car and run the de-fogger, not a good idea on a hot, humid summer night. You could go into the concession cabin and purchase an anti-mosquitoe "puck," which was a cylindrical thing your set on your dash board and lit with the car's cigarette lighter (boy, I'm really showing my age now), but it's effect was limited, if it worked at all. And, of course, we did the one usual "practical joke" always done when going to a drive-in. We convinced a newbie to go to the concession cabin and pick up tons of popcorn, pizza, candy and soda, and whilst the "virgin" was there, we'd move the car and duck down as we watched, hysterical with laughter, as the newbie hunted up and down the various lanes looking for us. Oh, c'mon. It was funny and the newbie was initiated and did the same thing to the next newbie. It's not like we dumped a bucket of pig's blood on someone's head at prom.
So maybe I'll go again, for a fourth time, but only if I can get a bunch to go with me. Two bucks for a full car is the ultimate bargain, even if it means mosquitoes and bird-pooped speakers and all that. Any of you want to come? I promise you, when we send you to the concession cabin, we won't move the car. We won't. I promise. Really. I do.
Gerard
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All the figures are finally in for Monday. It took forever for Sony/Columbia to report the figures for Men In Black 3 and That's My Boy, and for Focus Features to report Moonrise Kingdom. I'd taken both Sony/Columbia films into account when I made my earlier post, but I'd completely forgotten about Moonrise Kingdom - and it also brought in more money than DS. So, that means DS ranked 19th. But no matter because it's still amazing that DS brought in $62,569 in its 53rd day in release in only 365 theaters because that is not only comparable to the $61,965 that Safe House made in its 53rd day in 729 theaters, nearly twice as many theaters as DS is playing in, but it was a boatload more than the film in second place in DS' theater range, which just happens to be Wrath of the Titans, which brought in $45,320 back on its 53rd day. And once again the attached chart will show all of that.
Another interesting thing is that for just the second time DS managed to best Battleship, and this time by a sizable amount because that film brought in $44,555 on Monday.
Monday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-02&p=.htm)
Now it's going to be extremely interesting to see what DS did today and what it will do on the 4th of July holiday on Wednesday.
53 days 18 hours 8 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Depp Shadows just opened here at the $2.00 theater, 4 showings.
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It's interesting to note that Moonrise Kingdom was filmed in Newport, RI. We are in Newport now and plan to see it at the historic Jane Pickens Theater. As a teen I almost convinced the owner to show HODS. He thought it had been filmed in Newport. I did not lie but also did not correct him. The print was not available when he needed it and that was that.
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i was at best buy yesterday and alot of movies released right around the same time as DS are already out on DVD...
should we expect a release anytime soon?
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should we expect a release anytime soon?
In my travels I think I heard a late Sept. date (25th, maybe? Releases are usually on Tuesdays) and an early Oct. date (2nd or 9th, maybe?), though I don't know how credible either of those claims were. Anytime near now does seem too soon, as it's still in theaters, so Sept.-Oct. does seem likely. I'm "signed up to be notified" when DS is available for pre-order on Amazon, so I'll report back if I hear from them, though by that time there will probably have been a news report of the DVD release. We'll see!
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Do they still do pay per view first?
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Sometimes pay per view/on demand comes first and sometimes it comes at the same time as the DVD/Blu-ray release. I guess it probably depends on the studio - though truthfully I'm never really paid attention to which studios handle it which way because I've never taken advantage.
And I guess because today's a holiday both Tuesday's and today's box office numbers won't come out until tomorrow because no one seems to have posted Tuesday's numbers today.
54 days 18 hours 49 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Even though I pretty much knew the box office numbers for Tuesday weren't going to be there, I just checked again for them - and, of course, they weren't there. But something I did discover that I hadn't noticed earlier on DS' page at boxoffice.com was that one of the theaters where DS had been playing in my area earlier in the week, the lone holdout first run theater dating back to when DS had first opened, was missing from the the list of theaters currently playing DS. It didn't even dawn on me that with The Amazing Spider-Man opening on Tuesday, DS could have lost some theaters to it. But apparently it has because I checked the theater count chart on Box Office Mojo, and as of July 3rd DS has been playing in 303 theaters, 62 lessthan earlier in the week, and presumably they went to The Amazing Spider-Man, and presumably chances are they were all first runs dating back to DS' original opening. And if that is the case, then it may not be all that bad of a thing because chances are most if not all of those theaters weren't showing DS four times a day (as you may recall the one around here had been showing it twice a day for a few weeks now), so losing them may not have all that much of an effect on Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's box office numbers. But I suppose we won't really know that for sure until we see the numbers.
54 days 21 hours 55 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Nothing for DS yet, but box office numbers are trickling in at boxoffice.com for both Tuesday and Wednesday, and some surprising things are developing. One thing interesting so far is that the vast majority of the films that have reported for Tuesday are actually down from Monday rather than up, which is usually the case. And a very interesting thing for Wednesday is that even though very few films have reported so far, the ones that have are down from their Tuesday numbers - and while that would be expected for a normal Wednesday, it's not what one would expect for a holiday.
Now it's going to be beyond extremely interesting to see the numbers for DS for Tuesday and Wednesday.
55 days 13 hours 2 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I can't explain yesterday's numbers being lower, but regarding Tuesday's, I think I saw somewhere that Spiderman, which opened Tuesday, had the biggest Tues. box office ever. That is bound to have taken away from most of the other films.
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Yes, $35 million was huge for a Tuesday. HUGE! But somehow I wasn't expecting it to effect so many other films because I wouldn't have thought that The Amazing Spider-Man would necessarily appeal to same sort of audience as a lot of the films that dropped on Tuesday appeal to. Though maybe there really was a wider crossover. But at any rate, we'll get a better picture once all the reporting films are in for Tuesday. [ghost_smiley]
Though when it comes to Wednesday, the biggest surprise to me was that even The Amazing Spider-Man dropped - it fell 35%. [ghost_huh] And what really makes it so surprising is that one would think more and not less people would have gone to see it on a holiday. But apparently not. Though maybe the Wednesday box office doldrums phenomenon is really far more reaching than even a Wednesday holiday care cure. [ghost_wink]
55 days 14 hours 7 minutes 13 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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That's a big drop for Spiderman. But it's not that uncommon for a blockbuster-type franchise film to drop its second day, simply because there is so much anticipation that a lot of the die-hard fans simply MUST see it on opening day. Film buffs call this being "front-loaded". But as you say, MB, it is kind of weird that it would make more on a Tuesday than on a holiday, especially in areas like mine where it's so darn hot out that one might think folks would be tempted to go see a movie in a nice air-conditioned theater to cool off [ghost_wink] But it's kind of weird for a film to open on a Tuesday, and also weird for there to be a major holiday on a Wed., and therefore the whole week will be weird for the box office. I guess they were banking on a lot of folks having much of this whole week off (and certainly, a lot of high school and even college-age folks are off now, and this is the kind of film that will appeal to them no matter what day of the week it is!) And also people might be more inclined to go see a film on a Tuesday night if they have Wed. off from work, whereas at least some people may have had bbq/fireworks plans on Wed. night.
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I just saw where even a fairly rational Web site like boxoffice.com is surprised by The Amazing Spider-Man's drop on Wednesday - and though they don't quite understand it either, their theory is that perhaps somehow the Wednesday doldrums trumped even the holiday. (Who knows what it is about Wednesdays that so affects the box office of so many films seemingly every week?!) But what's quite interesting is that they're also theorizing that the apparent slump on Wednesday, even though it was a holiday, could bring about a stronger Thursday than usual - though they're not quite explaining how they think that's going to come about. [ghost_nowink] But I suppose we'll see...
And getting more closely to being on topic, I see where DS continues to do well in Mexico. Last weekend it brought in $1,367,227 to hold onto 2nd place - and it even manged to best Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, which only brought in $933,796 - and it did so in slightly more than 300 fewer theaters. [ghost_cool]
55 days 14 hours 37 minutes 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Box Office Mojo has apparently made a liar out of me because it looks like that today they've posted their charts without having all the numbers in. But then, maybe it's just that they've gotten sick of waiting for them.
But at any rate, nothing is in yet for DS. [ghost_sad]
And on another front boxoffice.com might want to rethink their initial theory for Wednesday because very few films were down from Tuesday. In fact, many of them were up quite significantly, which is what would have normally been expected for a holiday. Even Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was up, which is saying something considering how badly that film is performing. And while its significant drop might not be a bad thing for The Amazing Spider-Man given its huge haul on Tuesday, films like Magic Mike might start to worry. But then, we're not about to be the ones complaining if that film doesn't best DS when it eventually comes to their final domestic grosses. [ghost_wink]
55 days 16 hours 0 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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They still haven't posted the DS numbers.
http://www.bluraysteelbooks.com/2012/07/dark-shadows-blu-ray-steelbook-announced-for-release-in-france/
This Blu-ray DVD is being released in France on October 10 but I don't see too many details.
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I have a feeling we may not get the DS numbers for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until the weekly numbers come out on Box Office Mojo later this afternoon.
And as far as the the French Blu-ray release goes, if you go to Amazon's French site, you learn that it includes the Blu-ray, the DVD, a digital copy, and the original soundtrack. It's also two discs - but perhaps the second disc is simply the soundtrack on CD. And since this is the second country to indicate that the DVD/Blu-ray release is in October, I'd suspect that's probably going to be the case in most countries.
Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
56 days 11 hours 25 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I think that probably the blu-ray and the DVD are the separate discs. A couple of years ago, I started buying a few favorite films as a blu-ray/DVD combo even though I didn't have a blu-ray player yet, because the price difference was usually only a buck or two and I figured I'd get a blu-ray player at some point (I finally did get a blu-ray player about 6 months ago- just a cheap basic one). Meanwhile, the DVD would be handy for my laptop, which as it turns out is often how I watch films. For a time, both the blu-ray and the DVD had most of the same features, but as we've seen start to happen lately, the DVD disc started to have less and less features on it, which sort of puts pressure on everyone to spring for the blu-ray player. I'm guessing that DS will be similar- that most of the extras will be on the blu-ray now and the DVD will just be the bare-bones movie :( Still, if the US offers a blu-ray/DVD combo like this French one, and if the price is right, I'll probably go for it.
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I meant to say, too, that at some point late in any film's theatrical run, they stop tracking the box office daily, and only update at the end of the week or maybe at the end of the weekend in addition. I didn't expect this to happen in the middle of the week, though! But perhaps that is what has happened. As you say, MB, we will probably get the weekly numbers at the end of this day.
At least DS is still at 303 theaters, which it was at a couple of weeks ago.
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If the discs do turn out to be one Blu-ray and one DVD, I'd be really curious about where they'd then put the original soundtrack. Although, when it comes to recording artists that I like, I've bought what are known as DualDiscs, with one side being a DVD and the other side being a CD, so I suppose they could do that.
56 days 12 hours 0 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well, a blu-ray disc generally won't play in a DVD player, so that's why I am assuming they will be separate discs. I think a CD is compatible with a blu-ray player and I know it's compatible with most DVD players, so I guess I just thought it'd be an extra on one or both (edited to add- what I mean to say is that either the blu-ray or the DVD, or both, would "play" the soundtrack as if it was a CD). We'll see!
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at some point late in any film's theatrical run, they stop tracking the box office daily, and only update at the end of the week or maybe at the end of the weekend in addition. I didn't expect this to happen in the middle of the week, though! But perhaps that is what has happened.
Up to this point this year WB has been reporting the box office for all their films right up until their last day in theaters, so perhaps it's simply that the Wednesday holiday had something to do with the lack of reporting. Who knows? But with the exception of Rock of Ages, none of WB's films had their numbers reported for Tuesday and Wednesday. But Rock of Ages isn't strictly a WB film - it's a WB/New LIne film - so that may have something to do with it. Though I suppose we won't really know if WB has decided to stop tracking every day until the numbers for Monday come out and either their films are reported or they're not. [ghost_wink]
One thing I have found funny, though, is that when it comes to studios other than WB, boxoffice.com does have the numbers for a few of the films whose numbers are missing from Box Office Mojo's chart. But perhaps as I said yesterday, maybe Box Office Mojo just got sick of waiting yesterday, so they went with what had been reported to them - and then later on they figured it would be a waste of their effort to update when the weekly numbers are going to come out today.
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Well, a blu-ray disc generally won't play in a DVD player, so that's why I am assuming they will be separate discs. I think a CD is compatible with a blu-ray player and I know it's compatible with most DVD players, so I guess I just thought it'd be an extra on one or both (edited to add- what I mean to say is that either the blu-ray or the DVD, or both, would "play" the soundtrack as if it was a CD). We'll see!
As I've mentioned, though, I've bought Blu-ray/DVD combo releases where the Blu-ray is one side of the disc and the DVD is the other. You really never know what you're going to get until you open the packaging and find out. [ghost_wink] [ghost_rolleyes] And like I've said, that's one of the things that sometimes drives me crazy because to me a separate DVD is just a waste because it's something I'm never likely to use. I have yet to ever use any of them that have been included so far with the combo releases I've bought where they've been separate. Give me the straight Blu-ray release any day. But more and more studios are eschewing the straight Blu-ray release and going with the combo release - and chances are that's because they can make a bit more money on it. Apparently they don't care that part of what they're selling is useless to some.
And yes, CDs are definitely compatible with Blu-ray players. I play my CDs in my Blu-ray player or in my computer's Blu-ray drive all the time. [ghost_smiley]
56 days 12 hours 28 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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none of WB's films had their numbers reported for Tuesday and Wednesday
Oops - I'd forgotten that Magic Mike was reported for both days, and it's WB, so who knows? [idontknow]
56 days 12 hours 59 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Up to this point this year WB has been reporting the box office for all their films right up until their last day in theaters, so perhaps it's simply that the Wednesday holiday had something to do with the lack of reporting.
Are you sure that they actually post the box office daily, though? Or do they just report all the numbers for the week at the end of the week? I can't speak for WB per se, but that is how a lot of films are reported when they are late in the run. I just remember having to exert a lot more patience to know the numbers after a film has been out for awhile, for other films. As for Magic Mike and even Rock of Ages, they are more recent releases. At any rate, I do hope we will soon know the full numbers.
I haven't come across those dual DVD/blu-ray discs, but I don't have that many blu-rays (or blu-ray/DVD combos) in my collection yet. But man, I *hated* the dual-sided DVDs or dual DVD/CD discs that I have gotten from time to time in the past! It's so hard to tell which side is which, and I think it's so much harder to damage them because both sides are so vulnerable. So, I hope DS won't be one of those! As for whether a combo package is needed, yeah MB, you're right in a way that you're just kind of getting an extra disc that you may not need. But as I said, I got a few of those combos when I didn't have a blu-ray player yet, so I did need the DVD for the instant gratification of being able to watch it even before I bought a blu-ray player! And I also figured that the extra would be good for my laptop, or for travel. And in the cases when I sprung for it, there was always such a small price difference, like a buck or two, that it was almost like getting another disc nearly for free. But I do agree that if there is a wider price difference and you don't need that extra disc, it's certainly a rip-off! Now that I have the blu-ray player, I wouldn't buy a combo unless the price difference is very small and/or there are a *lot* more extras.
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Are you sure that they actually post the box office daily, though? Or do they just report all the numbers for the week at the end of the week?
No, up until this past Tuesday they had been reporting all of their films daily all this year - even a film like Joyful Noise when it was only bring in like a couple thousand a day during its final days. But that sort of tracking would seem to have come to an end because Box Office Mojo has posted the chart for Thursday and the Weekly chart and neither WB's DS nor The Lucky One nor Chernobyl Diaries nor their IMAX film To the Arctic is on them. The last reported day for all four was Monday's box office. So, unless it's simply that something odd is going on this week, it's looking like WB has decided to suspend tracking all their films every day. Or maybe they just can't afford to do it any longer because, well, this hasn't exactly been a boffo year for WB at the box office, now has it? [ghost_wink]
I guess we're going to have to wait until the weekend actuals come in to see how DS has been doing. [ghost_sad]
56 days 16 hours 15 minutes 17 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Maybe it's just too hot this week to do them all [ghost_wink] I know that I only feel like doing half my work, too [ghost_cheesy] Oh well, patience, patience, and hopefully at some point we'll get some numbers!
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July 5 total is now reflected at Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/
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Thank you, jimbo. [ghost_smiley] Who knows what the hell took Warner Brothers so long to report the numbers for the past three days? But better late than never I suppose. [ghost_wink]
(One things that's still very weird about Box Office Mojo, though, is that boxoffice.com has had the box office numbers for the past three days for The Dictator up since they actually came out on Thursday and today - yet Box Offcie Mojo still doesn't have them posted. [ghost_huh] What's up with that?!)
But anyway, DS pulled in some great numbers for the week, continuing to best the numbers that Wrath of the Titans had brought in - and where DS is still strongest is during the Monday through Thursday period where in its 8th week it brought in over $100,000 more than Wrath of the Titans had.
56 days 21 hours 42 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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And now that I've had the chance to analyze the charts it looks like the news only gets better because DS not only came in 21st for the week, but it actually beat Battleship by close to $85,000. The so-called experts who even just a few weeks ago were forecasting that Battleship would surely eventually best DS' domestic gross were apparently way off because that film is currently trailing DS by $12,506,126 - and considering they're both at a point in their runs when they're bringing in under $1 million a week, that sort of lead is virtually impossible to overtake - especially if DS continues to best Battleship for the remaining weeks they might be in theaters. But then, quite often one has to wonder what the so-called experts are thinking? [ghost_rolleyes]
And I also see that it's looking like DS ranked 18th for Tuesday with $71,202, 22nd for Wednesday - even though it brought in a bit more with $73,527, and 21st for Friday with $67,909, which combined now brings its current domestic gross to $76,555,971.
Apparently, as I had hoped, losing those 62 theaters to The Amazing Spider-Man didn't really do damage. [ghost_smiley]
56 days 22 hours 16 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Based on what we know can we make the argument that the DS movie is a success? EW doesn't think so in its last paragraph in an article on impressive box office performances so far in 2012. http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/04/best-box-office-performances-of-2012/?cnn=yes
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According to Dread Central, which in turn cites blu-ray.com, DS will be out on DVD and blu-ray on October 2. No details about extras, etc. yet.
Dread Central:
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/57051/dark-shadows-will-be-cast-dvd-and-blu-ray-october (http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/57051/dark-shadows-will-be-cast-dvd-and-blu-ray-october)
blu-ray.com:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dark-Shadows-Blu-ray/35610/ (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dark-Shadows-Blu-ray/35610/)
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Thanks for the news on the DVD/Blu-ray release, madscntst. [ghost_smiley] Hopefully we'll get more details sooner rather than later.
As for the piece on EW's Web site, well, where to begin because so many holes can be poked into what's written - and I'm not just referring to what's written about DS. And actually, it's interesting that the writer should quote something from Owen Gleiberman because in the past Mr. Gleiberman has been quite vocal with his criticism over how box office analysts will all too often pick and chose the figures that will support their often biased points of view while ignoring the ones that don't. And, of course, the industry itself makes that very easy to do because they're oh so secretive about film budgets - so much so that analysts themselves have to make up their own figures or go with figures already made up by others - and the variations in the amounts can be so divergent as to be ridiculous. I mean, just look at DS. As we've said, places like the Hollywood Reporter say DS' budget was $100 million, while places like boxoffice.com say $175 million. And then there are the ones in between like Box Office Mojo that say $150 million or Variety that say $125 million. And each one of these places is just as self-assured as the others that they have the correct budget figure. But quite obviously it's impossible for them all to be correct. And considering how much the success of a film hinges on its budget vs. its box office, who's to know which analysts are getting it right and which are way off?
A perfect non-DS example to illustrate that last point is Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Now, that film has so far made $134.5 million worldwide, and the EW writer is saying that anyone who says it was a success is just wrong. And if one goes with the budget figured of $105 million that been tossed about by some sites it would be a nobrainer that it wasn't successful. However, what about the budget figure of $57 million that I've seen on many more sites? The situation looks a lot more rosy with that figure, no? And who's to say which one of those budget figures is the correct one? But if you're an analyst who's already biased for or against the film, I wonder which one you're going to pick? [ghost_wink] (And it's also interesting that a lot of places are proclaiming that Magic Mike is shaping up as a huge success because it supposedly cost only $7 million. However, in recent days I've come across other places that are saying not so fast because the film really cost $30 million. Who's right? Who knows?)
As for DS, its success can also be just as subjective depending on what budget figure one wants to go with. If it really did cost $100 million, then it's been quite successful - but if it cost $175 million, well, it hasn't exactly been successful. Though I have a feeling that neither of those budget figures are correct and the truth lies somewhere in the middle of the two. But who really knows? And WB probably isn't ever going to reveal the actual figure, so it will more than likely always be up for speculation, which is why analysts will probably be able to have a field day with the film for years to come. Though the bottom line is that even if DS doesn't meet the success standards of Depp and Burton's other films and is therefore a box office disappointment, it's most certainly not a flop, and it most certainly should not be lumped in with films like John Carter and Battleship, both of which cost much more than DS (even if one goes with their lowest budget estimates) and have brought in comparatively less than DS. In fact, DS shouldn't even be lumped in with a film like What To Expect When You're Expecting because even when one factors in its foreign gross, the worldwide total for What To Expect When You're Expecting is barely more than it supposedly cost to make. But, of course, you can't tell any of that to the EW writer because obviously he's already made up his mind that DS does indeed belong there. (Though once again it's so very interesting that Wrath of the Titans wasn't lumped in.)
And finally, one thing I might also take exception to is Dread Central's often repeated inferences that word of mouth for DS hasn't helped it. Well, it may not have helped it to become huge - but just what do they think has been helping DS to perform so well for so long during weekdays? Oh, wait - Dread Central probably doesn't even realize that DS has been performing so well for so long during weekdays because I'm betting they haven't paid attention to its box office beyond its first few weeks because, well, that seems to be the case with most of these sites - and by now we all know what film of Depp's is the perfect illustration of that. [ghost_wink]
What's actually unfortunate is that the average person probably has no idea that much of what they're reading in these type of articles is based on cherry picking through guestimation and speculation, and that's even the case when the picking may not be all that biased.
58 days 12 hours 26 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Budgets and expectations are unrealistic and out of control for most films.
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It is also wise to keep in mind that EW and other entertainment mags are often no more than extensions of studio PR departments, and therefore industry promotional organs themselves. They are not meant to be journalistic, nor do they need to reflect accurate information. They are spin machines. It may be useful to note that casting "borderline" profit margin films in a negative light (inflated budget speculation versus lower than expected grosses), both in the press and the studio books, can actually make the studios millions in tax breaks (purported losses). The same breaks hold true in overall low profit figures, which can be and are fudged in many a corporate books (see GE paying zero dollars in taxes recently). By the time the speculation ends, and hell freezes over, you can bet any and all figures produced by any and all studios will favor the studios as much is possible, and possibly beyond that which is plausible! [ghost_rolleyes]
Petofi
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Thank you MB for your analysis and thoughts. I hold EW to a higher standard in journalism and I must say I am deeply disappointed its unfounded conclusion that the movie is not being considered a successful film. It is obvious it did not do its homework and due diligence. Defending this movie's performance will be an obvious uphill battle.
Petofi I always expected EW to be more than a spin machine. But thank you for pointing out its bias/limitations.
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It's good to see DS crossing the $233 Million dollar worldwide mark as of today. (estimated) http://www.rentrak.com/section/corporate/press_room/weekly_top_10_charts.html
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Who knows what the hell took Warner Brothers so long to report the numbers for the past three days?
Probably July 4th hangover.
Great news about the DVD release date!
Hopefully we'll see HOUSE and NIGHT around the same time. I think I've heard early 2013 mentioned, but I can't figure why such a late release. Releasing them in conjunction with the theatrical release or the DVD release of DS12 seems to make sense. I wonder why the wait?
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Just noticed this on Blu-ray.com's page:
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
So, the DVD/Blu release will be cropped on the sides, if I understand correctly?
I hope not. Seems awfully early for them to know anything so specific.
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Thanks, jimbo, for posting a link to the latest foreign figures. [ghost_smiley]
And I wouldn't necessarily read too much into what's listed on the Blu-ray site right now because as Dread Central pointed out there aren't really any disc specs yet. What's listed may simply be filler until the actual specs are released. Plus, the French version of the Blu-ray, which is the only one where specs have been listed, will be 1.85:1. But I suppose we'll see.
And one thing to remember about EW's Web site is that, while a few of the magzine's writers do take part on it, a lot of what goes on there is separate from the magazine. In fact, I've seen the magazine take the Web site to task for things that have been written there. And it's also probably worth noting that a few weeks back the magazine did a piece on the failures of a lot of films this year and how that's impacting future films, and for what it's worth DS was not cited as one of the failures.
59 days 12 hours 6 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The actuals have been posted for quite some time on boxoffice.com, but for some odd reason they don't include any WB films. However, Box Office Mojo just put their version of the actuals up and WB films are all included. Who knows what's going on with WB? But let's just be thankful that at least one of the two sites we rely on has the WB numbers.
But anyway, in its 9th weekend and playing in 303 theaters DS brought in $304,908 (which is over $70,000 more than Wrath of the Titans grossed in its 9th weekend - and it's also over $40,000 more than DS grossed back in its 7th weekend when it was playing in 302 theaters [ghost_wink]), which brings its current domestic gross to $76,860,879. But it's looking like a breakdown of the weekend will have to wait because even Box Office Mojo doesn't seem to have all the numbers in yet...
59 days 16 hours 20 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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That's a decent figure for a film that's been out for so long!
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Hi MB, I just came over here to report the numbers from BOM, and saw your post just before I was going to post. So, apologies if we crosspost again! Anyway, here are DS's weekend numbers. The placings may change because perhaps all the numbers aren't in yet- the placings aren't listed by number after #16 on any of the 3 days:
Friday: $97,852 (22nd place)
Sat: $119,366 (23rd place- looks like The Intouchables snuck in over DS on this day)
Sun: $87,690 (22nd place)
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-08&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-08&p=.htm)
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Thanks for posting all that, madscntst. [ghost_smiley] And it looks like you've got things right. [ghost_wink] For some odd reason certain films are missing on Box Office Mojo's chart - but they are listed on boxoffice.com and they all brought in less than DS did on the three days.
And speaking of missing films, who knows what's up with that? It's something that only started happening recently. And it's not just that some films are missing on Box Office Mojo but they're posted on boxoffice.com because the opposite is also happening. [ghost_undecided]
59 days 19 hours 22 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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So I guess they're back to tracking DS daily, at least for now. Boxoffice.com is reporting the Monday numbers: $40,681, bringing the domestic total to $76,901,560. That is down from last Monday but up from the Monday before. Hopefully it will reach $77M before the end of the week, when who knows how many theaters it'll be in next week. I'd love to see the film reach $80M but I think it'll be hard to attain at this rate.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-10?force_kind=true (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-10?force_kind=true)
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
I only have a few things to add:
It looks like DS ranked 22nd on Monday because I'm not seeing any films missing or any that made more than DS that aren't listed at Box Office Mojo - and it's really quite interesting how DS has been consistently placing in the 21st through 24th range for so long. Not that we're about to complain. [ghost_wink]
Also, by bringing in $40,681, DS follows in its own footsteps of last week by this week setting another milestone for this year because that amount was the highest brought in by any film this year in its 60th day, playing in the same theaters range, and when the 60th day didn't fall on a Monday holiday (for instance, Wrath of the Titans brought in over $20,000 more on its 60th day - but its 60th day fell on Memorial Day, so you have to take that into account). [ghost_cool]
So I guess they're back to tracking DS daily, at least for now.
Something about July 4th falling on a Wednesday must have done some sort of number on WB's tracking system because, as I said, those three days last week were the only days this year where there was any sort of delay from WB in tracking/reporting the numbers for all of their current films in theaters.
60 days 16 hours 34 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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That's a decent figure for a film that's been out for so long!
Of course you know that a comment like that got me curious enough to check - and that figure is actually quite impressive for this year so far. When it comes to sizing up all of this year's films, regardless of how many theaters they were playing in, DS places 9th for the highest gross so far this year in a film's 9th weekend in release. But when you narrow it down to the same range of theaters that DS was playing in this weekend, DS actually comes out 1st - and the closest other film to it is This Means War, which brought in $246,065 in 283 theaters. But then, very few films are still playing in that sort of range of theaters in their 9th weekend - most are already playing in 100-200 less. So the fact that DS is even still playing in 303 theaters is in and of itself an accomplishment.
60 days 19 hours 47 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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So it's really only when you compare the budget to the boxoffice gross that DS can be viewed as something of a disappointment. Its steady performance shows that it really is a successful film as far as just counting butts in seats.
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The Tuesday DS box office take was $46,717, up 14.8% from yesterday, and again better than the Tuesday box office for 2 weeks ago (though much lower than last week's holiday-eve number). This brings the domestic total to $76,948,27. At the moment, DS is in 22nd place for Tues., unless something else sneaks in.
You can see all the daily numbers here:
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=darkshadows.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=darkshadows.htm)
The big question is, how many theaters will be lost next week? We won't know the theater counts until tomorrow evening. It will apparently be leaving my local cheapie theater next week [ghost_sad]
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We didn't go see the double feature of DS (the other one playing was that Snow White movie) at the drive-in a few towns away because of the heat. Both played for just Thursday-through-Sunday night (the only time it's open) and from what I heard, despite the heat, there were lines of cars waiting to get in. I guess we were just too wimpy. It would've been fun - I haven't been to a drive-in for 30 years, but that heat was just too much, even in the evening.
Once again, when it costs a gazillion dollars to see a movie, especially in this economy, people stay away. When I saw DS at full price, the theaters were less than 10% filled (if that much I'll wager it was only around 5%). When the cost is cheap, a downright bargain, the theaters are filled. When I saw HoDS back in the stone ages, where it cost 35 cents (for a double-feature), the line extended down the block and around the corner and the two balconies and box seats (the uppermost balcony and the box seats technically closed because, before restoration, they were ready to collapse, but back then government agencies weren't as picky) were packed. Take a note, Hollywood, take a note.
Gerard
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Once again thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley] And it's looking like DS did come in 22nd because again I don't seen any other films being reported that might have bested DS.
And about the only things I have to add is that now that any holidays are out of the picture, DS once again regained its 1st place position so far as films in the same range of theaters go at this point in their 9th week of release. In fact, it beat second place (WB's The Lucky One (and not Wrath of the Titans for a change [ghost_wink])) by well over $9,000.
61 days 19 hours 34 minutes 43 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Although this article is from 4 days ago we are not the only ones noticing how well the movie is doing recently. Wonder if WB or the movie chains have taken notice. http://www.horrorsociety.com/2012/07/07/horror-sales-abe-lincoln-true-blood-and-haunted-highway/
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The big question is, how many theaters will be lost next week?
It will definitely be interesting to see - particularly when so far DS has been following fairly closely to Wrath of the Titans release pattern (give or take 50 or so theaters here or there). And for what it's worth, Wrath of the Titans dropped to 205 theaters in its 10th week.
we are not the only ones noticing how well the movie is doing recently. Wonder if WB or the movie chains have taken notice.
I would say both have noticed because the theaters are the ones doing the business and WB is reporting the grosses. And it's definitely nice to see that at least one Web site has also taken notice, even if it has taken them a while because DS has been performing well for longer than the past three weeks. Though it won't surprise me if we don't see more sites acknowledging how well DS has been doing because then they might actually have to admit that their opinion of the public's perception of the film is wrong. I mean, even horrorsociety.com can't seem to realize or doesn't want to accept that chances are that it's word of mouth that's been driving ticket sales.
62 days 11 hours 53 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The film has continued playing in Bay Area suburban theaters, but has not been in the city proper for a few weeks. Tomorrow, it opens anew in SF at the UA Stonestown Twin, an older two screen theater. Four shows a day for at least a week.
Plus four shows at the Castro Theater next week on Wed only.
The one day gig at the Castro is typical of how that theater programs itself, but the Stonestown surprises me. It's unusual that a film would open in a first run theater 10 weeks into it's run!
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David-Elijah, that is nice news that DS will be opening in a first run theater. Unfortunately, in the DC area, it looks like it will be gone completely tomorrow- at least no theaters come up on a search [ghost_sad]
Altogether, DS will lose 64 theaters next week, and will still be screening in 239 theaters. That's a bit better than the Wrath of Titans (thanks MB!)
theater counts from Box Office Mojo
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=28&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=28&p=.htm)
DS made $44,755 yesterday, to keep it in 22nd place. The total is now an annoying $76,993,032 (oh c'mon, just make another $7,000 already! [ghost_wink] )
Wed. box office
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-11&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-11&p=.htm)
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Thursday Box Office was $48,230, up 8% from Wed. and finally putting the domestic total over $77M at $77,041,262. DS retained its 22nd place position.
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-12&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-12&p=.htm)
I imagine there will be a noticeable drop in the coming week, due to the drop in theaters. At this point, I don't think it can reach $78M, much less $80M. Hopefully the foreign box office can chug along a little bit, so that perhaps DS could reach a quarter billion worldwide before all is said and done.
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I've just heard the sad news that Richard Zanuck, one of the producers of the Dark Shadows film, passed away today at age 77. It was said to be a heart attack. RIP, Mr. Zanuck [ghost_sad]
Huffington Post:
Richard Zanuck Dead: 'Jaws' Producer Dies At 77 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/richard-zanuck-dead-dies-jaws_n_1672381.html)
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Here is a statement by Tim Burton about Zanuck, from Deadline.com:
http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/tim-burton-dick-zanuck-death-long-time-producer/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/tim-burton-dick-zanuck-death-long-time-producer/)
And here are some other statements by Johnny and by other stars and collaborators (Johnny is on page 2):
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120714/APA/1207140533 (http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120714/APA/1207140533)
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I happened to be in NYC and saw the dealer of bootleg DVDs with a huge selection of current movies. I didn't see the DS movie, so I inquired. The guy told me that it was one of his most popular titles and he can't keep it in stock.
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yeah i saw it at a street fair last week here in ny...
i didn't pick it up because i've been burned by low quality bootlegs before. i can wait a few more weeks.
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My friends bought me a bootleg of some cheesy horror movie. The picture quality was murky at best. It would have been watchable except thT it comes to an abrupt stop about 5 minutes before the end.
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^^^ Yikes, that's a bad time for a horror film to cut off, even if it's a cheesy one!
I don't usually deal with bootlegs of movies, though I will confess to having some music bootlegs. I wonder if part of the reason DS is such a popular title is because of all the fans of the OS who declined to see it in theaters. But I still hope it might mean that there will also be a good market for the real DVD/blu-ray when it comes out, too!
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bootlegs are usually taped off the movie screen so quality varies and unless the theatre was empty, you can hear the audience laugh or even see them get up and leave. its better to wait til its released legally.
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Thanks for posting the numbers from Friday, madscntst. Actually, I should give you a special thank you because I was unexpectedly away from my computer for most of Friday and Saturday, so I was especially grateful to come home and to find that you'd posted the numbers. [ghost_smiley]
I haven't had the chance to look at things too closely yet, but one thing that's definitely interesting is that even though Wrath of the Titans' 9th week's Monday-Thursday period had included Memorial Day and it had taken in more than $20,000 on that day than DS had this past Monday, in its 9th week's Monday-Thursday period DS still managed to bring in more than $42,000 more than what Wrath of the Titans had. [ghost_cool] And in a head-to-head comparison of their 9th weeks in release, in total DS managed to bring in $114,915 more than what Wrath of the Titans had. [ghost_smiley]
I imagine there will be a noticeable drop in the coming week, due to the drop in theaters.
For what it's worth, for its 9th week in release Wrath of the Titans made $370,376, and then when it dropped down to 205 theaters in its 10th week, it brought in $240,925. By comparison, DS brought in $485,291 in its 9th week in release. So, it's certainly going to be interesting to see if in its 10th week in release DS can continue to outperform Wrath of the Titans. [ghost_wink] The first test will be the weekend, and in its 10th weekend Wrath of the Titans brought in $156,016.
65 days 16 hours 32 minutes 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I got a bootleg about a week after it opened. I live near the Mexican border. I will also add that a student gavevit to me knowing I am a fan. The quality is good, for a boot, with very clear audio and decent picture. I have been to the theater 10 times to see it, so Burton and Depp have no cause for complaint. This number of viewings was inflated by the tedium of summer vacation in HOT HOT South Texas. I was not needed for summer school and had a great deal of free time. That is by far the most times I have ever seen a film in a theater.
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Wow, 10 times, that is impressive!! I think the most times I've ever seen a film in theaters was about 6 or 7 for Sweeney Todd, but that included a free advance screening. I got to DS 3 times, and hoped to have gotten there at least one more time, but I didn't make it and don't think I'll get any more chances as it's left my area now.
Even though I don't usually get film boots, I'm glad to hear that this one was pretty good. Try to keep cool, doctor-- I think we've gotten some of your weather here in DC in recent weeks [ghost_wink]
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Try to keep cool, doctor-- I think we've gotten some of your weather here in DC in recent weeks [ghost_wink]
Actually I've been in Newport, RI since late June! We return to the sauna weather on August 1st.
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DS's weekend numbers are in. As expected, its placing has dropped due to the drop in theaters- from Box Office Mojo, it looks to be in 27th place for the weekend (even below Battleship! [ghost_shocked] ). Its total for the weekend was $226,926, coming from:
Friday: $67,603
Sat.: $90,374
Sun.: $68,949 (interestingly, this is very close to the box office from 6/24, 3 Sunday's ago, which was $69,768. The Fri. and Sat. are much lower than that weekend, though).
The domestic total is now $77,268,188, bringing the worldwide to $234,068,188. I haven't seen a change in the overseas number in the past week- it's still at $156,800,000.
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Though DS' total for the weekend is almost $71,000 more than Wrath of the Titans brought in for its 10th weekend - and only slightly less than the amount it bested Wrath of the Titans by last weekend - so DS is continuing to best it by significant amounts. [ghost_cool]
Plus, DS' per screen averages for all three days of this past weekend are higher than what they were for the June 22-24 weekend. [ghost_cool]
And thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
66 days 20 hours 58 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS made $34,165 on Monday, which actually seems pretty respectable considering its small number of theaters. It has (thankfully) gotten back above Battleship, after sinking below it (pardon the pun [ghost_wink] ) over this past weekend. Interestingly, DS made almost the same amount 3 Mondays ago, June 25th, when it made $34,538. Its domestic total is now $77,302,353
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-17 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-17)
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley] And yes, it's quite respectable because if it wasn't for The Cabin In The Woods adding theaters (to go from 113 to 224), DS would have still retained its place as the top grossing film in its range of theaters - but The Cabin In The Woods made slightly more by bringing in $35,499 on its 67th day. (Though with adding so many new theaters, a gross like that for The Cabin In The Woods wasn't in and of itself all that impressive. And even less impressive is that it was that film's highest gross for its Monday-Thursday period, so that means that strangely it fell off on Tuesday when most films tend to gross more. [ghost_blink])
However, as for a comparison to Wrath of the Titans, DS brought in over $13,000 more than that film had in its 67th day.
And it's looking like we're going to have to wait a bit longer to find out how DS ranked on Monday because Box Office Mojo hasn't posted their chart yet.
67 days 16 hours 50 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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A bit of old news first: it looks like DS placed 28th for the entire weekend as Box Office Mojo added the foreign film Bol Bachchan to their weekend chart. It managed to best DS by only $1,826 - but even if it was only by $1, it would have still come in 27th and pushed DS to 28th. Though what I do find interesting is that on Friday DS ranked 25th, on Saturday it ranked 27th, and on Sunday it ranked 24th - yet somehow after all three days were tallied for all the films it came in 28th for the overall weekend. [ghost_undecided]
But anyway, the current news is the rankings for Monday, and DS has definitely regained some ground because it seems like DS ranked 23rd or 24th (Bol Bachchan is missing from both Box Office Mojo and boxoffice.com, so at this point we have no way of knowing if it brought in more than DS or not).
67 days 19 hours 21 minutes 1 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I just saw where The Ellen Degeneres Show with Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Chloe Moretz is being aired again tomorrow. Check your local listings for the time.
67 days 21 hours 35 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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viewing the film tomorrow at 7pm at the Castro Theater here in SF.
5th time.
projected on FILM, not digital.
in an old fashioned movie palace,
YOWSA!!! [ghost_smiley]
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Woo-hoo, enjoy, David-Elijah! [ghost_cool]
Boxoffice.com has DS's Tuesday numbers, though they don't have a chart up yet for the day (and neither does box office mojo). DS made $38,289, which is up from Monday and actually more than it made 3 Tuesdays ago [ghost_smiley] The total is now $77,340,642.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012)
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I caught a bit of the Ellen interview today, but I had to turn it off when they brought up "bad acting" again. Why was this such a focal point of the movie's direction? Yes, there was bad acting on DS, but it wasn't all that often.
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I just checked the listings for our MaxiSaver ($1 all tickets) theater. I made sure to get there the first day, since I didn't know how long they would have it, but it is completing the 3rd week now and I see it's still listed for all of next week, its 4th.
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[ghost_smiley]
I saw the 7pm show at the Castro Theater Wednesday night. The one day engagement did well. Around 300 people, and they applauded at the end!!!!
the friend I saw it with loved it, it was her first time. She had avoided it because of that god-awful trailer. She said the film was nothing like the trailer.
Ya think?
That horrendous trailer may have affected the film's grosses.
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That horrendous trailer may have affected the film's grosses.
Seems quite likely that it's word of mouth making the film a steady performer late in its run.
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I still understand why Warner Brothers did what it did, but there's no doubt the trailers and the majority of the TV spots affected the film's grosses for its first weeks. That marketing campaign didn't do the film or the studio any favors. [ghost_wacko] And what's truly unfortunate is that a film's first couple of weeks tend to be when it brings in the lion's share of its gross.
69 days 11 hours 57 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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They really could've done what many of us hoped/predicted they would, which would've been to release one "funny"/young trailer, and then another with a darker and more horror-oriented tone. Then, those who liked either type of film would realize that there was more to the film than just what was being depicted in one type of trailer. A couple of the clips that were available online later on did show the darker tone, but those weren't really shown as advertisements, and by then, it might've been too late to attract part of the audience, anyway.
Oh well :)
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boxoffice.com has most of the Wed. numbers up:
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-19 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-07-19)
DS brought in $35,809 yesterday, which is WAY more than the $29,644 it made 3 Wednesdays ago. It continues to beat Battleship. The domestic total is now $77,376,451. It'll be interesting to see how many theaters it will lose next week; the theater counts usually go up Thursday evenings. Since The Dark Knight Rises will have the 2nd-largest theater opening ever, that is bound to take a bite out of a lot of other films, but I don't know how much of an effect it will have on DS since DS is mainly in second-run theaters now.
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Thank you, madscntst, for posting the box office numbers for Tuesday. [ghost_smiley] It was nice to see that DS is still doing well - and even nicer to see that it bested Wrath of the Titans' head-to-head 10th Tuesday's numbers by over $15,000. In fact, once DS brings in just another $12,500, it will have bested what Wrath of the Titans brought in for its entire Monday-Thursday period. And unless something radically bizarre happens with Wednesday's and today's numbers, DS is going to bring in much more $12,500 for those two days combined. [ghost_smiley]
I haven't seen a change in the overseas number in the past week- it's still at $156,800,000.
I looked around on a few sites today and no one seems to have posted the foreign gross for DS for last week. Though Box Office Mojo did post some of the foreign charts today, and DS is included on many of the ones from Latin/South America, so perhaps the foreign number will show up eventually.
69 days 15 hours 43 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Now that I see that while I was composing my previous post, madscntst had already posted Wednesday's numbers, it's definitely official that once again DS has bested Wrath of the Titans' Monday-Thursday numbers. In fact, DS has already brought in over $94,000 more than what Wrath of the Titans brought in for its entire 10th week - and it's looking good that DS will likely best it by over $120,000 once today's numbers are released and factored in. [ghost_cool]
It'll be interesting to see how many theaters it will lose next week
For what it's worth, in its 11th week Wrath of the Titans went from 205 theaters to 150.
69 days 15 hours 56 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yikes, DS is actually *adding* more theaters next week- the count will go up by 173 to a total of 412! Great news, though it still doesn't look like it will be playing in my area. Not all the theater counts are up yet, but here is the table on box office mojo (DS is in the "expanding" category):
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=29&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=29&p=.htm)
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Yikes, DS is actually *adding* more theaters next week- the count will go up by 173 to a total of 412!
Wow, that's really something! I think we can officially say that the DS movie has "legs"! Unfortunately, it's only showing at one distant theater in the Chicago area (that I can determine). I'm wanting to go see it again!
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I read an article that listed the top 50 weekend-opening films, stating what the weekend take was, along with the final tally. Many of these films were just from a few years ago and the final take was around $330 million after they left the theaters, the same amount that DS-2012 has already made and it's still in theaters. All these movies, making that much are touted as "successful," yet, there are those involved in the industry stating that DS-2012, making the same, if not more, was a "box office dud." I'm wondering if there's some prejudice involved regarding what's considered a "hit" and a "dud."
Gerard
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Based on what I saw at the Castro last night and more theaters picking it up next week, I'd say DS is on track to be the next cult film.
It'll make money for years at midnight screenings, cable airings and DVD sales. And maybe we will get more films or a new TV series.
[ghost_grin]
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Just checked Fandango. The UA Stonestown Twin is holding the film for a second week. 3 shows a day Sunday thru Thursday and 4 shows on Friday/Saturday. This is it's only SF location for now.
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Wow, that's really something! I think we can officially say that the DS movie has "legs"!
The very likely reason that it expanded this week is because it's been doing so well during the past several weeks. And because it's expanded, it's broken away from the release pattern of Wrath of the Titans. In fact, it's broken away from the release patterns of all of WB's other films so far this year because none of them have expanded twice in these latter weeks of their runs.
Unfortunately, it's only showing at one distant theater in the Chicago area (that I can determine). I'm wanting to go see it again!
No new theaters have been added in my area - but it's still showing four times a day at two of the theaters where it's been running for the past few weeks. And the fact that they haven't let it go yet or even reduced its showings probably means it's been doing well at them.
70 days 12 hours 2 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Even if DS is still doing pretty well, I'm pleasantly surprised that it added as many theaters as it did- I was hoping that best case scenario, it'd keep the theaters it had, but I guess I should've aimed higher [ghost_wink] I wonder where all these extra theaters are, though, since several of us haven't seen it being added near us. Oh well!
Anyway, DS made $34,709 yesterday, which once again beats the total from 3 Thursdays ago (which was $32,608). It's slightly down from Wed., but almost all the films did worse yesterday than Wed. The domestic total is now $77,411,160.
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That's a really good question, madscntst. Where is it picking up traction if not around us? DS left my area two weeks ago, and I don't think it's coming back. So I wonder what regions it is doing so well in!
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
I'm pleasantly surprised that it added as many theaters as it did- I was hoping that best case scenario, it'd keep the theaters it had, but I guess I should've aimed higher [ghost_wink]
Apparently. [ghost_wink] And the funny thing - funny in a good way, that is - is that the 173 theaters that DS added are more theaters than we thought it might be playing in in total in its 11th week in release. And what I find really interesting is that this latest expansion is bigger than the first one in a few different ways. Firstly, the first expansion brought DS' theater count up to 365, whereas this one brought it up to 412. Secondly, this time around it added almost three times as many theaters as it did with the first expansion. And finally, second expansions of this magnitude would seem to be very rare because I glanced over the theater counts for all the films this year, and it's not only WB films that haven't done anything similar - no other studio has done anything similar with any of their wide released films.
70 days 16 hours 57 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Where is it picking up traction if not around us? DS left my area two weeks ago, and I don't think it's coming back. So I wonder what regions it is doing so well in!
It would be very interesting to know where the 173 new theaters have been added, and it would be interesting to learn the regions of the country where DS is doing so well. Unfortunately, though, beyond its first week in release we haven't been told anything about what regions of the country DS has been its most successful (that week the highest grossing regions were the south and the midwest). Though the places where DS is continuing to do so well don't necessarily have to be where the new theaters are being added. For instance, if hanging on to theaters and showtimes is an indication of DS doing well, then as I've mentioned it's most probably doing well in my area - but my area hasn't added any new theaters. So, perhaps it's possible that the new theaters could be being added in areas of the country that they feel are as yet untapped as far as the film goes and they're attempting to entice that untapped audience to the film.
70 days 17 hours 12 minutes 12 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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That's really interesting, MB. I find it amazing that some towns and cities are just bringing it back from the dead. DS certainly has received an abnormally long life when many in the industry seemed to think it was dying on the vine. I wonder if this will have Warners rethink its "flop" status, thus possibly producing interesting results. [ghost_wink]
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i just doublechecked and it's definitely not playing anywhere in new york city.
i've said from the getgo that it's the sort of trippy thing that could and probably will develop it's own fanbase. it seems like the sort of thing college kids would get stoned and watch fifty times. and it's certainly the stuff of the old "midnight showing".
and despite the rejection and even outrage it created in the existing DS fanbase it will probably do well with that group in the DVD market as well. especially if it contains deleted footage and other extras.
i suspect it will have a substantial afterlife.
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DS certainly has received an abnormally long life when many in the industry seemed to think it was dying on the vine.
Well, as I tried to point out even back when some Web sites were saying things like that, what they were saying was incredibly foolish - especially when DS was compared head-to-head with most of this year's other films. Deadline saying that the film was "on life support" was one of the most ridiculous comments of the group. And quite obviously the subsequent box office numbers have proved how wrong Deadline was to have said that. Though of course, they've never admitted they were wrong. And as I prophesied the other day when it comes to such sites, they probably never will. For one, they've no doubt moved on to condemning/underestimating other films - and for two, in all likelihood they're not even paying attention to DS anymore because they wrote it off long ago. Decidedly premature of them, but then that's the way so many of those sites operate. If they didn't, they wouldn't still be referring to Depp's The Tourist as a flop. [ghost_rolleyes]
I wonder if this will have Warners rethink its "flop" status
Though one thing we should try to keep in mind is that we've never really seen anything in which anyone directly associated with WB called the film a "flop" - it's been articles where the writers have put that and similar words like "dud" and "bomb" in the WB execs' mouths or that thought in their minds. We don't really know what WB's attitude is toward the film. Given their hope was that it would gross $100 million domestically, they may see it as a domestic box office disappointment - but there's a big difference between a disappointment and a flop or a dud or a bomb. And, of course, there's the fact that the film has been performing quite well in foreign markets, and even still has at least one where it's yet to open.
thus possibly producing interesting results. [ghost_wink]
We should only be so lucky. [ghost_wink]
71 days 11 hours 28 minutes 42 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'm SO curious to see what the weekend gross will be with all these added theaters!
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As far as theaters in this area go, I've been judging by the ones that automatically come up when I check out DS' main page on boxoffice.com. But just out of curiosity I checked the film's official Web site, and lo and behold there is a new theater showing DS in my area that I didn't know about: the Mendon Drive-In in Mendon, MA. Like I said when Gerard brought them up, I didn't even think there were drive-ins left in MA - but apparently I was wrong. But then, I don't think I've ever even been in the area around Mendon, particularly because it's a really small town. And even to say that Mendon is in my area is a bit of a stretch because it's almost 50 miles away. But apparently the official Web site considers it to be in my area because it came up when I entered my zip code. [ghost_wink]
71 days 13 hours 10 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Went for my seventh time this afternoon. The movie was screened in a somewhat different venue. It was the auditorium of a nearby town hall. Apparently, the town screens second run movies to generate revenue, without hiking taxes. It's a small theatre and very well kept.
The town really seemed to support the theatre. There was a good sized crowd for four in the afternoon. And they got into the movie, laughing at all the right places. And a few reacted when the original cast showed up for their cameo.
And the price couldn't be beat: $2.00! I'm going to try to get back there once more before I head off for the Festival.
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Considering discussion about box-office takes and varous current films, Warner Bros. and tallying agencies have initiated a total black-out in reporting how the new Batman film is doing following the terrible tragedy a few days ago.
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=745018
Gerard
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Yes, and it looks like estimates for ALL films, not just Dark Knight Rises, have been withheld for the weekend. That is definitely understandable. What an unspeakable tragedy, and it certainly puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?
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Speaking of box office, nothing for the foreign film Bol Bachchan has been posted anywhere since the numbers for it were posted for last Sunday, so it's hard to know how DS ranked last Monday-Thursday. I already mentioned that DS looked like it came in either 23rd or 24th on Monday, and about the only things I can say at this point would seem to be that DS looked like it was also either 23rd or 24th on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 22nd or 23rd on Thursday - and as far as the full 10th week goes, it came in either 28th or 29th (because, remember, it was ranked lower during last weekend, so that would pull down its overall rank for the week).
And as far as a comparison to Wrath of the Titans goes, DS ended up bringing in $128,973 more than what that film grossed in its 10th week in release. Though now that DS has deviated significantly from Wrath of the Titans' release pattern, their 10th weeks will be the last time they can be compared head-to-head. It certainly wouldn't be fair to compare what DS might gross in 412 theaters to what Wrath of the Titans grossed in only 150.
72 days 19 hours 27 minutes 43 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_grin]
It's an unfair comparison regardless because DS is so much better as a film!
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I understand the tentative street date for this film is Oct 2, 2012,has anyone heard and differently? Thankyou
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Yes, mm, that is what blu-ray.com says:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dark-Shadows-Blu-ray/35610/ (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dark-Shadows-Blu-ray/35610/)
though so far, I don't see it on Amazon for preorder (I'm signed up there to get a notice when it is up for preorder).
As to comparing DS with Wrath, unfair, unschmair. They both got the same chance, and if Wrath was doing better later in its run it would've had more theaters. Wrath did better in its opening, so now DS gets a chance to do better later on. A comparison is valid, I say! [ghost_smiley]
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How interesting that the Blu Ray features only Barnabas surrounded by Julia, Elizabeth, Angelique, and Carolyn ... not a hint of Roger, Vicki, or David.
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[ghost_sad]
no extras?
commentary, deleted scenes?
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I mean, the Blue-Ray COVER. Sorry. [ghost_wink]
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the studio should have said what the extras will be, but they haven't.
Weekend grosses now posted at Box Office Mojo and Box Office.com--nothing for Depp Shadows, which should have a nice gross to go along with the big jump in the theater count.
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in my office we have MSN.com set as our homepage.
today they had a wrap up of the "best and worse of film 2012"...
guess where DS ended up? [ghost_rolleyes]
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I read that, too, Michael, and it was downright nasty. It said it was a movie "nobody wanted to see" based upon a TV show "no one remembers" or "cares about" or whatever. Well, for a movie that just might make $135 million dollars, that speaks differently. The article also listed all sorts of "best" films that I never heard of. It sounds to me like they guy is one of those artsy-fartsy "critics" (even though he like that avenger movie, and I simply don't care about a bunch of ludicrous comic book "heroes" that I don't remember, know about or want to see) that needed some whipping boy.
Gerard
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Interesting. there's definitely a number of people in the "industry," critics obviously among them, who are going after Burton, hatchet firmly in hand. I don't know about Depp because I don't really follow the media coverage on him.
I gather there's been nary a whisper of releasing the '04 WB pilot as an extra for the feature film release.
G.
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I agree that there is a lot of hatred toward Burton these days. It was once hip to like him but now he's not so cool anymore. I wonder if Frankenweenie will do anything to change that, because some might be fond of the original and consider this a return to form.
Critics/entertainment media are mixed about Johnny at the moment. They are tired of the Pirates/Burton type films (and sadly, DS falls under that umbrella and I think that at least some critics were never even gonna give it a chance). And yet, they didn't get behind his "normal" roles like The Rum Diary or The Tourist, either. But on the bright side, everyone loved him in Rango and in his 21 Jump Street cameo, and regardless of how they rated Pirates 4 and Alice in Wonderland, both those films were undeniable moneymakers. He just signed up for a Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom) film, and all the articles say how great it is because Anderson is very "in" now (how Burton used to be once upon a time [ghost_wink] ) and they think Anderson can get Johnny's career back on track [ghost_rolleyes]
Gosh, how I would've loved the '04 pilot as an extra somewhere, because I have never seen it. Oh well.
Still no DS numbers for the weekend; I wonder if they've stopped tracking it. If they hadn't added all those theaters this week, I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but now it's a little weird not to have the numbers.
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thankyou Madscientist for the information. Its truly amazing what that article said about a show no one cares about. Too much hatred around. That is terrible. But thank you very much one again.
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Still no DS numbers for the weekend; I wonder if they've stopped tracking it. If they hadn't added all those theaters this week, I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but now it's a little weird not to have the numbers.
What is very odd is that, as I've said, this year Warner Brothers has been tracking/reporting all of their films well beyond 10 weeks in theaters (for instance, Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One spent 13 weeks in theaters - and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island spent 20 weeks - and every single day's box office for each one of those films was tracked/reported) - but this week Warner Brothers has reported every one of their films still in release except for DS (they even reported To The Arcrtic, which is in its 14th week of release in only 52 theaters and likely brought in less this past weekend than what DS brought in). Who knows why that is? Though perhaps DS will show up eventually as it did for the week containing the July 4th holiday. But if it doesn't, it will actually be more than very odd given how Warner Brothers has been handling and continues to handle every one of their other films this year. [ghost_huh]
73 days 23 hours 33 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Here's a quote from UK's The Sun.
"Following the film’s huge success, Sophie — who is also the face of fashion brand Burberry and has appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine — has been invited for talks with studio executives for a string of other big budget movies in Los Angeles."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/scotlandfeatures/4446378/Sophie-Kennedy-Clark-I-got-bitten-by-Johnny-Depp-now-Ill-get-my-teeth-into-Hollywood.html
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But what was The Scottish Sun thinking referring to the film as a "blockbuster" and calling it "a huge success"? Didn't they get the memo that it's only supposed to be referred to as a "flop" or a "dud" or a "bomb"?! [ghost_rolleyes] Shame on them. That sort of slip could cost them their press credentials! [ghost_wink]
But seriously, thanks so much for the link, The Doctor and K9. [ghost_smiley] The article was very nice.
74 days 20 hours 30 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_grin]
Nothing says flop more than adding 150 theaters ten weeks into a film's run.
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Went back to see the film again tonight and was quite surprised to see that the theatre was 80% full. This was quite remarkable for a Tuesday night, though the $2.00 admission was certainly a factor.
Aside from one older guy who walked out during the Angelique/Barnabas sex scene, the audience seemed to really enjoy the movie. Jokes that went out over dead air at other screenings were quite well received. I was glad that I was familiar with the movie already because the laughter drowned out some of the dialogue.
There is definitely an audience for this movie. It just took them a while to find it. There was an equally large crowd waiting for the second showing.
A couple of random observations......During the final scene, Vicki reminded me of Wednesday Addams.....Does Angelique have a heart of glass? Cue the Blondie music!
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Uncle Roger, glad to hear that the film has been popular in your area. I think it's a little odd that someone walked out during the Ang/Barn sex scene, which was really pretty tame IMHO and played more for laughs. When the film first came out, I thought more folks seemed offended by the Julia/Barn scene (though I guess I have no morals because I wasn't offended by either one of them! :) )
Well, we've gotten through most of the week without knowing anything about the box office. Withdrawal! I do hope that they will update it tomorrow for the weekly earnings. It'll also be interesting to see what happens to the theater count- that should be posted a little later today.
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My theater experiences have had several walk outs as well. Mine happened after the B/A scene, right before the party, and after another point I can't remember. I think it's just the fact that there is so much of it. It's like 3 weeks of modern soap ''action'' crammed into 1.5 hours. It's a little overkill, and I could do without most of it, especially the B/Julia scene. If it were only the B/A scene, I think I'd like the film a lot more. But Angie is always trying to get Barnabas in bed and it becomes a little excessive, especially in comparison to how tame the original is. So that's my theory.
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So, in answer to my question about the theater count for the coming week, DS will take a big loss of nearly half its theaters, going down from 412 to only 222 theaters.
Box office mojo's theater counts for the coming week:
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=30&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=30&p=.htm)
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Though that's still more than most films continue to play in in their 12th week in release. For instance, WB's films Wrath of the Titans played in 105 and The Lucky One played in 72. And then there's their film Joyful Noise which played in 0 because it closed at the end of its 10th week. [ghost_wink] To still be in 222 theaters is definitely on the high end when it comes to how many theaters a film is still playing in at this point in its run. Even to still be in theaters at all is an accomplishment in and of itself. [ghost_smiley]
76 days 19 hours 54 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Out of curiosity I just checked our MaxiSaver again and it will still be there next week for a 5th week. I rushed to go at the beginning of the 1st week, in case that would be all there was, and now here comes the 4th after that. By the way, that's been 4 showings a day every day.
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In Orlando, Dark Shadows continues at our $2 theatre. I was told originally it would play for 2 weeks - it's now going into its 5th week there. As luck had it, it started playing the same weekend of our club meeting in June and a group of about 12 went to see it after the meeting. I may check it out again one last time - would be my 6th viewing - midnight showing, premiere night, drive-in and $2 theatre combined. Interestingly enough, Dark Shadows is now playing with movies that premiered after - or well after Dark Shadows did like Battleship, Snow White and the Huntsman, Rock of Ages and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
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I checked boxoffice.com's listings to see if anything has changed in my area, and it has. DS closed in one of the theaters it had been playing in seemingly for weeks and weeks, it's dropped down to only two showings in the other (at the first and second evening showings), but it's opened in yet another drive-in in the middle of nowhere - and there it's showing at midnight.
77 days 12 hours 55 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Finally, we've got some numbers from Boxoffice.com for DS's box office last week!
Fri, July 20 - $406,134 (wow!)
Sat, July 21 - $548,323 (ditto!)
Sun, July 22 - $255,357
Mon, July 23 - $103,693
Tues, July 24 - $131,444
Wed, July 25 - $116,630
Thur, July 26 - $90,559
for a grand total of $79,063,300!
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=darkshadows.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=darkshadows.htm)
It's currently listed 14th on bom's Thursday box office, though as usual it may not be complete yet:
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-26&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-26&p=.htm)
But to me, this is a VERY respectable showing for so late in the film's run!
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By the way-- too late to edit my post above, but they now have the weekly results, and (so far) DS is in 13th place for last week! But even if another film or two sneaks in ahead of it, worth noting is that DS made more than The Avengers last week! ($1,652,140 vs. $1,045,837) Bet you never thought you'd hear that! [ghost_smiley]
http://boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=2012&wk=29&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=2012&wk=29&p=.htm)
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these are incredible figures for a film in it's 3rd month!
DS IS NOT A BOMB!
Sequels and a new TV series, please!
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WOW - those numbers are beyond even my highest expectations of what DS might have brought in for the week! [ghost_cool] Though, of course, the sad thing is that all those Web sites/entertainment columnists that have written DS off are never likely to acknowledge them in any way, shape, or form. [ghost_sad] [ghost_angry]
worth noting is that DS made more than The Avengers last week! ($1,652,140 vs. $1,045,837) Bet you never thought you'd hear that! [ghost_smiley]
Can't say as I ever did. [ghost_wink] And I don't really have the time to check out things now, but once I do I suspect there are going to be quite a few more surprises in those numbers...
Thanks so much for posting, madscntst! [ghost_smiley]
77 days 16 hours 35 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I wonder if we'll see another jump in the theater count after the industry sees this?
The film is out of SF again, but still in Bay Area suburbs.
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Word of mouth must be very good for this movie. That makes me think it's going to have a very healthy life in home video, especially for those who heard about it, wanted to see it, and didn't have a chance because it was yanked out of the theaters in their area.
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Regarding the MSN "review" of the top best and worst films of 2012, listing DS as one of the worst (saying such things as a "film nobody wanted to see" about a soap opera "no one cares about" and "no one remembers" [parapharsing]), it said that it went, parapharasing again, "into theaters and vanished quickly," it's surprising that it keep resurrecting in more and more theaters. Again, what's this media hatred for DS? How many theaters keep resurrecting that avengers super-hero stuff? I know I don't care about super-heroes with sculpted abs and big pecs and hooters. How utterly stupid. I haven't seen the latest Batman thing. I have no intention to. Who cares about something so utterly stupid? (Sorry to you Batman fans.)
Gerard
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I actually loved the first 2 Batman films (haven't seen the new one) [ghost_smiley] I hope we can still be friends, lol (Just kidding- I know we can! [ghost_wink] ) But it does sting, doesn't it, when they say "nobody cares", when obviously, many of us do! Speak for yourself, MSN, and let us care if we want to! [ghost_tongue]
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When I was in the 8th grade--1969--I was called a "*****" not because I was effeminate (I wasn't) but because I watched DS.
30 years later the same damn thing happened at a general horror con I attended. I was trashed and laughed at by classic horror fans "because he's into Dark Shadows, ha ha ha!"
I'm really tired of this shit. I'm going to ask Mr Editor at Fangoria (who's a DS fan himself) to let me address all this unwarranted DS hate in an op-ed.
Can someone link the MSN piece so I can read it and address it in Fangoria?
thanks.
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It took me awhile, David, but I found it:
http://movies.msn.com/2012-best-worst-so-far/photo-gallery/feature/
When I grew up, watching DS, the reaction in my neighborhood was the direct opposite. Everyone who was anyone watched it and talked about it (and even played it). We ran home from school, sometimes gathering in each other's houses to watch it together. If someone wasn't a watcher, he or she was looked down upon as "not groovy." As I mentioned before, when HoDS hit the screen, at the Saturday matinee I attended the line of kids went out the theater, down the street and around the corner. DS merchandise was a BIG thing. I had some of the comic books and Ross novels, and if owned the board game you were the king or queen of the world.
Gerard
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I didn't check out the MSN thing when people mentioned it before because I wasn't in the mood to get aggravated - but I did check it out this time. Wow! About all I can do is [ghost_rolleyes]
The really interesting thing when it comes to DS is that the vast majority of the comments totally disagree with the writer's opinions. One comment even suggests that the writer may just be too young to grasp how popular DS was and still is - and given how young a lot of these people writing for the Internet are, that's probably a fair assessment. Though youth is no excuse to say that the DS film "came and went from theaters so fast you'd think someone staked it through the heart" when that is so clearly not the case. But then, as I've said many times already, the people writing stuff like that wrote off DS long ago and have not paid attention since. They're living in their fantasy of how the film supposedly did rather than actually giving notice to how the film has really been doing. And sadly with them, films like The Tourist and DS probably have a lot of company when it comes to films that they've prematurely written off. Though what could be fascinating would be if someone was to confront the writer with the fact that a film that supposedly "came and went from theaters so fast" actually just made $1,652,140 in its 11th week in release. But then again, it would probably be a wasted effort because, if the writer doesn't care enough about what he writes to pay attention to how films are actually doing in theaters, he probably doesn't pay attention to the comments that disagree with him (particularly when they muddle the situation with little things like facts) because it's so much easier for him to live his fantasy.
And when it comes to the list in general, not that WB probably even gives a hoot what MSN writes, but it's interesting that WB has four of the supposedly worst films: Rock of Ages, The Lucky One, Joyful Noise, and DS. It's also interesting that Chloe Moretz starred in two of the supposedly worst: Hick and DS - and that Seth Grahame-Smith wrote two of the supposedly worst: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and DS. But what's most interesting is that the worst list also includes The Lorax, which is one of the most successful and one of the top critics' best reviewed films this year. But then, when it comes to the latter at least, the writer is probably trying to prove he stands apart from what audiences and top critics like. Good luck with that.
78 days 11 hours 24 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Jeez, what a jerk that writer is--no fact checking at all, which youth does not excuse!
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BTW, when the late TV Guide writer Cleveland Amory called DS "the worst show in history", he was writing about The Haunting of Collinwood, a creative high point in the series.
No matter what Dan, Sam and Gordon, did, people trashed it because "it's just a soap", never mind how ambitious and groundbreaking it was to do a soap like that, or the pockets of brilliance it had.
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And don't forget, that in that same review scathing the original television DS, Cleveland Amory also said, after a week of watching it, he "missed it." There's a lot to read into that comment. He panned it (as most soaps, if not all soaps, were panned back then), but he obviously enjoyed it. For him, it was undoubedly a guilty pleasure (and I wonder if he did go back to watching it, while never admitting it).
It was like my mom, who always would yell from the kitchen: "Are you watching that spooky crap again?" But the moment Joan Bennett appeared, my mom, dish-towel in hand, would creep into the doorway of the living room and watch. And when Quentin's Theme played on the radio, she'd turn up the volume and listen and afterwards would hum the melody over and over. She even learned to ear-play it, one finger at a time, on our organ (I had the sheet music and performed it during the annual concert at our local conservatory where I took organ lessons).
Sometimes I think DS haters just like being contrarians. DS was the most popular and one of the most iconographic soap operas of all time. It set standards which exist to this day. It influenced highly popular literary takes on vampires, from Salem's Lot to Interview With the Vampire to Twilight. Other soaps began to introduce direct supernatural plots. It's the only soap from its time where every episode (save parts of one) has been preserved in some form, has re-aired many times, is available on DVD, had two television remakes and inspired three motion pictures, all successful and profitable. Is there any soap opera that has an annual festival that draws several thousand people? How many soaps have had numerous documentaries produced about them? Only one. And soundtracks - don't forget the soundtracks. I have seven of them and I don't think that's all of them. There's a lot to be resentful of and to hate when one likes to go against the grain with something so unique, groundbreaking, successful and continuing in popularity. Don't forget, many if not most critics initially panned The Wizard of Oz. It's now listed in the top ten greatest motion pictures of all time.
These DS-haters, especially among the "younger" crowd, simply like being contrarians. Being conditioned to enjoying what's only here for the moment and gone the next, they don't have the concept of something that has endured over time (with some exceptions). For example, The Avengers was their big lovey-huggy, but no one hears much about it anymore. It's now yesterday's news; it's no longer "trending." Now it's the latest Batman movie (its reputation, however, sadly sullened by the tragedy). Today's younger critics are formed by the do-it-now mentality. For me, this little non-DS-related clip pretty much sums it up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSSDeesUUsU
Gerard
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The really unfortunate thing is that the majority of people who come across that MSN thing will accept what's written as fact because that's what we're all conditioned to do - believe what we read. It's only those who are closely following the box office numbers who'll know differently - and that's a small percentage of the readership. Even I, who's been following things very closely since the DS film was released, don't normally do so to anywhere near the extent that I have been. So, if I wasn't doing so and/or I wasn't a DS fan, it would be very likely that I would believe what's written about the DS film without a second thought. And sure, in this case in the grand scheme of things it's not a big thing because we're just talking about a film (yes, it's big to us - but not to the majority of the world). But just think of how frightening it can be when what's being written about by Internet writers is seriously important in the grand scheme of things, yet as much misinformation is being spread about that situation as is being spread about the DS film in this one.
78 days 14 hours 2 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I finally got the chance to check out some of the charts for last week's box office on Box Office Mojo. Last weekend DS brought in $1,209,814 (an increase of 433.1%), and according to BOM it ranked 12th:
July 20-22, 2012 Weekend Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=29&p=.htm)
[ghost_cool]
The truly unfortunate thing, though, is that very few people will ever realize that because Warner Brothers took forever and didn't release DS' numbers until this past Friday. In fact, because its numbers were delayed so long, DS isn't listed at all on the box office chart in this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly. And that's even more unfortunate because EW has a large readership, so if DS had been listed, many people, including many of the people at the Web sites and those entertainment columnists dissing DS, would have likely seen it. Oh well - I suppose their fantasies are secure because they're quite obviously not checking out sites like BOM.
But anyway, considering that DS did so well, I was curious to see how its numbers compare to this year's other films in their 11th weekend. The following list contains the Top 10 grossing films in their 11th weekend - and DS' numbers obviously speak for themselves - especially the fantastic per screen number:
| Film | Gross | Per Screen |
| ===================== | ======== | ======== |
| The Hunger Games | $1,567,186 | $1,426 |
| Marvel's The Avengers | $1,398,754 | $1,872 |
| DARK SHADOWS | $1,209,814 | $2,936 |
| 21 Jump Street | $660,795 | $1,815 |
| The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | $651,051 | $1,904 |
| Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | $609,781 | $1,373 |
| Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | $432,245 | $950 |
| John Carter | $368,994 | $1,057 |
| Mirror Mirror | $342,921 | $1,132 |
| Bernie | $250,914 | $2,220 |
As to comparing DS with Wrath, unfair, unschmair. They both got the same chance, and if Wrath was doing better later in its run it would've had more theaters. Wrath did better in its opening, so now DS gets a chance to do better later on. A comparison is valid, I say! [ghost_smiley]
Well, if you put it that way then I will share that in its 11th weekend Wrath of the Titans brought in $104,684 - $1,105,130 less than what DS grossed in its 11th weekend.
79 days 12 hours 0 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
I'll be spreading the word. Mr. Editor at Fangoria has given me the OK to address all this anti-DS hate.
I'll be addressing that foolish post at MSN--tomorrow I'll be contacting MPI to get an official statement from them about how well the DVDs have sold--I already have good press contacts at MPI and at Big Finish.
I'll further include a few terse words about journalists who use their podiums to hash out personal vendettas without checking facts.
I'll address this further when I review the Depp Shadows DVD in Scary Monsters Mag and Videoscope.
The info you posted RE; last week will also be mentioned, MB.
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I've had the chance to check out some more charts on Box Office Mojo, and there's more interesting news when it comes to DS' box office for last week. If it wasn't for the fact that 21 Jump Street's 74th day fell on the Memorial Day Holiday, chances are that DS would have been the top grossing film in its range of theaters compared to all of this year's films on their 74th day as well as all the films in its range of theaters last Monday. However, because of the holiday, 21 Jump Street came out ahead of DS, $108,241 vs. $103,693. But last Monday DS did beat out all the other other films in its range of theaters regardless of how many weeks they've been in release. The second place film was Marvel's The Avengers with $98,364. And in fact, DS beat out that film on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It wasn't until Thursday that it was able to beat DS once again.
And as for rankings, it's looking like DS was 13th last Monday, 12th last Tuesday and Wednesday, and 14th last Thursday. And what really helped DS become 12th for the entire week was that during the weekend it ranked 11th on Friday, 10th on Saturday, and 12th on Sunday. Who would have thought we would have ever seen DS back in the Top 10?! I certainly didn't. [ghost_wink]
And finally, as far as a comparison to Wrath of the Titans goes, it'll probably come as no surprised that DS trounced that film during the Monday-Thursday period as well. In its 11th Monday-Thursday, Wrath of the Titans brought in $61,457, whereas DS brought in $442,326. [ghost_cool] And to find a Monday-Thursday period when DS had brought in more than that, we'd have to go all the way back to its 5th week in release. Though in that week it was playing in 1,550 theaters - not just 412. [ghost_wink]
79 days 18 hours 35 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Interesting article on tentpoles. A brief DS reference. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057186
On a side note thanks for bringing us up to date on the DS box office performance.
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I'm not home, but I just got a text message about this from GK Films and had to find a computer to post the link ASAP:
Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp Blu-ray Release Date, Details and Cover Art (http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Dark-Shadows-with-Johnny-Depp-Blu-ray-Release-Date-Details-and-Cover-Art/10994)
Can't wait to check out those extras! [ghost_cool]
80 days 18 hours 1 minute 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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i'm confused...
will all of the bonus features and deleted scenes be on both releases or only the blue ray? or do they all come together?
the extra scenes really sound like they might help flesh some of it out.
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box office mojo reports that DS made $287,000 over the weekend. came it at 21st place, an understandable drop considering the theater count drop.
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Though that's almost $30,000 more than it grossed in its 7th weekend when it was playing in 302 theaters and over $60,000 more than it grossed in its 10th weekend when it was in 239 theaters. [ghost_cool] So, it's still performing well.
Thanks for posting the numbers, David. [ghost_smiley]
80 days 21 hours 10 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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i'm confused...
will all of the bonus features and deleted scenes be on both releases or only the blue ray? or do they all come together?
That site makes it seem like those extras are only on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo release and not the DVD only release. But I suppose we'll have to wait for some site like Amazon to list the extras on both releases to know for sure.
the extra scenes really sound like they might help flesh some of it out.
Yes, they do. October 2nd can't come soon enough. [ghost_wink]
80 days 21 hours 15 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This is refreshing news. The cover art is 100 times better than the images we saw earlier. I just hope that the DVD (either the one that is included with the BR or the single release) has the deleted scenes, and that they aren't just on the BR disc. I can't afford to buy a BR player just for these scenes, so I am hoping this is the case. I think that these deleted scenes will make this film much more enjoyable, as they don't sound like some of the included scenes which I will surely be fast-forwarding through. [ghost_wink] These added scenes may also help explain the purpose of Julia Hoffman in this film, which would be nice.
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Yesterday I didn't check out the link to Amazon in thehdroom.com's article, so I didn't realize until a friend pointed it out to me a short while ago that the new Amazon listing for the Blu-ray/DVD combo release (as opposed to this old one for the Blu-ray: Dark Shadows [Blu-ray] (2012) (http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Blu-ray-Johnny-Depp/dp/B005LAIHKY/ref=sr_1_10?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1343742883&sr=1-10&keywords=Dark+Shadows+%282012%29)) lists it as having two discs. In all likelihood one is the Blu-ray disc and the other is the DVD disc. But as I've mentioned before, one may never really know until one opens the packaging for oneself.
Also, on the off chance that Amazon (or some other site) doesn't eventually list the extras for the individual releases and it turns out that there could also be a Blu-ray only release, be very careful of buying it sight unseen or even if you see it in a store because there was a big brouhaha with Warner Brother's Blu-ray only release of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Stickers on that release indicated that it contained a Maximum Movie Mode feature hosted by Robert Downey Jr., whereas no such feature is on that version of the Blu-ray - it only appears on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. So, who knows if a Blu-ray only release of DS may be similarly lacking when it comes to some of the Blu-ray/DVD Combo's extras? [ghost_rolleyes]
81 days 10 hours 14 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This site has the back cover of the DVD and the back cover of the Blu-ray Box I think. The page loads slowly at least on my computer so I just click the refresh button as soon as I get to the site. http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/dark-shadows3.html
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Thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
Well, if that article and the back cover shots of the DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo releases are correct, it definitely looks like the only extra on the DVD is "The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons" featurette and all the other extras only appear on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. If that is the case, in plain English I think it's shitty. But there's not much we can do because situations like that seem to be the norm rather than the exception lately. [ghost_sad]
81 days 10 hours 29 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_cool]
I have messages in to MPI, Big Finish & Dynamite Comics.
Awaiting statements RE: their sales figures. We'll see if DS is ''a 50 year old soap no one cares about''.
Fangoria has A LOT of readers!
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and I just emailed KL Scott to get a statement from her.
I'm gonna kick ass to all these DS haters, he he!
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Since it seems like no Web sites have taken it upon themselves to update us on the foreign box office, I decided to check out the foreign charts on Box Office Mojo and to tally up what's been reported since July 8th, which is the last time we got an official foreign tally (though one thing that's interesting is that a lot of European and Asian countries haven't been reported by BOM since the middle of June, so that's why they're missing from the list):
| Country | Gross As Of 7/8 | Gross As Of 7/15 | Gross As Of 7/22 | Gross Since 7/8 |
| ============= | =========== | =========== | =========== | =========== |
| Argentina | $1,986,659 | $2,433,139 | $2,762,524 | $775,865 |
| Austria | $1,312,607 | $1,327,594 | $1,339,021 | $26,414 |
| Belgium | $1,859,341 | $1,882,815 | No Report | $23,474 |
| Bolivia | $74,833 | $83,402 | $90,498 | $15,665 |
| Brazil | $3,957,209 | $4,518,255 | $4,824,660 | $867,451 |
| Bulgaria | $119,204 | $120,878 | $122,760 | $3,556 |
| Chile | $1,040,976 | $1,190,862 | $1,298,864 | $257,888 |
| Colombia | $1,297,426 | $1,454,976 | $1,525,610 | $228,184 |
| Croatia | $126,013 | $128,366 | No Report | $2,353 |
| Ecuador | $394,173 | $444,536 | $474,251 | $80,078 |
| Egypt | $161,392 | $173,413 | $180,697 | $19,305 |
| Finland | $852,261 | $871,521 | $878,947 | $26,686 |
| Germany | $8,516,345 | $8,664,072 | $8,775,353 | $259,008 |
| Italy | $8,085,694 | $8,139,295 | $8,155,391 | $69,697 |
| Malaysia | $1,942,151 | $1,943,194 | No Report | $1,043 |
| Mexico | $7,357,802 | $8,368,219 | $8,856,855 | $1,499,053 |
| New Zealand | $1,268,650 | $1,269,012 | No Report | $362 |
| Peru | $737,024 | $808,372 | $844,882 | $107,858 |
| Portugal | $888,886 | $891,578 | $892,921 | $4,035 |
| Serbia & Montenegro | $95,260 | $96,767 | $98,030 | $2,770 |
| Spain | $7,552,327 | $7,602,722 | $7,620,332 | $68,005 |
| Sweden | $1,674,239 | $1,686,187 | No Report | $11,948 |
| Turkey | $710,367 | $792,965 | $867,161 | $156,794 |
| Uruguay | $91,027 | $118,168 | $142,372 | $51,345 |
| | | Total: | $4,558,837 |
So, given that last we officially heard the foreign gross was $156,800,000, at the very least the foreign gross has to be $161,358,837, especially when the foreign numbers through July 29th have yet to be reported. And as of this past weekend DS' worldwide gross must have been at the very least $240,709,366. Though even beyond the foreign numbers through July 29th, it has to be more because of all the countries that haven't been reported on BOM.
81 days 16 hours 59 minutes 12 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS made $40,000 yesterday, far more than Battleship, Rock of Ages, or Prometheus.
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DS just might make 80 milliion domestically, something I thought would be nearly impossible a month ago.
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Yesterday I meant to post the daily rankings for weekend - but I suppose better a few days late than never. [ghost_wink]
So with that in mind: on Friday DS seems to have ranked 18th, and on both Saturday and Sunday it seems to have ranked 19th.
July 27th Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-27&p=.htm)
July 28th Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-28&p=.htm)
July 29th Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-07-29&p=.htm)
And as David already reported, DS came in 21st for the overall weekend.
July 27-29, 2012 Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=30&p=.htm)
And those rankings seem quite high for a film in its 12th weekend, so, of course, that prompted me to check/compare DS to this year's other films in their 12th weekend:
| Film | Gross | Per Screen |
| ===================== | ======== | ======== |
| The Hunger Games | $1,072,213 | $1,428 |
| Marvel's The Avengers | $620,411 | $1,253 |
| Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | $512,212 | $1,277 |
| Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | $458,595 | $1,210 |
| The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | $416,791 | $1,447 |
| 21 Jump Street | $376,391 | $1,141 |
| DARK SHADOWS | $287,229 | $1,294 |
| John Carter | $247,940 | $1,417 |
| To the Arctic (IMAX) | $244,152 | $4,695 |
| Mirror Mirror | $235,632 | $848 |
DS is still holding up quite well from last weekend, particularly when one considers that films like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and To The Arctic started out or have remained in limited release. And even though DS' per screen slipped considerably from last weekend's figure, with the exception of last weekend we'd have to go all the way back to its 3rd weekend (when it was playing in 3,404 theaters with a per screen of $2,205) to find a per screen higher than this past weekend's figure.
And finally, comparing DS to what Wrath of the Titans did in its 12th weekend, well, that comparison is still pretty dismal because that film grossed $77,466 - $209,773 less than what DS grossed.
82 days 11 hours 43 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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And we can add MIB 3 to the list of films that DS is doing much better than these days.
I got great statements from Big Finish and Dynamite Comics for my Fangoria piece in defense of DS--Big Finish said that DS audio CD sales were increasing!
[ghost_smiley]
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So, DS is back to being tracked daily, I guess. Yesterday's numbers are in- DS made $44,102, up 10% from Mon. Domestic total is now $79,434,897. It seems to be in 20th place at the moment but as always, something else could sneak in ahead of it. Box office mojo for Tues.:
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-31&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-07-31&p=.htm)
I think it may be possible for it to hit $80M but it'll really have to keep chugging away, and even then it could take a few more weeks, risking losing theaters with each new week.
I lost track of how MIB3 was doing, and it doesn't seem to be on BOM's list from yesterday, but I'll take your word for it, David-Elijah [ghost_smiley] But at the moment DS is doing better than Battleship (of course), Prometheus, and Abraham Lincoln. I don't see Avengers on the Tues. list (or actually the number hasn't been updated since the 29th) so I guess they stopped doing daily tracking on that one, too.
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Thanks madscntst for the update. I think it will reach the 80 million dollar mark.
More on the DVD from WB http://www.comicmix.com/news/2012/08/01/dark-shadows-coming-to-blu-ray-in-october/
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Hmmm... So it looks like the deleted scenes will only be on the BR, and that the BR will only be offered with the DVD. Who would have thought better of the same division that passed up the NoDS restoration? Guess I'll have to wait awhile before seeing these deleted scenes. [ghost_rolleyes]
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It doesn't actually sound like the deleted scenes will be cut into the film, but just included seperately? That's too bad...
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Interesting article on tentpoles. A brief DS reference.
Very interesting - particularly how the writer says that DS was "bailed out by ever-loyal audiences overseas." It's certainly no secret that DS has been doing well overseas, but if the film really has been "bailed out" by its foreign gross so far, then that is good news to hear. And writers should stop referring to the film as a "flop" or a "bomb" or a "dud." Though, of course, we know they won't. [ghost_rolleyes]
It's also interesting how the article brings up that "corporate bean counters are ever more secretive" when it comes to the numbers. Makes one wonder if that's the reason why three weeks ago Warner Brothers stopped reporting the foreign tally for DS? It also makes one wonder if we'll ever see an updated foreign tally once DS ends its run in overseas theaters? Or will we have to rely on the bits and pieces that Box Office Mojo will continue to report until they no longer can? [ghost_undecided]
But at any rate, thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
82 days 21 hours 38 minutes 3 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks for reporting the box office numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
So, DS is back to being tracked daily, I guess.
Last week was such an odd week so far as reporting DS' numbers goes. I would possibly blame it on the Colorado tragedy and the fact that Warner Brothers had decided to hold off reporting the box office for its films if it wasn't for the fact that they resumed reporting the box office for every one of their other films long before they resumed reporting the box office for DS. It was all very strange. But thankfully reporting for DS is back on track again and up to date.
I think it may be possible for it to hit $80M but it'll really have to keep chugging away, and even then it could take a few more weeks, risking losing theaters with each new week.
I suspect it's all going to come down to how long Warner Brothers decides to keep DS in theaters. And that's something that's hard to judge from their other films this year. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island stayed in theaters for 20 weeks - but it's the big exception rather than the rule because, of their other films that have already closed, Chernobyl Diaries was in theaters for 8 weeks, Joyful Noise for 10 weeks, Project X for 11 weeks, and Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One for 13 weeks. Though when it comes to all of those, in their final weeks they were each grossing far less than what J2:TMI was in its comparative period as well as far less than what DS is currently grossing. So, there is a possibility that DS could go 13 weeks and beyond.
I lost track of how MIB3 was doing, and it doesn't seem to be on BOM's list from yesterday
MIB3 has only been reporting on weekends for the past two weekends.
I don't see Avengers on the Tues. list (or actually the number hasn't been updated since the 29th) so I guess they stopped doing daily tracking on that one, too.
It will certainly be quite interesting if it turns out that they have.
82 days 22 hours 18 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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More on the DVD from WB
Thanks for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
It's nice to see that WB has updated the synopsis of the film to coincide with the dates that are in the actual film, as opposed to the dates we were originally given in their first synopsis prior to shooting. What would really be interesting to know is why the dates were changed. But who knows if we'll ever get that story?
It's also nice to get a description of each one of the Focus Points. Presumably the one that will include comments from David Selby, Lara Parker and KLS is the one called "THE COLLINSES: EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS DEMONS" - the only one to appear on the DVD.
So it looks like the deleted scenes will only be on the BR, and that the BR will only be offered with the DVD. Who would have thought better of the same division that passed up the NoDS restoration?
Though as I said the other day, doing something like that is more the norm rather than the exception these days. And not just when it comes to Warner Brothers, but when it comes to a lot of the studios. Seemingly quite often the Blu-ray release is jam packed with extras - the DVD not so much. Well, unless the DVD release is multiple discs.
82 days 22 hours 43 minutes 57 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It's also nice to get a description of each one of the Focus Points.
Getting back to these, the descriptions of most of them don't sound anything like the featurettes Warner Brothers released prior to the film's opening. Back then I was thinking those three or four featurettes were probably produced for the video releases but were being shared online early, but it doesn't appear that way. And not that I'm complaining that it seems like they aren't being included - I'd downloaded them all, so I already have copies - and it's much better that we'll have some new material to look forward to (though I'm sure at least some of the previous material will reappear in some form as well). But it is interesting that so many different featurettes have been put together for the film. With some films you're lucky to get even one or two featurettes, never mind possibly close to a dozen.
83 days 11 hours 14 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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But it is interesting that so many different featurettes have been put together for the film. With some films you're lucky to get even one or two featurettes, never mind possibly close to a dozen.
Although, sometimes the emphasis in these is less "feature" and more "-ette", with each one lasting maybe a couple of minutes, and being of a promotional--rather than informational--nature.
I'm much more a fan of the Laurent Bouzereau long-form docs found on many Hitchcock and Spielberg DVDs. (But maybe that kind of work is better done after the subject of the doc has aged a while...)
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That's all very true, KMR. And when it came to the pre-release featurettes, they were around the 3-4 minutes range. Though even if they're all about that length on the Blu-ray, I'll be happy because, with 9 of them, it will still total about 30 minutes altogether.
One thing that I didn't realize until after posting earlier is that it seems like we're not going to get any sort of commentary, which is disappointing because something like that might have proved quite illuminating - particularly when it comes to why the deleted scenes were cut. And it can't be because Burton and/or Depp don't do commentary because they have in the past. And I would have even taken a commentary from one or more of the producers and/or the technical personnel. But alas...
83 days 14 hours 36 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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And it can't be because Burton and/or Depp don't do commentary because they have in the past.
Well... not that often, though. I'm trying to think of which ones Burton may have done- I can't really remember. As for Depp, he usually does *not* do commentaries- there are indeed a few exceptions: Pirates 1 and Fear and Loathing are the ones that come to mind; I remember being sorely disappointed that there wasn't one for The Rum Diary, despite Hunter S. Thompson being a very close friend of Johnny's. I just think that Johnny is a little more comfortable doing some behind the scenes or interview snippets rather than a running commentary- during the Pirates 1 commentary with Gore Verbinski, it seemed like both of them ran out of things to talk about at certain points [ghost_grin]
I for one am very happy with the list of features that are being described, and can't wait to see them. I do feel for the folks who don't have blu-ray players as I myself didn't own one until about 6 or 8 months ago, and then I bought a pretty cheap one (~$70). I think it's possible to spend even less, but for someone who doesn't have the cash, and already has a DVD and/or VCR (yes, I still have one of those, believe it or not!) it's money that shouldn't need to be spent. I just wish they would offer the same features in both formats, so folks could choose :(
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DS will be losing 90 theaters next week, going down to just 132 [ghost_sad] Oh well, better than having nothing left!
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=31&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=31&p=.htm)
In other news, DS made $40,338 yesterday, bringing the total to $79,475,235. Ah well, even if it doesn't reach $80M, it should clear $79.5M by tomorrow, assuming that it makes somewhere in the vicinity of $40K, plus or minus a few K.
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-08-01&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-08-01&p=.htm)
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As for Depp, he usually does *not* do commentaries- there are indeed a few exceptions: Pirates 1 and Fear and Loathing are the ones that come to mind; I remember being sorely disappointed that there wasn't one for The Rum Diary, despite Hunter S. Thompson being a very close friend of Johnny's. I just think that Johnny is a little more comfortable doing some behind the scenes or interview snippets rather than a running commentary- during the Pirates 1 commentary with Gore Verbinski, it seemed like both of them ran out of things to talk about at certain points [ghost_grin]
Seeing what Johnny's like in interviews, this doesn't surprise me at all. He's basically a very quiet type, very private and seems to be really shy. It appears that he would prefer to just let his work speak for itself.
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I attended the final showing of Dark Shadows at our $2 theatre last night. Wasn't well attended - I counted 13 people including me - but it was a late 10:30 showing, plus finishing a 5 week run there. In comparison, Rock of Ages finished same night after only 2 weeks. I wanted to complete the viewing circle - saw the first Orlando midnight showing and the last $2 showing - plus 2 club group outings and twice at a drive-in. So it was sorta like saying hello to the movie - then goodbye.
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For the first time it looks like DS is no longer playing anywhere in my immediate area - at least according to boxoffice.com. Though I haven't tried looking on the official Web site to see if it has any listing(s) for the broader area like it did the other day for the drive-in in Methuen, MA.
I finally got around to checking out how DS' 81st day gross fared against all of this year's other films on their 81st day. It's still performing very well, coming in 7th overall, however, once again its gross came in 2nd in its theaters range. But unlike last week where 21 Jump Street bested DS by about $4,500, this week it was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that bested DS $47,106 vs. $40,266 - though as with last week when there were extenuating circumstances given 21 Jump Street's 74th day fell on the Memorial Day Holiday, we have to remember that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hadn't been playing in wide release for all of it's 81 days. That film didn't open wide until its 4th week in theaters. However, where DS still places 1st in its theaters range is with its per screen figure. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel's per screen was $171 - whereas DS' per screen was $181 because it was playing in 54 fewer theaters. [ghost_cool] And when it comes to overall, DS' per screen places it 5th.
And when it comes to a comparison to Wrath of the Titans, well, what can we say because that film brought in $11,235 on its 81st day - $29,031 less than DS did. And considering that Wrath of the Titans brought in only $44,546 for its entire Monday-Thursday period in its 12th week, it's going to be very interesting to see how much DS bests it by once yesterday's gross is released and tallied with Monday-Wednesday's grosses. [ghost_wink]
84 days 12 hours 2 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Still playing in a single Bay Area suburb. Two shows a day. Probably won't go because I know the Castro theater will be showing it again down the road.
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DS will be losing 90 theaters next week, going down to just 132
Though those are still many more theaters than fellow WB films Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One were playing in for their 13th week in release: Wrath of the Titans was in 70, and The Lucky One was in 41. In fact, 132 theaters is more comparable to each of those film's 11th week when Wrath of the Titans was in 150 and The Lucky One was in 115.
Plus, another thing to keep in mind is that very few wide released films are even still in theaters for a 13th week and beyond. Of the ones that have been lucky enough to have reached a 13th week, only 10 played in more theaters in that week:
The Hunger Games (593)
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (390)
Marvel's The Avengers (373)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (303)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (276)
21 Jump Street (258)
Mirror Mirror (222)
Safe House (175)
The Vow (157)
John Carter (153)
and This Means War played in just as many.
Though of course, it's worth pointing out that when it comes to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Mirror Mirror, John Carter, and This Means War, none of those films have grossed as much as DS has to this point - and as I said earlier, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel didn't go wide until its 4th week. And also, even though they had been playing in more theaters in their previous weeks, DS has recently been pulling in numbers higher than what 21 Jump Street, Mirror Mirror, Safe House, The Vow, John Carter, and This Means War did in their comparable weeks.
84 days 13 hours 11 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Yippee, DS has passed the $79.5M mark! There was a slight rise in yesterday's box office compared to Wed., with $43,951 Thurs. vs. $40,338 Wed. The total is now $79,519,186. These #'s are from boxoffice.com, as BOM only seems to have Dark Knight Rises #'s so far:
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012)
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[ghost_smiley]
Comment from an old, close friend of mine who's not a DS fan--no interest in the film or the TV series;
''for a little cult item, that film has done very well for itself. I'm impressed.''
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Thanks so much for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
And yippee, indeed - DS' numbers were excellent this week. It brought in $168,657 for the Monday-Thursday period, and combined with the $287,229 it brought in over the weekend, that means it grossed $455,886 - and that's pretty comparable to what it had grossed in its 9th week when it grossed $485,291 in 303 theaters, not just 222. And that may not sound as impressive as it really is until one realizes that the per screen for the 9th was $1,602, whereas the per screen for this past week was $2,054 - and as with the weekend, with the exception of last week, we'd have to go all the way back to DS' 3rd week in release to find a higher per screen. [ghost_cool]
And while we're on the subject of comparisons, in its 12th week in release DS did phenomenally better than Wrath of the Titans had. Not only did DS best that film by $209,773 over the weekend, it bested it by $124,061 during the Monday-Thursday period. So, for the overall week, DS bested it by $333,824 because Wrath of the Titans only managed to bring in $122,062 in its 12th week, which means that DS outgrossed it by almost 4 times. [ghost_wink]
84 days 16 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It will still be at our $1 MaxiSaver for a 6th week. When I went for the 2nd afternoon showing of the 1st day, I think there were only about 20 of us. Maybe a bit more. I assume it's done better than that to be going into a 6th week.
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A friend asked me to look up some box office info for The Avengers, and while I was doing that I noticed that for the first time ever DS actually bested a part of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island's gross - in this case it being what that film grossed during its 12th week's Monday-Thursday period - and it bested it by a sizable amount. So, as per usual, that got me wondering how things might compare with the other top films in their 12th week's Monday-Thursday period vs. their weekends:
| M-T | Film | Week's Gross | M-T Gross | Percent | Per Screen |
| === | ======================= | =========== | ======== | ====== | ========= |
1 | The Hunger Games{1} | $1,713,298{1} | $641,085 | 37.4% | $1,428{2} |
2 | Marvel's The Avengers{2} | $1,045,837{2} | $425,426 | 40.7% | $859{4} |
3 | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel{5} | $700,284{3} | $283,493 | 37.4% | $984{3} |
4 | To the Arctic (IMAX){9} | $492,789{7} | $248,637 | 50.5% | $4,781{1} |
5 | 21 Jump Street{6} | $577,387{6} | $200,996 | 34.8% | $609{8} |
6 | Mirror Mirror{10} | $413,118{9} | $177,486 | 43.0% | $638{7} |
7 | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax{4} | $631,040{4} | $172,445 | 27.3% | $455{9} |
8 | DARK SHADOWS{7} | $455,886{8} | $168,657 | 37.0% | $760{5} |
9 | John Carter{8} | $362,262{10} | $114,322 | 31.6% | $653{6} |
10 | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island{3} | $614,890{5} | $102,678 | 16.7% | $256{10} |
(The number in {} after a film's name indicates how it ranked during its 12th weekend, the number in {} after the week's gross indicates how a film ranked compared to the other films in their entire 12th week, and the number in {} after the per screen indicates how a film's per screen for its 12th week's Monday-Thursday period ranked vs. the other films for that period. And BTW, I didn't figure out all those figures on my own - Box Office Mojo has charts with all that info, so I merely copied and pasted. ;))
Things didn't turn out all that differently for DS as far as rank goes because it simply slipped from 7th to 8th and its per screen remained 5th. However, for the Monday-Thursday period its per screen was over $100 more than the per screen in 6th place, and that difference was not only an amount much more than the difference was between 5th and 6th over the weekend (that difference was only $17), but more than the difference was between 5th and 8th (which was $84).
On the other hand, just look at how so much is different when it comes to many of the other films! And who would have ever thought that Journey 2: The Mysterious Island would have performed so comparatively poorly during the week than it did during the weekend?!
I haven't checked the figures for Journey 2: The Mysterious Island's 13th week - but it's going to be very interesting to see how DS' performance will compare to it.
85 days 13 hours 35 minutes 12 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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NJ.com is reporting that a woman in Bridgewater NJ was arrested for recording DS onto her cell phone!
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When she sees the difference between the fine and how much the DVD is going to cost, she'll realize she didn't get a bargain.
Gerard
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[ghost_grin]
And she might just get better picture/sound on the DVD!
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[pointing-up] Definitely!
86 days 10 hours 33 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The grand jury bumped it down to a lesser crime. I think that was apprpriate. I doubt she was trying to sell it, and it is nearly finished at the theaters.
http://www.nj.com/messenger-gazette/index.ssf/2012/08/somerset_prosecutor_woman_used_cell_phone_to_record_dark_shadows_in_movie_theater.html
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it is nearly finished at the theaters.
Simply judging by the number of theaters it's playing in this week, DS could play out this week and two more weeks afterward. That tends to the normal pattern so far as theaters go. Or WB could buck the theater pattern and pull DS out of theaters at the end of this week.
What's going to be interesting will be to see what sort of box office numbers DS pulls in this week because at this point in a film's run and even in only 132 theaters films can pull in widely varying grosses. IF the grosses are high enough, WB could conceivably leave DS in theaters even beyond a 15th week.
86 days 19 hours 32 minutes 38 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I have this vision of Ms. Pineda-Rives as one of the militant "Boycott Tim Burton's Dark Shadows" campers screaming "liberate Dark Shadows from this abomination of a movie!"
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According to Fandango, the closest theatre to me that has the movie is in Hooksett, New Hampshire. That's a bit off the beaten path for me--almost 200 miles. But, for those who might be interested, there are four showings a day.
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I looked up that theater and it's 131 miles from me - and according to Mapquest, a 2 hours and 14 minutes drive. But I doubt I'll be driving there any time soon. [ghost_nowink]
But the real reason I'm posting is because I realized that no one has mentioned that DS came in 21st for the week last week, which is really quite respectable for a film in its 12th week in release.
Also, now that more films have been added for each weekday, it looks like DS ranked 21st last Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - which may go a long way into why it was 21st for the week. [ghost_wink]
And finally, I see that Box Office Mojo has put up a chart that's supposedly for the year-to-date worldwide grosses: 2012 WORLDWIDE GROSSES (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2012&p=.htm). However, the foreign total for DS hasn't been updated beyond July 8th (it's still listed as 156.8 million), so the list isn't all that accurate at least so far as DS is concerned because we know for certain that well beyond July 8th DS was still making money in at least two dozen countries. But for what it's worth, currently DS places 19th out of 202 films.
86 days 22 hours 41 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The DS numbers for the weekend are in. Alas, as expected, it's making less now that it has lost so many theaters, and has even gotten behind the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Prometheus (though granted, both are much more recent releases). But at least it's still chugging along. Its numbers:
Fri. $32,532
Sat. $42,179
Sun. $34,127
Weekend: $108,838
Domestic total is now: $79,628,024
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-05&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-05&p=.htm)
It looks like it's listed 34th on BOM's weekend list, but I don't think the list is complete yet because the heading still says estimates, and most but not all the numbers are actuals:
http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=31&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=31&p=.htm)
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DS is playing in McAllen and Harlingen TX through Thursday but will be replaced Friday.
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Add Brownsville to the list for this week. They have not posted the films for Friday, but I'm not confident it will be there next week.
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Those weekend numbers are fantastic. I was hoping that DS might place somewhere between what Wrath of the Titans made in its 11th week (when it was in 150 theaters and brought in $104,684) and what The Lucky One made (when it was in 115 theaters and brought in $65,416) and it exceeded those hopes. In fact, it also exceeded the $93,963 that Journey 2: The Mysterious Island made when it was in 126 theaters.
87 days 18 hours 9 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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another thing to keep in mind is that very few wide released films are even still in theaters for a 13th week and beyond. Of the ones that have been lucky enough to have reached a 13th week, only 10 played in more theaters in that week:
The Hunger Games (593)
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (390)
Marvel's The Avengers (373)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (303)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (276)
21 Jump Street (258)
Mirror Mirror (222)
Safe House (175)
The Vow (157)
John Carter (153)
and This Means War played in just as many.
As might be expected, playing in more theaters in their 13th week did prove to be an advantage over DS for many of those films - but not all. And once again DS managed to rank higher when it came to its per screen:
| Film | Gross | Per Screen |
| ===================== | ======== | ======== |
| The Hunger Games{1} | $852,832 | $1,438{1} |
| Marvel's The Avengers{3} | $512,958 | $1,375{2} |
| Dr. Seuss' The Lorax{2} | $475,785 | $1,220{3} |
| The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel{5} | $335,342 | $1,215{4} |
| Journey 2: The Mysterious Island{4} | $287,017 | $947{6} |
| 21 Jump Street{6} | $252,130 | $977{5} |
| Mirror Mirror{7} | $155,635 | $701{9} |
| John Carter{10} | $136,834 | $894{7} |
| DARK SHADOWS{11} | $108,838 | $825{8} |
| Safe House{8} | $106,750 | $610{10} |
| The Vow{9} | $73,846 | $470{11} |
| This Means War{11} | $67,435 | $511{12} |
(The number in {} after a film's name indicates how it ranked based on how many theaters it played in during its 13th week in release, and the number in {} after the per screen indicates how a film's per screen for its 13th weekend ranked against the other films for that period.)
It certainly didn't help This Means War to be playing in just as many theaters as DS. And, of course, it's still worth pointing out that when it comes to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Mirror Mirror, John Carter, and This Means War, none of those films have grossed as much as DS has to this point - and that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel didn't go wide until its 4th week.
Also, DS' numbers become even more impressive when one realizes that so far this year only 22 wide released films have been lucky enough to still be in theaters for a 13th week and one sees how that full list stacks up:
| Rank | Film | Gross | Theaters | Per Screen |
| ==== | ===================== | ======== | ====== | ========= |
1.) | The Hunger Games | $852,832 | 593 | $1,438{1} |
2.) | Marvel's The Avengers | $512,958 | 373 | $1,375{2} |
3.) | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | $475,785 | 390 | $1,220{3} |
4.) | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel1 | $335,342 | 276 | $1,215{4} |
5.) | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | $287,017 | 303 | $947{7} |
6.) | 21 Jump Street | $252,130 | 258 | $977{6} |
7.) | Mirror Mirror2 | $155,635 | 222 | $701{10} |
8.) | John Carter3 | $136,834 | 153 | $894{8} |
9.) | DARK SHADOWS | $108,838 | 132 | $825{9} |
10.) | Safe House4 | $106,750 | 175 | $610{14} |
11.) | Chronicle (2012) | $75,715 | 121 | $626{13} |
12.) | The Vow5 | $73,846 | 157 | $470{20} |
13.) | This Means War | $67,435 | 132 | $511{18} |
14.) | Beauty and the Beast (3D) | $59,989 | 58 | $1,034{5} |
15.) | Act of Valor | $52,955 | 96 | $552{16} |
16.) | The Three Stooges | $51,142 | 76 | $673{11} |
17.) | Wrath of the Titans6 | $45,546 | 70 | $651{12} |
18.) | The Cabin in the Woods | $43,369 | 83 | $523{17} |
19.) | The Woman in Black | $28,552 | 63 | $453{21} |
20.) | Red Tails | $25,950 | 43 | $603{15} |
21.) | The Lucky One | $20,853 | 41 | $509{19} |
22.) | Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (in 3D) | $6,978 | 17 | $410{22} |
(Films placing higher in the chart than DS but which have thus far grossed less than DS has so far: 1 To date has grossed $45,014,055 - $34,613,969 less than DS has to date; 2 To date has grossed $64,890,595 - $14,737,429 less than DS to date; 3 Grossed $73,078,100 - $6,549,924 less than DS to date.
Films placing lower in the chart than DS but which grossed more than DS has so far: 4 Grossed $126,181,630 - $46,553,606 more than DS has to date; 5 Grossed $125,014,030 - $45,386,006 more than DS has to date; 6 Grossed $83,670,083 - $4,042,059 more than DS has to date.)
Notice how Chronicle (2012) sneaked in higher than The Vow and This Means War were in the previous chart because it grossed more than they did in fewer than 132 theaters.
88 days 13 hours 22 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS is still scheduled to be in Brownsville, TX for the week of 8/10/-16.
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Excellent. Thanks so much for the heads up, The Doctor and K9. [ghost_smiley]
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Since MB has asked that we move the discussion of "Magtoria" from the Tarrytown Fest report thread over to this thread, here's my thought on the topic:
The character's background was a wonderful idea, and they mostly did it very well. My only problem was when the name change came up as an impromptu thing on the train en route to Collinsport. As others have pointed out, this makes no sense since she apparently had already applied for the job, presumably under the name "Maggie Evans". I don't really understand the need for her to change her name, except that she just wants to have a new name because she's starting out on a journey to a new life.
But overlooking that, it otherwise plays very well. For a two-hour film, it is a much better way to give the character a compelling reason to go to Collinwood. The orphan-looking-for-her-real-family thing is really way too much for a film that has the Barnabas story at its center; the new background for the character ties her in strongly with Barnabas. And the possession-and/or-reincarnation bit was very inventive, a fresher take in comparison to the typical (stale) reincarnation thing. The way it was done in the 1991 series--while Joanna Going was absolutely wonderful in the role--the timing of Victoria's arrival at Collinwood right before Barnabas' release from the coffin seemed coincidental, not as something arranged by external powers. Victoria's background, and her conscious reason for coming to Collinwood, seemed pretty much irrelevant.
Has anyone else felt that Vicki in the new movie recalls Eleanor in The Haunting of Hill House? She's a woman with a troubled background drawn to a large house, feeling like it's her destiny, and--at the climax--doing things deliberately to reach that destination.
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I agree with most of what you say, KMR (especially the clunky way they had Maggie "suddenly" come up with a new name). Gonna have to give it some thought to see if I have any additional thoughts on that...
Meanwhile, we have today's BO #'s from boxoffice.com: $16,575 for a total now of $79,644,599
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-07 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-07)
It did just a little less than Abraham Lincoln, though it's been in theaters 6 weeks longer [ghost_smiley] It should not quite make it to $79.7M by the end of the week. So close and yet so far from that elusive $80M! [ghost_embarrassed]
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
Again I'm quite pleased with how DS is doing this week because once again I was using fellow WB films Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One as benchmarks and was hoping that on Monday DS would bring in something between what they'd brought in on the Monday of their 11th weeks in release - and that was $14,017 and $10,357, respectively - and once again DS has exceeded that hope. In fact, once again it's even bested fellow WB film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island because that film brought in $15,275 on the Monday when it was in 126 theaters.
88 days 16 hours 4 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I really liked the Maggie-Vicky thing; I thought it was quite clever, although I did wonder about her just doing it on her way when they were already expecting her - did they not know the name of the person they were expecting?
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I assumed that she had already been going by the name Victoria Winters, accidentally said her old name, looked up and was reminded of her new identity, and corrected herself. Is this not a possible inference, or am I forgetting something that happened which would make this implausible? [ghost_huh]
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I assumed that she had already been going by the name Victoria Winters, accidentally said her old name, looked up and was reminded of her new identity, and corrected herself. Is this not a possible inference, or am I forgetting something that happened which would make this implausible? [ghost_huh]
Well... this would be fine. I think the one "implausibility" that some of us seem to be tripping over is that she looked up and saw that poster/ad before calling herself Victoria Winters. One way to look at that (and the way I looked at it when I first saw the scene) would be that she thought of her new name right when she saw the poster, and changed her name right there on the spot. But that would not fit with her having already applied for the job.
I guess it's also possible that she had already thought of her new name, possibly after being inspired by that same poster at some point previously. However, what would have been the chances that while rehearsing her introduction on the train, that that exact poster would just happen to be on the train facing right back at her? Unless we are to assume that that was a VERY popular ad that would've been everywhere she looked. It just felt very clunky to me. I think that at one point, perhaps on this thread, I even suggested that perhaps she could've been rehearsing her introduction, and then looked *down* at a clipping that she already had taken with her as a reminder- to me, that could've been a way to fit the idea that she must've already chosen the name before she was sitting there on the train.
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I saw the movie once, on the day it opened, which is nearly three months ago now, so I may be remembering it incorrectly. But it seems to me that there were very few concrete details on the time leading up to Maggie/Vicky's arrival at Collinwood. Is the following scenario possible? Josette influences Maggie to get the clipping, and influences Maggie to get on the train without Maggie fully understanding what is happening. Then, in her own ghostly fashion, Josette creates the application at Collinwood. In that case, either Josette created the application before Maggie decided to be Victoria Winters, or else Josette influenced Maggie to see the poster.
Even if it didn't make any sense, I loved the poster bit. And (I think somebody made a comment of this sort already) that's a lot of what Dark Shadows is about: loving it in spite or even because of the things that don't make sense.
Incidentally, mightn't it be possible to have a separate topic for this very interesting subject rather that mixing it up with box office returns or Tarrytown reports?
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I'm with those who believes Maggie made up her aka name on the fly despite it not making sense in the story line.
I think this short video is pretty cool and well done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cqsen5K9tw
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Very cool video, Jimbo. Thank you so much for sharing it.
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Is the following scenario possible? Josette influences Maggie to get the clipping, and influences Maggie to get on the train without Maggie fully understanding what is happening. Then, in her own ghostly fashion, Josette creates the application at Collinwood. In that case, either Josette created the application before Maggie decided to be Victoria Winters, or else Josette influenced Maggie to see the poster.
Wow, Lydia, that's a very clever scenario! I'll buy it!
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nice theories but i'll not make excuses for bad/sloppy writing...
unlike the old on-the-fly nature of the daily show the film had five years to work out the kinks. at any point in the production someone should have looked at this situation and realized that it made no sense.
it was a colossal gaffe and, like turning carolyn into a werewolf in the movies last five minutes, pretty unforgivable.
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it was a colossal gaffe and, like turning carolyn into a werewolf in the movies last five minutes, pretty unforgivable.
Well, yes, the werewolf bit--and the projectile vomit--were totally unnecessary, at odds with the general tone, and pulled me out of the movie.
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it was a colossal gaffe and, like turning carolyn into a werewolf in the movies last five minutes, pretty unforgivable.
Nothing is on par with the werewolf bit. That was possibly the worst decision in the history of the "franchise."
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Tuesday's box office: $17,401 (up 5% from yesterday)
Domestic total now: $79,662,000 (nice round number [ghost_smiley] )
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-08-07&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?view=1day&sortdate=2012-08-07&p=.htm)
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Well, yes, the werewolf bit--and the projectile vomit--were totally unnecessary, at odds with the general tone, and pulled me out of the movie.
well put. the "magtoria" compromise left me disengaged out of the gate, but gradually i got into the film's groove and it started to grow on me...
then the carolyn "reveal", and the film's cacophonous, out of left field climax, again pulled me out of the story and forever left a sour taste in my mouth.
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I actually think the 'Carolyn as a werewolf' device actually makes sense. We see in the movie she pretty much keeps to herself, she hangs out in her room most of the time....when I saw it the first time I wondered if there was a reason she seemed to be a loner other than a typical teenager.
Some see Carolyn's 'secret' as bad writing, but I thought it was a clever twist. But hey that's just me.
Can't wait until this is out on DVD.
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I also thought that the Vicki/Maggie twist was brilliant. In the original show, Maggie was Josette's look-alike. In the revival it was Victoria who was Josette's twin. The movie borrowed from both shows to mix in both characters into one as 'Magtoria' as others on here have dubbed.
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I was mainly thrown by the fact that it came out of left field. Yes we had a few hints something was off, but no preparation at all for a werewolf. There were no attacks, or sightings. Carolyn had become a vampire in HODS, so I didn't have a problem with her being a werewolf as such. I just wish it had been set up more effectively.
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I'll certainly concede that the way the train sequence plays in the film can look like sloppy writing. And it may very well be. But at the same time I'm willing to give them a degree of benefit of the doubt that there might have been something in the script that gave the train sequence greater clarity - but it may have been cut. I'd only charge sloppy writing if it turns out that there isn't anything in the script that might have given it greater clarity. And having learned not to blame the writing when it came to problems with the two original films, until such time as we see the script for the Depp/DS film, as with the original films, I'd tend to place the blame on possibly unfortunate editing.
89 days 21 hours 5 minutes 19 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I also thought that the Vicki/Maggie twist was brilliant. In the original show, Maggie was Josette's look-alike. In the revival it was Victoria who was Josette's twin. The movie borrowed from both shows to mix in both characters into one as 'Magtoria' as others on here have dubbed.
I thought so, too. For me, because it was the OS, Maggie will always be Josette. In the '91 version, she became Vicki, primarily because the story was rushed right into Barnabas. I also thought it was rather ridiculous, in '91, to have Vicki, the exact duplicate of Josette, to go in the past to be with her duplicate and their identical appearance basically brushed away with a few comments from the other characters. They looked exactly the same - c'mon, now. I imagine the '04 version also had Vicki as Josette, but I don't know since I didn't see it.
In DS-'12, it returned to the original. The name "Victoria Winters" was simply the "Clark Kent" of Maggie Evans.
Gerard
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I was mainly thrown by the fact that it came out of left field. Yes we had a few hints something was off, but no preparation at all for a werewolf. There were no attacks, or sightings. Carolyn had become a vampire in HODS, so I didn't have a problem with her being a werewolf as such. I just wish it had been set up more effectively.
In hindsight, there were clues; maybe there were more, but in editing they were cut. My one friend who went with our huge gaggle to see it the first Saturday, and was always anti-DS before but loved the film, said afterwards when we were all discussing it: "I knew there was something 'monstrous' going on with Carolyn. They gave tons of hints." He figured it out, including David making his snarky comment about his cousin making all those strange noises in her room, among others.
Gerard
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I never liked the whole 91 reincarnation thing. I thought the Barnabas story was more interesting, and more chilling when he thought Maggie was Josette reborn, and was dead wrong! He was twisted and attempted to force Maggie into the mold of what he wanted her to be. That's more interesting than the cliche lovers reunited through rebirth storyline.
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said afterwards when we were all discussing it: "I knew there was something 'monstrous' going on with Carolyn. They gave tons of hints." He figured it out, including David making his snarky comment about his cousin making all those strange noises in her room, among others.
Yes. Many interpreted David's remark in a sexual context. And I really do think that Seth Grahame-Smith deliberately framed it in such a way that the minds of the audience would go there. But what he was really doing was giving the audience its first hint about Carolyn and hoping that the sexual context most in the audience would jump to would actually make the hint go over their heads until they reinterpreted it in hindsight.
89 days 21 hours 25 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'll certainly concede that the way the train sequence plays in the film can look like sloppy writing. And it may very well be. But at the same time I'm willing to give them a degree of benefit of the doubt that there might have been something in the script that gave the train sequence greater clarity - but it may have been cut. I'd only charge sloppy writing if it turns out that there isn't anything in the script that might have given it greater clarity.
For me, if it was sloppy writing, so what? There never has been sloppy writing in any version of DS, from the boob-tube to the big-screen? We've now had three television versions and three cinematic versions of DS. Of the former five, we could probably make a list of a whole bunch of sloppy things that would overwhelm the bandwith of this, our beloved discussion board site. Of the latter sixth, we've found one. And, to me, a bit of slop is one of those things that makes DS so beloved. MPI did a whole casette/DVD of whoopsa-daisies. As for sloppy writing, how about the massive change in Josette croaking, at first, some time around 1830 and then shifting her demise to 35 years earlier. And don't forget the whole family chronology mess in the 1840/41 storyline (that should've also screwed up the 1897 storyline that would've screwed up, well, you get the point). But what it does is cause us to defend how the writers slopped everything up and find a way around it. That's fun. That's a big part of DS. So let's have fun, even if it was sloppy writing, trying to figure out how Maggie Evans obviously filled in her application for governess at Collinwood using her real name and then changed her name to Victoria Winters on the train trip and yet somehow no one noticed. We've already got some credible reasons posted. Let's get some more. It's fun. I'll say that Elizabeth really didn't notice, because she had more on her mind and back then, in the ancient world of the seventies, employers won't so concerned over details like that (including if they were microsoft proficient) but only if they could get the job done. Call her Maggie, call her Vicki, just don't call her late for supper and make sure she could educate those disturbed children and get them to memorize who served on President Nixon's cabinet.
Gerard
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what one can expect, and tolerate, from a daily, shot live, on the cheap soap opera from 45 years ago and what's acceptable in a 100+ million dollar movie five years in development are two totally different things.
if the deleted scenes and extras on the blue-ray help make sense of it than good. but otherwise it's just sloppy writing.
and as to whether or not there were "clues" in retrospect as to carolyn's being a werewolf is somewhat beside the point. it meant nothing to the plot of the movie. it was just plain stupid.
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Well... this would be fine. I think the one "implausibility" that some of us seem to be tripping over is that she looked up and saw that poster/ad before calling herself Victoria Winters. One way to look at that (and the way I looked at it when I first saw the scene) would be that she thought of her new name right when she saw the poster, and changed her name right there on the spot. But that would not fit with her having already applied for the job.
Hmmm... I definitely can see the point and I know why people are getting hung up, but I guess my brain just rationalized it as the poster reminding her of a plan she hatched earlier.
and as to whether or not there were "clues" in retrospect as to carolyn's being a werewolf is somewhat beside the point. it meant nothing to the plot of the movie. it was just plain stupid.
THIS.
As I type, they are playing that T. Rex song on the radio... I don't know what to think when I hear it anymore. [ghost_cheesy]
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The Wed. BO #'s are in for DS: $13,439 (ack, that's quite a huge drop, even though it often drops on Wed. [ghost_sad] ) The domestic total is now: $79,675,439.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012)
Very few other numbers seem to be up quite yet.
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Thanks for the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
I'm still happy with $13,439 because it does fall in between the two benchmarks I'd decided upon as comparisons for this week: Wrath of the Titans brought in $15,495 on its Wednesday when it was in 150 theaters and The Lucky One brought in $12,181 when it was in 115. And DS' figure is actually more impressive than both when one consider it's in its 13th week in release while the other two pulled in their figures in their 11th weeks in release. It's also impressive that DS is still ahead of Wrath of the Titans for the Monday-Wednesday period with $47,415 vs. $45,652, particularly despite the fact that DS is playing in 18 fewer theaters. [ghost_wink] And also, even though DS brought in $2,056 less on Wednesday, both films' Wednesday per screens are virtually identical with Wrath of the Titans' being $103 and DS' being $102. [ghost_cool]
90 days 15 hours 40 minutes 51 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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ack, that's quite a huge drop, even though it often drops on Wed. [ghost_sad]
I just saw Box Office Mojo's chart, and percentagewise DS' drop is actually on a par with or even less than several other films' Tuesday-to-Wednesday drops yesterday:
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES -21.1%
TOTAL RECALL (2012) -28.9%
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS -24.9%
THE WATCH -25.3%
STEP UP REVOLUTION -28.9%
TED -21.4%
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN -23.8%
MAGIC MIKE -30.3%
SAVAGES (2012) -32.9%
MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED -20.2%
TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION -25%
RUBY SPARKS -25.4%
KATY PERRY: PART OF ME -34.5%
DARK SHADOWS -22.8%
Wednesday's Box Office (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-08&p=.htm)
90 days 16 hours 14 minutes 57 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_smiley]
DS' drop was a lot lower than major recent releases.
Of course the film will fizzle out as all films do--but I'd like to see it hit $80 million first. It's so close!
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It seems doubtful to me that it will hit 80 mil though. :( in the Rio Grande Valley area, 3 theaters are showing DS this week. 2 will drop it today. The remaining venue has it playing only twice daily, as opposed to 4 times for this past 7days. I suspect this is it's last week in theaters. Even if it plays 2 more weeks, it would have to bring in something like $24,000 a day. I figured that on a napkin from a rough me memory of the domestic gross (+- 79,675,000?).
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Well, if that article and the back cover shots of the DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo releases are correct, it definitely looks like the only extra on the DVD is "The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons" featurette and all the other extras only appear on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. If that is the case, in plain English I think it's shitty. But there's not much we can do because situations like that seem to be the norm rather than the exception lately. [ghost_sad]
It doesn't seem like they are that interested in the fact that there are some people that are not doing well when it comes to the economy. It gives people the idea that big business doesn't care. IMO. I think that they would create better PR by taking this into consideration. Not everyone can afford a Blue Ray Player. [a2a3]
PS I don't mind companies making money but be fair. [speechless]
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Cousin loril54 well said.
SGS and TB speak briefly about DS' performance. http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/08/09/seth-grahame-smith-wants-to-resurrect-beetlejuice-it/#/0
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Very interesting article, jimbo - thanks for the link. [ghost_wink]
What's truly sad is that people would actually tweet such trash to Grahame-Smith (and Damon Lindelof) - but I have to give him (them) credit for appearing at a Comic Con panel entitled "The Art of Being Despised." It certainly shows he has wit - though I do wonder what if any effect it could have on salvaging his career. We would certainly quibble with the writer's opinion that DS flopped, and we could back it up with quite a bit of evidence - but there's no doubt that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which Grahame-Smith is far more responsible for given the film is based on his own book, flopped. Even though before the film ever opened people predicted that it wouldn't even make $40 million, I'll admit that I thought that perhaps they were being way too pessimistic. After all, these predictions are often wrong (and on both sides of the equation, meaning films predicted to not make money often do and vice versa) - but apparently those predictions were right on the money with AL:VH. I mean, I can't ever remember seeing a wide released film so quickly reduced to playing in only 655 theaters and only playing two showing a day in so many of those theaters - not to mention then being reduced to only 266 theaters the next week. Even this year's mega-duds like John Carter and Battleship have had more successful theater lives. And then there's the fact that the film has already been limping along with daily grosses the likes of which most films don't normally see until their final weeks of release (which AL:VH may easily be in) - along with the fact that so far it has indeed only grossed $37,070,709 and it really doesn't look like $40 million is likely.
90 days 20 hours 29 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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what one can expect, and tolerate, from a daily, shot live, on the cheap soap opera from 45 years ago and what's acceptable in a 100+ million dollar movie five years in development are two totally different things.
if the deleted scenes and extras on the blue-ray help make sense of it than good. but otherwise it's just sloppy writing.
and as to whether or not there were "clues" in retrospect as to carolyn's being a werewolf is somewhat beside the point. it meant nothing to the plot of the movie. it was just plain stupid.
I agree that things should've been more, shall we say, "practical" or "logical" after all that, but again, every version of DS has been smitten with the impractical and illogical bug. As I said before, we've had three television and three cinematic versions of it and all have been filled with impracticalities and "illogicalities." Dan Curtis, in making his '91 version, more than two decades after the original, should've also figured that out (and he was given an open check), but he didn't. I've simply accepted the impracticle and illogical things are part and parcel of DS. Who knows? Maybe Depp and Burton did it deliberately as an homage to the original and all its other manifestations. Cameron, in his blockbuster Titanic deliberately allowed a historical faux pas just for us Titanic oficiandoes, despite wanting it to be completely and historically accurate (he showed smoke coming out of the fourth funnel which was a dummy that stored deck chairs). He wanted to see if us Titanic fanatics would catch it. So, if the Maggie-changing-her-name-to-Vicki-after-she-applied-and-accepted-the-position was accidental or deliberate, or had some reasonable explanation, so what?
As for Carolyn-as-a-werewolf, I'll be the first to admit, as one who loved the movie, it was an example of tossing in everything including the kitchen sink. To me, it was another tribute to the original. We got lots and lots, even if bits and pieces, of much that was offered in the original that never appeared in any of the other four different versions. We got a werewolf. We also got Laura. None of it was fleshed out, but we got it. Thankfully, we didn't get John Yaeger's Lucy-meets-Bill-Holden-paper-mache-nose, or boring Adam, or that terrible Daphne/Gerard plotless plot-line. We should count our blessings.
Was the movie far from perfect? Heavens, no. Did it succeed in bringing back the atmosphere of the original? Heavens, yes. I think that some of what it did, from Carolyn as a werewolf to Julia resurrecting as a vampire was also done in the hope of a sequel. Studios do that. I don't care if any version of DS is imperfect. I just want more.
Gerard
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Been busy most of the evening, and when I checked in here to see this evening's conversation I realized that we didn't yet know the theater count for next week. So I popped over to BOM.
Wow, well, I don't know where (I wish I did!) but they have actually ADDED 3 theaters for the coming week! It will be in 135 theaters:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=32&p=.htm (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=32&p=.htm)
No help in my neck of the woods, as it's still not playing anywhere nearby. But SOMEONE still has it playing. What's funny is that I went straight to the "declining" part of the list, and when I didn't see DS listed there I thought maybe they were no longer even bothering to list it, but that didn't make sense because they usually list even theaters that are in 1 or 2 theaters in LA. Then I thought maybe the list wasn't complete yet. Luckily my eye eventually traveled up the list to "expanding" films [ghost_wink]
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Maybe, just maybe, my prediction about DS not reaching 80 million was wrong. I was operating under the assumption that the theater count for next week would be greatly reduced. I never dreamed it would actually be playing in 3 more theaters!
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Well, WB/DS did buck the theaters pattern - but not in the way I feared might happen because instead of being pulled from theaters DS has expanded - and for a third time yet, which may actually be unprecedented this year (I'll have to check when I get the chance). And actually DS is probably opening in more than just 3 theaters because we really have no way of knowing how many new theaters might be being added because we have no way of knowing how many theaters DS may close in today (though The Doctor and K9 told us about at least 2 closures in Texas). So, this upcoming weekend's box office numbers could actually prove to be interesting if it turns out that DS could be opening in many new theaters. [ghost_wink]
And speaking of theaters, I checked to see how many films have played in more than 135 in their 14th week this year - and it turns out to be only 8:
The Hunger Games (414)
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (315)
Marvel's The Avengers (300)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (260)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (230)
21 Jump Street (220)
Mirror Mirror (166)
Safe House (136)
And I also checked to see how many films in total have even reached a 14th week this year - and counting DS that turns out to be only 18. As I've mentioned before, Wrath of the Titans and The Lucky One each closed at the end of its 13th week - and we can add Cabin in the Woods and The Woman in Black to that list.
90 days 23 hours 3 minutes 23 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I was operating under the assumption that the theater count for next week would be greatly reduced.
It's always dangerous to assume. [ghost_wink]
90 days 23 hours 9 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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And then there's the fact that the film has already been limping along with daily grosses the likes of which most films don't normally see until their final weeks of release (which AL:VH may easily be in)
I just noticed that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter isn't listed anywhere on Box Office Mojo's theater count chart for next week. That's usually a sign that a film is closing. And if that is the case, then that will mean that AL:VH spent only 7 weeks in release, and that's pretty pathetic for a wide released major studio film. [ghost_rolleyes] But then...
90 days 23 hours 19 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I finally got around to checking out how DS' 88th day gross fared against all of this year's other films on their 88th day, and once again it's still performing very well. This time it came in 6th overall and once again its gross came in 2nd in its theaters range. Surprisingly though, this time it was bested in its theaters range by Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which was apparently in its last gasps at the box office because it seems to have closed at the end of the week. However, AL:VH bested DS by only $2,416 despite the fact that it was playing in 33 more theaters than DS, which is why DS bested it when it comes to per screen with $126 vs. AL:VH's $115. [ghost_cool] And when it comes to overall, DS' per screen placed it 4th.
And when it comes to a comparison to Wrath of the Titans, well, again, what can we say because that film brought in $6,724 on its 88th day - $9,851 less than DS did. [ghost_wink]
91 days 11 hours 44 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I've never seen a ''bomb'' hang around in theaters this long before! [ghost_cool]
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I've never seen a ''bomb'' hang around in theaters this long before! [ghost_cool]
Well, actually John Carter lasted in theaters for 16 weeks. But in all that time it only brought in $73,078,100, which is $6,597,339 less than DS has so far in not quite 13 full weeks. Plus JC supposedly cost anywhere from $75-$200 million more (depending on whose estimates one wants to believe) than DS.
91 days 13 hours 38 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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[ghost_grin]
BREAKING NEWS:
Somebody in Omaha didn't like DS!!!!!!!!
That explains all the bad press!
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DS's box office take slipped a little more on Thursday, with $12,833 for a total now of $79,688,272.
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-08&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-08&p=.htm)
Thursday looked like a screwy day, where some films like DS went down by a few percent, and some went up (Ice Age, Brave, Magic Mike, and why did Rock of Ages go up so much all of a sudden?)
It'll be interesting to see if DS will make a comparable amount next week (having 3 more theaters) or if it will drop a bit (some of you said it'll be having a fewer number of showings per day in the theaters it is remaining in). Either way, with MB's analysis I think that DS can stand pretty proud of its run, considering. If it can hang around in theaters for another 2 or 3 weeks, it will have stuck around for the entire summer during the time when teens and college kids were home from school.
I do wish that the darn foreign box office could've been updated at least once in the last month or more :(
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Thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
I decided to do another chart similar to what I'd done for last week's Monday-Thursday period, but considering that there are now less than two dozen wide released films in the mix, I've included them all as I did with the weekend chart rather than simply do a Top 10:
| M-T | Film | Week's Gross | M-T Gross | Percent | Per Screen |
| === | ======================= | =========== | ======== | ====== | ========= |
1.) | The Hunger Games{1} | $1,426,102{1} | $573,270 | 40.2% | $967{1} |
2.) | Marvel's The Avengers{2} | $867,571{2} | $354,613 | 40.9% | $951{2} |
3.) | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax{3} | $781,890{3} | $306,105 | 39.1% | $785{5} |
4.) | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel{4}1 | $567,307{4} | $231,965 | 40.9% | $840{3} |
5.) | 21 Jump Street{6} | $408,051{5} | $155,921 | 38.2% | $604{6} |
6.) | Mirror Mirror{7}2 | $280,739{7} | $125,104 | 44.6% | $564{7} |
7.) | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island{5} | $359,105{6} | $72,088 | 20.1% | $238{15} |
8.) | John Carter{8}3 | $206,714{8} | $69,880 | 33.8% | $457{8} |
9.) | DARK SHADOWS{9} | $169,086{9} | $60,248 | 35.6% | $456{9} |
10.) | Beauty and the Beast (3D){14} | $106,908{11} | $46,919 | 43.9% | $809{4} |
11.) | Safe House{10}4 | $150,490{10} | $43,740 | 29.1% | $250{14} |
12.) | The Three Stooges{16} | $85,384{15} | $34,242 | 40.1% | $451{10} |
13.) | Wrath of the Titans{17}5 | $75,203{16} | $29,657 | 39.4% | $424{11} |
14.) | The Cabin in the Woods{18} | $73,013{17} | $29,644 | 40.6% | $357{12} |
15.) | The Vow{12}6 | $102,041{12} | $28,195 | 27.6% | $180{20} |
16.) | This Means War{13} | $92,793{14} | $25,358 | 27.3% | $192{18} |
17.) | Chronicle (2012){11} | $100,063{13} | $24,348 | 24.3% | $201{16} |
18.) | Act of Valor{15} | $68,792{18} | $15,837 | 23.0% | $165{22} |
19.) | The Lucky One{21} | $34,754{20} | $13,901 | 40.0% | $339{13} |
20.) | The Woman in Black{19} | $39,569{19} | $11,017 | 27.8% | $175{21} |
21.) | Red Tails{20} | $34,390{21} | $8,440 | 24.5% | $196{17} |
22.) | Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (in 3D){22} | $10,083{22} | $3,105 | 30.8% | $183{19} |
(The number in {} after a film's name indicates how it ranked during its 13th weekend, the number in {} after the week's gross indicates how a film ranked compared to the other films in their entire 13th week, and the number in {} after the per screen indicates how a film's per screen for its 13th week's Monday-Thursday period ranked vs. the other films for that period.
Films placing higher in the chart than DS but which have thus far grossed less than DS has so far: 1 To date has grossed $45,207,295 - $34,480,977 less than DS has to date; 2 To date has grossed $64,932,375 - $14,755,897 less than DS to date; 3 Grossed $73,078,100 - $6,610,172 less than DS to date.
Films placing lower in the chart than DS but which grossed more than DS has so far: 4 Grossed $126,181,630 - $46,493,358 more than DS has to date; 5 Grossed $83,670,083 - $3,981,811 more than DS has to date; 6 Grossed $125,014,030 - $45,325,758 more than DS has to date.)
It's interesting that, like the weekend, DS remained 9th across the board. It's also interesting that there wasn't too much change of position in the Top 10 films - but just look at how much jostling for position there was when it came to the films below DS on the chart.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island's per screen continues to be very odd. Who knows where the audience for that film was during the week because for it to rank so high based on its Monday-Thursday gross (thanks simply to the fact that it was still playing in so many theaters (303)), but for it to have such a small per screen compared to the other films around it is just too bizarre. [ghost_shocked] And its situation is the opposite of fellow WB film The Lucky One given that its per screen was so much higher than the other films around it (thanks simply to the fact that it was playing in so few theaters (only 41) and people were apparently still interested in seeing it) during its Monday-Thursday period.
And speaking of per screen, the difference between John Carter and DS isn't actually $1 but far less. All the film Web sites and magazine reports always round off to the nearest dollar - but if they included cents, the difference between JC and DS would be $456.73 vs. $456.42 - all of 31 cents. [ghost_wink]
91 days 19 hours 4 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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While the DS bashers like to point out the low rating the film got at Rotten Tomatoes, it also got a rather high rating at Fandango, which the haters ignore.
What is it with all this DS hate, that I recall from non-fans even in the 60s?
Is it just because the original was a daytime soap?
Now, for a late in the day thought on the notorious ''servicing'' of Barnabas by HB Carter's Julia:
While no one involved in the original series would have allowed even the slightest implication of such a thing on the air back in the day, doing that was probably something that Grayson's Julia thought about!
I mean, when you love someone the way she loved Barnabas, you don't have fantasies about drinking tea!
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I just realized that no one has posted that DS came in 33rd for the week last week:
Weekly Box Office: August 3-9, 2012 (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=2012&wk=31&p=.htm)
Trying to figure out how DS ranked for each day of the week is a bit hard at this point because a lot of films are only being reported on weekends on Box Office Mojo. But when I get the chance I may try to see if I can track down some of the missing films on some other Web sites. But one thing that I do know is that as far as its per screen goes (which was $1,281 for the week), DS ranked 22nd overall among the current crop of wide released films - and that's quite good when it comes to a film in its 13th week of release. In fact, as the chart linked to above will show, there were only four other wide released films of an equal or longer duration in theaters that did better.
92 days 15 hours 38 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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perhaps i'm focusing on the name-change snafu too much in terms of the vicki/maggie character...
so while i can see why maggie aficionados were pleased that she appeared in the film somewhat unexpectedly, for those who favor victoria, of course being among the most ardent, the character "merger" ended up being something of a negation.
in a sense she's not really "present" in the story. she's just an impostor. some girl using a pseudonym. i mean in terms of series' mythology it's victoria's storyline, she's the girl who comes to collinsport by train(elemental to the story)to serve as collinwood governess. she's the girl barnabas meets and is enchanted by. so in terms of plot and temperament she's victoria. and she calls herself victoria. and so does everyone else in the movie. but since it's not "really" her, but someone else, it's hard to identify with the character. at least for me it was. she was just some strange girl using that name. she sort of left me cold.
her real name was maggie evans. but since she in no way resembled the maggie character from OS mythology again it was just a name. it was impossible to relate to her as maggie either. instead of giving the character victoria's setup they should have given her a hint of maggie if they were determined to go that route. the general public has never heard of either girl so it doesn't really matter. but to me it didn't so much feel like a "merger" as much a negation of both characters. i'm not sure why they did it.
and yes, of course, i know we're taking about completely fictitious people. none of them are "real" anyways. but whether or not one likes victoria, or thinks she's "dumb", she is indisputably "collinwood heroine" for the series' first couple years and in a sense she's absent from this variation of the story. at least that's my take on it. [ghost_huh]
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in terms of the carolyn werewolf "reveal" in the film's last five minutes, my other big beef with the film, i'm repeating myself but here it is...
perhaps in hindsight one can find "clues", and yes it certainly setup the possibility of a sequel revolving around a certain muttonchop wearing werewolf but in terms of the storyline of this film it was pointless and sloppy.
a competent filmmaker has an obligation to his audience to provide closure and resolve to the movie at hand. not just market a franchise or promote potential sequels. introducing major plot developments in the film's last five minutes is just plain bad storytelling. to the general viewer(as opposed to a "fan" who's going to see any and all variations on the story)who'd never heard of quentin collins and isn't seeing the film in terms of potential sequels three years out it made absolutely not sense. it meant nothing to the story they had just spent two hours watching. it was clumsy and incompetent.
and on a visual level it was unsightly and gross to have a pretty teenage girl morph into some sort of dog. i found it repugnant.
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and i also think that julia and vicki rising as vampires at the movie's conclusion was more than enough to "hint" at future stories(and suggest possible sequels)without going completely outside the context of the film at hand.
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In the stills and clips I have seen, the 2012 Vicki's look seemed more like Maggie in her Collinwood governess phase. Those awful little-girl outfits could have been a nod at the twilight world of "Junior Sophisticates." (I always wonder... what kind of women wore those clothes?) The hair again seemed more like Mags than Vick.
Just my two drachmae.
Carolyn as a werewolf seems tres Scooby-doo, particularly as played by Chloe. Those drawings were unbelievable. What were they thinking?
G.
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since the character's dresses actually had sleeves it was certainly out of the norm for OS vicki. [ghost_wink]
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Did they change the name of the upcoming DS movie book being released on October 12th? http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2012/08/12/dark-shadows-the-visual-companion-to-be-released-this-october
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The book has been called that since a few months back. [ghost_smiley] I believe Nicky was the first to tell us about the name change.
What I find interesting about that article is that it says the book's list price is $29.99 and it's coming out on October 26th, whereas Amazon still says it lists for $39.95 (though they're charging $33.76) and it's not coming out until November 27th. Who knows? But then Amazon often takes forever to update their listings when there have been changes made.
Thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
93 days 23 hours 42 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I just got around to checking the listings for the MaxiSaver for this week and it's still there for a 7th week!
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"Nights in White Satin" is playing on the radio. Every time I hear it now, I think of the beautiful opening sequence, with Maggie arriving on the train. As I was listening just now, I realized how poignant the song is (in relation to the movie) and how symbolic it is for the character of Maggie Evans. It really suits her. A number of the songs lyrics are applicable to her character, but these are probably the most powerful: "Just what you want to be, you'll be in the end."
I was sad that they didn't use the entire song, as that could have been even more powerful, especially the last part of the instrumental which bears a striking resemblance to the work of Bob Cobert. The finale of HoDS anyone?
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The weekend box office numbers are in for DS, and as expected, they have gone down a lot:
Fri. $6,826
Sat. $8,750
Sun. $7,830
Total weekend: $23,406
for a grand total now of: $79,711,678
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-12&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-12&p=.htm)
Interestingly, BOM indicates that it was only playing in 45 theaters, not 135. And the number in the Theater Counts has changed, though I didn't notice it having been changed.
http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=32&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2012&wk=32&p=.htm)
I think this makes a lot more sense, though, actually, since so few of us can find it in theaters anymore. I'll bet someone subtracted wrong and forgot to carry a number [ghost_embarrassed] Hmm, I wonder, then, if this will be its last week...
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The film is running it's natural course as all films do. With a worldwide gross of $240 million, it's done fine.
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Not surprisingly, DS is not playing in Brownsville, TX on Friday. Thursday it's showing at 11:40 and 5:30.
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The film is running it's natural course as all films do. With a worldwide gross of $240 million, it's done fine.
Very true indeed. It's just that when they initially listed 135 theaters for this week (though in retrospect, that must've been a mistake), I was kind of hopeful that there might be one last push towards $80 million. And now I'm back to reality [ghost_smiley] But as you said, and as MB has demonstrated with many of his comparison numbers, it *has* done fine [ghost_cool] [clap]
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Interestingly, BOM indicates that it was only playing in 45 theaters, not 135.
That's weird - not to mention disappointing. And what's also weird is that BOM had Rock of Ages also listed in the expanding section but now it's also in the declining section. [ghost_huh]
The interesting thing about RoA, though, is that even though it's playing in a dozen more theaters than DS (57 vs. 45), DS has more showings (410 vs.320).
And the number in the Theater Counts has changed, though I didn't notice it having been changed.
The last time I checked BOM was today at around 1:45pm ET, and at the time DS was still listed as expanding to 135. [ghost_huh] So, they mustn't have changed things until the actuals came in and they realized the theater count was off.
Hmm, I wonder, then, if this will be its last week...
Quite possibly. Though I have seen films hang around for several weeks even at around the current level of theaters that DS has. In fact, The Three Stooges had recently been playing in only 53 theaters, then 39 the next week, then 32 the week after, and is currently in 27 in its 18th week in release. And Mirror Mirror had recently been playing in only 59 theaters, then 56, then 39 - and this week it expanded to 45 in its 20th week in release. So, you never know.
But at any rate, thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
94 days 22 hours 2 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It's that time of day again [ghost_wink] DS made $3,637 yesterday, bringing the total to $79,715,315. That's really not too bad for a drop from weekend to weekday numbers, and it easily beat out Rock of Ages. I think that some of the numbers aren't in yet, but for what it's worth, here's box office's box office for Monday:
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-14 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-14)
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Does anyone know how they calculate the profits? Is it the gross amount a movie made in any given day, or are they just counting the studio's cut? I'm not sure we know which figure is correct, 45 or 130+ theaters. Let's take today's number, $3,637. If you divide that by 45 you get $80.82 per theater. If 130 give or take is closer to the actual number then you get $27.97 per theater. If, as I assume, the number is based on the studio's take and not what the middlemen get, then would I be safe in estimating that 80 people or so went to see it, if it was in 45 theaters or 27 or so if it's in 130 or so. I'm assuming the studio cut must be about $1.00 and the bargain theaters play it at close to cost, figuring they'll get their profits on concessions. These are all educated guesses. Does anyone have any concrete knowlege about how it works. And I apologize if this has been addressed already. This has been a long thread, but I don't recall it being brought up.
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I'm pretty sure the numbers that are reported are what a film grosses in a given day. And given what DS is currently grossing, I would definitely lean toward it currently playing in 45 theaters, particularly when boxoffice.com is also reporting that number of theaters and they're reporting Monday's per screen as $81. [ghost_wink]
(And speaking of per screen, Monday's per screen for Mirror Mirror was only $7! I don't know if I've ever seen such a low per screen for a major studio film - even one in its 20th week of release! [ghost_shocked])
95 days 15 hours 54 minutes 51 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I finally got the chance to track down the grosses for the missing films during the week last week, and with that info I was able to determine DS' rankings for last week. It ranked 31st on both Monday and Tuesday and it ranked 36th on both Wednesday and Thursday, so that definitely helps to explain how it was ranked 33rd for the entire week.
95 days 20 hours 28 minutes 57 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Not surprisingly with the decrease in theaters, DS slipped down several places from last week's 13th weekend list when it comes to this week's list of the films still in theaters for a 14th weekend:
| Rank | Film | Gross | Theaters | Per Screen |
| ==== | ===================== | ======== | ====== | ========= |
1.) | The Hunger Games | $624,818 | 414 | $1,509{1} |
2.) | Marvel's The Avengers | $417,065 | 300 | $1,390{2} |
3.) | Dr. Seuss' The Lorax | $340,200 | 315 | $1,080{4} |
4.) | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel1 | $310,484 | 230 | $1,350{3} |
5.) | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | $236,134 | 260 | $908{6} |
6.) | 21 Jump Street | $191,780 | 220 | $872{8} |
7.) | Mirror Mirror2 | $120,504 | 166 | $726{10} |
8.) | The Three Stooges3* | $105,596 | 72 | $1,467{5} |
9.) | John Carter4 | $89,840 | 102 | $881{7} |
10.) | Safe House | $85,015 | 136 | $625{12} |
11.) | This Means War5 | $58,562 | 90 | $651{11} |
12.) | The Vow | $52,264 | 111 | $471{15} |
13.) | Beauty and the Beast (3D)6 | $32,222 | 39 | $826{9} |
14.) | Chronicle (2012)7 | $32,199 | 78 | $413{16} |
15.) | DARK SHADOWS | $23,406 | 45 | $520{13} |
16.) | Red Tails | $19,085 | 39 | $489{14} |
17.) | Act of Valor | $8,221 | 39 | $211{18} |
18.) | Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (in 3D) | $4,464 | 12 | $372{17} |
(Films placing higher in the chart than DS but which have thus far grossed less than DS has so far: 1 To date has grossed $45,397,953 - $34,317,362 less than DS has to date; 2 To date has grossed $64,933,994 - $14,781,321 less than DS to date; 3 To date has grossed $44,328,238 - $35,387,077ess than DS to date; 4 Grossed $73,078,100 - $6,637,215 less than DS to date; 5 Grossed $54,760,791 - $24,954,524 less than DS to date; 6 Grossed $47,617,067 - $32,098,248 less than DS to date; 7 Grossed $64,575,175 - $15,140,140 less than DS to date.
* The Three Stooges did so well in its 14 weekend because it expanded into new theaters.)
However, it's still nice to see that DS' per screen continues to outperform some of the films around it, icluding films playing in a similar amount or even many more theaters than it is. What's also interesting to note is that of the 18 films that have so far made it to a 14th week in release this year, only 6 are currently still in theaters, and this is how they stacked up over the weekend based on their current business:
| Film | Gross | Theaters | Weeks | Per Screen |
| ===================== | ======== | ====== | ====== | ========= |
| The Hunger Games | $324,057 | 260 | 21 | $1,246 |
| Marvel's The Avengers | $270,823 | 220 | 15 | $1,231 |
| The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | $168,041 | 184 | 15 | $913 |
| DARK SHADOWS | $23,406 | 45 | 14 | $520 |
| The Three Stooges | $13,794 | 27 | 18 | $511 |
| Mirror Mirror | $1,295 | 45 | 20 | $29 |
To say that DS is outperforming Mirror Mirror in as many theaters would be an understatement. And just to show how well DS' per screen compares overall to all the wide released films in theaters currently, even though over the weekend DS ranked 47th among all currently released films, its per screen screen ranked 25th among the current batch of wide released films:
August 10-12, 2012 Weekend (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2012&wknd=32&p=.htm)
96 days 12 hours 44 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I've created the "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) - Dark Shadows 2012" board - and to get it started I've posted some of the screen caps that I've already made from the various trailers/TV Spots (ones different from the ones that have already been posted to the film's Caption This! board) and added set ups for them. [ghost_smiley]
The new board can be accessed here by first reading a gentle reminder of one of the rules:Dark Shadows 2012 Rules
And once again I hope that everyone who decides to participate on the board will have fun. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you'll come up with because, as I said when I created the Caption This! board for the film, if any DS version is ripe for having fun with, it's this one. [ghost_grin]
96 days 15 hours 15 minutes 54 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I clicked the rules link & nothing happened!
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Hmmm. But you can also access the board from the BoardIndex (the forum's opening page) by clicking on the "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s)" link opposite "Child Boards" under the "Games" boards listing, and then scrolling all the way down to the last board. [ghost_smiley] People are already playing. [ghost_cool]
96 days 16 hours 5 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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^^^ I always thought I wanted to play the caption game, but when I actually saw the pictures I could never think of anything good! And then when I see what others write, I always think, "Of course! I wish I'd thought of that!" I doubt I'd be much better at the complete the phrase/fill in the blanks game, but maybe I'll check it out later just in case [ghost_smiley]
On another topic, the Tuesday box office take for DS was $3,927, up 8% from yesterday, which is not surprising since Tuesdays are usually a little better than Mondays. The total is now: $79,719,242.
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/dark-shadows-2012)
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I always thought I wanted to play the caption game, but when I actually saw the pictures I could never think of anything good! And then when I see what others write, I always think, "Of course! I wish I'd thought of that!" I doubt I'd be much better at the complete the phrase/fill in the blanks game, but maybe I'll check it out later just in case [ghost_smiley]
Or is it that you never have the nerve to post what you think of?! [naughty] If so, you should really go for it. Don't be shy - especially because it all likelihood you'll be rewarded for it. [laughing6]
And thanks for posting the Tuesday numbers. It's definitely going to be very interesting to see the theater count later today on Box Office Mojo. Though even if DS isn't listed, that won't necessarily mean it's closing because as some may have noticed, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter didn't close last Friday (it's in 130 theaters - though still limping along). It and actually several other films weren't added to the list until Monday afternoon after the weekend actuals came out.
97 days 10 hours 43 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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MB, I was just composing this post while you posted, but I will go ahead and post this anyway- it addresses your question about what the theater counts might be this coming week:
The theater counts for next week will be reported this evening, but I noticed something on the box office mojo site this morning. The tab for "showtimes" has been removed from DS's BOM page:
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkshadows.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkshadows.htm)
There are still "showtimes" tabs for both Rock of Ages and Bernie, which are 2 movies that are also nearing the end of their theatrical life. So I wonder if this means that DS closes today, or if it'll simply be in too few theaters to bother to keep a "showtimes" tab (and its search function) available.
Either way, all in all, while I do wish that DS could've done slightly better at the box office (I'm too lazy to go back and read what I was hoping for somewhere earlier in this thread, but I suspect that I was originally hoping for $100 M), it did do respectably, especially by showing some "legs" later in its run. I do hope that the DVD sales will be robust. I have the blu-ray/DVD combo in my Amazon cart (along with HODS and NODS), but haven't yet hit the pre-order button, but I will pull the trigger soon.
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Or is it that you never have the nerve to post what you think of?! [naughty] If so, you should really go for it. Don't be shy - especially because it all likelihood you'll be rewarded for it. [laughing6]
No really, I'm not that shy! [ghost_grin] I just can't seem to be able to think of anything, but then I always laugh when I see what others post. But if I do think of anything, I will try [ghost_smiley]
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Well, if DS does close after today, it wouldn't be a surprise. In fact, given how so far this year only one WB film has played in theaters longer than 13 weeks, I was anticipating DS possibly closing after its 13th week, too - so I was really quite pleased to see it go on to a 14th week. [ghost_smiley] And yes - DS performed really well domestically over the past two months and more. And when it comes to its foreign grosses, there's still so much that hasn't been officially tallied and reported (though Box Office Mojo is still reporting its grosses in several countries). Not to mention that DS doesn't even open in Venezuela until tomorrow.
97 days 11 hours 0 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I checked Box Office Mojo to see what it said about DS for TX. I went to the Showtimes Tab for today, to select DS. It's not on the list of available movies in the dropdown menu. When I entered the zip code for Brownsville, DS came up, playing at their 2nd run theater. Now....I'm staying at South Padre Island...Brownsville is only 20 miles out of my way back home....should I or shouldn't I???
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I'm curious about where DS is playing today. Since there are most likely 45 theaters running it and 50 states, that implies that, on average, it's only playing in one place per state, if it's there at all. Of course, you don't need to tell the guy who grew up in RI and moved to TX that state sizes vary widely! Still, even if Brownsville isn't the only place in TX still showing it, I'm still scratching my head. Why Brownsville?? I have a friend who grew up in that city. He calls it, with no affection at all, Tatooine. I know someone else reported it was a a maxi-saver somewhere.
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More probable signs that the film is closing: the official US Web site no longer has a link to check showtimes - and the home page graphic now simply says "Own It October 2" as opposed to "In Theaters Now," which is what it used to say.
97 days 11 hours 24 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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DS made $3,670 yesterday (down 6.5% from Tuesday) for a total of $79,722,912.
http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-15&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2012-08-15&p=.htm)
The theater counts for next week have been linked from the home page, which usually means the list is "finished", but DS does not appear. As MB says, that doesn't *necessarily* mean the film has closed, but it *might* mean that. Well, at least we still have today's box office to consider [ghost_wink]
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Though it's interesting that Wednesday's numbers for DS were a bit higher than Monday's because Wednesday tends to be the lowest day of the week for many films. It's also interesting that when it comes to the percentages of decrease, DS had one of the lowest percentages, meaning DS didn't drop all that much compared to others. And what's even more interesting is that only 3 films managed any sort of increase - and of those, 2 had pretty low percentages - 1 was even a puny percentage.
And as always, thanks so much for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
97 days 19 hours 55 minutes 43 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I've posted another batch of captures/set ups on the film's "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s)" board - including something from one of the deleted scenes.
97 days 20 hours 48 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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According to Fandango, the theatre in Hooksett, New Hampshire still has the movie, with four shows a day. It's also playing at 1 theatre in North Carolina and 1 in Pennsylvania. So it isn't quite dead yet.
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I also saw one in the LA area when I was plugging in a few random cities into Fandango. Nothing in my area, though, as it's been for several weeks.
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DS had a nice increase of 15% yesterday, of $4,237, to bring the total to $79,727,149. (It's funny- most of the bigger films went down yesterday, but a lot of the so-called "platform releases" of 1 to 99 theaters went up).
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-17 (http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/bo_numbers/daily/2012-08-17)
Well, they will certainly not be doing weekend estimates for DS, as they haven't done that for quite awhile, and it'll be interesting to see if the film gets tracked daily next week with the small handful of theaters it may have remaining.
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Very, very interesting that DS is still in theaters! [ghost_cool] And as I've been saying, WB has been tracking all of their films right up until their last day - even Chernobyl Diaries when it was only playing in 23 theaters and pulling in well under $2,000 a day. (Though the amounts it was pulling in in its final week were massive amounts of money compared to what Mirror Mirror was pulling in this past week! At least CD's per screen never fell below $63. [ghost_wink] As opposed to the $7, $8, and $9 per screens of MM this past week! [ghost_shocked])
And once again, thanks for posting the numbers, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
98 days 23 hours 5 minutes 19 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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A friend in NY, near the PA line, said DS is playing in her general area but too far away for her to be tempted to go see it. Sounds like the situation I had with Brownsville. It was 45 miles from where I live, but since I was going to South Padre Island overnight, I took the 20 or so mile detour to see it on its last day. It really only added about 12 miles to my trip back home.
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The film is still playing in several Latin American countries. Sure wish the overseas box office would get updated.
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It will still be at our MaxiSaver for an 8th week. Maybe that's the one in PA mentioned above. However, it's now just 2 showings a day (4 & 9:30) instead of the 4 it's had up until now.
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The film is still playing in several Latin American countries.
It's also still playing in at least one European country because Box Office Mojo has still been reporting its grosses in Germany.
Sure wish the overseas box office would get updated.
Considering nothing official has been reported since July 8th, I really wonder if they ever will. But one of these days I'll try to put together another chart like I did for the reported foreign grosses up to July 22nd. [ghost_smiley]
One thing we definitely do know it that the worldwide gross is well over $240 million by now because it was already more than $240.7 million as of the July 22nd reports. And with DS now having opened in Venezuela, this weekend the worldwide gross should climb by hundreds of thousands simply based on what it's likely to do in that country alone.
99 days 10 hours 26 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Perhaps a sequel could start off showing that this movie took place in some Bizzaro World Parallel Time.......and from there reboot it properly!!!
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"Nights in White Satin" is playing on the radio. Every time I hear it now, I think of the beautiful opening sequence, with Maggie arriving on the train. As I was listening just now, I realized how poignant the song is (in relation to the movie) and how symbolic it is for the character of Maggie Evans. It really suits her. A number of the songs lyrics are applicable to her character, but these are probably the most powerful: "Just what you want to be, you'll be in the end."
I completely agree.
I was sad that they didn't use the entire song, as that could have been even more powerful, especially the last part of the instrumental which bears a striking resemblance to the work of Bob Cobert. The finale of HoDS anyone?
Yes!
And speaking of the songs used in the film, I finally got around to ordering the soundtrack from Amazon and it came today. And as I was just listening to it I was struck by how the lyrics of several of the songs are so perfect for how they were used in the film. I've already mentioned how effective I thought Alice Cooper's "Ballard Of Dwight Frye" was accompanying Maggie/Vicki's revelations of her past (not to mention how the spoken intro fit so well with Carolyn's situation). But I didn't really completely put together what a brilliant choice it was to use Barry White's "You're The First, The Last, My Everything" for Barn and Ang's gymnastic sex scene because, even through in the song everything is from the man's POV, the lyric's really work best when they're interpreted from Ang's POV.
The one song that I don't really remember specifically how it was used in the film is Iggy Pop's "I'm Sick Of You" - though it seems perfect for something that Carolyn would have been listening to, so I'm presuming that's how it was used. In fact, could it have been the song we were wondering about Carolyn listening to when Ang comes to Collinwood? (And as a sidenote, the song is certainly a perfect example of something from the Glam Era. I could have easily seen it used in a film like Velvet Goldmine because it sounds so much like the songs used in that film.)
Actually, listening to much of the CD was practically like traveling back in time to my youth in 1972 because back then I was really into R&B and British Rock, so songs like "Nights In White Satin" (which is quite possibly my favorite Moody Blues song ever), "You're The First, The Last, My Everything," and "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" are perfect examples of what I was into at the time.
99 days 15 hours 9 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Alice Cooper's The Ballad of Dwight Frye was another wise & great soundtrack choice--the song is a tribute to the actor who played Renfield in the 1931 Dracula--fate was equally unkind to Barnabas, Renfield & Frye.
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I forgot to mention that a major disappointment with the CD's packaging is that aside from the photo of Barn/Depp on the cover of the booklet, there's little else to connect it to the film. And when you open the booklet up, the inside is nearly a complete blank - it's simply two pages of black background with a light blue stripe across them about an inch down from the top. Someone must have surely spent hours coming up with that design! [ghost_rolleyes] But what's worse than all that is that not one of the artists is identified in the list of tracks on the back of the booklet or on the back of the case - there are simply song titles. About the only way the artists are identified is if one plays the CD in something like iTunes or some similar software player. [ghost_angry]
99 days 15 hours 32 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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"Sick of You" was the song we heard when we first saw Carolyn.
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Ah, OK, thanks. [ghost_smiley] It's been so long since I've seen the film that I didn't remember that. But before too long the DVD/Blu-ray will be available. I know I can't wait. [ghost_wink]
99 days 16 hours 2 minutes 37 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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One thing I'm sure we all noticed about the DS film's score CD is that "Dark Shadows - Prologue" and "The End" are listed as "Uncut" - but what I didn't realize until today is that the versions of those pieces on the soundtrack CD are shorter. "The End" is only shorter by 12 seconds - but "Dark Shadows - Prologue" is shorter by 3:56 - which makes it exactly half as long as it is on the score CD. So, I'm wondering now if the versions on the soundtrack CD are the versions as they actually appear in the film? If so, that would mean 12 seconds was snipped from the end of the film after Danny Elfman had written his score for the sequence. And that may or may not be all that bad depending on just what was cut. But it would also mean that half of the prologue ended up being snipped - and 3:56 could have easily been an awful lot of story that got snipped! [ghost_blink]
But I suppose we won't really know if the soundtrack versions are the versions in the film until after the DVD/Blu-ray comes out because I seriously doubt any of us are going to try to track down a theater still playing the film and then time those two sequences to see how long they are. [ghost_nowink]
100 days 15 hours 22 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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That's rather interesting, MB. So did they cut the first notes of the DS theme from the end of "The End?" Or was something else cut?
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Mojo's Twitter feed posted on the 17th that DS ended its run http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view=releasedate&view2=domestic&yr=2012&sort=close&order=DESC&p=.htm
Box Office Mojo@boxofficemojo
'Dark Shadows' ($79.7M), 'Mirror Mirror' ($64.9M), and 'Rock of Ages' ($38.5M) ended their runs yesterday: http://ow.ly/d3q6x #boxoffice
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Up to this point the dates of closure for films on Box Office Mojo's Yearly Chart have been accurate, so I would tend to believe that DS did indeed close. But then why was Fandango still listing DS for so many different theaters this week? Not to mention how could The Doctor and K9's friend in PA have been wrong about DS still playing in her area? Odd...
Has anyone checked Fandango since Friday to see if DS is still listed as playing in the theaters it was listed in then?
100 days 20 hours 13 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The opening sequence is approx 7:37, from WB logo to first note of the Moody Blues.
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That's rather interesting, MB. So did they cut the first notes of the DS theme from the end of "The End?" Or was something else cut?
For that one I really can't say what they cut because it begins and ends the same way. Apparently whatever is missing is in the middle somewhere.
100 days 20 hours 21 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well at least the Cobert influence wasn't cut! [ghost_wink]
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Not to mention how could The Doctor and K9's friend in PA have been wrong about DS still playing in her area? Odd...
My friend actually lives in NY, near the PA line. I know her well and she's credible. Sometimes people will give all kinds of erroneous information.
There were similar situations in the 70s. I read that DS was taken out of syndication by World Vision in 1977. OK, so how come it was playing in New Hampshire in '78? I later found out in TWODS that other places, not many to be sure, were also showing it in '79 and '80. Yet the Providence Journal (or the Boston Herald) was told by World Vision that it was not available for syndication. I still have the clipping. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE AS WELL AS MY OWN WHAT HAPPENED TO DARK SHADOWS? Answer from the TV section-World Vision, the distributor for DS has taken the show off the market. Back to that coffin, Barnabas.
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I could be wrong, but I think it's possible for a film to be officially considered "closed" but for there still to be a few prints floating around playing in scattered theaters. It's just that WB (or whoever) decides that it's done. But maybe it's not forbidden for a few theaters that have the print to keep it for a bit. Lots of theaters will have special showings of films but they're never considered a re-release or anything (unless they do it systematically like they did with Titanic recently) but they're just so minor that nobody bothers counting them officially anymore :(
I do guess this means that I won't find any more updates when I check at 3/3:30 p.m. anymore, though :( To get my fix, I guess I'll have to wait to watch the weekly DVD sales/rentals for a little while come October.
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For what it's worth, I called the theater in Hooksett, NH and DS is indeed still playing there - and playing there 4 times a day. But what's a bit fascinating is that I checked the Internet for all the films currently playing there and Rock of Ages, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Chimpanzee, and The Cabin in the Woods are also playing there, though according to Box Office Mojo all of those films have closed, too. In fact, The Cabin in the Woods had supposedly closed back on July 12th - yet there it is still playing in at least 1 theater 2 times a day. So, it would certainly seem as if madscntst is on to something and a film's release in theaters can actually still continue even after a studio announces that that release has been officially "closed." Though what's interesting about that is that BOM lists many films that are still playing in as few as 1 theater. But I suppose that's only when the studios behind them are still reporting their box office figures and haven't decided that they're officially "closed" even though they're actually still playing somewhere. And in the case of DS, apparently this week it's still playing in at least 4 somewheres that we know of.
101 days 9 hours 44 minutes 35 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Strangely, box office mojo put the "showtimes" tab back in, on their DS page. But "no theaters found in your area". A few years ago, even when there were no theaters in my area, BOM would often list a few theaters at the bottom, even if they were 1,000 miles away, like in the midwest or something, as the closest theaters to me. They don't do that anymore, and there is no way I know of either there or on Fandango just to show the darn list of *all* the theaters.
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The Wrap has DS in its out of the money category and reflects it topped out at $80 domestically. Being naive in this industry isn't the bottom line what the final number is worldwide? Isn't money money no matter where its earned? Does WB somehow lose money in the US (maybe stocks, whatever) but makes a profit internationally? The movie should have placed in a more profitable category. imo http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/summer-box-office-despite-avengers-and-batman-2012-will-be-flat-52196?page=0,2
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DS certainly shouldn't be in that category. And when it comes to discussing domestic vs. foreign/worldwide numbers, some Web sites act as if the rest of the world doesn't exist when it suits their purposes, which it obviously does with that Web site with regard to DS or they wouldn't have been able to include DS where they did. But notice that they did include the foreign numbers for Battleship because even with them they could include that film in the category. It's totally spinning the numbers for the agenda you've already decided upon. If some numbers don't support your agenda, well, then you just ignore them. [ghost_rolleyes] Though one thing in that report is definitely true: when it first came out in the US, DS was indeed stymied by Marvel's The Avengers.
And speaking of foreign numbers, I'm really curious to see how DS made out over the weekend in Venezuela. Those numbers *may* become available this afternoon - but sometimes it takes a few days for them to come out, so we may have to wait longer.
101 days 11 hours 16 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks MB. The media hasn't been fair in reporting the movie's total success. I don't think there is a basis for the argument that the studio lost money in the U.S. WB is a domestic and international corporation unless it has to report its earnings separately. In any event the Blu-ray/DVD sales should reach $100 million dollars worldwide I am guessing bringing the total earnings to around $350 million which really isn't too bad for a poorly marketed film imo
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I was just reading the Production Notes from the film (which I'd completely forgotten about even downloading and only happened to come across today while searching my computer for something else entirely). If anyone hasn't read read them, I highly recommend that you do because they're quite interesting and even give a few slight hints to what might be missing from the film. But one thing I found interesting, mostly because I have no recollection of even noticing it, is that one of the film titles displayed on the theater marquee in Collinsport at some point was supposedly A Clockwork Orange. When did that happen? Or did it even happen as the final edit stands? If it did, as I said, it went right by me without even being noticed. Makes me wonder what other things I might notice for the first time once I watch the film again after it comes out on Blu-ray?
101 days 14 hours 40 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'm pretty sure I saw that (unless it was a production still). There are a few times when we see cars go through Collinsport, including the movie theater with the marquis- the VW microbus, Angie's convertible, and maybe others. I think the marquis says A Clockwork Orange one time and Deliverance another time. As you say, MB, it'll be fun to be able to freeze-frame the DVD and see these details!
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[ghost_angry]
I see that Expendables 2 grossed $1 million LESS than DS for it's opening weekend, yet it's being touted as a smash hit. There's a definite anti-DS bias in the entertainment media that dates back to the 1960s.
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And another batch of captures/set ups have been posted on the film's "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s)" board.
101 days 17 hours 23 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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There is no question that there exists an Anti Dark Shadows Bias in the Media. And yes, it has been in existence since the 1960's. But, there has also been a Powerful, Devoted and Loyal Fan Following. And this Fan Base is the reason why we have the New Movie, the 1991 Revival Series, Decades of Fesivals, and Countless Publications. Also, we can purchase and watch all 1225 Episodes, both Original Movies and Countless Specialty Videos. The list is Endless. Jonathan pointed out in an interview that it's about the Fans more than anything else. He was right. [ghost_tongue]
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I could be wrong, but when it comes to the DS film I believe much of the negative attitude is more of a backlash against Burton (and to a lesser extent Depp and Depp paired with Burton) than it is anything having to do with DS. One extremely sad but true fact is that on some Web sites the animosity against Burton is so intense as to be completely irrational. [ghost_sad] [ghost_rolleyes]
102 days 12 hours 22 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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There are a few times when we see cars go through Collinsport, including the movie theater with the marquis- the VW microbus, Angie's convertible, and maybe others. I think the marquis says A Clockwork Orange one time and Deliverance another time.
I did notice that the marquee features Deliverance when Maggie/Vicki and hippies drive by in the VW microbus (though it would have been pretty hard to have missed that one because not only did we see it in the film but we saw it in the trailers and many of the TV spots over and over again [ghost_wink]), and on the night that Barnabas is released I think the theater that we see is showing Superfly. But unless the entire sequence isn't featured in the featurette that includes Angelique's drive through town to the Angel Bay Cannery, we don't actually see a theater marquee in that instance.
it'll be fun to be able to freeze-frame the DVD and see these details!
Definitely.
One reason I suspect I may have missed A Clockwork Orange, if it still is in the film, is because when I first saw the film in IMAX the screen was so huge that it was next to impossible to take in everything. And even when I saw the film in a regular theater, another reason is that I was tending to pay more attention to the actors/characters and less to the backgrounds. Not to mention that a few times I made comments to a friend sitting next to me - and most often that would have been when there weren't any characters on screen - so if the marquee came up with A Clockwork Orange during any of those times, I could have easily missed it while I had my eyes off the screen. [ghost_wink]
102 days 12 hours 46 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I could be wrong, but when it comes to the DS film I believe much of the negative attitude is more of a backlash against Burton (and to a lesser extent Depp and Depp paired with Burton) than it is anything having to do with DS. One extremely sad but true fact is that on some Web sites the animosity against Burton is so intense as to be completely irrational. [ghost_sad] [ghost_rolleyes]
I think you're right on the money there, MB. There were several people from work who were not huge DS fans but were interested in seeing a DS film. At least they were interested until they learned that Tim Burton was directing it.
When asked about it, they really could not explain why they were so against Burton but they did make it clear that they would not go to the movie because of him.
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[ghost_rolleyes]
How silly! Alice in Wonderland and Burton's Planet of the Apes were annoying as hell, but Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd--all wonderful.
Gotta judge each film individually.
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^ I avoided Planet of the Apes, largely because of what I'd heard about it (which I guess makes me guilty of not judging for myself, but in this case I was going by what friends had said and not just critics/reviewers). Alice was by far my least favorite Depp/Burton collaboration, but *someone* must've loved it because it made over $1 billion worldwide! Sweeney Todd wasn't that long ago, and it was very well regarded when it came out and it got several major nominations, including an Oscar nom for Johnny, so it's weird that there is such a strong stigma against the pair of Depp/Burton these days. (I love Burton, but even I admit that I was a little unhappy when I found out he was directing, as I'm sure I have said here several times-- I just never felt that he was quite the right fit)
Don't forget, too, that there is a fair amount of negativity coming from a segment of we, the fans of the OS. Because this place is very civil and allows all opinions, I had started to forget how things are "on the outside". But I popped onto the IMDb board the other day and was shocked at how people were still at each other's throats, and many of the movie haters were still claiming that anyone who liked the film must be a plant from WB [ghost_rolleyes] Not that the OS fans don't have their own right to their opinion, but if the DS fanbase is divided, I think that does add to the perception of how the film performed-- the media aren't going to say that the film was successful if the fans didn't unilaterally embrace it, and in a way, I can't blame them for that. Just a thought.
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That's all very true, madscntst. I haven't been over to the IMDb board in a long time, so I don't know what's going on over there now - but if people in the media ever checked out the things that have gone on over there in the past, or worse still, some of the stuff that's transpired on Facebook, I shudder to think what they probably thought. [ghost_shocked]
As for Planet of the Apes, I DVR'd it one day in the early development of the DS film because I'd read so many bad things about it. However, I didn't think it was as bad as some of the things I'd read. It definitely kept my interest. And actually I was paying more attention to Helena Bonham Carter than anything else because I was more curious to see her performance because I'd seen so little of her work at that point - and I thought she was good. But I do have to admit that while I've seen all the original Apes films, I was never more than a casual fan of them. The only real reason I'd watched all of them was because I was curious to see the different takes and back histories. And even among the original films themselves there are certainly vastly varying degrees of quality. I mean, in some ways by the end the series became a parody of itself.
I still have the recording I made of PotA that day, so one of these days I should probably revisit the film to see what I think of it now.
102 days 14 hours 36 minutes 53 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Although I have purchased Blu-ray DVDs I haven't played them yet on my Blu-ray player. This new article on the movie's Blu-ray DVD says you can view the 9 bonus featurettes only if you are in the interactive mode. If you are watching the film in the interactive mode the bonus featurettes will come on during you viewing the movie and that seems to be a distraction to me? Perhaps I have misread the second paragraph in the article but I guess I will figure it out.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Fangtastic-Dark-Shadows-Blu-Ray-Hit-Shelves-October-32581.html
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Watching Blu-rays can be a very different experience than watching DVDs - and interactive mode is one of the things that makes Blu-rays so cool. And yes, when in interactive mode a whole slew of features are likely to become available for selection or automatically. However, that isn't the only way a Blu-ray can be watched - it can also be watched normally just like a DVD. And that's what I tend to do the first time I watch something. But then I definitely watch again in the interactive mode. For example, I'm currently watching the 4th season of True Blood on Blu-ray. First I watch an ep exactly as it was shown on HBO - but then I'll watch the ep again in what the set refers to as "Enhanced Viewing." In that mode, which is simply their way of saying interactive mode, various characters on the show will pop up automatically during the ep to offer comments on scenes, situations, their character, other characters, and any number of other things. Also, all sorts of background character info never explored on the show is likely to come up at the bottom of the screen in a text box from time to time (mostly involving new characters). And if all that wasn't enough, the option to choose to watch past scenes, even ones from different seasons, will sometimes come up as a way to refresh your memory as to what happened in past eps that relates to what's currently happening. The entire experience is a great way to get deeper into the True Blood storylines and characters. And when it comes to films it's a similar situation as actors and behind the scenes personnel are likely to pop up to comment on what's happening in the film, and you're often given the option to watch behind the scenes video detailing how certain scenes were shot and such (after which you return to the film at the exact point that you left it to watch the video). Trust me, it's great fun! And from what that site is saying, that sounds like what the Blu-ray for the DS film will be like, which doesn't surprise me because that's what every other WB Blu-ray that I own is like.
One thing that I did find interesting on the site is that they indicate that the deleted scenes will also be on the DVD. I really do hope that's true and it's not a mistake. But unless they changed the info given on the back of the DVD, it wouldn't seem that the deleted scenes are actually on the DVD. But I suppose we'll find out for certain once the DVD actually comes out.
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Thanks so much MB for the detailed explanation. It sounds like a fascinating viewing experience which I haven't truly experienced. Sounds! like fun.
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my DVD player is ten years old and nearing the end of it run...
while i wouldn't upgrade to the blue-ray format just for the DS release i might have to do it sooner or later anyways. so my question is this...
i have hundreds of DVDs that i don't want to replace. will they be compatible with a blue-ray setup or do i need to start again from scratch?
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There are DVD/Blu Ray combo players. I'd go for that.
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All DVDs (as well as all CDs) play in all Blu-ray players. [ghost_smiley]
102 days 21 hours 46 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I'm not sure why because normally the show doesn't reshow segments until a film's DVD/Blu-ray comes out, and the DS DVD/Blu-ray doesn't come out until October, but I just noticed that beginning tomorrow ES.TV will start reshowing their segments with various stars of the DS film. Up tomorrow is Chloe Moretz (and Bella Heathcote). Thursday is Eva Green. And Friday is Michelle Pfeiffer. The other segments will probably follow next week - but next week's schedule hasn't been released yet. (And it might have been nice if they were going to show the segments again so soon, if they'd shown them while the DS film was still playing in several theaters instaed of a probable handful of theaters that are already off the grid. But I suppose we can't have everything. [ghost_wink])
102 days 22 hours 26 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Hmmm - Box Office Mojo has posted the Venezuelan chart for August 17-19, but DS isn't on it. And it's not like DS came out earlier in Venezuela because I just went all the way back through the charts to the May 11-13 weekend.
The official Web site definitely still listed August 17th as late as the end of June, which is the last time I looked at the release schedule. But apparently something happened and it looks like the release was delayed even more. Who knows? [ghost_huh] And it's not even like we can check the official Web site again because the release schedule is no longer a part of it.
103 days 10 hours 6 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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While doing a Google search to try to track down the Venezuelan page for the DS film on Facebook (I referenced it back in June in this topic - but wouldn't you know that instead of linking to it for the video I wanted to share, I linked directly to YouTube - and now I have no clue how to locate the page again because originally I'd gone though the official Web site and the link is no longer there because it was on the release schedule page) one of the things that actually came up instead of the Facebook page was this article from Interview magazine:
Thomas McDonell Does It All (http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/thomas-mcdonell-suburgatory#_)
And what's most interesting about it is this portion:
BROWN: ... You just finished filming Tim Burton's new film, Dark Shadows, how was that?
MCDONELL: Yeah, I went to Pinewood Studios to work on that. It was quite interesting.
BROWN: Was it intimidating?
MCDONELL: No.
BROWN: There are a lot of exciting people in that movie: Christopher Lee, Eva Green, and, obviously Johnny Depp, although I think I've watched too much 21 Jump Street to take him seriously.
MCDONELL: That stuff made you not take him seriously? What about the videos of him reading Hunter S. Thompson letters online? They're pretty goofy.
BROWN: Is that what you opened with: "Hi, Mr. Depp, you're kind of goofy"?
MCDONELL: No.
BROWN: "Nice to meet you?"
MCDONELL: [laughs] No, not that either. I'm not telling you what I said.
As madscntst and I've said before, we were sure we'd seen interviews in which McDonell talked about shooting for the DS film. I don't know about madscntst, but this wasn't one of the ones I'd seen back then - but regardless, it still shows that he did shoot. But quite obviously as the film stands now they went in a totally different direction in the final edit. And it certainly doesn't look like anything that McDonell shot will be included as deleted scenes. And with no commentary, we may never know why McDonell's stuff all ended up on the cutting room floor...
103 days 10 hours 34 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I've also just come across this in my search:
MY OPEN LETTER OF APOLOGY TO "DARK SHADOWS" DIRECTOR TIM BURTON (http://pgpclassicsoaps.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-open-letter-of-apology-to-dark.html)
Makes one wonder if posts like this one and possibly elsewhere, not to mention just straight word of mouth (which is something we've strongly suspected), are the things that helped the DS film perform so well at the domestic box office after its first few weeks?
103 days 11 hours 5 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I wonder what constitutes a DS "purist"?
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I guess I'm a DS "purist" (despite the many, many, many, many, may faux pas of the original), which is why I wasn't a big fan of the '91 remake (with Dan Curtis at the helm, no less). As far as I was concerned, it totally mucked up the subtlety and characterizations of the OS. It could've been a million times better. But, as a "purist," I loved it because it was DS - our DS, and it was back. Even HoDS was way off the mark when it came to the OS (although it did portray Barnabas as a totally evil character, as he was suppose to be originally portrayed). But I was infatuated with it. And NoDS had none of the original characters in it. Not one. It had many of the same names, but none of them were the characters from the series. Yes, I loved it. All of them were our DS. (I never saw the '04 version, so I can't comment on that.) And this movie is also our DS, much more faithful, as far as I'm concerned to the OS than all the other variants, even the ones DC did.
We "purists" should always realize that the OS is the foundation of everything that followed. But a foundation is nothing more than that - it's what's put on top that counts and so far everything that has been has been successful. Were the Marilyn Ross novels exactly like the OS? Of course not. Some, if not many, if not most, were horrible. How about the Gold Key comic book series? Oh, gawd, how awful it was, but I bought them as soon as they hit the stands. But it's all our DS. If one wants to be a purist, one needs to look at what DS hath wrought. If one is to puritanical that he/she cannot abide this movie, then forgoe everything that has followed, including the fact that this is the only soap opera that has created such a massive fan base, one that draws thousands to annual festivals and lots and lots of products. Forget everything that has happened since it left the airwaves in 1971, including the fact that it's the only soap opera deemed worthy enough for a multi-million dollar film version more than 40 years later.
Gerard
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I guess that I'm not that much of a purist. At least not in the strictest sense. I've seen or experienced just about all the various incarnations of DS, including that extremely bizarre Off Broadway play from the late '80's. The original is and will likely remain my favorite. But I've found things that I enjoy in each one of them. And I've also found things that I can't stand.
Is this the best movie ever made? Absolutely not. Is this the movie I would have made? Definitely not. Unfortunately, I just didn't happen to have $150 million lying around when Warner Brothers was looking for backers. Did it keep me entertained? Definitely. It's nothing short of miraculous that more than forty years after its demise, Dark Shadows is still seen as a viable property. That's unheard for a daytime serial. (No one seems to be chomping at the bit to do a big screen revival of The Secret Storm.).
The film has increased awareness of Dark Shadows among the general population. Several of the younger people that I work with went to see it because "it's that show you like so much." And the general population is who this movie--and most movies--was made for. Cult, by nature, means a small, albeit devoted, audience. There are simply not enough of us to support a big screen version. If we were, one of the attempts at a reunion with the original cast would have gotten produced.
And, with its theatrical run just about at an end, the 2012 movie will become its own memory. Dark Shadows is like Cher. Or, if you prefer, like the Phoenix. Just when you're about ready to write it as done, it comes back in a new form.
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And considering that this film has successfully remained, despite the detractors saying it was a "dud," in theaters for over a quarter of a year, well, that says something.
Gerard
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It's certainly not the case here, but elsewhere I've seen purists (and not just DS purists) describe themselves as people who don't want to see anything changed when it comes to remaking a favorite TV show or film. They want everything to remain the same, practically down to every word of dialogue and even the sets/locations. And if that isn't the case, which it invariably isn't because it's only natural that anyone remaking something wants to put their own stamp on it, then it's sacrilege! And I suspect that's the type of purist the person writing the open letter to Burton was addressing. [ghost_wink]
104 days 10 hours 35 minutes 20 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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"I've seen purists (and not just DS purists)...They want everything to remain the same, practically down to every word of dialogue and even the sets/locations. And if that isn't the case, which it invariably isn't because it's only natural that anyone remaking something wants to put their own stamp on it, then it's sacrilege!
Unless they became more conservative after the show ended and NODS was released, then the first two movies are sacrilige as well. I'm amazed at people who will read the Ross books and the comics, yet be overly critical of anything that came after '76 (when the comic ended).
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You definitely bring up an interesting point because I don't think I've ever seen any DS fans claim either of the two original films are sacrilege. [ghost_nowink] And certainly in the case of hoDS, one would think it would only be logical that those with that sort of predilection might because so much is different in hoDS from the way things played out on the daytime show. So, it's really fascinating that they haven't seemed to jump on the sacrilege bandwagon in that instance. But then I suppose logic may not play much of a part in it. [ghost_undecided]
104 days 11 hours 3 minutes 35 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Just a guess but I think that the reason many fans might forgive the differences in HODS and NODS is because they use the familiar and beloved OS cast*. That is a very strong love and loyalty! Also, perhaps there was a lot of excitement when HODS and NODS came out because they came out during or just after the OS and they may have been swept up in it. Now, they still love them because they were a part of the history and fandom that they remember, whereas later versions and incarnations could be met with a more critical eye.
*I would not count the all-too-brief cameos of our 4 wonderful OS cast members in the film. If anything, I think that may have made some of the purists even angrier, because not enough screen time was given to them.
Edited to add- and to the point that the characters in HODS weren't the same as in the OS and that the ones in NODS were quite different altogether, that might be true. But then again part of enjoying the show was seeing the cast members play different versions of beloved characters and also different characters altogether so I maybe a lot of folks were okay with that.
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So, it's really fascinating that they haven't seemed to jump on the sacrilege bandwagon in that instance. But then I suppose logic may not play much of a part in it. [ghost_undecided]
I agree. And, of course, they may be taking a lesson from the so-called Reverend Trask who mentioned sacrilege a few times too often for his own good. Perhaps they're trying to avoid another brick in the wall so to speak. Tee hee...[ghost_grin]
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Yes, it seems like there are "purists" for whom anything DS must include either the original cast, or the exact same plots/scripts. Woe to anyone (such as Depp/Burton) who attempts to create a new work using BOTH a new cast AND a new plot/script! IMO, such "purists" should simply lock themselves away with the original series and ignore the rest of the world. [ghost_rolleyes]
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Expecting every incarnation of DS to be exactly like the original is idiotic.
Dan Curtis had one vision, Burton had another.
Just compare Bela Lugosi in Dracula & Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula--two VERY different takes on a classic tale and character. Both work beautifully, albeit for different reasons.
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Excellent point. HODS was a slap at the still-existing series as far as I was concerned. It seem to be accepted by the masses only because the original cast and Dan Curtis was involved with it.
You definitely bring up an interesting point because I don't think I've ever seen any DS fans claim either of the two original films are sacrilege. [ghost_nowink] And certainly in the case of hoDS, one would think it would only be logical that those with that sort of predilection might because so much is different in hoDS from the way things played out on the daytime show. So, it's really fascinating that they haven't seemed to jump on the sacrilege bandwagon in that instance. But then I suppose logic may not play much of a part in it. [ghost_undecided]
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A virtual word-for-word, scene-for-scene of Psycho was made in 1998 (with Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche) and it was simply dreadful. The only thing worse about whole thing was the change in the end where the heroine (Julianne Moore), after finding Mamma Bates turned into a Ninja warrior. The moral of the story is, even though something worked in its original totality and specifics, doesn't mean it'll work again. A virtual stoke-by-stroke fake of the Mona Lisa is still a fake. It's better to take the concept of an original and use it as a base for something else that has its own uniqueness. There are even occasions when remakes are just as good, and sometimes better, that the original. Take, for example, the '78 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Critics hailed it just as good as the '56 classic; some said it was even better. That's because the producers didn't try to exactly copy the original; they updated it, changed locations (from a sleepy California town to the hustle-and-bustle of San Francisco) and reworked the characters. And yet I remember back in '78 there were sci-fi buffs who screamed blasphemy. When Stephen Spielberg did his cinematic version of War of the Worlds in '05, he emphatically stated it was not a remake of the '53 classic - it was his take on the HG Wells novel. He did, however, pay homage to the '53 version, restating a few lines of exact dialogue in one scene and having the original stars make a cameo at the end.
Gerard
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Excellent point. HODS was a slap at the still-existing series as far as I was concerned. It seem to be accepted by the masses only because the original cast and Dan Curtis was involved with it.
Depending upon your point of view, HODS might have seemed like a departure from the OS. It did not to me. I got started on DS, unless you count some very dim memories of the 60s, with the Ross novels. DS was also being syndicated at the same time, in '76. When I finally got a chance to watch, WLVI 56 had it on 11:00 PM so I could only see it on certain Fridays, I was very confused. Barnabas seemed so brutal compared to the Ross books I was getting in dribs and drabs. As I'd find them in used book stores and various sales, I'd grab them up. When I finally saw HODS in about '82, it was farily consistent with what I'd seen. OK, Carolyn was not a vampire, but she was bitten and doing Barnabas' bidding. I later found out that HODS was simply going back to the original plan for the Barnabas story. That may be another reason why fans are so willing to accept it. It's not as much of a departure since it's a chance to see what might have been.
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In HODS, Barnabas' [spoiler]killing off most of his family[/spoiler] was a major departure from the series and the character, enough so for me to not like the movie very much.
Nancy
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In HODS, Barnabas' [spoiler]killing off most of his family[/spoiler] was a major departure from the series and the character, enough so for me to not like the movie very much.
Oh I don't dispute that it was a departure. But for me, coming from the superhero Barnabas of the Ross novels, (I did not get Barnabas Collins or Secret of Barnabas Collins for several years-the books came to me in near random order), the way he behaved in the 1967 story was a shock. For me, it wasn't much of a leap to go from there to HODS. But if you were watching in the 60s and seeing 1840, I can certainly see why HODS would seem like a total departure, especially if you came in say, post 1795 and only saw his MOSTLY heroic period.
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Not sure about the other three theaters that we knew of, but according to Fandango and Box Office Mojo (oddly enough, considering they say DS has closed), DS is still playing 4 times a day in that theater in Hooksett, NH. In fact, the same basic lineup is still there except that one film closed (I'm not even sure what it was - but it wasn't any of the other supposedly closed films I mentioned that were also still playing there last week because they're also all still there) and Magic Mike has opened.
105 days 9 hours 58 minutes 32 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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This might be the most attention that Hooksett, New Hampshire has ever received.
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No kidding! [ghost_grin]
105 days 10 hours 31 minutes 59 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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It's funny because when I was told, in the 77, that DS was not offered for syndication any longer after WLVI 56 ended its run, a station out of NH had its listings in our TV Guide. I believe it was Channel 9 that ran DS in 78. I was never able to really watch and episode. The reception was on the outer fringes on the best of days. The closest I ever came to really seeing an episode came in August of '78. I was able to get a very, very fuzzy picture that came and went, along with audio that did the same. If it had not been one of the eps I'd seen before I'd never have been able to follow. It was the one in which Joshua confronts Barnabas about his condition. I had to literally stand in front of the TV, holding a portable set of rabbit ears. So, flash forward 34 years, perhaps even to the day, and the Manchester area is again showing DS in theaters, even though it's supposedly not available!
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there are two theaters in Hooksett, DS is at the smaller, 8 screen theater, which is showing films that are, for the most part, older. I suspect this may be a second run discount house.
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I suspect you're right, David, because if one checks the ticket prices on Fandango, they're $3.50. [ghost_wink]
And what's interesting is that we know that DS is going into at least its 4th week in Hooksett because Uncle Roger first found it playing there on August 5th.
(And yes, The Doctor and K9 - DS was definitely playing at 4:30 in the afternoon on WMUR Channel 9 out of Manchester, NH in '77-'78.)
105 days 11 hours 40 minutes 38 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Well, once the MaxiSaver cut it down from 4 showings a day to 2 last week, I figured that would be the final week. However, it's still listed for 1 evening (9:20) showing every day this week, which makes it the 9th week. I'm really amazed. I suspect that will be it.
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digressing back to the topic of DS "purists"...
what's funny is that over on FB where alot of the more heated conversations over the film initially took place, and even a few silly deppshadows "hate groups" popped up, tons of people who post in the various forums there are now using images from the film as their avatars. every day people pop up in my "people you make know" box with a picture of johnny or eva or michelle...
true they're probably not the same people who objected to the film in the first place but it's definitely part of our "vocabulary" so to speak.
to me it's definitely more evocative, even with all the storyline changes, to the OS than the 1991 series in it's tone and sensibility. it's trippiness and strangeness recall that more than the florid and over-earnest soap-opera-ish-ness of the later series.
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tons of people who post in the various forums there are now using images from the film as their avatars.
That IS very interesting, michael c - thanks for sharing. [ghost_smiley]
However, it's still listed for 1 evening (9:20) showing every day this week, which makes it the 9th week.
And that's also very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Josette. [ghost_smiley]
106 days 12 hours 4 minutes 40 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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The other segments will probably follow next week - but next week's schedule hasn't been released yet.
The schedule has been released, and ES.TV will indeed be reshowing Jonny Lee Miller (and Jackie Earle Haley) on Monday, Johnny Depp on Tuesday, and Helena Bonham Carter on Thursday.
Hopefully they'll reshow all these segments again once the DVD/Blu-Ray comes out in October.
107 days 11 hours 2 minutes 14 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Hmmm - while just going through previous captures/set ups/fill ins on the "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) - Blackmailing Liz-Intro to Barnabas-Kidnapping Maggie-Intro to Julia" board for Ep #284, I came across this set up:
Episode #0284
and this fill in:
Re: Episode #0284
Suddenly makes me wonder if Seth Grahame-Smith actually read any of our game boards to get any ideas for the DS film? [b003]
107 days 12 hours 19 minutes 42 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Also, on the off chance that Amazon (or some other site) doesn't eventually list the extras for the individual releases and it turns out that there could also be a Blu-ray only release, be very careful of buying it sight unseen or even if you see it in a store because there was a big brouhaha with Warner Brother's Blu-ray only release of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Stickers on that release indicated that it contained a Maximum Movie Mode feature hosted by Robert Downey Jr., whereas no such feature is on that version of the Blu-ray - it only appears on the Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. So, who knows if a Blu-ray only release of DS may be similarly lacking when it comes to some of the Blu-ray/DVD Combo's extras? [ghost_rolleyes]
I was just over on Amazon's Web site, and what should come up in my recommendations but a Blu-ray only version of the DS film. (Though why they would think I'd also be interested in that when I've already ordered the Blu-ray/DVD Combo is a bit of a mystery? But then, I suspect DS related items come up simply because they are DS related and regardless of what you've already ordered.)
Dark Shadows (Movie Only + UltraViolet) [Blu-ray] (http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Movie-UltraViolet-Blu-ray/dp/B008RC72G8/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_3)
And as I suspected, people wanting all the Blu-ray extras shouldn't order it because, like the Blu-ray only of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the DS Blu-ray only release only contains the same extras that are on the DVD. None of the Blu-ray extras specific to the DVD/Blu-ray Combo release are included. And even if you happen to see the Blu-ray only release in stores with stickers that say otherwise, it would best to ignore them. Though given how WB Video was burned when that happened with the SH:AGoS Blu-ray only release, one would suspect they shouldn't make that mistake again. [ghost_nowink] Plus, the packaging for the DVD and the Blu-ray only releases are extremely similar, so it's a good way to remember that their contents are similar and to avoid them if you're looking for the full set of Blu-ray extras.
108 days 10 hours 36 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Thanks for the heads up, MB!
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And yet another batch of captures/set ups have been posted on the film's "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s)" board.
109 days 17 hours 6 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I was just glancing through the flyers from the Sunday newspaper and noticed that Best Buy is offering an exclusive additional 30 minutes of content when people buy their version of the DVD/Blu-ray Combo release of Battleship. That got me wondering if Best Buy or Target (which also offers exclusive additional content from time to time) might do the same with the DS film? So, of course, I went to their Web sites to see what their listing for DS are like. Target gives the exact same info as Amazon. And Best Buy has the exact same info for the DVD/Blu-ray Combo. However, there is something odd about their listing for the DVD because it says it's 2 discs, while everyone else says it's only 1. And while it's more likely to see exclusive additional content only with Blu-ray releases, I have seen Best Buy offer such extras only with the DVD release, so it might be possible that something is afoot. However, at this point I'm more inclined to believe it's a misprint so far as the listing goes and we shouldn't probably get any hopes up. But at the same time, it's also something worth keeping an eye on...
110 days 16 hours 56 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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I want a sequel, damnit!
Hugh Jackman as Quentin!
Meryl Streep as Magda!
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I always thought, even though he's not tall like David Selby is, that Cillian Murphy would be perfect as Quentin. He's got the icy blue eyes for it, and he can play both charming and psychotic :) (I do like Hugh, though)
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Murphy works!
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Well, DS is still playing in Hooksett, NH. However, apparently something is happening at the theater because none of its films are being shown 4 times a day everyday anymore. For example, today all the first showings for all their films have been dropped (DS is showing at 4:15, 6:50, and 9:25 - there is no 1:40 showing). However, 4 showings do return tomorrow (with DS at all 4 times) - but then Sunday drops the last show of the day, with films showing 3 times or less (DS is still 3 times). And odder still, for Monday-Thursday there are at most 2 showings per film because the first and last have been dropped (DS is still showing for its middle 2). So, I'm wondering if this is some sort of seasonal decision with the proprietors figuring they'll be doing less business now that schools and colleges are reopening? But still, it seems odd to start a new schedule like they have on a holiday weekend. One would think that at least they would have still gone with 4 showings for Friday-Monday - but apparently not. But then, I suppose all that really matters to us is that DS is still playing there. [ghost_wink] (As are all the other films that have supposedly already closed.)
112 days 11 hours 54 minutes 9 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Kids are going back to school. Many small town theaters scale back their schedules Mon-Fri, but are open all day on Sat/Sun/holidays during the school year.
Some theaters drop the Sunday eve late show as Sunday is a "school night".
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It might depend upon the local school schedule. Many districts have school on Labor Day. Ours was in session on that "holiday" for many years, even though we have it off this year.
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I didn't even think about how some parts of the country have already gone back to school. In my area no one usually goes back until the Wednesday after Labor Day. [ghost_wink]
And, David, I noticed that your most recent post in this topic was the 1972nd post this month. How appropriate. [ghost_wink] Were you waiting to time your post that way or was it simply serendipity? [ghost_grin]
And speaking of time, real life has kept me really busy lately, but I'm hoping that in a few weeks things will calm down to the point where I can get back to posting screen caps and video of the DS TV Spots and cast interviews. There's a ton of stuff I've yet to get to...
112 days 18 hours 48 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!!
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Final report, I assume. Once it was down to 1 showing-a-day last week, I figured that would be the end. It opened at the MaxiSaver on June 29 and had 7 weeks of 4-a-day showings, 1 week of 2-a-day, and last week, 1-a-day. I have no idea if that's a normal run for a movie, more or less, as I've never really paid much attention to what they have. However, I made sure to get there the first day, in case it was only there for the one week and if something would prevent me getting there later.
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And, David, I noticed that your most recent post in this topic was the 1972nd post this month. How appropriate. [ghost_wink] Were you waiting to time your post that way or was it simply serendipity? [ghost_grin]
It was fate, MB!
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In honor of the forum's new countdown to the release of the DS film on DVD/Blu-ray, I've posted another batch of captures/set ups on the film's "Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s)" board. [ghost_smiley] Happy completing/filling in! [ghost_grin]
114 days 11 hours 46 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
29 days 12 hours 13 minutes 14 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I just noticed that Tim Burton is on ES.TV tomorrow. I don't even remember him being on back in May when the show had its series of interviews promoting the DS film. But then perhaps, rather than a repeat, his segment will turn out to be something new to promote Frankenweenie, which opens October 5th. Although, it seems early for the show to be promoting that film because its segments tend to appear much closer to a film's release date, not a month earlier. So, it will certainly be interesting to see...
114 days 20 hours 7 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
29 days 3 hours 52 minutes 33 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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what's ES TV?
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i think its the syndicated show hosted by byron allen and it used to be called THE ENTERTAINERS and now the es stands for entertainment studios.
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The hour long weekend version is still called Entertainers, but the 30 minute weekday version is called ES.TV.
If you get ES.TV (which is the weekday version of the weekend show Entertainers) on any of the channels in your area...
115 days 0 hours 53 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
28 days 23 hours 6 minutes 30 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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guess we don't get it around here, but I'm sure you'll post the video!
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Oh, I'm sure I (eventually) will - particularly when the segment was indeed about the DS film, and I think it may have featured some behind the scenes material that wasn't shown elsewhere.
I have no idea how I managed to miss today's installment when it was originally shown, which according to my DVR was on May 21st, because back then I'm pretty sure I still had my DVR programmed to record the show. [ghost_undecided] (After all, the earlier segments began on May 9th (Chloe Moretz and Bella Heathcote) and continued on the 10th (Eva Green), 11th (Michelle Pfeiffer), 14th (Jonny Lee Miller and Jackie Earle Haley), 15th (Johnny Depp) and 17th (Helena Bonham Carter), so it's not like the 21st was so much later than the last one I'd caught - plus I'm sure I was still following the upcoming listings for the show.) But no matter - thanks to noticing that the show was rerunning all the segments that I did originally see, I was able to catch the rerun of this one that somehow I'd missed. [ghost_wink]
115 days 9 hours 56 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
28 days 14 hours 3 minutes 44 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Should the film hold out for about a week-and-a-half, it will have played in theaters for a third of a year. Yeah, that makes it a dud. Right.
Gerard
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Hmmm - perhaps something weird was going on with a previous update on my computer to Adobe Flash because the latest update was installed on my computer the other day and now when I go to the official site for the DS film, the pages that I thought were removed are back. Well, either it was the Adobe Flash installation or they put the pages back for some reason. But I suspect it's more the former than the latter because why would WB remove the pages only to put them back? [ghost_huh]
But anyway, the point of this post is that apparently something odd is indeed going on with the release of the DS film in Venezuela. Now that I have access to all the pages on the official site again, I was able to access the Global Release Dates page - and the release date for Venezuela is still listed as August 17th even though we know the film never did open there then. But the big tipoff is that now when you click the Facebook link for Venezuela, instead of being taken to the Facebook page that I was taken to a few months back that was specifically for DS in Venezuela, you're taken to a generic Facebook page for WB Pictures Latin America. And DS is heavily represented there (and at some point I need to go back to see everything), but with just a quick glance, while I did see indications there that DS was supposed to come out in Venezuela on August 17th, I didn't see anything saying the date had changed or that it wasn't coming out there at all. Who knows? [ghost_undecided]
116 days 15 hours 25 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
27 days 8 hours 34 minutes 12 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Odd thing is I read a post on the Internet from someone in Venezuela. He said he would not be seeing Dark Shadows when it came out, because it was "evil" and its title was symbolic of "Satan." If it didn't have that title, he would have seen it, as he is a big fan of Tim Burton, but the title was a turn-off of sorts. [ghost_huh]
I know virtually nothing about South American countries and customs, but I wonder how many people have similar views. It can't be too many in the other countries, as the film seems to have done well in many of them.
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DS has been known as Sombras Tenebrosas in several South American countries since the show was shown in them as far back as in the '70s (and I believe Frid even lived in Argentina for a time because the show was so popular there back then). It seems odd that someone would suddenly find the title satanic. [ghost_huh] But who knows? There are all sorts of people with all sorts of superstitions and what may seem to us to be strange ideas.
But be that as it may, a short while ago and completely by accident I stumbled upon the official Latin American site for DS/Sombras Tenebrosas and I discovered that now the film is supposedly going to be released in Venezuela this coming Friday, September 7th. I suppose we'll see. [ghost_wink]
116 days 20 hours 27 minutes 23 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
27 days 3 hours 32 minutes 37 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Yes, I thought it was very strange, because I knew Sombras Tenebrosas had long been known throughout the region. This individual is of a younger set, though. So perhaps he hadn't been exposed to the original? And perhaps he speaks Portuguese or another tongue and the name does not translate well in that language. I'm not certain, but I found it fascinating that someone would disregard something based on its title alone, without even giving a thought to its content. The same person said that he thought it looked "funny." So I was quite confused. Just one of those things you have to chalk up to culture, though!
Nonetheless, I am glad it is finally getting a release! [ghost_grin]
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There could be some groups or individuals who feel that way; it doesn't mean it's the predominant viewpoint. I'm sure I've read people here who said their parents didn't want them to watch the original because it was satanic or something along those lines.
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After having pretty much exhausted the potential captures I've already posted that can also be used for the games boards for the DS film, I've turned my attention to the various pre-release featurettes because they seem to contain a wealth of material worth mining for those boards. However, something I came across in the Tim Burton and Johnny Depp: A Collaboration Through The Years featurette has me a bit puzzled as it's a brief snippet (that appears at the 2:12 point in the featurette) from a scene that I don't remember being in the film. It would have had to take place in the Grand Foyer before the mirror ball falls as not only are Carolyn, Liz, Barnabas, and Vicki wearing the same clothes, but Vicki is in the same position near the stairs. But what has me puzzled is that I don't remember Barnabas and Liz conversing before the mirror ball fell or him saying to her "Indeed" with the expressions on his face that he has:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Indeed-1.jpg)
Click for 1920X1080 image (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Indeed-1.jpg)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Indeed-2.jpg)
Click for 1920X1080 image (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Indeed-2.jpg)
Nor do I remember ever noticing that there was a second floor balcony overlooking the Grand Foyer, much less that Carolyn was standing on it. And I know I've said that once I watch the film again on Blu-ray, I'm sure I'll notice things I didn't see the first two times around - but I wasn't talking about things like completely missing characters in scenes. But perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me and the snippet from the scene really is in the film and I really have completely forgotten it. Or perhaps it is a snippet from a scene that wasn't even in the film. Anyone have an opinion as to which it might be?
117 days 12 hours 26 minutes 34 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
26 days 11 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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this was immediately after roger left in the taxi...
david was standing in the door with tears as liz, barnabas and vicki looked on.
right after this the disco ball drops, barnabas catches fire and is doused with the mop bucket as the gang looks on in shock. as i recall carolyn witnessed this from the upstairs overlook.
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also i believe this balcony/overlook is where vicki witnessed josette's ghost falling from the chandelier.
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this was immediately after roger left in the taxi...
david was standing in the door with tears as liz, barnabas and vicki looked on.
Ah, OK. And that explains the expression on Liz' face, too. And now with the scene put in perspective, I think I may know why I didn't recognize it. It's because both times I saw the film, after Roger left I turned to the friend sitting next to me and remarked that I thought it was much more effective with all the stuff with Roger apologizing to David and saying he should have been a better father being cut because Roger comes off as a selfish bastard who would choose money over his son, and that pretty much sums up the Roger we knew during the '66 storyline on the original And if while we were talking about that, it was the only long shot of Carolyn up on the balcony, that may be why I never noticed that she was up there.
also i believe this balcony/overlook is where vicki witnessed josette's ghost falling from the chandelier.
That would make sense, too. And if that is the case, how interesting that she was standing up above Josette's portrait while all that was taking place.
Thanks for clearing things up for me. [ghost_smiley] Apparently I have a lot to look forward to noticing when I watch the film by myself for the very first time. [ghost_wink]
117 days 15 hours 25 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
26 days 8 hours 34 minutes 14 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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There could be some groups or individuals who feel that way; it doesn't mean it's the predominant viewpoint. I'm sure I've read people here who said their parents didn't want them to watch the original because it was satanic or something along those lines.
That was the odd thing, though. He said that the title was Satanic, not the content. [ghost_sad] And I was trying to figure out why... haha
And, yes, that is definitely from the scene where Roger departs, though we know a good chunk of that scene was cut.
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[ghost_sad]
The world feels empty and sad now that Depp Shadows is leaving theaters.
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But look at it this way: starting this Friday (hopefully) in Venezuela people will just be beginning to enjoy the film. [ghost_smiley]
118 days 10 hours 36 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
25 days 13 hours 23 minutes 31 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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[ghost_tongue]
I want it to play at the Imax up the street from me again.
AND I'M NOT EATING MY VEGGIES UNTIL IT DOES!!!!!!!!
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I fear for your health, then, because I suspect that's not about to happen. [ghost_nowink]
118 days 11 hours 54 minutes 39 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
25 days 12 hours 5 minutes 21 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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[ghost_smiley]
maybe it's still playing there in parallel time!
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It's too bad that it couldn't come back for one last end-of-summer one week run, to get folks primed for the DVD release and to just get the earnings past that elusive $80M mark. Funny, I just got a positive film review in my e-mail news alerts this morning but didn't have time to really read it. It's been so long since any DS reviews have come up in my news alerts that it was nice that the one that popped up was a good one- hopefully folks will read that and be more interested in a DVD rental/purchase.
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it's been months since most of us saw the film and posting on it's actual content, as opposed to just reports on it's box office, has slowed down greatly...
it will be interesting to see what the board looks like after the DVD is released and we can all absorb the minutia and obsess about the details. especially given the additional deleted footage.
as i've said since the get go i really think this thing will have an enormous afterlife. eventually it will just get absorbed into the DS vocabulary and even "purists" who despised it from the outset will have to get used to it as part of our strange world.
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The movie played in theaters for almost a third of a year. Should it remain so until the 11th, that will make it so. That's hardly a "dud" as nay-sayers, who have learned to hate DS, Depp and Burton spout. The movie was a money-making success. Once again, DS reigns supreme.
Gerard
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The movie played in theaters for almost a third of a year. Should it remain so until the 11th, that will make it so.
It's going to be so because at the very least the DS film is still playing in Hooksett, NH with the same showings schedule as last week: 3 today, 4 tomorrow, 3 Sunday, and then 2 Monday-Thursday. [ghost_cool]
119 days 9 hours 27 minutes 33 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
24 days 14 hours 32 minutes 27 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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any other USA theaters or is NH it?
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Who knows? Like madscntst, I wish there was some Web site where we could go to find out all the theaters in which it's currently playing - but I don't know of any. About the only way to find theaters is to enter zip codes and to see what comes up. But as much as we might like to know, I seriously doubt any of us have any sort of inclination to spend who knows how long entering all the the zip codes in the book to find out. [ghost_nowink]
119 days 14 hours 4 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
24 days 9 hours 55 minutes 36 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Even if it's no longer playing in any theaters to our knowledge, it did so for almost a third-of-a-year. That speaks volumes. Box office bomb; yeah, right. Anyone still talking about that Avengers-or-whatever movie, or that Batman one? Nope. Now it's all about a dybbuk box movie.
Gerard
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Who knows? Like madscntst, I wish there was some Web site where we could go to find out all the theaters in which it's currently playing - but I don't know of any.
Back when DS was mostly in second-run theaters, I found a website (whose name and URL I no longer recall) and somehow I was able to pull up a list of every theater in the US that was showing the DS movie. I was quite pleased with my discovery, but when I went back to the website, I was immediately prompted to enter my ZIP code and I couldn't find a way to generate a nationwide list of theaters.
Perhaps I stumbled onto an intermittent portal to a PT version of the website...? [ghost_wacko]
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Speaking of not being able to find things again, last week I came across three stills from the DS film that I haven't seen anywhere else. I didn't mention them at the time because the scans of them were so dark that they definitely needed to be lightened so that we could fully appreciate them. So, I downloaded copies of the stills, fully intending to include the original URL to them once I got the chance to post the lightened versions. However, for the life of me I cannot find where I downloaded them from. I know it's an official Facebook page for the film, and I was absolutely sure that it was the official Latin American page because that and the official Brazilian page are the the only two pages for the film that I went to on Facebook last week - but I cannot find the post again on either. But at least I do have the stills to share:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/431330_403783336348973_1266735343_n.jpg)
(This was the still that appeared in the post - clicking on it brought you to a still gallery where I found the others. And, of course, this is Vicki meeting Barnabas.)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/305035_399221960138444_1733451199_n.jpg)
(I've posted my own screen caps from this scene that were taken from the various TV Spots, but apparently this is the official still. Also, this is taken from a slightly different angle than the way the scene was shot for the film.)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/228457_399878913406082_43716539_n.jpg)
(And because there are so few stills of Roger, I was quite happy to come across this one from the scene in which Roger becomes aware that there's more to the fireplace in the drawing room than meets the eye.)
123 days 13 hours 58 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
20 days 10 hours 1 minute 16 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Those are really great shots. Thank you so much for sharing them. On my last trip into NYC, I went to Jerry Ohlinger's movie memorabilia store where I have purchase many DS stills in the past. They had the poster for the 2012 movie but nothing else. Is that the norm these days?
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The film appears to not be playing in Venezuela.
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I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet - I just discovered that Verizon FiOS will have it in their Video On Demand on October 2.
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Very interesting, Josette - thanks for the heads up. [ghost_smiley]
And according to the September 7-9, 2012 Venezuelan box office chart on Box Office Mojo, DS definitely did not open in Venezuela on September 7th as was and still is indicated on the official Latin American Web site: http://warnerbroslatino.com/fechas-estreno/157. But then, the official US site still says it was supposed to open there on August 17th. [ghost_huh] So, who knows what's going on in that country. It's just very strange. [ghost_undecided]
And speaking of the official US site, it now opens with a page specifically to promote the DVD/Blu-ray release and to pre-order them from Walmart, Best Buy, Target, FYE, Toys R Us (which I would never think of), and www.gohastings.com (which I've never even been to).
124 days 9 hours 58 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
19 days 14 hours 1 minute 12 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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if you're like me, or if you even bothered to check out the new opening page for the DVD/Blu-ray release on the film's official Web site, you didn't bother to check out/pay attention to the trailer that automatically plays on the page. But just for the fun of it I went back today to check it out, and I'm glad I did because it's somewhat different from what we've seen before because, not only does it combine elements from the first two trailers, it drops some stuff and adds some other stuff - including some completely new stuff:
The first minute and 14 seconds look to be the same as we're used to seeing numerous times already. However, once the whole part of Angelique driving up to Collinwood, entering, Barnabas turning around in the drawing room, Angie asking if Barn remembers her and him saying she's the hideous with that turned him into a vampire and we see his transformation, things begin to change. Instead of then seeing Angie closing the lid on Barn's coffin, saying she'll see him in a couple of centuries, Barn telling her in her office to kiss his posterior repeatedly, and then Angie placing her panties over his face while he's chained in the coffin, we see Angie tell Barn that she's missed him -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01815.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #1815 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01815.jpg))
- and him telling her that he should have destroyed her (though why that sequence is backwards is anyone's guess - but they seem to love to do that in the trailers and TV Spots [ghost_huh]) -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01845.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #1845 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01845.jpg))
- whereupon things pick up as before with Angie sitting on the couch in the drawing room and continue that way until after Angie rips opens her dress to show her cleavage. We're used to seeing Barn remark that her breasts haven't aged a day, but in this version all he says is "Oh."
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01935.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #1935 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT01935.jpg))
Things pick up after that with Angie sliding her behind across the piano right up through the point in which Barnabas collapses his head on the organ and says "Indeed." After that point there was a shot of Collinwood with "This summer" over it - but now it's simply the shot of Collinwood without any text.
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02175.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #2175 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02175.jpg))
(To be continued...)
125 days 16 hours 34 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
18 days 7 hours 25 minutes 14 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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The trailer then continues as before with Barnabas and the family opening the doors to the dilapidated cannery all the way through Angelique propelled backwards up into the chandelier, but then instead of seeing the shot of Maggie in the straightjacket, there's a reaction shot of Barn -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02819.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #2819 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02819.jpg))
- as he looks in horror after Angie has started the fire. Then, as before, we see the shot of Barn's coffin exploding open after the construction workers clip the chains, but instead of that being followed immediately by the sequence of Vicki falling from Widows' Hill and Barn jumping after her, we see Carolyn dancing by in the dining room.
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02846.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #2846 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02846.jpg))
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02870.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #2870 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02870.jpg))
(To be continued...)
125 days 16 hours 35 minutes 56 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
18 days 7 hours 24 minutes 4 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Immediately after Carolyn the trailer than picks up with the sequence on Widows' Hill, though it starts just a few frames earlier than we're used to seeing. Things continue along as always until the shot of the cannery on fire is actually followed by a shot of Vicki and Barn embracing atop Widows' Hill.
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02961.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #2961 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT02961.jpg))
(And that tends to give the impression that Barn saved her from falling and brought her back up even though it actually takes place in the film before the fall. It's an interesting way to try to fake out what really happens. [ghost_wink])
From there things pick up with Angie reaching out and commanding Barn to love her and him replying "Never!" However, after the point that they slam up against the wall together, the entire portion of the sex scene in which they rotate across the painting, the camera spins the shot of them up on the ceiling, and they fall to the couch and bounce off is cut and simply replaced with a shot of their dangling legs.
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT03032.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #3032 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT03032.jpg))
Things pick up with them breaking the table, but the sequence of Barn's feet bracing against the wall and Angie licking him with her forked tongue is also cut with things instead moving directly to Barnabas saying what they'd just done was regrettable.
After we then see the DS logo against the shot of Collinwood, instead of continuing with the whole "stoned" sequence, we instead see Carolyn commenting that the only thing missing from their proposed happening is Alice Cooper followed by shots of the party and Copper singing, and concluding with Barn's remark that Cooper is the ugliest woman he's ever seen. Interestingly, all of that also followed the logo/Collinwood shot in the second version of the trailer.
The trailer itself then concludes with the credits - but instead of the final shot telling people to experience the film in IMAX on May 11 - the Blu-ray release is now promoted.
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT03442.jpg)
(Click for larger image: Capture #3442 (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRT03442.jpg))
I also learned something else thanks in part to the new opening page on the official site - but I probably won't get to that until tomorrow...
125 days 16 hours 38 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
18 days 7 hours 21 minutes 56 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Hmmm - Warner Brothers can't be too upset with the performance of the DS film because I just received a tweet on my phone from Graham King's GK Films, which as we know was one of the production companies involved with the DS film, that they've just made a first look deal with Warner Brothers. So, obviously Warner Brothers has faith in the types of films King produces. [ghost_wink]
125 days 22 hours 36 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
18 days 1 hour 23 minutes 52 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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And DS continues for at the very least its 7th week in Hooksett, NH. Same schedule as the past two weeks. [ghost_cool]
As a side note, there has actually been some movement at the theater because Chimpanze and Rock of Ages, which were both playing with limited showings, have closed and been replaced by Step Up Revolution. And beyond the fact that DS has been playing so long, the fact that RoA closed must be a sign that DS has been doing well for the theater because RoA opened after DS and has closed before it. But then nationally DS has outperformed RoA in almost every conceivable way, so I suppose it's not any sort of a surprise that RoA has closed in Hooksett before DS has. [ghost_nowink]
126 days 10 hours 46 minutes 8 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
17 days 13 hours 13 minutes 52 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I still haven't seen Depp Shadows. Does anyone know if cable typically offers new DVD or Blue Ray releases on On Demand or on a Pay Per View basis? Is that a typical occurrence? I am going to be house sitting in a place that has a TV practically the size of a double bed. I would love to see the film for the first time on that!
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Josette mentioned that Verizon FiOS will have it in their Video On Demand beginning on October 2. I would think the other major providers will as well. [ghost_smiley]
(And BTW, let me formally and publicly welcome you back. [hug] Midnite and I have missed having our fellow moderator around.)
126 days 12 hours 2 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
17 days 11 hours 57 minutes 32 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Thanx for the formal welcome back, MB, and reiterating Josette's comments. I am now hopeful.
I sure hope I get to see it on the giant TV. I am SO eager to see it. I know I am going to love it. Thanks to some of your (and others) comments over the years about judging new DS enterprises on their own merits and not always judging (or prejudging as is usually the case) against the original series really sunk in, enabling me to at least give the other projects an sincere chance. I started to do so with Cross Shadows but unfortunately wasn't able to see the whole shebang. My point is though, that I let myself enjoy it.
Was I disappointed to learn that Depp Shadows was a comedy (of sorts, at least by what I saw in the trailers), at first, yeah, but I ended up being really okay with it because now I won't be comparing it to the original (which always used to lead to disappointment for me).
I had no idea that there is a Carolyn twist awaiting me -- something to look forward to.
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Hi folks, sorry I haven't been around much lately- I've been crazy busy but have been popping in mostly every day. Thanks for the detailed analysis of the trailer comparisons, MB!
Comic Book Movie has posted 5 deleted scenes! These are new to me-- are they new, or am I just behind? At any rate, here they are for your enjoyment! (for each scene, there is a still pic and a video below it)
Five Deleted Scenes From Johnny Depp's DARK SHADOWS (http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/nailbiter111/news/?a=67246)
I think most of these would've added a lot to the film, especially the bit about Carolyn saying nobody understands her. Oh well [ghost_sad]
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and vicki SMOKING!
that totally ads another dimension to the character. the bit with julia at the overlook was nice too.
these were only a few seconds long. i can't imagine why they were deleted from the cinematic release. [ghost_huh]
especially to the advantage of the overblown,overlong and preposterous "climactic scene". [ghost_tongue]
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While I was looking to see if I could locate the Blu-ray trailer on YouTube, I was actually surprised to come across all sorts of videos dedicated to the Barnabas/Angelique relationship in the film. Not that I didn't think the film would generate a fandom all its own - we all pretty much predicted that - but, I don't know, I guess it was just the sheer amount of different videos dedicated to Barn/Angie that I found surprising because without even specifically looking for something like that, more than a dozen came up. And when I checked out a few, another thing that surprised me is that several included pirated scenes from the film that were no doubt shot with cell phones. Though maybe that shouldn't have surprised me, afterall. But anyway, here are links to some of the more interesting ones:
If ever there was a song that was perfect for the Barn/Angie relationship, it has to be Lady Gaga's Bad Romance:
Angelique and Barnabas- Bad Romance (Dark Shadows) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbHSMM7iQBw)
Though her song Teeth works really well as well (plus this one has tons of pirated footage (not that I advocate that - but it's still nice to see clips that we won't be able to see legally until after October 2nd)):
Dark Shadows - Dark Teeth (Feat. Lady Gaga) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkyTWqid7dY)
And this one has some pirated footage not seen in the others (plus it uses an Alice Cooper song):
Barnabas & Angelique - Poison (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxzNOd_EaCs)
And I particularly like these two because they're well done:
Barnabas And Angelique - my heart is broken (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=130NX7scMak)
Dark Shadows Barnabas & Angelique Every Time We Touch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNeTFX-uvpU)
And lest anyone think the Barnabas and Josette/Vicki angle has been ignored, I also came across this rather well done video (again with pirated footage) that focuses on that relationship:
Oh I swear to you - Barnabas and Victoria/Josette (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dotilf2s1UY)
So, considering I came across over a dozen without even actually looking, it's probably anyone's guess just how many fan videos dedicated to the film there really are on YouTube. [ghost_wink]
But getting back to what I was actually looking for, here's the Blu-ray trailer:
Dark Shadows Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0STiYZh5QE)
Considering it didn't show up on the official Web site until this week, I was honestly surprised to see that Warner Brothers posted it on YouTube back on July 31st.
And lest anyone get the wrong impression that any of this is what I was referring to the other day when I said I'd learned something thanks in part to the new opening page on the official site, it isn't. That discovery still awaits being posted because I need a DVD that I made for myself back in 2008. But I let someone borrow it back then and they never gave it back, so I need to wait until later today when they plan to finally give it back and I've been able to get at least one screen cap from it. After that I'll be able to post about my discovery. [ghost_smiley]
127 days 12 hours 7 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
16 days 11 hours 52 minutes 12 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Comic Book Movie has posted 5 deleted scenes! These are new to me-- are they new, or am I just behind?
Unfortunately I don't have the time to check out the scenes right now. [ghost_sad] However, from the descriptions of them on the Web site, it certainly looks like they're the five deleted scenes that will appear on the Blu-ray.
And as for what's written about the film at the beginning of the post, well, obviously it was written by someone who's completely unaware that there hasn't been any official reporting of the film's international box office since July 8th and the film has pulled in millions since then, particularly in the Latin American countries. But then, unless they were following the reporting of the film's box office, they certainly wouldn't know that, so we can probably look forward to who knows how many more people passing along inaccurate box office info because of the halt in official international reporting of the film's box office. [ghost_rolleyes]
127 days 12 hours 18 minutes 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
16 days 11 hours 41 minutes 59 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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And as for what's written about the film at the beginning of the post, well, obviously it was written by someone who's completely unaware that there hasn't been any official reporting of the film's international box office since July 8th and the film has pulled in millions since then, particularly in the Latin American countries.
At least they made it clear that DS was not a flop, even with the lower figures on the foreign box office.
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Well, yeah, there is that. I suppose we could look at it as if we should be thankful for small favors. [ghost_undecided]
And just as an update, I have the DVD back, so now it's just a matter of taking a few screen caps...
127 days 18 hours 39 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
16 days 5 hours 20 minutes 45 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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"I shall make you love me."
"With what? A spell?"
"With this!"
"Oh!"
Now that was ten times funnier than what was in the movie. Just goes to show you that editing was this film's curse. SGS really made the ''humor'' drag on in the script. Burton could have fixed it with edits, but he didn't. [ghost_rolleyes]
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If you're a fan of the BBC series Being Human (and if not, you should be), it might come as a surprise to you that Mitchell was in the DS film. But what's that you say, you didn't catch Aidan Turner in the film. Well, that's because he wasn't in it. I'm not speaking of him - I'm speaking of the original actor who played Mitchell (who, for the uninitiated, just happens to be a vampire) - the actor who played him in the pilot: Guy Flanagan, who wasn't available due to other commitments by the time the pilot finally went to series so Aidan Turner took over the role.
But let's backtrack to the other day to see how all this relates to the official US Web site for the film. As I said, the new opening page has links to various store Web sites where the Blu-ray can be pre-ordered. I checked out all of them just to make sure none of them were offering anything like exclusive bundled discs (sadly, none seem to be), and when I checked out Target's Web site, I noticed that apparently they list the names of practically every actor in the film. Imagine my surprise when I scanned the list and saw the name Guy Flanagan. Immediately I questioned in my mind if it could be the same Guy Flanagan who was in the Being Human pilot, and then it hit me: he played one of the hippies. And I've posted screen caps of him right here on the forum. But not until I saw his name on the Target Web site did I put it together that he was the bearded hippie. And then I began to wonder how it was that we could have missed his casting. But I checked through the film's topics and no one ever reported it. So apparently his name wasn't added to the IMDb cast listings until long after the film opened because some of us were still checking the list even after the film opened. But his name is indeed there now. And the credit is also listed on his own IMDb page.
And so, thanks to the fact that the Being Human pilot was so popular after it originally aired on BBC Three back in 2008 that it was made available for download (I posted about this back in '08 and recommended that people check it out), that I made a DVD for myself from the video, and I now have that DVD back in my possession, here are a couple screen caps from it along with two of the screen caps I'd posted from the DS film of the only scene featuring Guy Flanagan that's currently available to us:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BH-1.jpg)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/90000775.jpg)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BH-2.jpg)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/90000886.jpg)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BH-3.jpg)
I also love this particular scene in the pilot:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BH-4.jpg)
Does it in any way remind anyone of a certain other vampire who went outside during the day wearing a hat and sunglasses and gloves and carrying an umbrella (well, the umbrella was sometimes carried for him in the film). (And the other actor in that particular cap is Russell Tovey, one of only two of the original actors to go from the pilot to the series.)
127 days 19 hours 46 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
16 days 4 hours 13 minutes 56 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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"I shall make you love me."
"With what? A spell?"
"With this!"
"Oh!"
Now that was ten times funnier than what was in the movie.
Oh, I don't know - I like the "I must admit they haven't aged a day." [ghost_grin] Plus Barnabas probably does say "Oh" before he makes that remark. But I guess you would have preferred it had ended there. But I suppose it's all a matter of personal taste. [ghost_wink]
127 days 19 hours 52 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
16 days 4 hours 7 minutes 56 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Very much enjoyed the deleted scenes. They brought some more depth to some of the characters who got shortchanged on screen time. I wish there had been something with Roger.
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Very much enjoyed the deleted scenes. They brought some more depth to some of the characters who got shortchanged on screen time. I wish there had been something with Roger.
I thought it wasn't released yet. How did you see deleted scenes?
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Hey Josette, there are deleted scenes online now [ghost_smiley] I posted about it yesterday or so, but it got buried on the page before this one on the thread. Here is my post again with the link.
Comic Book Movie has posted 5 deleted scenes! ...
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I thought the movie had plenty of humor that I myself could appreciate, but not so much that the film itself can be really called a 'comedy'. But as you say MB, it's a matter of personal taste.
I think the word 'dramedy' would best describe the movie.
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I think the word 'dramedy' would best describe the movie.
Definitely, IluvBarnabas. I don't know how anyone who has actually seen the film could describe it as a comedy - and I have no idea why Warner Brothers insists on still promoting it as such with their choice of review quotes on the DVD/Blu-ray packaging. But then, we're never likely to fully understand the marketing campaign. All I know for sure is that I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they came up with it because the debates must have been fascinating. [ghost_wink]
128 days 10 hours 44 minutes 21 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
15 days 13 hours 15 minutes 39 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Hmmm - while checking through the previous posts for original series' Ep #299, might I have discovered another inspiration for the film on our Games boards:
Setup:
'Miss' Hoffman knew she had been fully accepted at Collinwood when Roger asked her to look at his...
...troll collection.
Who knew the troll collection might have been Roger's:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/hr_Dark_Shadows_48.jpg)
[ghost_grin]
And while I'm at it posting photos, I came across this one while I was looking for the Barnabas/trolls still:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/P1000143.jpg)
And as we will recall, the Web site that posted the behind the scenes photos of the Beckenham Place Park shoot implied that the dogs played a part in the scenes being shot. But did we even see dogs chasing Maggie when she escaped from Windcliff?
128 days 12 hours 7 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
15 days 11 hours 52 minutes 16 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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It looks like $1.5 million was just added to the overseas gross No idea where the money came from,
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Hey Josette, there are deleted scenes online now [ghost_smiley] I posted about it yesterday or so, but it got buried on the page before this one on the thread. Here is my post again with the link.
I might have been reading too fast to realize that's what that was! Thank you for repeating the link; I'll have to check those out.
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For some reason my DVR didn't list who was going to be on ES.TV this morning, so just for the fun of it I recorded it. And what did it end up being but the show with Chloe Moretz and Bella Heathcoate. Who knows why it was on again so soon after only being repeated about a month ago? And it's interesting how the ep was pulled out of its week and shown on a Monday when the first two times it was on it was a Wednesday ep. But hey, the more they want to show their DS interviews the better so far as possibly getting people interested in buying the DVD/Blu-ray goes. [ghost_wink]
129 days 11 hours 10 minutes 38 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
14 days 12 hours 49 minutes 22 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Very much enjoyed the deleted scenes. They brought some more depth to some of the characters who got shortchanged on screen time. I wish there had been something with Roger.
I agree. All of these scenes were wonderful. They show so much about the relationships between the characters, and since the big theme of the movie was that families are the only real wealth, it's strange these got left out. Especially the one with Barnabas and David (which contains the line stating that theme). The one with Vicki and Carolyn reminds me a lot of scenes with the two characters in the original series. I wouldn't be at all surprised, though, if the MPAA objected to the smoking in that scene and might have wanted to give the film an R rating because of that...
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[ghost_angry]
DS inspired me to make films in the past, and to write professionally, as I do now, so I'm tired of seeing it trashed in the media.
Box Office Mojo just declared Depp Shadows one of the summer's losers, while films that grossed LESS than DS, and cost the same, are being declared winners.
F THIS BS!
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I don't know how MOJO judges but perhaps expectations are coming into play here.
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Expectations are ridiculous. Not every film produced can gross a billion dollars.
A lot of films today are being produced for way too much money.
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Hmmm - strange article at Box Office Mojo. Why is that? Because back around April/May the same person who wrote it pointed out correctly that vampire films that don't include "Twilight" in their titles do not make the type of money that Depp/Burton's Alice in Wonderland ($334.2 million) or even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ($206.5 million) did domestically, so it would be completely unrealistic for anyone to expect that DS would gross anything like what those films had grossed. Yet now he's suddenly jumped on the dump on DS bandwagon and he says that it's "inexcusable for these box office heavyweights to wind up with less than $240 million this time around." And he has to be speaking domestically because DS surpassed $240 million worldwide weeks ago. Not to mention that when he made his own forecast of what DS could take in domestically, it was something like half that amount - plus he even pointed out how opening in the shadow of The Avengers could easily affect the film's box office, which it most certainly did. So what he's saying now is something like a complete 180 of what he said only a few months ago. [ghost_rolleyes]
However, the facts that are right on Box Office Mojo for all to see speak for themselves because domestically DS is the 9th most successful vampire film 1978-present (which is the period their chart covers). And when one considers worldwide gross, it's the 6th most successful vampire film behind the first 4 Twilight Saga films and Van Helsing. And considering that Warner Brothers has insisted on promoting the film as a comedy, they can't be all that disappointed that domestically the film is the 7th most successful horror comedy 1980-present (which is the period for that chart) and the 3rd most successful with worldwide gross, behind only Ghostbusters and Scary Movie (and besting WB's own previous topper, Gremlins). But apparently we're just supposed to ignore all that in favor of some people's flip-flopping and unrealistic expectations.
130 days 10 hours 45 minutes 54 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
13 days 13 hours 14 minutes 6 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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[ghost_tongue]
My In Defense of DS piece gets published in Fangoria next month, where I point out a few facts, ignored by others, that proves the franchises' enduring popularity.
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I'm reviewing the Depp Shadows DVD for Scary Monsters & Videoscope Mags. I've just been told to expect my copy tomorrow.
YEAH BABY! I'M BAD!!!!!!!! [ghost_cool]
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Lucky you! [ghost_wink]
Interestingly and inexplicably, ES.TV continues to air DS interviews this week. Today I checked what my DVR recorded and it ended up being the ep with the Johnny Depp segment. That ep didn't originally run until six days after the Chloe Moretz/Bella Heathcoate ep - and it originally repeated six days afterward. This week is the first time ever since I've been paying attention (which has been since about February) that ES.TV has been running eps out of their original weekly sequence, meaning if Monday started with the rerun of one ep, that ep had originally been a Monday ep and during the rest of the week it was followed by reruns of the same eps that had originally run after it during the week of their original airing.
Though like I said yesterday, the more ES.TV wants to keep running its shows with DS segments, the better. [ghost_wink]
130 days 15 hours 42 minutes 52 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
13 days 8 hours 17 minutes 8 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Box Office Mojo just declared Depp Shadows one of the summer's losers, while films that grossed LESS than DS, and cost the same, are being declared winners.
F THIS BS!
What you said! The film lasted in theaters for a third of a year, longer than many, if not most or even all of the other "blockbusters." And it cleaned up on the foreign markets. The only thing that went wrong was the marketing, and even despite that, it still was a money-maker internationally. There are just people who hate DS (and now hate Burton and Depp).
Gerard
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No DS segments on ES.TV today. And my DVR finally has the schedule and there won't be any for the rest of the week (though they're still running eps wildly out of sequence). But hey, it was fun while it lasted. [ghost_wink]
131 days 10 hours 59 minutes 35 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
12 days 13 hours 0 minutes 25 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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DOSE depp keep the rights to ds or sell them since another film seems unlikely why would he keep the rights?
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i think there will be another film.
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I just got my DVD screener, look for my reviews.
I'm rubbing the disc all over my body!
[ghost_smiley]
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Of course the expectations of profit for a Burton/Depp venture are higher than most, even if the duo doesn't always look for big box office projects to do. They are held to a higher standard in terms of performance expectations. Depp Shadows wasn't a wild success but it wasn't the absymal failure either.
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Of course the expectations of profit for a Burton/Depp venture are higher than most, even if the duo doesn't always look for big box office projects to do. They are held to a higher standard in terms of performance expectations.
Given the performance of their past films, I can see where there can be high expectations when Depp/Burton collaborate. But neither that nor the reasoning as to why DS might be considered a different case was honestly the issue I was attempting to illustrate with my post regarding what was recently said on Box Office Mojo. In that specific case it was huge distortion of previous opinion for the writer to have previously laid out valid reasons for why it was very unlikely that DS would make the kind of money that Depp/Burton's previous films have and then to turn around and blast the film for not making the type of money that Depp/Burton's films have been known to make in the past. And what the writer recently said was worse still when his very own prediction of what the film could make domestically (without The Avengers being factored in, which is a whole other issue in itself) was basically half as much as what he's now saying it was "inexcusable" that the film didn't make. Apparently he thinks none of us remember what he said previously so we're not about to realize that what he's saying now completely flies in the face of what he said then. [ghost_rolleyes] It's his flip-flop that's at issue - not what DS should've would've could've made. [ghost_smiley] And actually, it's his own credibility that can be more negatively viewed than anything negative he aimed at DS. [ghost_wink]
Depp Shadows wasn't a wild success but it wasn't the absymal failure either.
Very true. [ghost_smiley]
131 days 14 hours 35 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
12 days 9 hours 24 minutes 38 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I don't thing Avengers affected the film at all, people who wanted to see Depp Shadows did so regardless.
I do think the American trailer drove a few people away.
Any way, International box office money is stil trickling in, $1.5 million was added last week. By the time DVD/Blu Ray/Pay per view/cable kicks in, the film will be hugely profitable, so F the haters.
RE: Joe Integlia's last comment: I can see Warners green lighting a second film if the budget were lower.
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DOSE depp keep the rights to ds or sell them since another film seems unlikely why would he keep the rights?
That would all depend on the terms, and what entities (production companies and studios) are party to the initial agreement. Perhaps they have "right of first refusal" for sequels, but need to pony up more money by a certain deadline in order to exercise those rights; just a wild guess as to a possible scenario. But I would think that probably anybody else wanting to do a DS project would have to go initially through Dan Curtis Productions, and also negotiate with Depp's company, WB, etc. to take over whatever rights they might still be holding onto.
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I just got my DVD screener, look for my reviews.
I'm rubbing the disc all over my body!
[ghost_smiley]
I am so jealous. Of you.
Not sure whether to be jealous of the DVD or not, since I don't know you... [ghost_undecided]
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Not sure whether to be jealous of the DVD or not, since I don't know you... [ghost_undecided]
MB can verify that I'm very sexy! [ghost_cheesy]
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I was in Las Vegas last week and DS was advertised as one of the movies available on PPV in the hotel room (for "only" $11.95). Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was also on the list, so one could have a Seth Grahame Smith movie marathon, if one so chose.
ProfStokes
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I'm not sure if it's been mentioned here before: I'm watching my review copy of the film. Not only can KL Scott be clearly heard saying "thank you for having us" at the party, but J Frid can be heard saying "Good evening". Depp replies "good evening" in return.
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Not sure if it's already been mentioned or not, but when I logged on to Xbox Live today the DS movie is already available for purchase and download through the Zune store, and there is a free 10 minute preview which is the first 10 minutes of the film. I'm half tempted to buy it early just so I can watch it, even though I want the physical copy. If only I had expendable income.
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David, do you have the DVD, Blu Ray, or combo? If you have the DVD, what special features are on it. I have a number of combo packs and I'm borderline about buying a blu ray player. I have my eye on one and might buy it if the DVD has very few features.
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The best ten minutes of the film available for free?! Wish I had Xbox!
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I have the combo--the Blu Ray has numerous deleted scenes not on the DVD. Which I can't watch since I don't have a Blu Ray Player, but that'll change soon!
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I'm not sure if it's been mentioned here before: I'm watching my review copy of the film. Not only can KL Scott be clearly heard saying "thank you for having us" at the party, but J Frid can be heard saying "Good evening". Depp replies "good evening" in return.
Wow! I can't wait until I get a chance to see it again. I certainly didn't notice that at the time, and it bothered me that they included them in the movie and then barely even showed them. How nice to know that they actually said something!
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I didn't see this posted yet- here is a New York Times interview with Tim Burton, discussing among other things how some view his frequent collaborations with Johnny and Helena.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html)
On Page 4, Tim directly addresses the DS box office: "Even the fact that it was deemed a failure — financially, it wasn’t really. It may not have set the world on fire, but it made its money back plus some, so I can tick that off as not being a total disaster. There’s some people that I talk to that liked it. “Alice” got critically panned. It made over a billion, I guess, whatever. “Ed Wood” got a lot of critical acclaim, it was a complete bomb. It all has a weird way of balancing itself out."
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Not sure whether to be jealous of the DVD or not, since I don't know you... [ghost_undecided]
MB can verify that I'm very sexy! [ghost_cheesy]
But I've never met you. [ghost_undecided]
133 days 10 hours 51 minutes 27 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
10 days 13 hours 8 minutes 33 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I was in Las Vegas last week and DS was advertised as one of the movies available on PPV in the hotel room (for "only" $11.95).
Not sure if it's already been mentioned or not, but when I logged on to Xbox Live today the DS movie is already available for purchase and download through the Zune store, and there is a free 10 minute preview which is the first 10 minutes of the film.
This is all quite fascinating considering that the DVD/Blu-ray release is still more than a week off.
And speaking of fascinating, DS continues to play in Hooksett, NH - and still with the same amount of showings during the week. [ghost_cool] All that despite the fact that there continue to be changes at the theater because What To Expect When You're Expecting and The Cabin In The Woods, both of which were down to playing only once a day, have closed and Hit And Run has opened.
133 days 11 hours 1 minute 1 second since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
10 days 12 hours 58 minutes 59 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Wow! Two months in Hooksett, New Hampshire! There's a joke in there someplace, I'm sure. [ghost_wink] Seriously, I'm glad that it's still playing!
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On Page 4, Tim directly addresses the DS box office: "Even the fact that it was deemed a failure — financially, it wasn’t really. It may not have set the world on fire, but it made its money back plus some
If that is true - and I don't really have reason to doubt Burton because he would certainly be in a position to know - then all the people who are insistent that the film was a bomb should STFU! Though we know they won't, just as we know many of them will continue to say Depp's The Tourist was a bomb. [ghost_rolleyes]
It also goes to show that all the Web sites/entertainment outlets that have guesstimated that DS cost $150 million or more were way off base if the film has already made a profit. We still haven't tallied all the foreign box office that has been reported on Box Office Mojo but never officially reported, but DS has surely surpassed the $250 million worldwide mark because it was already over $240 million back in July soon after it opened in the Latin American countries. So, going by the 2.5 rule that everyone seems to use to judge a film's financial success, if DS is already profitable, then it can't have cost more than around $100 million, which is the figure Variety reported and everyone who insists the film was a flop is ignoring.
Thanks so much for the link, madscntst! [ghost_smiley]
133 days 11 hours 21 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
10 days 12 hours 38 minutes 50 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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But I've never met you. [ghost_undecided]
But we've had "special moments" here at the Forum!
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This is all quite fascinating considering that the DVD/Blu-ray release is still more than a week off.
What I find interesting about the whole thing is the fact that apparently this is a new norm for the release of movies. The only reason I found this out in the first place is because I'm getting ready to move and I packed up my Bluray player, but I bought The Cabin in the Woods on Bluray. It came with a code for a digital download and an Ultraviolet copy. Long story short, I didn't pack the Xbox and there is an "app" that you can download on the Xbox called Vudu where you can redeem your Ultraviolet copy of any film, which is what I did so I could watch my newly purchased movie. But, Vudu is also a rental service and you can buy movies directly from there.
There are several titles that are perhaps more "artsy" or considered "B movies", like Bachelorette with Kirsten Dunst and "Arbitrage" with Richard Gere that are actually still playing in theaters but you can also rent them through this service. However, for "major" films like DS, you can BUY the movie and watch it, but you cannot RENT it until October 2nd, which is the physical release date.
It seems as if they have some way of deciding whether or not to do this based on the films appeal and success. For example, "The Avengers" is not available for purchase, even though it will be released on the 25th. Perhaps because that was such a major box office smash the production company is building up tension so that upon release they can make the most money by making people wait for one of the biggest films of the year. For DS, however, it seems that the object is to make money however possible. And by making the film available early through digital download it's just possible that someone of a younger age who is curious about the film would buy it purely via impulse rather than wait for it to come out on October 2nd.
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another half million dollars has just been added to the overseas gross, that's $2 million total added in the past week, according to Box Office Mojo.
no idea which countries this is coming from.
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Though even with the two latest additions to the foreign gross, the tally is still way behind because based on the countries that Box Office Mojo had reported as of July 31st, which only covered grosses as of July 22nd and which I'd tallied up and posted in a chart, at the very least the foreign gross had to be $161,358,837. And that was without all the foreign numbers for all the countries having been reported as of July 22nd - not to mention that the foreign numbers through July 29th had yet to be reported at all. So, a figure of $159 million is still more than two months behind being complete and accurate. But still, it is nice to see foreign numbers trickling in because it's certainly much better than no updates at all. [ghost_wink]
134 days 10 hours 46 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
9 days 13 hours 13 minutes 16 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Despite the October 2 date, apparently the movie is already on FiOS Video On Demand. I saw them advertising it today, so decided to check, and sure enough it's there ($16.99 for SD and $21.99 for HD!!!!!).
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I find it very disappointing that this one of those discs which netflix offers (both dvd and bluray) with no special features included. It doesn't motivate me to buy the retail version so much as to just not bother with netflix. Which is why (aside from living on a remote island with no movie theatre nearby) I saw the film for the first time ever last night.
Anyway, my first impression of the film was very favorable--I was taken aback by the visuals, and seeing...someone arrive on the train was awesome. It was also problematic--I understand that she would have a need to change her name, but on such a shallow and last-minute pretext, with no emotion whatsoever? I liked the pumpkin patch in front of the house, but I didn't like that over manicured lawn that apparently takes the place of the Collins forest that so much of the OS took place in. I wish there was more of 1770, particularly a scene with Angelique and Josette together, and the hint that there were other Collins's alive back then. I found the beginning of the film rather funny too, but it just didn't really go anywhere. The characters were not developed enough--Viki/Maggie was hardly even in the film at all, I don't know when she fell in love with Barnabas, but it was off-camera. The supposedly big dramatic scenes all felt a little stilted, awkward, like the actors didn't really know what their motivations were or perhaps were advised to keep things on a 'light' note no matter what? I also didn't like Barnabas very much--his ability to control himself in other situations tells me that he didn't really have to kill that entire group of young hippies and Julia. I didn't find either instance funny.
I think if Elizabeth had been standing in the background while Barnabas caught Roger trying to enter the vault, it could have provided an opportunity for a verbal showdown between the siblings like the many compelling ones we saw between Bennet and Edmonds, and could have told us more about who these characters are, their histories, their relationship with each other. Having Barnabas manhandle Roger and almost take over running the family in the process doesn't really do anything for me. The actual storytelling is so clumsy, filled with little by-the-way hints (like instead of talking about who Liz's husband was, they have Carolyn open for Alice Coppers song referring to her father with Elizabeth looking stern in response) while so much time is dedicated to horror movie clichés that it's really a waste. They could have done so much more in two hours. Would people in the age range of the OS series actors really come to this party/Alice Cooper concert and enjoy themselves back in the 70's?
Years ago I remember reading an interview in which Burton stated that when he was trying to shop Beetlejuice (his second ever film) to producers they made him change the script, insisting that "there needed to be some action, some romance in the third act..." He took their advice and has used this as a formula to end almost all of his films since then, with a big chase scene, often a kidnapping and huge dramatic battle with a kiss at the end. He used it again here; the ending was just terrible. It almost reminded me of the X-men more then Dark Shadows, a very comic book display of "superpowers" in which I also recognized derivative elements from many other horror films. Just an excuse for a bunch of CGI.
So, Angelique killed Laura; why? What was their relationship? What kind of person was Laura? If the film was written differently, these big reveals might have actually meant something, I might care. I'm not really sure if Josette's ghost actually inhabited her body in the end, or if this was just another one of Maggie's spur-of-the-moment name changes. I guess the potential sequel will involve Julia rising and forming a rival clan of vampires to fight Barnabas, and Elizabeth will turn against him once she finds out he betrayed her by killing Julia. I'm sure the rebuilding of the house, recovery of Barnabas treasure and the Collins company will all be given a very easy explanation if there is a next film, which makes it all difficult to actually care about. Instead of story, it's mostly just trivia, and therefore trivial.
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I assumed that Barnabas ate the hippies because, as he did with the workmen, he was hungry, not necessarily to shut them up. I actually really liked the fact that he *really* killed people; it shows him as a more complicated, troubled character, like OS Barn. I've been watching 1897 recently, and -- though I realize that killing [spoiler]Carl was probably more of a step to allow John Karlen time off from the series -- Barn's murder of Carl is still truly disturbing.[/spoiler]
But I *like* disturbing. [ghost_shocked]
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deepdiscountdvd.com is advertising H.O.D.S and N.O.D.S. for sale at $9.16 each. no shipping charges for orders of $15.00 or more so you can get both movies for under $20. DEPP SHADOWS is on sale for $21.80. im strongly considering ordering at least house and night from here and probably depp shadows too unless someone knows of a better deal.
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@Nicky, I agree. I think Barn's killing of [spoiler]Carl[/spoiler] was one of the most unforgivable things he did. It was all the more disturbing because they had spent over a year establishing Barn as a heroic figure at that point, even though he did some pretty awful things during that horrible Adam period.
It was a reminder that the psychotic killer who tortured Maggie Evans for months was still there, lurking beneath the surface. As Julia would have put it--"I KNOW what you ARE." (Always loved Grayson's reading of that line.)
G.
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Killing [spoiler]Carl was one of the most despicable, pointless, and stupid acts that OS Barnabas committed. However, unlike when DP Barnabas killed a dozen young people who had just been really kind to him, it wasn't played up for laughs, and there were real consequences to killing Carl.[/spoiler] There are only cartoonish and unrealistic threats of consequences in this film. We also had a long history of OS Barnabas displaying somewhat better behavior, we don't really have that here, it's just cruelty with zero magnetism and poetry.
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The DVD for Depp/Burton DS, which is $21.80 at deepdiscount.com, is $14.96 at Amazon - and the Blu-ray, which is $29.99 at deepdiscount, is $24.96 at Amazon. And while the DVDs of hoDS and NoDS are cheaper at $9.16 at deepdiscount, rather than $10.99 at Amazon, the Blu-rays are $14.25, whereas they're $13.99 at Amazon.
So, if one buys the DVDs of all three at the same Web site to save shipping, the cheaper would be to go with Amazon because there they would total $36.94, as opposed to $40.12 at deepdiscount. And if one goes with the Blu-rays, Amazon is still a better deal because there they total $52.94, whereas the total is $58.49 at deepdiscount.
The only way things could be a bit cheaper by throwing some business to deepdiscount would be if one orders the DVDs of hoDS and NoDS there for $18.32, with no shipping because it would be over $15, and then one orders the DVD of Depp/Burton DS at Amazon for $17.94 (due to the $2.98 shipping), and that would total $36.26. The Blu-rays are always a better deal by going with Amazon.
Though prices could still drop between now and October 2nd, so it's always a good idea to keep checking in at other sites from time to time before any orders ship from wherever they've been placed. [ghost_wink]
135 days 21 hours 17 minutes 2 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
8 days 2 hours 42 minutes 58 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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thanks for the info
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personally i never understood all the angst around barnabas killing [spoiler]carl...
carl was one of the "time travel characters".[/spoiler] eventually most of them get killed off anyways. that's sort of why they're created.
to me it's not as unforgivable as if he had killed one of the "real time" characters like liz or roger or maggie. he had no history or loyalty to the character and, well, he was a vampire after all. i think it was meant to demonstrate the character still had an element of dangerousness and unpredictability. and he didn't just kill hookers on the docks.
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Barnabas could have very easily just hypnotized or bitten him to make [spoiler]Carl forget, or recant what he was telling everyone. He did it before, it was unneccessary to Kill Carl, and he didn't even bother taking any of the blood so it had little to do with vampirism. It was just a stupid, clumsy, and ultimately self-destructive act.[/spoiler] Anyway, I still think this is all totally different from killing those kids in the woods....
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ES.TV finally began its new season today with all new interviews with cast members from current films (including Jessica Chastain for Lawless). Now it's going to be interesting to see if any of the DS film's cast shows up in the show's DVD Spotlight.
And speaking of the DVD, Entertainment Weekly jumped the gun a bit and listed it in their Coming Soon section:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/EW_DVD.jpg)
It's nice to see something positive for a change. [ghost_wink] But then their critic Owen Gleiberman really liked the film.
136 days 11 hours 30 minutes 10 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
7 days 12 hours 29 minutes 50 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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It's nice to see something positive
And something else positive: the European Web site WHATCULTURE! (http://whatculture.com/film/9-must-see-2012-films-still-to-come.php) consider DS one of the "great films" of the summer. But then in general the rest of the world has responded much more positively to the film than some in the US have.
136 days 15 hours 6 minutes 0 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
7 days 8 hours 54 minutes 0 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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It's interesting that several different Web sites that I've visited today have featured ads to purchase the film's DVD from Amazon. At first I thought that it was perhaps because of some cookie on my computer that contains the info that I've visited Amazon's page for the film's DVD. But then I cleared cookies and it still kept coming up. And then I also noticed that some of the ads are also for Marvel's The Avengers and Snow White and the Huntsman (they're dimmed unless/until you place your mouse cursor over them) and I've never visited the pages for those DVDs on Amazon.
136 days 19 hours 28 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
7 days 4 hours 31 minutes 30 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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A (favorable) review of the Blu-ray of the film from the hometheaterequipment.com Web site that's mostly for the audio/videophiles among us. But it recommends the film as well:
Dark Shadows (Blu-ray) review (http://www.hometheaterequipment.com/comedies-blu-ray-22/dark-shadows-blu-ray-review-2916/)
138 days 18 hours 42 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
5 days 5 hours 17 minutes 31 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I've almost finished scanning through the pre-release featurettes with the intention of beginning to make more posts on the film's Games boards. But before I get to that I wanted to make sure that we're all on the same pages so far as how many featuettes have been released. So far as I'm aware there have been seven:
The Legend Of The Vampire
Barnabas Unleashed
Behind The Scenes
The Collins Family: Strange Is Relative
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp: A Collaboration Through The Years
Tim Burton: From Sketch To Screen
Constructing Collinwood: An Estate By The Sea
Is anyone aware of any others? And if there are any there that anyone wasn't aware of, a search of YouTube with"Dark Shadows" followed by any one of those titles should bring each one up. Though be aware that the uploads vary in quality, so be sure to find the 1080 versions because they all have them. [ghost_wink]
139 days 23 hours 26 minutes 22 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
4 days 0 hours 33 minutes 38 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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DS is still playing in Hooksett, NH! And it continues to play with the theater's full set of showings during the week, so it still has to be doing well. [ghost_cool]
This week Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection closed, despite having opened long after DS did, and The Cold Light of Day has opened.
140 days 12 hours 39 minutes 45 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
3 days 11 hours 20 minutes 15 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I just made friends with a neighbor who likes to travel, I should suggest Hooksett, NH for a day trip!
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Hell, maybe we should go and award them a key to the city of Collinsport.
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They've certainly earned it. [ghost_wink]
140 days 19 hours 2 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
3 days 4 hours 57 minutes 36 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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As some have already noticed, a whole new batch of screen caps and set ups have been posted on the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And because this time around entirely new screen caps from the pre-release featurettes are being posted, it's also possible to download 1920X1080 versions (except when it comes to the ones taken from Barnabas Unleashed because the best quality that one is available in is 1280X720). But be warned that if you haven't already seen the film, many of the screen caps do contain spoilers. [ghost_wink]
As a way of knowing which screen caps come from which pre-release featurette, here's what the following prefaces stand for:
VMP = The Legend Of The Vampire
BU = Barnabas Unleashed
BTS = Behind The Scenes
SR = The Collins Family: Strange Is Relative
TaJ = Tim Burton and Johnny Depp: A Collaboration Through The Years
SK = Tim Burton: From Sketch To Screen
CLW = Constructing Collinwood: An Estate By The Sea
And as a side note, it was interesting to notice the date on the slate in this screen cap -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS00426)
- because June 24th and 26th were the days when we first got fan photos of the completed first dressing of the exterior set of Collinwood.
And finally, if you're someone who hasn't seen the film yet and will be staying away from the set ups until after you do, here's a taste of some of the stuff you have to look forward to: two caps of some members of the original cast:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS02473)
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/VMP02950)
141 days 17 hours 56 minutes 42 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
2 days 6 hours 3 minutes 18 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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That shot of Lara, Frid and Selby is so incredibly cool. I think it's the best image I've seen from that sequence, bar none.
Thanks, MB!
G.
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I'm getting all teary eyed.
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I just got an e-mail from Amazon-- DS has shipped!
[crowdhappy]
[dancing_skeletons]
Can't wait to receive it!
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Another whole new batch of screen caps have been posted - this time on the film's Caption This! board. And as before, these entirely new screen caps are from the pre-release featurettes and are downloadable. And also as before, be warned that if you haven't already seen the film, the screen caps may contain spoilers. [ghost_wink]
142 days 18 hours 48 minutes 57 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
1 day 5 hours 11 minutes 3 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I just got an e-mail from Amazon-- DS has shipped!
I just checked my e-mail, and while I've received two from Amazon so far today, neither was about my order of the DS Blu-ray. [ghost_sad] But then you tend to hear from Amazon before I do. [ghost_wink] And I am happy for you that your order is on the way. [ghost_smiley]
142 days 19 hours 3 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
1 day 4 hours 56 minutes 56 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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I've been so busy today that I completely forgot to check the Target and Best Buy flyers. Sadly, no special offers, but I see that each store is selling the Blu-ray for less than what Amazon currently has it listed for. Target has it for $23 and Best Buy for $22.99, while my order at Amazon still says $24.96. However, I've noticed that with past orders Amazon will drop its price to the lowest price of those two stores, so I won't be surprised if I'm actually charged $22.99 when the Blu-ray ships...
142 days 19 hours 11 minutes 6 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
1 day 4 hours 48 minutes 54 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Today's Walmart ad prices it at $ 14.96 but doesn't specify if that is for the regular or blu ray. Could be both, I suppose.
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That's the DVD's price - and that seems to be the price at most stores this week. The DVD/Blu-ray Combo is still listed as $24.96 at Walmart. [ghost_smiley] Though given that they supposedly insist they won't be undersold, once they get wind of the Best Buy price, it will probably go down to $22.99 as well. And I've noticed that it has indeed gone down to that on Amazon. [ghost_wink]
142 days 23 hours 19 minutes 18 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
1 day 0 hours 40 minutes 42 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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Oh, okay, I wasn't sure. The movie is also available from the Warner Brothers online store. The price is about the same. They do have HODS & NODS at pretty decent prices. $ 8.49 for the regular DVD and $15.49 for the blu ray. Free shipping requires a minimum purchase. They have no other DS merchandise other the movies but they do have a large assortment of Harry Potter, Batman, Friends and other stuff at decent enough prices.
And the Halloween layout for the boards is absolutely gorgeous! Well done!
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In more DVD(Blu-ray) news, I see where the weekend entertainment shows Kickin' It and Star Watch featured their DS film in the DVD release segments.
Kickin' It is yet another weekend edition of ES.TV (who knows why there's more than one - each with different content?), and as well as featuring clips from the film and behind the scenes, their segment also included an interviews with Michelle Pfeiffer. It would be interesting if the segment was the same one with Michelle Pfeiffer that was shown on Entertainers back in May, but I haven't checked.
Star Watch is film critic Sam Hallenbeck's weekend show, and I wasn't surprised that DS showed up in his Home Movie Hot List segment because he gave it a very positive review when it came out. In fact, a quote from his review is even featured on the back covers of the DVD/Blu-ray packaging. And while this show's segment also featured clips from the film and an interview with Michelle Pfeiffer, an interview with Johnny Depp was also included.
So, that's at least two shows this past weekend that promoted this week's DVD/Blu-ray release. [hall2_wink]
143 days 11 hours 22 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
0 days 12 hours 37 minutes 31 seconds until the day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray(ET)!
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i almost forgot it comes out this week. i'll look for it.
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I just got an e-mail from Amazon-- DS has shipped!
[crowdhappy]
[dancing_skeletons]
Can't wait to receive it!
So, yesterday morning, the tracking said that my package was about 30 miles Southwest of me, and I thought maybe, just maybe, I'll get it a day early (that used to happen sometimes, in the good old days). By the end of the day, it was still about 30 miles away from me, but to the Northeast. Grr. Well, today it's in the next town over and "out for delivery", so hopefully it'll be there when I get home. Hope everyone who's expecting theirs today, or going out to stores to get it, gets it okay!
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I ordered my copy through Columbia House DVD club, and was very surprised to see a note on my account on Friday that it had shipped. It actually arrived yesterday, one day before the official release date! And here I was worried that ordering through the club was going to make me get the disc much later than if I had just walked into Best Buy or Target on Tuesday!
So of course I watched it last night. For me , the movie definitely gets better the more I've seen it (this was the third time). Knowing all the stuff to come makes the story more "filled in", and the Vicki/Josette character doesn't seem to have been "abandoned" as much midway through the film--maybe because I'm noticing every little detail a lot more. And the lack of audience laughter makes the vomit scene easier to take. Hey, even the Carolyn stuff at the end seemed to play out more slowly and not be so out-of-left-field.
Now that I'm also mailing my way through the pre-Barnabas eps of the OS, I can see how amazingly clever the script was in using SO many aspects of the series. The family business threatened by someone who's retaliating against the Collins family; slimy Roger Collins; strong Elizabeth Collins; the house being just as much a character as it was in the OS (as grand as it was in the revival series, the house in that one never reached the same stature). And just little details here and there that I can't think of at the moment but that I am actually feeling when watching the movie.
And the Blu-ray is just absolutely gorgeous on my big plasma screen.
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The status of my Blu-ray at Amazon still says "Shipping Soon." But I'm going to be so busy this week that I wouldn't be able to get out to buy it in a store until Friday - and IF Amazon does ship it today, I'll probably have it by Friday, or Saturday at the latest, so I'm not really all that upset. [hall2_wink]
144 days 15 hours 24 minutes 50 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray is here(ET)!!
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Didn't see this here yet:
http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/170183-excl-john-august-on-the-dark-shadows-movie-that-never-was
Asked how much of his work is represented in the final cut, August told me, "Not a lot. Dark Shadows, when it came to me, it was before Twilight had come out and before True Blood. They said, 'Let's make a big gothic, vampire drama.' I pitched that and I wrote a Godfather-like saga of the Collins family and Barnabas was at the center of it all."
"I was really happy with it and it looked like it was going to happen," August continued. "Other movies came first, other things happened first. Twilight and True Blood came out and, suddenly, vampires were everywhere. I understood the instinct of, 'Let's not make it a drama, let's make it a comedy,' but that wasn't the movie I set out to write. It was frustrating, but that's the nature of screenwriting. You're building a movie that may not end up shooting.
One similarity August noted was that his story was a period piece as well. "It took itself seriously. It was set in '71 too and leaned on that for a bit of the comedy, but it played itself straight and not a comedy. I was excited to make that movie and, honestly, I think it's one of the best scripts I've written. But I totally get why, at the time they went off to make it, they didn't make that version. It was frustrating to see other things coming out doing what was there, like True Blood, but that's going to happen."
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Didn't see this here yet:
It was posted as a separate topic: The original Depp Shadows
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In honor of the DVD/Blu-ray release of the film, 28 more new screen captures and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And just as before, be warned that if you haven't already seen the film, the screen caps may contain spoilers.
And as an aside, in the scene in which Barnabas asks Willie what year it is, I once wondered if perhaps the blood on Barnabas' face was digitally added because of how in some trailers/TV spots he has it while in others he doesn't. But this screen capture would seem to be proof that it actually was real makeup:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS04800.jpg)
So I suppose that may mean that they shot footage both with and without the blood and decided which to go with during the editing.
144 days 18 hours 44 minutes 58 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The day the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows comes out on DVD/Blu-ray is here(ET)!!
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So I suppose that may mean that they shot footage both with and without the blood and decided which to go with during the editing.
I'm curious as to whether they did a re-shoot of that scene, or shot it both ways to start out with. If the latter, I wonder how many continuity variations they planned on having to cover!
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I purchased my copy from J and R today. I am off for 3 days, and plan to watch it Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing it. Also DS fans, lets not forget ,4 weeks from today the long awaited DVD and Blu release of House and Night. Looking forward to that also, even though Night is not the directors cut. It still will be great to see these in Blu Ray. Take care everyone.
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I bought a Bluray copy of the film yesterday and watched it with my boyfriend last night. He had no knowledge of DS the show going into this movie, other than that it existed and that was what the movie was based off of.
This being the third time I've seen the movie, I definitely enjoyed it much more. As a whole it is a solid film when you don't compare it to the original series. Watching it with my boyfriend helped me actually get into the film and forget about comparing it so much because he didn't know anything about the series. He did think that the puking and the werewolf things in the climax of the movie were both stupid and came out of nowhere, especially for the latter plot point.
I wasn't impressed by the design of the menu on the disc and I was disappointed by the lack of extras that were included. On the Bluray there were deleted scenes (one with Vicki and Julia was especially good IMO) and a sort of enhanced movie mode. The DVD includes the feature about the strangeness of each family member--I don't remember what that featurette is called--but I was kind of expecting it to also be included on the Bluray disc so you wouldn't have to change discs to watch it. I suppose the extras that are included are pretty par for the course given the films level of success in the states, where a movie like The Avengers or The Hunger Games had hours of extras.
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[hall2_grin]
You may all now burst into applause & declare me the Dark Shadows hero of the hour. My essay, Why Dark Shadows Matters, is now up at Fangoris: www.fangoria.com
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I haven't received my copy of the DS DVD/Blu-ray Combo pack (though it did ship yesterday), so I can't specifically comment on the extras. But I'm just happy that it seems like the entire world is getting all the same extras, at least when it pertains to deleted scenes and featurettes. I've noticed that many times if a film is more successful in, say, Japan or Europe (or even one specific country in Europe), the DVD/Blu-ray released in that region will contain extras that the US version does not have - and as we know, the DS film was much more successful in foreign countries than it was here in the US. The only version that I've noticed that is different from what is available is the US is the SteelBook edition that only seems to be available in France. But to me that sort of packaging is a negligible incentive to buy, and it doesn't matter to me that the film's soundtrack CD (as opposed to its score CD) is included because I already own it.
145 days 15 hours 6 minutes 42 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'll definitely read your essay when I get the chance, David. I tried to read it a short while ago but some sort of odd whiteness that I couldn't get rid of came over the page before I could click the link. [hall2_rolleyes]
145 days 15 hours 21 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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MB: that was probably an ad, which keeps Fangoria nice & profitable! (how else are they going to pay me what I'm worth? [hall2_grin])
I think the site gives you the option to delete ads as they pop up.
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I presumed it was going to be an ad. But I waited 5 minutes and it just stayed white, so who knows what was going on. And that isn't the first time I've encountered that problem on their site. [hall_rolleyes] But I will get through eventually because I always do. [hall_smiley]
145 days 15 hours 52 minutes 36 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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The DVD includes the feature about the strangeness of each family member--I don't remember what that featurette is called--but I was kind of expecting it to also be included on the Bluray disc so you wouldn't have to change discs to watch it.
Brandon: I believe that the special feature on the DVD is actually one of the several "focus point" features on the Blu-ray.
All: Be aware that watching the "focus point" features is not the same as watching "Maximum Movie" mode. The latter is a picture-in-picture commentary/documentary thing, which looks like it has a lot of great stuff in it (I only watched the first couple minutes so far; I had to finally turn the thing off and get to bed...)
I find it kind of odd that no trailers for the movie are included on either the Blu-ray or the DVD. Maybe they figured that having them on there would only highlight how off-the-mark their marketing campaign for the movie was!
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This being the third time I've seen the movie, I definitely enjoyed it much more. As a whole it is a solid film when you don't compare it to the original series. Watching it with my boyfriend helped me actually get into the film and forget about comparing it so much because he didn't know anything about the series. He did think that the puking and the werewolf things in the climax of the movie were both stupid and came out of nowhere, especially for the latter plot point.
Brandon, I totally agree with both you and your boyfriend! This was my third time too, and I actually love it now, even though it has a couple of very irritating attributes. (Hmm... just like we can love some people in spite of their irritating attributes! [hall2_smiley])
I have not been able to get "Nights in White Satin" out of my head...
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"Maximum Movie" mode...looks like it has a lot of great stuff in it
Now you have me salivating for my DVD/Blu-ray Combo to arrive! [62b2]
I only watched the first couple minutes so far; I had to finally turn the thing off and get to bed...
I can relate because more times than I care to get into I've still been up at 2-3am watching extras when I should have been in bed, and I finally have to just shut them off and pick them up at some other time. [hall2_wink]
I find it kind of odd that no trailers for the movie are included on either the Blu-ray or the DVD. Maybe they figured that having them on there would only highlight how off-the-mark their marketing campaign for the movie was!
Possibly. But if so, if only they'd realized how off-the-mark their marketing campaign was before they'd actually set it in motion. But I suppose that's all water under the bridge at this point. [hall2_sad]
145 days 16 hours 53 minutes 11 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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All: Be aware that watching the "focus point" features is not the same as watching "Maximum Movie" mode. The latter is a picture-in-picture commentary/documentary thing, which looks like it has a lot of great stuff in it (I only watched the first couple minutes so far; I had to finally turn the thing off and get to bed...)
I find it kind of odd that no trailers for the movie are included on either the Blu-ray or the DVD. Maybe they figured that having them on there would only highlight how off-the-mark their marketing campaign for the movie was!
Thanks for the tip on this, KMR! I got home late last night after a ~13 hr. workday, and only got a chance to watch the "focus points" and the "deleted scenes", hoping I'll have more time tonight. Like Brandon, I was a little confused at first and didn't realize the "focus points" were actually featurettes that I could watch by themselves. I thought they were some sort of interactive pop-ups that occurred during the movie or something, and almost didn't watch them, thinking I didn't have time. But I finally figured it out (mainly, I knew there was supposed to be an extra about Alice Cooper, and didn't see it at first and I was getting mad, until I realized that it was one of the "focus points"). So now I will look to see how to find the "maximum movie mode", which I don't even think I saw last night so I might not have even known it existed!
Haha, I didn't even realize there weren't any trailers. I don't like too many trailers on a DVD, but sometimes I do like to watch a few that may look interesting, and sometimes I learn of movies I didn't even know about. But I guess this proves that if they're not there, I don't miss them too much [hall2_grin]
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If you're someone who hasn't watched many Blu-rays, their menus can be very confusing at times because they're often so different from DVD menus. Normally with WB Blu-rays, Maximum Movie Mode is accessible through the Special Features sub-menu and it tends to be the first selection either at the top or to the left. At least that's the way it's been on WB's Sherlock Holmes and Batman Blu-rays that I've watched. And you may also be asked to make some decisions on how Maximum Movie Mode works before you enter it. But not having the DS Blu-ray yet, I don't know if WB has changed their method.
And some important words of advice: if Maximum Movie Mode on the DS Blu-ray is anything like it is on other WB Blu-rays (and on the other studios' comparable feature) be sure that you keep your remote handy because you'll probably be called upon to use it frequently. That's why the feature is referred to as "interactive." [hall2_wink]
145 days 18 hours 30 minutes 16 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I stopped at Target after school yesterday to pick up the BluRay ... and it was sold out! I had to go to -- shiver -- Walmart. But it was worth it. [hall2_grin]
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Well, I'm thrilled that I am staying at a place with a niced sized TV and a Movie On Demand channel showing Depp Shadows. Will probably watch tomorrow. Rented at a 24 hour stretch, I should be able to watch it multible times. Finally!! I am very excited.
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It's unfortunate that because Target was old out Walmart got a sale - especially considering that once again in my area of the country a big story is that Walmart is being accused of unfair labor practices. But I fully understand that when it comes to DS, sometimes one just has to grit one's teeth and do something one might not otherwise do. If I'd gone out to buy the Blu-ray and the only store I found it in was a Walmart, I would have probably made the same decision, as much as it might have pained me. But on the plus side, the Blu-ray was sold out at Target - and that's a very good thing. [hall2_wink]
And, dom, I'm so excited for you that you'll be able to watch the film tomorrow. [hall2_smiley]
145 days 23 hours 25 minutes 47 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Oh wow. As if it wasn't bad enough that WB's Project X, a film that grossed like half of what DS did domestically and like a quarter of what DS did internationally, got an extended cut on video, I just saw where WB's Rock of Ages, a film that for all intents and purposes actually was a flop for WB and one that didn't even gross half of what Project X grossed worldwide, is coming out next week as an extended cut that adds like 30 minutes of footage that brings the film to two and a half hours! [hall2_shocked]
This is quite possibly proof that there is no God! [hall2_wink]
146 days 0 hours 6 minutes 5 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Rock of Ages was a true flop, it didn't earn back it's production costs in theaters, which DS did, plus $90 million.
It's proof of anti-DS bias in the biz.
Even a piece of shit like The Swarm got an extended cut!
I'd be interested in what people here think of my Fangoria essay Why Dark Shadows Matters, it's up at the Fangoria site now.
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[hall2_smiley]
And the film FINALLY opened in Venezuela this past weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. It came in at #2, grossing just under $381,000.
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I don't know that I'd say that the lack of a DS extended cut is due to anti-DS bias. After all. WB didn't release an extended cut of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island - and that's one of their most successful films this year. Nor have they ever released extended cuts of the Christopher Nolan Batman films - and every last one of them has been huge for WB. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to what films get extended cuts and what don't - but it apparently has nothing to do with whether a film is a big hit or not - or even a flop. [hall2_undecided]
146 days 11 hours 17 minutes 24 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I think the WB are confident DS will sell well on DVD. I believe they want to sell it twice, theatrical and extended cuts. This was done most notably with Watchmen. In that case THREE versions were released: theatrical, director's and ultimate cuts.
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I think the WB are confident DS will sell well on DVD. I believe they want to sell it twice, theatrical and extended cuts. This was done most notably with Watchmen. In that case THREE versions were released: theatrical, director's and ultimate cuts.
I certainly hope you're right! Hey, maybe they'll come out with an extended 2012 Dark Shadows as well as the restored version of Night of Dark Shadows on the same day! (I can dream, can't I?)
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i just picked up the DVD on the way home. i'll watch it at some point this weekend.
what's notable is that the film's packaging, much like the ill-conceived trailer, touts the film as a comedy and nothing else. even though we know it had many other elements.
"wickedly funny" and "hilarious" are the review quotes. for some reason somebody, somewhere, really wanted this to be marketed as being funny from start to finish. [hall2_rolleyes]
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incidentally i work with someone who just traveled to paris and this was the in-flight movie...
this person was a fan as a child and had fond if hazy memories of it but said she enjoyed the movie alot. she also had much praise for the cast.
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This is quite possibly proof that there is no God! [hall2_wink]
At least one that likes DS... Which is even worse. [hall_angry]
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Yup, DS is STILL playing in Hooksett, NH! And it's still playing with the theater's full set of showings during the week, so it still has to be doing well. [hall2_cool]
And what's interesting is that The Cold Light of Day, which just opened last week has already closed and has been replaced by The Dark Knight Rises (which means WB once again has three of its films playing: DS, Magic Mike, and TDKR). But what's fascinating about TDKR is that it isn't playing with the theater's full set of showings - DS has 3 showings today, TDKR has 2 - and DS has 4 showings both tomorrow and Sunday (yes, the theater is back to 4 showings on Sundays), TDKR has 3. But both have 3 showings Monday-Thursday (yes, the theater is back to 3 showings during the week). Who'da thunk we'd ever see the day when DS would have more showings than TDKR?! [hall2_shocked] [thumbleft]
147 days 11 hours 30 minutes 48 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Another batch of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, if you haven't already seen the film, be careful of opening the topics because they may contain spoilers. [hall2_wink]
Also, if you're like me and you wondered where the fisherman (whose photo was taken down from IMDb because it was posted prematurely) -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/fisherman.jpg)
- showed up in the film, or even if he did, apparently he was in at least this scene because I spotted him when I picked out this screen cap from The Legend of the Vampire pre-release featurette:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/VMP01573.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/VMP01573.jpg) for a 1920X1080 version)
147 days 12 hours 59 minutes 30 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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maybe we should hold a DS festival in Hookset?
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This guy would have made a great Sam Evans.
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This guy would have made a great Sam Evans.
You're right! Actually he does look like he could be the love child of Mark Allen and David Ford!
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Thanks for the tips about the Focus Points and the Maximum Movie Mode! I saw both of those on there but I haven't actually watched anything contained in those yet. I'll have to set about doing that tonight. I regularly buy Blurays now and I still haven't gotten used to having to "find" certain extras through several menus. It's definitely more of an adventure than having a DVD where they are usually listed neatly for you!
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Just watched the film and I loved it! Too teensee weensee shot of the original cast, but I noticed Lara Parker gets in as much a ham shot as she can.
Love how Angelique is a corporate... a corporate... a bitch. Perfect casting. Michelle Pfeiffer is amazing. Overall all a fun flick.
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Indeed a fun flick. It's it's own animal.
It wasn't meant to be the original, and I suspect we will see more of DS in the future.
There's room for satire, for homage, and for serious takes on the franchise.
All are valid.
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i quickly skimmed the closing credits and didn't see art wallace listed...
i suppose i could have missed it. or does he not have to receive a credit any longer?
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i quickly skimmed the closing credits and didn't see art wallace listed...
i suppose i could have missed it. or does he not have to receive a credit any longer?
Thanks for doing that, Michael. I too am very interested in learning the answer to this, especially since this film used many of his original characterizations - a slimy Roger, a strong Liz, a troubled David, a rebellious Carolyn, and a corporate type hellbent on the destruction of the Collins family.
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It's always been my understanding that the '70s court ruling stipulated that Art Wallace had to get credit when any of the characters that he created where used in any version of DS - though he wouldn't share in the profits of any such version because he settled for a one time payment. That's why he gets credit in the '91 DS. However, obviously Variety never published the actual ruling because, well, that would have probably gone on for pages and pages because we all know what court documents look like. [hall2_wink] So, perhaps something that Variety didn't go into was that maybe there was a clause in the ruling that might have said something like after both Wallace and Curtis were deceased, Wallace would no longer get credit (odder clauses have been written). Or maybe it's that the film ignored the ruling. Though if that's the case, we may be hearing one day about how the Wallace estate has filed suit against the film and who knows how many parties connected with it. [idontknow] Though because the previous ruling wouldn't entitle them to a share of the profits, and any legal action would simply be for a credit, the estate could easily think that it wouldn't even be worth pursuing any sort of action. But if it is a case that the film ignored Wallace's credit simply because they didn't think he deserved it, that would really be quite sad. [sad3]
Changing reels, my Blu-ray arrived today but I haven't even taken it out of the box yet because I have several things I really want to get done today, and I know that if I take it out of the box, I will never get to them because I'll be playing with the Blu-ray all day. So, I don't dare take it out until tonight when I'll finally sit down to relax. [hall2_wink]
148 days 13 hours 9 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I finally got to see it On Demand last night, twice, and am watching it now. I love it. It works so well and on so may levels and it was so well done (and respectfully I might add). I am glad I didn't see it in the theater. I had only three or four very slight disappointments. I'm looking forward to the discussion.
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entertainment tonight suggested DARK SHADOWS on dvd as a hot pick for this weekend!
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Public disagreements on the film's merits aside, does anyone else think that Eva Green's delicious, scenery chewing Bette Davis like performance might actually be worthy of an Academy nomination?
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Not as long as hers and Bette Davis' names are continued to be brought up in the same sentence, lol. (And I am more than 1/2 serious.)
To be honest with you though, I did wonder if any of the performances were (seriously) Oscar worthy. I was impressed with everyone.
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[hall2_grin]
Fasten your seat belts! It's going to be a bumpy 200 years!
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I'm hoping that someday I can buy the DVD (not the Blu-Ray - I can't afford one on those contraptions) so I can see it again. I'm really financially strapped right now. My gas has been turned off and I'm staying warm with space-heaters.
Gerard
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For me , the movie definitely gets better the more I've seen it (this was the third time). Knowing all the stuff to come makes the story more "filled in", and the Vicki/Josette character doesn't seem to have been "abandoned" as much midway through the film--maybe because I'm noticing every little detail a lot more. And the lack of audience laughter makes the vomit scene easier to take. Hey, even the Carolyn stuff at the end seemed to play out more slowly and not be so out-of-left-field.
I just finished watching the film for my third time as well and I couldn't agree with you more, KMR. I loved the film even more this time than I did the two times I saw it in theaters - and it's quite interesting how watching it alone seems to make it even less of a "comedy" than I thought it was in the theaters (I'll never fathom WB's marketing campaign!). And something else I think I noticed this time around is that there seems to be two other things in some of the trailers and TV spots that aren't in the film. But I'm going to have to pay close attention the next time I watch to be sure that it isn't simply a case of the trailers and TV spots taking bits of dialogue from one scene and making it seem like it's from an entirely different scene.
And the Blu-ray is just absolutely gorgeous
Indeed!
I haven't watched any of the extras yet even though I'm dying to. But I've had a long day, so I think I'll probably wait to watch those tomorrow night. But I did check out the menu system for the Blu-ray, and it's totally different than the menus for the Sherlock Holmes and Batman films. There really isn't even any reference to Maximum Movie Mode except on the packaging - the actual menu choice for what is Maximum Movie Mode simply says "Play Movie with Focus Points".
And finally, I was surprised to see that the front of the slip cover for the Blu-ray is 3D. I didn't read about that anywhere, nor did I even suspect it might be a possibility.
148 days 23 hours 14 minutes 26 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[hall2_smiley] [female_skull] [candle_in_skull]
Christmas is coming, Gerard. A little birdie told me that Santa Claus has a recordable DVD player, and that he just might be willing to record the film for you when it comes to HBO.
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i heard they are going to stop making/selling dvd recorders because everyone has dvrs or burning dvds in their computers and they are not going to distribute blu ray dvd recorders at all in the usa.
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i disliked the film intensely upon my first theatrical viewing...
but upon subsequent viewings and certainly with the DVD release it's grown on me considerably. as someone said it's "it's own animal". it's a lighthearted romp.
certainly much of the criticism leveled at it...it's disjointed and hastily edited, most of the characters are poorly developed and underused, it's sort of all over the place...are quite valid. in terms of film structure it's deeply flawed. but it has it's own weird tempo and charm. and some great performances. in particular pfieffer, green and bohnam carter are really good. so is depp.
so while some of my initial reservations persist...i dislike the "magtoria" compromise and the late carolyn "reveal" will never sit well...i've come to accept it on it's own weird terms. it's an homage. a bit of a folly. but it can't be taken too seriously.
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speaking of the much-despised carolyn "reveal"...
one of the benefits of at home viewing is the ability to fast forward through the explosive and overstuffed "climactic scene".
i never have to see it again. [hall_wink]
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David, you are an absolute saint!
Gerard
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This is certainly an interesting (and quite favorable) review of the Blu-ray:
Dark Shadows | DVD => Blu-ray Review | Slant Magazine (http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review/dark-shadows/2445)
And according to this Web site, the DS DVD/Blu-ray is #1 in rentals and #2 in sales:
'Dark Shadows' is popular with home viewers (http://www.phillyburbs.com/entertainment/movies/lou_gaul/dark-shadows-is-popular-with-home-viewers/article_ab4458d3-d068-5cd0-b299-5aa18f0d664f.html)
[thumb]
And as if the previous discussion about extended cut video releases wasn't bad enough, more quite possible proof that there is no God is the report that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, yet another film to flop badly, is getting a 3 disc Blu-ray release. Yes, you read that right! Not a 3 disc DVD release - but a 3 disc Blu-ray release!! [wow]
“ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER” Blu-ray Details (http://famousmonsters.com/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-blu-ray-details/)
However, the report may be questionable because details on Amazon indicate that both the 3D and the regular Blu-ray are only 1 disc releases. I suppose time will tell...
(i heard they are going to stop making/selling dvd recorders because everyone has dvrs or burning dvds in their computers and they are not going to distribute blu ray dvd recorders at all in the usa.
I can pretty much confirm that because I have a friend who was looking around for a new DVD recorder (because his current one was starting to act up) and all he could find were models that were manufactured years ago. And after asking a clerk at Best Buy why that is, he was told that companies have stopped manufacturing them because DVRs have taken over the market - so he went with one of those.)
149 days 11 hours 29 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[hall2_angry]
It's anti-DS bias, MB.
(Joe: I found some info, and some companies have stopped making DVD recorders, but some have not.
My current model works great, but there's plenty more readily available, so Gerard can count on Santa Claus delivering Depp Shadows down his chimney!)
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[female_skull] [candle_in_skull]
Burton's Frankenweenie reboot came in at #5, grossing less than half of what Depp Shadows opened with.
There's a definite anti-Burton backlash going on.
It occurs to me, with Burton/Depp/Smith, and not Dan Curtis, taking heat from the Depp Shadows naysayers, that we could very well see more DS films, but with Burton/Smith kept out of the franchise.
Ang Lee's Hulk (2003) and Superman Returns both underperformed. Both got reboots.
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And as if the previous discussion about extended cut video releases wasn't bad enough, more quite possible proof that there is no God is the report that Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, yet another film to flop badly, is getting a 3 disc Blu-ray release. Yes, you read that right! Not a 3 disc DVD release - but a 3 disc Blu-ray release!! [wow]
“ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER” Blu-ray Details (http://famousmonsters.com/abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter-blu-ray-details/)
However, the report may be questionable because details on Amazon indicate that both the 3D and the regular Blu-ray are only 1 disc releases. I suppose time will tell...
I suppose the 3-disc Blu-ray would be the equivalent to the 2-disc edition that Dark Shadows has. DS has a single-disc Blu-ray and a 2-disc Blu-ray/DVD. Abraham Lincoln's 2-disc Blu-ray/DVD would be expanded to 3-disc to include the 3D version on a separate disc.
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[pointing-up] [6184] It says as much right across the top of the 3D edition's packaging, which I never bothered to look at - I simply looked at Amazon's summary. Though it never even dawned on me that they'd be offering a 3D Blu-ray disc, PLUS a normal Blu-ray disc, AND a DVD disc. I'm sure there are people out there that would appreciate that, but to me, if I was buying it for the 3D Blu-ray, that would be two extra discs too many that I would probably never watch. But anything to jack up the price, I suppose. [hall2_rolleyes]
Thanks for clearing that up, KMR. [hall2_smiley]
And in other news, which is what I was really coming here to post about, Kickin' It did a totally different segment this weekend for the DS DVD/Blu-ray. This latest one featured clips from the film and behind the scenes along with an interview with Johnny Depp. So, together with what was on last weekend and on Friday's Entertainment Tonight (which I didn't see until after joe had posted about it, and which featured excerpts from the trailer, and which, even though it referred to the film as a comedy, at least it was as a "dark comedy") that's a total of at least four promotions for the release. [hall2_cool]
149 days 21 hours 19 minutes 15 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And another batch of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And, of course, be careful if you haven't already seen the film because the topics may contain spoilers. [hall2_wink]
And BTW, DS was mentioned simply as Burton's first film this year during Access Hollywood's weekend review of Frankenweenie.
And speaking of that film, even though I'm sure there will be many who will proclaim it a bomb, this past weekend's performance at the box office was actually pretty much within what Disney was expecting and what several box office prognosticators were predicting. Though it did fall short of what the guy at Box Office Mojo predicted. But then, he's been way off quite often recently, so in his estimation probably at least half of the films that have come out in recent weeks have flopped. Apparently proclaiming films flops must give him great satisfaction lately because it would certainly seem like he inflates several of his estimates just so that later he can proclaim those films as flops. [hall2_rolleyes] And in the case of Frankenweenie, he completely seemed to overlook the fact that the film is in 3D, and with few exceptions this year, 3D films haven't been attracting anywhere near the audiences that they did last year. And it's odd that he didn't factor that in because he was considering such things earlier the year. But then, earlier in the year he'd also made a strong case for why DS wouldn't make the amounts of money that he suddenly thought was inexcusable that it didn't make when he made an about-face regarding DS in his assessment of the summer films. [hall2_angry] So, who knows what's happened to him lately? It's almost like he's been replaced with a totally different person. [hall2_undecided]
151 days 12 hours 55 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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For those buying the Blu-Ray, as appposed to the DVD, you do realize that in a couple of years at the most that Blu-Ray will go the way of Beta, VCR, LD and DVD. Something new will come along, and Blu-Ray will be yesterday's news. You'll be scrambling to find a Blu-Ray player when yours no longer works, and you have to shell out much-buckos to replace it. And when you do, that'll no longer be "trendy."
Ah, technology. Who woulda thunk it would bleed us dry.
Gerard
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At least in the disc world chances are whatever comes after Blu-ray will be backward compatible and will also play Blu-rays just like Blu-ray players also play DVDs and CDs. [hall2_wink]
151 days 20 hours 26 minutes 46 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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i had a fun time explaining to a much younger coworker recently that for many, many years(decades in fact)the telephone was the telephone.
the style changed periodically(wasn't "harvest gold" big in the 70's)but otherwise you picked up the receiver, dialed the number, and spoke into it. and people were unable to "screen" their calls and simply picked up a ringing phone to see who it was.
crazy. [hall_rolleyes]
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And yet more new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And, as usual, view them at your own risk. [hall2_wink]
What's amusing about this one -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK000802.jpg)
- are the signs on the outside of the building behind Burton:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK000802s.jpg)
Particularly the one that reads: "Why not stuff your fish just for the halibut?!!" Who knows how long it took someone on the production design crew to come up with that one? [lghy] And obviously he/she did it just to amuse him/herself because it was never really going to be noticed in the film. But little did he/she know that here on the forum we post screen caps and would indeed notice. [b003]
152 days 12 hours 52 minutes 25 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[candle_in_skull]
Depp Shadows #2 in Venezuela for it's second week.
Box office gross in that country now $889,673.
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^^^ I love those signs, MB, thanks for spotting them! [hall2_smiley] Great news about the Venezuela box office, too, David!
According to Hollywood Reporter, DS came in 3rd on both the Nielson disc sales chart and the Blu Ray chart. Not bad, since the behmoth Avengers was at #1 and the Disney classic Cinderella was #2!
'Avengers' Remains No. 1 on Home Entertainment Charts (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/avengers-blu-ray-dvd-remains-378045)
I have been looking for any info about overall sales numbers, but one site that reports this, the-numbers.com, hasn't been updated since Sept. 23rd [hall2_sad]
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It's been sold out or nearly sold out almost everywhere I've gone the past week.
-
Phenomenally, DS is STILL playing in Hooksett, NH for what is at least its 11th week! (I wish we knew if it had been playing before the week of August 3-9.) And, yup, it's still playing with the theater's full set of showings during the week. [hall2_cool]
This week Hit and Run and Step Up Revolution, both of which opened long after DS, have closed and Bully and Brave have opened. And DS still has more showings during week than The Dark Knight Rises. [thumbleft]
154 days 10 hours 16 minutes 29 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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As some have already noticed, I've posted another batch of new screen caps and set ups to the film's Complete this Phrase / Fill in the blank(s) board. Those who haven't already seen the film should beware of possible spoilers. [hall2_wink]
I love those signs, MB, thanks for spotting them! [hall2_smiley]
I though they were a hoot and a half when I spotted them in the background of some of the screen caps. [hall2_grin] And who knows what else might be somewhere on the sets but we just haven't spotted it? [hall2_wink]
And speaking of looking for things, I forgot to mention that when I watched the film last week, I kept an eye out for A Clockwork Orange on the theater marquee, but I never saw it. So, unless I'm blind, it's looking like whatever scene it appeared in ended up on the cutting room floor along with all that other material that we might never see. [hall2_sad]
154 days 11 hours 46 minutes 4 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Those signs in the background are a riot! I remember seeing similar ones in the shops in Old Orchard Beach when I was a kid, so someone really did their homework.
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At least on on this chart Dark Shadows is number 1. http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/10/12/top-10-u-s-movie-purchases-on-the-video-unlimited-service-week-ending-1012/
Great captures MB.
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Apparently DS places differently depending on what list you check out and what sources it's using. For example, I forgot to check the Philly Blurbs lists on Friday, and this week it has DS at #7 on the rentals list and at #4 on the sales list. And Philly Blurbs indicates it uses the Pazsaz Entertainment Network, Amazon.com, wire-service and website reports as its sources.
Now, never having even heard of the Pazsaz Entertainment Network, I decided to check their lists directly, so I Googled them and discovered that they have DS as #2 on the Top Selling DVD (http://video.pazsaz.com/topdvd.html#.UHwud2f4WSo) list, #2 on the Top Selling Blu-ray (http://video.pazsaz.com/topblu.html#.UHwvtGf4WSo) list, but DS is nowhere to be seen on their Top Renting DVD (http://video.pazsaz.com/topdvd2.html#.UHwwKGf4WSo) list, despite DS being #7 on Philly Blurbs' overall chart. So apparently DS is fairly high on their other sources' rental lists, whereas with DS being #2 on the Pazsaz Entertainment Network's sales lists, it must be lower on some of Philly Blurbs' other source lists for it to be #4 on theirs. Unfortunately, though, I don't have the time now to check/track down those other sources to see where DS might place on them.
157 days 12 hours 4 minutes 28 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Villafane Studios has done an awesome pumpkin carving of Johnny's Barnabas Collins [hall2_smiley] Check it out:
thefancarpet.com: Johnny Depp goes under the knife for Halloween (http://www.thefancarpet.com/NewsPage.aspx?n_id=6484)
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Oh wow - awesome is right! Thanks so much for sharing the link, madscntst. [hall2_smiley]
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Again, as some have already noticed, I've posted another batch of new screen caps and set ups to the film's Complete this Phrase / Fill in the blank(s) board. And If you haven't already seen the film, again, beware of possible spoilers. [hall2_wink]
157 days 15 hours 6 minutes 12 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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When I was in my local Best Buy tonight, I was very happy to see a cardboard standup display filled with both DVDs and Blu-rays of the film. And I was also happy to see both prominently displayed in Target as well - both in the video section of the store as well as at the registers. Apparently displays like what both stores have are what's helping the film do so well in DVD/Blu-ray sales. [hall2_cool]
157 days 23 hours 30 minutes 23 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[candle_in_skull]
Depp Shadows gross in Venezuela has passed $1.3 million, but Box Office Mojo isn't updating the film's total worldwide gross, which must be over $250 million by now.
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And it's great to see that DS' grossed 31% more than it did the previous weekend even though this past weekend it was playing in 5 fewer theaters ($6,052 per theater, as opposed to the previous $4,140 per theater). [hall2_cool] It may have taken forever for the film to finally open in Venezuela, but it's doing quite well. [hall2_wink]
Box Office Mojo isn't updating the film's total worldwide gross, which must be over $250 million by now.
At the rate they've been doing it, we may never see the foreign gross updated again. But I suspect DS' total worldwide gross surpassed $250 million before the film even opened in Venezuela.
And speaking of that country, thanks for posting the updates for there, David. [hall2_smiley]
160 days 10 hours 26 minutes 44 seconds since the Depp/Burton Dark Shadows has been in release(ET)!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'm so glad it's doing so well in Venezuela. Better late than never! [hall2_smiley]
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MB, were you able to read my Fangoria piece Why DS Matters?
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I watched the Blu Ray of this film today. I enjoyed the film a lot for the 3rd time, the Blu Ray looks and sounds incredible. There are about 6 or 7 short features that shows different ways the film was made, all very enjoyable.
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Well, we knew it had to happen sooner or later. Yes, DS has closed in Hooksett, NH! [hall2_cry]
This week three films closed: DS (after at least 11 weeks), The Hunger Games (after probably a lot more than 11 weeks), and Bully (after only 1 week). They've been replaced by Dredd, Lawless, and To Rome With Love. (And as a side note, I noticed that Dredd opened in Venezuela on the same week that DS did, yet DS is beating it handily in that country because as of Box Office Mojo's latest report, DS had already grossed $1,366,662, whereas Dredd had only grossed $426,975.)
Of course, DS could still be playing in some theater(s) that we're completely unaware of - but because we have no idea if it is or not, I'm going to close down the running countdown in the header of every page. So, contrary to the "official" run of 98 days/14 weeks, we're going to say that:
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
because we know that to actually be true. And it would be nice to know how much DS has actually grossed domestically beyond the $79,727,149 "official" total (because in 9 additional weeks who knows how much more money it might have brought in - especially if it continued to play in several discount theaters and not just the one we knew of) - but I suspect we may never know that. [hall2_sad]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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To hopefully help lift our spirits now that DS has closed in Hooksett, NH, another batch of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. [hall2_smiley] And by now we all know who has to careful and why. [hall2_wink]
And in the No Matter How Many Times One May See Something Not Everything About It May Be Readily Picked Up Department, it wasn't until I was posting screen caps today that I noticed that Helena Bonham Carter is actually wearing a stethoscope in some of her interview clips for the film -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SR003887.jpg)
- or that she's sitting in Angie's Angel Bay Cannery office set. [6184]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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For the first week in its DVD/Blu-ray release, DS earned over 12 Million in sales ($6,396,492 for DVD; $5,824,262 for Blu-Ray). I think that is pretty good. http://www.the-numbers.com/dvd/charts/weekly/thisweek.php The charts are separate and are on the left side of webpage.
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[candle_in_skull_2]
That's GREAT!
The film may not have done Avengers like biz, but it's without question a moneymaker.
I think we might just get a few more films.
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For the first week in its DVD/Blu-ray release, DS earned over 12 Million in sales ($6,396,492 for DVD; $5,824,262 for Blu-Ray). I think that is pretty good.
I would say the sales figures are fantastic! DS was by far the biggest DVD seller compared to the other DVDs released the same week. And it was second only to Cinderella when it came to Blu-ray sales, which was pretty much to be expected when something like that has a huge appeal to parents buying for their kids and adult Disney fans alike.
What I do find very interesting, though, is the amount of money they ascribe to each DVD/Blu-ray. They indicate that the DS DVD cost $14.95, which it was discounted to in many stores, but not all - and the DS Blu-ray cost $23.26, a price I never saw in any stores as it was discounted to either $22.99 or $24.96 (well, that is when it came to the DVD/Blu-ray Combo - the Blu-ray alone was significantly cheaper, and who knows if they're even considering that). But then, the Web site does say that their figures are estimated based on various sources.
But at any rate, thanks so much for sharing the link, jimbo! [hall2_smiley] And let's hope DS continues to sell well.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I've suddenly started to see this ad on a few different entertainment Web sites today:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Demand.jpg)
And that reminded me that the figures jimbo generously shared with us the other day don't include what the film is bringing in for On Demand as well as DVD/Blu-ray rentals. Granted, those figures are probably much smaller than the sales figures because it costs less to rent the film and/or watch it On Demand. But regardless, that's still additional money that the film is bringing in. [hall2_wink] Though it's probably also money that we may never hear anything about. [hall2_undecided]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And that reminded me that the figures jimbo generously shared with us the other day don't include what the film is bringing in for On Demand as well as DVD/Blu-ray rentals.
That makes me wonder: do the sales figures include copies sold to the big rental companies like Netflix and Redbox?
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I would think only if they buy them from a retail store because retail store sales seem to be what's measured. But I'm presuming that in the vast majority of cases places like Netflix and Redbox get their inventories directly from the distributors because I once asked a manager of Blockbuster how their DVD/Blu-ray inventory was supplied to them, and she said it was supplied directly to Blockbuster and then sent out to its various locations. [hall2_smiley]
(And as a side note, several of my friends who rent films rather than buy have complained that quite often the rental copy of a DVD/Blu-ray doesn't even contain all or even any of the extras, so that makes me presume that in a lot of cases rental companies get "rental only" copies from the distributors - and unless someone renting is aware of all the extras on the retail copies, they may not even be aware that what they'd gotten was a "rental only" copy.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Now, don't forget people, that even though this film played in theaters for almost half a year, made hundreds-of-millions of dollars, and is outselling in droves other DVD's, it's a "flop." [BOO]
Gerard
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(And as a side note, several of my friends who rent films rather than buy have complained that quite often the rental copy of a DVD/Blu-ray doesn't even contain all or even any of the extras, so that makes me presume that in a lot of cases rental companies get "rental only" copies from the distributors - and unless someone renting is aware of all the extras on the retail copies, they may not even be aware that what they'd gotten was a "rental only" copy.)
Yes, that seems to be happening more and more. (Some companies actually even put "Rental" on the disc label itself!) I'm quite sure this is to encourage people to buy retail copies to get the bonus features.
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[candle_in_skull_2] [female_skull] [candle_in_skull]
The film has made another $100,000.00 in Venezuela, where the total gross is now just under $1.6 million.
Still no update on the total overseas gross from Box Office Mojo.
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Thanks for the Venezuelan update, David. [hall2_smiley] And I agree with madscntst that it's nice that the film is doing so well there. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Now, don't forget people, that even though this film played in theaters for almost half a year, made hundreds-of-millions of dollars, and is outselling in droves other DVD's, it's a "flop." [BOO]
The sad thing is that there will be many times when that will be said - and no doubt for years to come. [sad3]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And once again as some have already noticed, I've posted another batch of new screen caps and set ups to the film's Complete this Phrase / Fill in the blank(s) board. Beware of possible spoilers. [hall2_wink]
And something I forgot to mention the last time I posted new screen caps is that there was a new preface:
BRT = Blue-ray Trailer - and larger versions of those captures are only 848X480.
And today there was another new preface:
GER = German Trailer.
Also, as a follow-up to this screen cap that was posted last time of Rick Heinrichs' conception of Collinwood's Grand Foyer:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK001161.jpg)
This time around I've posted an actual shot from the film from the same basic angle:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK001189.jpg)
And it really is quite fascinating just how closely the actual set resembles the sketch. There are only a few different touches here or there.
And finally, the actual dressing of the Grand Foyer set brings up something that I've been meaning to get into but keep forgetting: namely, why is a portrait of Josette so prominently hanging in the room? We can certainly understand why there are portraits of Joshua, Naomi, and, of course, Barnabas hanging in the room - they all lived at Collinwood and were members of the Collins family - but why Josette? Granted, she was quite obviously Barnabas' great love. But so far as we know she was his girl friend and not his wife and, therefore, not a member of the family. Or was she his wife? The film as it's edited never actually spells it out - and could it possibly be that we as fans merely assume Josette is his girl friend and not his wife because Barnabas and Josette have never been married in any other version of DS?
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Perhaps the portrait was a wedding or engagement present.
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While over on YouTube I discovered another Barnabas/Angelique fan video that's worth sharing:
Barnabas and Angelique - Lay All Your Love On Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emcpx4fk4Yw)
The choice of footage to illustrate the lyrics is really quite well done. And "sharing your 'devotion'," indeed, at the 2:25-2:32 mark! [naughty] [lghy]
Now that the DVD/Blu-ray of the film is out, I wonder if any of the fans who put together these videos might redo them with better quality footage?
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Wow, I couldn't agree more, MB-- the video maker made great use of that song. It's a shame the picture quality isn't better.
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Small tidbit: Johnny has won a "Cancer Bites" 2012 Fright Night award for
Favorite Actor I would like to “Sink my Teeth Into”: Johnny Depp
[hall2_smiley]
Unfortunately, the vampire movie of the year went to Breaking Dawn pt. 1 rather than DS [hall2_tongue] Ian Sommerhalder won for TV or movie vampire.
A list of winners:
Cancer Bites / Fright Night Awards (http://cancerbites.tv/winners.php#.UJFHFo7jhFU)
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I just returned from a trip to Seattle. We flew JetBlue and Depp Shadows was on offer as one of the in-flight films. I missed seeing it both going out and returning, however, for various reasons, although my companion did watch it going out. She asked me a bunch of questions about the movie story vis a vis the original series (which she has never seen--however, she is a huge Buffy fan).
The other films on offer included Madagascar 3, The Amazing Spiderman, and I think something by Wes Anderson (but don't quote me).
I did see a number of people playing the movie on the flight out. It was a little surprising to look up from my book and see the face of BarnaDepp looming out from various nearby screens!
G.
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Thanks so much for the info, madscntst and Gothick. [hall2_smiley]
And as for the Fright Night Awards, I didn't even realize they were being held or that DS and Depp (and The Vampire Diaries) were nominated or that the public could vote for them. Oh well... But it's nice to see that Depp (and TVD) were represented in the winners. (And it was also nice to see that The Woman in Black got some love because that film is excellent but has really been overlooked for the most part.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And yet again as some have already noticed, I've posted another batch of new screen caps - but this time they're on the film's Caption This! board. And of course, beware of possible spoilers. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I was just over on Amazon checking on the progress of my order of the original DS films and I saw that the DVD/Blu-ray Combo for this film listed for $14.99. At first I thought it was some sort of typo - but when I clicked on it, sure enough, the actual page says $14.99/58% discount! So I checked the DVD for the film, and it's now $9.99/66% discount!!
Who knows how long those prices may go on, so if you're someone who wants either version but thought the original prices were too much, now may be the time to snap them up before the prices go back to what they were! I've definitely grabbed some copies for Christmas gifts!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And today yet another batch of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, beware of spoilers, especially when there was a particularly big one posted today! [hall2_wink]
Also, it looks like the DVD/Blu-ray Combo and the DVD are still selling for the reduced price on Amazon, so apparently it wasn't just some sort of day of Halloween promotion. But I've also noticed that several other Warner Brothers DVDs/Blu-rays are also reduced, so perhaps it's some sort of Warner Brothers promotion.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Overseas grosses for this past weekend not updated at Box Office Mojo, so no idea how the film did in Venezuela this past weekend.
Worldwide gross still listed at $238 million. I may pull out my trusty calculator and do the math myself, country by country, to get the actual, accurate total.
I don't think Warners is sorry they made the film.
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I was just over on Amazon checking on the progress of my order of the original DS films and I saw that the DVD/Blu-ray Combo for this film listed for $14.99.
I was at Best Buy last night, and saw they had the DVD/Blu-ray Combo on sale for $14.99. Or, if you want just the Blu-ray itself, sans DVD, you can pay $5 more (it's only selling at the regular price)!
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I just ordered the film from Amazon for $9.99. A guilty pleasure this film is for me, but I love it. It's so much fun!
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I doubt this is news, but a friend just rented the movie via Red Box. So, that operation is carrying it.
He mentioned enjoying the art direction, especially the sets, and the fun Burton had with things those of us who lived through the early Seventies recalled from the era. Julia's clown makeup got a shout-out, too.
G.
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I got a sneak peak at Best Buy's Black Friday ad, and the DS 2012 Blu-ray (single disc) will be $7.99 on Black Friday weekend.
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Very interesting, KMR - thanks for the info. [hall2_smiley]
Thanks heavens that's a deal on the single disc Blu-ray. After Best Buy and Amazon selling the DVD/Blu-ray Combo for $14.99 after most of us having already paid $22.99 for it, seeing it discounted to $7.99 for Black Friday might have made some fans suicidal! [hall2_grin]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Overseas grosses for this past weekend not updated at Box Office Mojo, so no idea how the film did in Venezuela this past weekend.
Box Office Mojo now has the October 26-28 and November 2-4 weekend charts posted for Venezuela. I'll defer to you if you'd like to post the info as you have been for us. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I forgot that my DVR has a feature where you can check out the latest DVD/Blu-ray releases, read reviews, rate them, etc. I checked out the Depp/DS film and was pleasantly surprised to see that people have given it 4 out of 5 stars:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/DSFilmDVR.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/DSFilmDVR.jpg) for a larger version.)
Though one thing that's very bizarre about the listing is that it lists William Hope before cast members like Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloë Moretz, etc. - actors who actually have much more significant roles. And who the hell did William Hope play, anyway? (I'm too lazy to look right now. [hall2_wink])
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Since it appears that I'm going to snowed in for a bit, I decided that I'd look him up. Mr. Hope has quite an impressive list of credits on imdb. He played the sheriff in Depp Shadows.
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Speaking of the sheriff, I wonder why they didn't keep the name "Patterson" for him?
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And yet more new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. Again, be careful if you haven't already seen the film because the topics may contain spoilers. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[hall2_grin]
Thanks, MB.
Depp Shadows just passed $1.7 million in Venezuela.
Not shabby!
Gotta get off my lazy tush & do the math so as to figure out the correct worldwide gross, which I'm sure is way over $250 million by now.
DEPP SHADOWS IS NOT A BOMB!
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I keep forgetting to post this. A couple of months ago the Sunday New York Times had an article on Tim Burton. There was just barely a mention of DS, just the "tepid reaction" to it. One of the subtitles was even "The Vampire's Bite," but no discussion of it there! Anyway, I thought there might be interest in it.
www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/movies/tim-burton-at-home-in-his-own-head.html?pagewanted=all8_r=0
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Very interesting article, Josette. Thanks for posting it.
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Yeah, interesting. I didn't know a thing about TB before I read it. I like his story, an average american kid who grew up to make unique movies. Thanx for posting the link, Josette.
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Box Office Mojo just added $1.4 million to the film's total worldwide gross, still not what it actually made, but getting there.
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While over on YouTube I discovered another Barnabas/Angelique fan video that's worth sharing:
Barnabas and Angelique - Lay All Your Love On Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emcpx4fk4Yw)
The choice of footage to illustrate the lyrics is really quite well done. And "sharing your 'devotion'," indeed, at the 2:25-2:32 mark! [naughty] [lghy]
Now that the DVD/Blu-ray of the film is out, I wonder if any of the fans who put together these videos might redo them with better quality footage?
I discovered today that someone has redone the Lay All Your Love On Me video with better quality footage - but unfortunately it isn't the same person who put it together in the first place. And even more unfortunate is that in most cases the footage doesn't sync as well with the lyrics as it does in the original version. However, it's still worth viewing, if only just to compare the two:
Barnabas~Angelique *Lay All Your Love On Me* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSsQZftlVIA)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Box Office Mojo just added $1.4 million to the film's total worldwide gross, still not what it actually made, but getting there.
Who knows why these updates are coming in fits and starts? But at least they are updating the foreign figure, so we can be thankful for that. [hall2_wink]
Thanks for the heads up, David. [hall2_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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As some have already noticed, more new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, if you haven't already seen the film, be careful because the topics may contain spoilers. [hall2_wink]
Also, a screen cap of three of the original DS stars arriving for the party was posted in this latest batch:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/VMP02872.jpg)
as well as one of a different group of three at the party:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS02409.jpg)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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That's great! It went by so quickly, one hardly had a chance to recognize them. Now I can actually see them all!!!
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Was just checking out an email from Amazon about this year's Lightning Deals and saw that the film's DVD will be on sale on Thursday for $8.96 from 12:20 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. PST/3:20 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. EST (or until supplies last).
That's an amazing deal - even better than the $9.99 I paid a few weeks back when I bought some copies as Christmas gifts. But then who knew that the film would be showcased as one of this year's Lightning Deals - or that when it was it would be more than $1 cheaper? [hall2_wink] Though when it comes to their Lightning Deals, Amazon often limits customers to only purchasing one copy (that's how it was with The Vampire Diaries 3rd Season DVD yesterday) so even if I had waited, chances are I only would have been able get extra savings on a single copy. But if you haven't picked up a copy yet, and you're only looking for one copy, this is probably the deal for you. [hall2_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And if that wasn't good enough - and I thought it was amazing - and it is for the DVD - but an even more amazing deal has surfaced because I was just checking out a Black Friday deals e-mail from Best Buy, and they'll be selling the film's Blu-ray for $7.99!! However, it's the Blu-ray only version, NOT the DVD/Blu-ray combo which has all the extras. But still, if all someone wants is the film (and that one featurette: The Collines: Every Family Has Its Demons, which is all you get on the DVD), then it's a fantastic deal.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet because apparently the nominations came out on the 15th (though like me perhaps no one has seen the nominations before now), but Depp and the DS film itself are nominated for People's Choice Awards:
People's Choice Award Nominations 2013: The Full List of Nominees (http://www.wetpaint.com/network/articles/peoples-choice-award-nominations-2013-the-full-list-of-nominees)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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In honor of the DVD and Blu-ray of the film being featured in several sales this Thanksgiving and post-Thanksgiving/pre-Christmas season, more new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And, of course, be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And if that wasn't good enough - and I thought it was amazing - and it is for the DVD - but an even more amazing deal has surfaced because I was just checking out a Black Friday deals e-mail from Best Buy, and they'll be selling the film's Blu-ray for $7.99!! However, it's the Blu-ray only version, NOT the DVD/Blu-ray combo which has all the extras.
I got back home a short while ago from Black Friday shopping (after having been out since 4am) and while I was in Best Buy I noticed that even though the e-mail didn't list it, the film's DVD/Blu-ray Combo is also on sale there. It's $12.99. And if you're really not in the mood to brave the crowds, it's also on sale for the price on their Web site:
Dark Shadows (2 Disc) (W/Dvd) (Blu-ray Disc) (Eng/Fre/Spa) (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dark+Shadows+%282+Disc%29+%28W/Dvd%29+-+Fullscreen+Subtitle+AC3+-+Blu-ray+Disc/6502526.p?id=2562493&skuId=6502526&st=Dark%20Shadows&lp=2&cp=1)
along with the DVD and the Blu-ray only, both for $7.99:
Dark Shadows (W/Dvd) (DVD) (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dark+Shadows+%282+Disc%29+%28W/Dvd%29+-+Fullscreen+Subtitle+AC3+Dolby+-+DVD/6500934.p?id=2562493&skuId=6500934&st=Dark%20Shadows&lp=1&cp=1)
Dark Shadows (Blu-ray Disc) (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dark+Shadows+-+Blu-ray+Disc/6500943.p?id=2563584&skuId=6500943&st=Dark%20Shadows&lp=3&cp=1)
It's also fascinating to see the widely varying customer ratings the three different versions have. One rates the film 2.6 stars out of 5, one 3.3 out of 5, and one 5 out of 5. One would think the reviews for the film, regardless of the disc format, would all be compiled together (like on Amazon) - but apparently not. Though I suppose Best Buy's individual ratings could be because in general some people wouldn't just be reviewing a film - they would also be reviewing the quality of an individual disc version.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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From the This Is Interesting Department: Apparently ES.TV is running repeats this week - but the show that was listed as being on today was not the show that was shown because what was shown was the one that originally ran on May 15th with Johnny Depp. When I saw that yesterday's show was a repeat, I deleted it from my DVR without even bothering to check it out. But I decided to give today's a look because it was supposed to be one from 2011 that I'd never seen. So, imagine my surprise when instead of the 2011 show it ended up being the one with Depp. But hey, if ES.TV wants to continue to promote the DS film - especially during the Christmas shopping season - who are we to complain? [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I received some texts from Amazon a short while ago that some of the things I've ordered recently have shipped, and because of those notices I remembered that Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1781162557/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00) was supposed to be released today in the US. And lo and behold when I went to check that order, and even though I haven't received a text about it, I discovered that my copy shipped at 8:53:57 ET this morning. So, if you've also ordered a copy but you haven't heard anything about it yet, you might want to check Amazon to see if your order has shipped as well. [hall2_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Mine arrived today via fed ex overnight even though I only pay for 2 day service via Amazon Prime.
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I'm jealous. [snow_wink] Though Amazon tells me mine should arrive Thursday.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I got mine today too, though I hadn't gotten any e-mail that it had been shipped yet. I'm glad things are back to normal after several shipping delays around the time of Hurricane Sandy. I'm about to sit down and start looking through it now! [snow_bigglass]
Hope you'll get yours on time, MB!
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Hope you'll get yours on time, MB!
The package is already in my state - so at least that's a good sign. [snow_wink]
So, of those who've received it already, what do you think of it?
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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My copy arrived late yesterday. I've only had the chance to glance through about half of it, but to say I love what I've seen so far would be an understatement. And even though there are many photos that we've seen, there seem to be many more that we haven't (including the original concept drawing of the outside of Collinwood, which I almost prefer to the design that we did get). And there are also some photos from the original show and NoDS (none from hoDS - at least not yet - though that's just as well as far I'm concerned). [wink2]
I definitely look forward to glancing through the rest once I get the chance. And then, of course, actually sitting down to read the book. (But none of that will happen today because I need to find an SMF 2.0 Christmas Theme for the forum - and once I do I'll probably need to tweak it.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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We can live another day without a christmas theme, MB. Take a break already, read the book!
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I am definitely going to look into getting a copy of this at some point, as I really want to see the original concepts, etc.
As an aside, I'd urge everyone to listen to the Prologue track at a slower speed and see if you hear anything familiar. I came to the realization today that another piece of DS music may have influenced part of this track. Give it a listen on "slow" and see if you pick up on anything that sounds familiar. I can hear influence from two famous DS musical compositions, and I want to see if anybody picks up on them... or else find out that I am crazier than I thought. [snow_wink]
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i just picked up the book yesterday and really haven't had the chance to go through it yet but it looks very well done.
i still have very ambivalent feelings about the film but this seems like a nice thing to have. interesting in it's own right.
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In more DVD(Blu-ray) news, I see where the weekend entertainment shows Kickin' It and Star Watch featured their DS film in the DVD release segments.
Kickin' It ran that segment with Michelle Pfeiffer again this weekend. Though as I said the other day, if shows like ES.TV and now Kickin' It want to continue to promote the film, especially during the holiday shopping season, who are we to complain? [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Take a break already, read the book!
I probably would be now that the Christmas theme is in place - but I took it to a friend's house over the weekend just to show him how nice it is but ended up leaving it there so he could read it. I'll probably get it back at the weekend.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I missed DS in the theater. I'd planned to see it but got cold feet at the last minute. After the DVD release, I found it at a very reasonable price on Amazon, so I decided to complete my DS collection:
Things I liked:
[spoiler]The telescoping of Barn’s curse story.
Michelle Pfeiffer – IMO easily the best thing about the film.
Coming right out with Barn as a vampire and Elizabeth’s reaction/acceptance to it. I found myself imagining Frid and Bennett having this scene.
I actually really liked the idea of Vickie actually being Maggie Evans taking an assumed name, since orphan looking for her parents story was abandoned. It worked for me.
Loved Collinwood (before and after its restoration).
Wasn’t sure about the ending (and it’s always a bit lame to throw in the creaky “instant vampire just drain victim dry” plot (I mean really, if that was all it took, there would be a couple dozen construction worker and hippie vamps running around) but I did feel happy that Barn was finally reunited with Josette.
Christopher Lee!
Nice twist on the cure plot.
I liked that Angelique owned a competing cannery in the present.
Johnny Lee Miller as a really nasty piece of work Roger.
Windcliff!!!
The TV Cast Cameo!!!! Squee![/spoiler]
Things I didn’t like:
[spoiler]The story focused on Barn and Ang to the near total exclusion of all the other characters in the story. The writer seemed to assume no one would be interested in anyone else. This disappointed me.
Carolyn as a werewolf – huh??
HBC as Julia (OMG, did she really give Barn a blow job?!?!). She was okay with what she was given, but unfortunately was rather poorly served with her part in the script.
Despite liking what they did with the concept Vickie/Maggie, she, like Julia got lost in a script too top heavy with Barn and Ang.
The sex scene – ew. Just … ew.
Eva Green as Angelique – badly miscast and poorly acted.
And while on the subject of Angelique – what was the deal with her cracking and literally falling to pieces? I didn’t get that at all.
Depp’s make up, esp. the fingernails.
Most of Barn’s dialogue – the joke got very old, very quickly.
Maggie’s parents sent her off to a sanitarium because she has an imaginary friend? Don’t many kids have imaginary friends at some point in their lives? Didn’t buy that at all.
The final scene, telegraphed by Julia’s fangs during her death scene much earlier in the film, was rather limp. I had actually kept expecting vamp Julia to show up.
[/spoiler]
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It's been a while but finally more new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. Just be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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@nelson collins...
i first saw the film so many months ago it's still interesting to read a fresh review.
while much has been made of the vicki/maggie character merging(of which i'm not a fan)not much has been said(at this board at least)about the fact that the character(whoever she was)wasn't really in the film much at all for it's putative "heroine".
after her strong opening scenes she didn't get much screentime. it's funny because they took the trouble to create this very convoluted backstory for her, with ghosts and institutionalizations and elaborate escapes and pseudonyms, and then promptly wrote her into the background of the main plot. it's almost like they knew that the "josette" angle, a governess and the business with the train were critical parts of series lore but otherwise they had no intention of fleshing it out. or was it supposed to be a bigger part that fell victim in the cutting room?
while "we" understand the importance of the josette figure the viewer new to the story probably didn't get what the big deal with her was.
then bella heathcote was underplayed in most of the promotional material. even on the DVD box the other four actresses appear but not her. it's a strange element of this variation of the tale.
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i'll also add that after watching the film a few times on DVD that of the three OS characters merged...victoria, maggie and josette...heathcote's performance was not really evocative of any of them...
she created her own characterization. it's not a bad thing just different.
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Kickin' It did a totally different segment this weekend for the DS DVD/Blu-ray. This latest one featured clips from the film and behind the scenes along with an interview with Johnny Depp.
The repeat promotions continue because this past weekend Kickin' It repeated that October installment with Depp.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Another batch of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, if you haven't already seen the film, be careful of spoilers. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I haven't been checking out the store flyers lately because I've finished all my Christmas shopping, including more than enough "gifts" from myself to myself - and I don't need to be tempted to buy anything else. [santa_cheesy] But I was in Target this morning picking up a few normal things and noticed that the Depp/DS film's DVD (not the Blu-ray or DVD/Blu-ray Combo) is on sale this week for $9, so I thought I'd pass it along. [santa_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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more than enough "gifts" from myself to myself
HA! That was me on Black Friday! I blame it all on the retailers, because they were practically giving away Blu-rays! [santa_smiley]
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I blame it all on the retailers, because they were practically giving away Blu-rays! [santa_smiley]
Amazon might as well have been giving them away when it came to some of their Lightning Deals - and by example I got the DVD/Blu-ray Combo of In Time, which features Bella Heathcote (and it will be interesting to see her in something different because I never have), for only $3.99! How can you pass up deals like that when it comes to something you already have in mind to buy at some point?!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I was just over on Entertainment Weekly's Web site and noticed that they've already posted their best and worst movies lists (even though they haven't put them in the magazine yet - well, unless they're in the issue due in stores and in the mail). The Depp/DS didn't make the best lists - not that I thought it would. [santa_smiley] But it also didn't make the worst lists. Though I didn't think it would make those lists either because they gave it a B+ when they reviewed it. But something that I haven't even been thinking about until now is that it will be interesting to see if it makes any other critics' worst lists because, as we know, some critics really savaged it.
Not surprisingly, though, is that John Carter came out on top of EW's worst lists. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I hope it won't be on any worst lists! But I don't think it will be. I think most of the reviews that weren't good seemed to indicate disappointment, not living up to expectations, and/or being weary of Burton/Depp collaborations, as opposed to out-and-out hatred. In other words, I don't think it was bad enough to really merit that kind of mention. I've been looking at people's predictions for "Razzies" (basically awards for the worst of the year), and haven't seen DS anywhere. In contrast, I wouldn't be surprised at seeing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (which I saw recently and was very disappointed in- much more so than DS, despite enjoying the book) or The Raven (which I thought was even worse- I gave it a rare 1 star in my Netflix rating). I can't speak for John Carter since I didn't see it [santa_smiley]
I've been following the recent critics awards and top ten lists, hoping that maybe DS would be mentioned in some of the smaller categories, such as effects or musical score, but I haven't seen it on any of those kinds of lists yet. I saw somewhere that Danny Elfman has something like 6 eligible film scores this year (including DS), but he's never won an Oscar. It doesn't seem like he's made most lists yet [santa_sad] However, Burton seems to be doing pretty well so far with Frankenweenie as one of the best animated features. Unfortunately, I missed seeing that one in theaters, but I'm sure I'll rent the DVD.
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I would also hope that it doesn't make any worst lists - but sometimes there's really no rhyme nor reason as to what does. For example, I've seen Prometheus on several worst lists despite getting many great reviews. In fact, on that certain Web site that I don't mention by name here, Prometheus had a rating that was something like twice as high as what DS had, and I've had several people tell me they loved it (to the point where one of these days I want to get the Blu-ray). (But then the reason I don't mention that site is because, as I've said before - and even before DS even came out (so it's not just about DS), their whole rating system makes no sense to me. How films with average critics ratings of over 5 out 10 and audience ratings of over 3 out of 5 can have percentages well below 50% is beyond me. But I guess despite the fact that I majored in Math in college, I don't understand their math. [santa_rolleyes]) Though, of course, when it comes to worst lists, and even best lists, it's all often very subjective.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I finally saw Depp Shadows tonight. I got it via my Netflix subscription. I'd give the movie a C+, maybe a B whenever Pfeiffer and HBC were onscreen. It just didn't really engage me one way or the other. The sets were more interesting to me than any of the characters. Eva Green was a little better than I had thought she would be given how she appeared in the clips and trailers. Colleen Atwood's fashions deserved high marks. The cameos by our old friends and Sir Christopher Lee seemed pointless. I wondered whether Lee's had been cut down from what was originally filmed.
I could go on but there would be little point. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I just felt... "meh."
I am glad some of you enjoyed it so much you watched it over and over again.
Happy holidays,
G.
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I am glad some of you enjoyed it so much you watched it over and over again.
I can't believe that I still haven't found the time to watch any of the extras yet. But I did watch the film twice when I first got the Blu-ray - and as I said back then, I enjoyed it even more than I had in theaters. I really do believe the film improves on repeated viewing, quite possibly because you're able to notice things you may not have noticed before and you're able to savour certain things that you know are coming up. [santa_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I bought the DVD, and when I watched it, my reaction was pretty much exactly the same as it was the one time I watched it in the theater: some things were very good, some things were very bad.
What tips me towards a negative opinion of the movie is the lack of discussion of it here. Start a topic about the original series, and you'll have people piling in to give their various opinions, and dragging in all sorts of irrelevant issues. Start a topic about the Johnny Depp movie...and it doesn't attract much interest.
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interesting observation lydia...
while fans viewing the film have either liked it or disliked it or, in many cases, despised it completely what almost nobody seems to have is any emotional investment in it.
there is something almost emotionally void, or dare i say, bloodless about much of the reaction to it. not counting of course the blood lust of those who wanted burton's head on a pike.
for all of the hype and money spent in the end it might end up being a minor, peripheral, part of the whole thing.
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Oh, I don't know. I'd say discussion of the Depp/DS film is just about where I'd expect it to be - particularly for a new version of DS. If one goes back through this topic, one can see that there are definitely posts which share very favorable views of the film or which discuss some aspect or other of the film - the posts aren't all simply about links to various online articles or about the film's box office. And the responses to polls about the film are pretty much in line with responses to practically any poll on the forum. [santa_smiley]
It's probably also worth pointing out that there really isn't a lot that's been posted about the two original DS films. In fact, when it comes to the original films, there's probably more posts about if/when they were ever going to come out on DVD than anything else. And for me anyway, I don't read into that that there's a negative opinion of those films simply because there's a lack of in depth discussion about them. The real truth of the matter is that the lion's share of what gets discussed here is related to the original series. But then there's nothing in the least bit surprising about that because there's a lot more opportunity for discussions when there are hundreds of hours of story and 1225 episodes and not simply three films with 90-120 minutes of story. [santa_wink]
Though to get back to the Depp/DS film, plans with regard to it for the coming year on the forum have been in the works behind the scenes for the past several months. And who knows, maybe those plans will prompt more discussion? Or maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I found it profoundly uninvolving. The one scene that stuck with me was Barnabas arriving at Collinwood and talking about the beauty of the craftsmanship (a scene closely modeled on the one in the OS where Barnabas returns to the Old House for the first time and tells Miss Winters about how it was built, etc.--I think this was Frid's third episode). It was beautifully filmed and accentuated the incredible set designs that had been created.
I don't really care enough to pillory it or defend it. I am left, as I think Burke Devlin once said in the OS, with a series of question marks, but no real motivation to investigate.
I don't agree though that nobody has any emotional investment in it... there are some here who really loved it. No need to name names but if you go back and read the posts around the time of the premiere, it's clear that there are fans here who reacted with genuine passion & delight to this experience.
G.
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perhaps the scope of the story doesn't readily lend itself to the 90-120 minute time frame...
i recently purchased the HoDS DVD and my only attachment to it was the familiar actors/characters and story. as a stand alone narrative it was profoundly disengaging.
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[santa_angry]
I noticed that the new Bond film Skyfall isn't making back it's cost at the US box office and is turning a profit from overseas ticket sales--just like Depp Shadows.
But NO ONE is calling Skyfall a bomb!
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Now that the Academy nominates ten performers in each acting category, is there any chance of any Depp Shadows acting nods? Pfeiffer and/or Green in the supporting category?
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Wow, I am so out of touch, I thought only the film nominations were increased. I wouldn't expect anyone to get a nod but I do think Eva Green deserves one.
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[santa_thumb]
Eva chewed the scenery!
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As much as I love Eva Green's performance in the film, she probably has a snowball's chance in hell of being nominated - not when there are so many other performances that the Academy would consider prestige performances, like, say, Sally Field in Lincoln, or Anne Hathaway in Les Miserable, or Maggie Smith in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, all of whom are generating big Oscar buzz.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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There are still only 5 nominees each for lead actor, lead actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. There can be up to 10 films nominated, but they changed the rules again last year and there can be less than 10 films if they want to nominate less (I think there were 9 last year).
The only time I think DS or its actors might have had a shot would've been for the Golden Globes, which has separate categories for drama and comedy/musical (Plus they love Johnny and have nominated him more often than most if not all of the other awards organizations). But those awards have already been announced, and DS got nada :( Oh well!
Another thing to think about the Scream awards, or other awards that focus on horror/sci-fi. It might have more chances for some of those. I don't recall what time of year when those awards occur.
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Answering my own question, the Scream awards were held in October in 2011, but for some reason the ceremony was cancelled this year [santa_huh] I don't know if that means they are going to stop having them or not.
The other big horror awards are the Saturn Awards, This year, the awards were held in July, and covered the period of films released from Feb. 2011 thru the end of Jan. 2012. So DS will be eligible this coming year, but we'll have a while to wait before hearing about any nominations.
There may be other horror awards, too, or MTV or Teen Choice might have a "best villain" category and such.
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And yet another batch (though smaller than usual (7)) of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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There may be other horror awards, too, or MTV or Teen Choice might have a "best villain" category and such.
The only nominations that I'm currently aware of are the ones the film and Depp received for the upcoming People's Choice Awards. And honestly I was surprised by those. Not because I don't think the film and Depp deserve recognition - but because the nominations are voted on by the public, and when it comes to DS fandom, at least, I'm not sure that any incentive was given to fans to vote for Depp and the film. (We here on the forum certainly had no idea the nominations were available for preliminary voting.) And that means that the general public is in all probability who's most likely greatly responsible for the nominations being included in the final round of voting. Though on the plus side, that would seem to put a stake in the heart of any notion that so many journalists and Web sites seem to have that the general public didn't respond well to the film. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Just asking here on the off chance that someone might know--have sales figures been posted anywhere for the Depp Shadows discs (both formats), or for the 1970s DS feature films? I'm curious as to how well the discs are selling.
The Netflix Depp Shadows disc, unsurprisingly, was specially produced for rental (and included several notices in Chinese, Bahasa, Korean, Thai, and maybe at least one other south/east Asian language about copyright protocols). It had a bevy of around ten trailers that one had to fast forward through to get to the menu screen. Trailer no. 5 or 6 was for Night of DS. It was nice to see that.
G.
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If one goes back to the October posts in this topic, one will see that both the Depp/DS DVD and Blu-ray did very well in both sales and rentals for the first few weeks it was out - as well as doing well for on demand (it was actually at #1 the week of October 15th, beating The Avengers, which is something I doubt many of us ever thought would happen). It's hard to get an overall idea since that time because most lists only feature the top 10-15 DVDs and Blu-rays. Though even though I haven't checked every week, I've yet to see the DVD/Blu-ray Combo pack out of the top 50 on Amazon, or the DVD out of the top 200. [santa_smiley] Most reports have been that the DVD and Blu-ray releases will easily generate $200 million in worldwide revenue for the film, if not actually more. [santa_thumb]
(On the other hand, I haven't seen either of the two original films on any sales/rentals/on demand lists. And as far as Amazon goes, both films have seemed to remain ranked in the thousands. Though that's not to say that they're not making money for Warner Brothers. That all depends on how much money Warner Brothers put into them - and that would seemingly be not much at all. [santa_angry] [santa_sad])
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Well - maybe some Web sites really have finally gotten the memo:
2012's Box Office Bombs (http://www.zap2it.com/news/pictures/zap-2012s-box-office-bombs-zap2it-year-in-review-pics,0,7091696,showall.photogallery)
And the Depp/DS film is nowhere to be seen on their list of 25. [santa_thumb]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Thanks, MB, for the info about the disc sales.
G.
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Just when you think you've seen every video online related to the Depp/DS film, you can discover others that you haven't seen (thanks to looking up something entirely different related to The Vampire Diaries). So, as a Christmas present, here's a link to videos in which Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Moretz, Bella Heathcote, Eva Green, and Tim Burton decide whether or not they'd like to be a witch, a vampire, or a werewolf:
Vampire Diaries Trivia: Which Witch Is Witch? (http://www.wetpaint.com/the-vampire-diaries/gallery/vampire-diaries-trivia-which-witch-is-witch)
(For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to post the direct URLs to each video (not even with displaying the HTML source of the page) - but just scroll down to the "Related Videos" section and links to the videos will be more than apparent.)
Enjoy! [santa_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And yet another batch (though smaller than usual (7)) of new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board.
And I've just posted the remaining 7 new screen caps/set ups in that group of 14. And as always, be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [santa_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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So far the DS movie has escaped the Razzies Worst remake, sequel poll. Voting ends January 9th. However, movies can still be added. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/robot_monster_in_3d/news/1926557/vote_for_the_worst_remake_rip-off_or_sequel/?hub=12
Re: Depp's 2012 movie DVD sales. It's true we don't have the latest earnings but as of November 4, 2012 the Blu-ray sales in units were at 357,7391 and the DVD as of November 11, 2012 were at 914,794. Combined it has done very well domestically and we don't know about its international sales yet. (as per the-numbers.com website)
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Chris Alexander, editor of Fangoria Mag, just put Depp Shadows on his ten best list!
[8_2_59]
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Chris Alexander, editor of Fangoria Mag, just put Depp Shadows on his ten best list!
Yay! His 2012 favorites list is currently at the top here: http://www.facebook.com/chris.alexander.54966834 and I'm right there in the minority with him. [santa_thumb] Thanks, David.
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I just watched the movie for the 3rd time. First time in the cinema and twice since I bought it last weekend and I just love this movie! Sure there are a few odd ball things I would change but in many ways Burton stuck to what was the core of DS. Barnabas was loyal to the Collins family name. I just overlook the goofy crap.
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Chris' putting DS on his 10 best list is very significant. Fangoria is quite influential in the horror world.
Oh, happy day!
[8_2_59]
[8_2_73]
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Hey, just getting back to town after being away for the holidays. Great news about the Fangoria Top Ten! [8_2_59] Hoping it'll make some more lists, too!
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Those who are bummed out by the negative reviews the film got at IMDB should check out the reviews at Amazon:
they're MUCH more positive! [santa_thumb]
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Yes, I have looked up at IMBD and seen lots of negative feedback from viewers. And on Facebook as well. And I also noticed there were more favorable reviews on Amazon. On here it's pretty much even on both sides.
I've seen the movie a bunch of times since I got it on Amazon....even posted a review of the film myself on it.
I'm glad to hear the movie has made at least one top ten best list. But try telling some of the people on a Dark Shadows Group on Facebook that the movie wasn't a bomb....they still maintain it was a 'failure' at the Box Office because it didn't top or make enough money anywhere near The Avengers.
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Those who are bummed out by the negative reviews the film got at IMDB should check out the reviews at Amazon:
they're MUCH more positive! [santa_thumb]
When it comes to the actual critics reviews, one thing that some seem to want to choose to ignore is that the film received plenty of positive reviews (it wasn't just the one from EW that we've often referred to here). Was every positive review completely positive? No. But then the fact is also that every negative review wasn't completely negative either. The honest truth is that the film got a mixed critical reaction. Either the critics appreciated what Burton & Company did or they didn't. And, well, that's pretty much the case with most of Burton's films - so the critical reactions to DS was absolutely nothing new - and also nothing that shouldn't have been expected.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'm glad to hear the movie has made at least one top ten best list. But try telling some of the people on a Dark Shadows Group on Facebook that the movie wasn't a bomb....they still maintain it was a 'failure' at the Box Office because it didn't top or make enough money anywhere near The Avengers.
Though as we've said here numerous times, anyone who expected DS to make anywhere near as much as The Avengers made had completely unrealistic expectations. I mean, not even the prognosticators that said DS would make more money domestically than it actually did ever expected its box office take to be on a par with The Avengers. In fact, most predictions were that DS would open in the shadow (no pun intended) of The Avengers and remain in that shadow for the simple fact that DS would not and did not have the same mass box office appeal as The Avengers.
And another thing that we've often stressed numerous times is that it's an absolute rule of fact that when it comes to the vast majority of supernatural films over the past 30+ years, they do not even come close to grossing $100 million, much less anything like the $600 million The Avengers has grossed domestically! Apart from DS, two of the most successful supernatural films in 2012 were Underworld Awakening and The Woman in Black - and they grossed $62,321,039 and $54,333,290, respectively - considerably less than DS. The huge exception to that rule is anything Twilight-related - but as we're well aware, once it became obvious how huge the Twilight franchise was, the thinking on Burton & Company's part was to make DS as far removed from that franchise as possible. Though even if they hadn't decided to go in that direction, that track record of the vast majority of supernatural films in and of itself tells us that without a built-in fan base anywhere near on a par with Twilight, DS was more than likely never going to approach anything like Twilight box office numbers.
Though actually, I suppose that if The Avengers is the box office benchmark to judge by, then despite the fact that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 has already become the 3rd most successful Twilight film and it has grossed over $280 million domestically, even it must be considered a bomb. And I ask you, how unrealistic is THAT?! [santa_rolleyes]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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The Hollywood Reporter reflects that the movie tanked http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hobbit-django-unchained-les-miserables-407351
EW puts the movie into the flop category http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/12/31/box-office-report-2012/
The movie is not a flop but there is not much we can do to change peoples' minds.
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there are two reasons the film continues to be called a flop:
it cost too much to produce.
and:
it's still perceived as a soap.
The 91 series is considered a flop. never mind that it had ratings considerably higher than most current hit shows, in spite of the Gulf War pre-emptions.
In the eyes of the industry, once a soap....
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Well, what can we say about Grady Smith other than he pigheadedly refuses to believe DS wasn't a flop no matter how many people have tried to persuade him otherwise on EW's Web site - and not even when the person attempting the persuading was a fellow EW staff writer. [santa_rolleyes]
As for the Hollywood Reporter, they don't even have their facts straight. The foreign box office figure is way off - and we know that to be so because even though Box Office Mojo didn't continue to tally DS' foreign box office, they did continue to report it. But then it's sad to see what has happened to the state of reporting at the Hollywood Reporter (as well as Variety) these days. Who can forget how many times they described Vicki as a "waitress." And while maybe there is a very slight chance that in the script Vicki did somehow work as a waitress before going to Collinsport and that part was cut, from the way the film as we've seen it stands, there doesn't seem to be any impression or implications that was the case. Sadly, as some suspected back when the waitress reports were being circulated, it looks more like it was a case the writers of those reports jumped to conclusions based on the 1967 descriptions of Maggie from the original show, which was a lamebrained thing to do because some of the characters (particularly ones like Willie and Carolyn) were changed from their original series' counterparts, and it's not like it wasn't publicized that changes were being made to the characters. There would just seem to be no way around it that there's poor reporting involved at the Hollywood Reporter.
And it probably also shouldn't go without mention that both of those linked articles choose to ignore that back in September Tim Burton went on the record in the New York Times as stating that DS had already made its money back and then some - and that was while it was still playing in many foreign markets (as well as in (at least) Hooksett, NH in the US [santa_wink]). But then, despite facts to the contrary, there are still those who insist that the original DS was canceled due to low ratings, that NoDS was a box office bomb, and that the '91 DS was a ratings disaster, so what can you say? [santa_angry]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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it cost too much to produce.
What a lot of these reporters seem to forget is that the guesstimates they use are not facts, they're guesses as to budget (hence why they're called "guesstimates") - and they can often be way off. And as we've mentioned with regard to DS, the guesstimated budget for the film has been reported as $100 million, $125 million, $150 million, $175 million, and even more in a few places. But as I pointed out back in September when the Burton remarks about the film having made back its money surfaced, the real budget for the film had to be much closer to the $100 million mark or else there would have been no way the film could have already been making a profit at that point with any of the other guesstimates. But of course, each reporter is going to chose their own guesstimate based on what they want to write about any given film, regardless of the info that may have come out that shows their guesstimate to be questionable. [santa_rolleyes] (And by example, our EW friend Grady Smith chose to cite the largest guesstimated budget for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance when he did a hatchet job on that film on the EW Web site.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Well, F--- them!
The film made a profit, and the comic books, audio dramas & DVDs continue to do well.
We have our little franchise to enjoy for as long as we want, so to hell with them all!
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Changing to a much more pleasant topic regarding the film, yet another batch of 7 new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [santa_wink]
And as to one of the captures, is it just me, or does it look like even Depp's stand-in had the dark circles around his eyes:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BU003064.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BU003064.jpg) for a 1280X720 version)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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That's no stand-in, MB. That's Edward Cullen! Didn't you know he made a cameo appearance in this? [santa_wink]
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A reminder that the People's Choice Awards are on tonight at 9pm ET on CBS and that both Depp and the DS film are nominated. Not that we should expect the film to win, but Depp probably has a chance. Though even if it/he doesn't win, it could be interesting to see if they show clips from the film, and if so, what type.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Thanks for the reminder, MB! My hopes aren't too high, but I'm game to watch, and as you say, there will probably be a clip or two [snow_smiley]
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As some have already noticed, another batch of 7 new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And the usual warning to be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film still prevails. [snow_wink]
And as for this capture, I didn't even notice until today that there's something wrong with the way this shot of Collinwood is used in the scene when Vicki first arrives:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK002480.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK002480.jpg) for a 1920X1080 version)
Check out the scene for yourself to see if you can tell what it is. [snow_strange]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Well, so far as DS clips on the People's Choice Awards go, they showed the infamous shot of Barnabas' reaction to Julia demonstrating doctor/patient confidentiality, Barnabas being chained in a coffin by Angie, and Barnabas' reaction to seeing The Carpenters on the TV. And that was all part of Depp's nomination. However, he lost out to Robert Downey, Jr.
But so far as DS goes, its category wasn't presented on the air, nor was the winner in the category referred to. So, we have to wait until whenever they put it up on the Web site to see which film won.
Also, Chloe Moretz was there presenting both Favorite Dramatic TV Actress and Actor.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[snow_huh] [snow_rolleyes] [snow_cry] [snow_mad]
Oscar nominations announced. Nothing for DS, not even in technical categories.
I didn't expect the film to get any acting nods, but come on: production design, cinematography?
nothing?
Frankenweenie got a nomination, for God's sake!
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And as has been the case with most Wednesdays lately, another batch of 7 new screen caps and set ups have been posted to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. Be sure to be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [snow_wink]
And I'm honestly surprised no one seems to have picked up on a few things that either I've pointed out or have come up on their own on the forum in some other fashion recently. :tsk: ;)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I have a technical question about the pre-credits sequence for DS. Was it filmed, or post-produced, using some special technique to make all of it, or at least certain scenes, look like an 18th century Gainsborough painting in motion? I have only seen the complete film once and don't own it, so can't go back to re-watch. I began to wonder this when the current run of captures began. Particularly when Josette is on screen it looks more like an animated 1770s academy painting by Gainsborough or Joshua Reynolds than it does like film. (I could be mistaken, but it seemed as if there were a couple of deleted scenes included in the mix of this series of captures--since I only sat through it the one time, though, I can't be sure about that.)
I'm quite intrigued by this process, whatever it is. Makes me think back to a much more lo-fi tech (that at the time was quite extraordinary) where an animated version of the Dickens "Christmas Carol" was done based on the original Victorian steel engravings that were the illustrations. It was an amazing bit of film although it only lasted, I think, about half an hour. This would have been around 1973, I think. There was talk of doing a Dorian Gray animation in the style of Aubrey Beardsley but it never happened.
It's surprising to me that Depp Shadows was not at least nominated for art direction, costumes, or other technical aspects. The look of it was stunning, even when I disagreed with the choices that were made.
G.
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For Christmas, friends gave me a Walmart gift certificate (even though I hate Walmart, but - hey - whatchya gonna do?). I'm going tomorrow to buy the DS-2012 DVD. I should spend it on a new pair of shoes (since mine have holes in them), but sometimes you just have to splurge! I'll use what's left over for tape for the shoes.
Gerard
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I have a technical question about the pre-credits sequence for DS. Was it filmed, or post-produced, using some special technique to make all of it, or at least certain scenes, look like an 18th century Gainsborough painting in motion?
There are several linked articles in this topic that explain how a lot of the visual effects were done for the film. But to save having to search for and then check out each one, what I can say is that it's my understanding that the actors were shot using whatever special lenses the cinematographer had decided on, then that footage was often blended with set or location footage, and then the final look was augmented with CGI. Examples of this would be the shot of Joshua and young Barnabas on the dock where -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/dock_before-320x243.jpg)
-the actors were shot with green screen - | (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/dock_beforeB-320x243.jpg)
- then the outdoor set was shot - |
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/Dock_ungraded-320x243.jpg)
- and then in post production CGI was added for the final look
And one thing that I really find fascinating is the whole look of Widows' Hill, which was -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRLI0336.jpg) (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRLI0336.jpg) | (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRLI1131.jpg) (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BRLI1131.jpg) |
- a combination of the actors -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/WidowsHill.jpg) (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/WidowsHill.jpg)
- and post production CGI to create a fantastic look.
(Click on some of the images for larger versions.)
It's surprising to me that Depp Shadows was not at least nominated for art direction, costumes, or other technical aspects. The look of it was stunning, even when I disagreed with the choices that were made.
Yeah, well, I wasn't too surprised that the Oscars went with Colleen Atwood's costumes for Snow White and the Huntsman rather than DS because her costumes for SWatH were much more elaborate. But when it comes to the other categories what can you say other than the Oscars are often very political and some of their nominations or lack thereof never make sense. I mean, just look at Ben Affleck - he's winning director honors left and right at many of the awards shows, yet he's not even nominated for an Oscar for directing Argo. [snow_rolleyes] And that's but one example from this year's nominations.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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For Christmas, friends gave me a Walmart gift certificate (even though I hate Walmart, but - hey - whatchya gonna do?). I'm going tomorrow to buy the DS-2012 DVD. I should spend it on a new pair of shoes (since mine have holes in them), but sometimes you just have to splurge! I'll use what's left over for tape for the shoes.
It's good to see that you have your life priorities straight, Gerard! [snow_cheesy]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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It's well below zero here, MB, but I wear thick woolen socks! At least it hasn't snowed, so my feet won't be wet. Until then, DS is more important! You know us fans! I did put some plastic I cut from a milk carton into my shoes to cover the holes; necessity is the mother of invention!
Gerard
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Hi MB, thanks for that very informative post. I knew that lots of CGI, lenses, filters etc. were involved in what was seen on screen for the movie. What I was wondering is if there's some new technique--I would guess that CGI must be the base for it--that superimposes painterly layers of quasi-animation over real actors. I saw clips of how one version of this was done a few years ago in that version of Beowulf with Ray Winstone. It wasnt until I started looking at your captures when the Depp Shadows slide show started at the beginning of this month that I realized just how extraordinary some of the processing of the shots was, certainly for the pre-credits prologue. I'm not sure that this technique was used all that much in the rest of the movie. I would think primarily in close-ups involving Depp to transform his physicality and make his look more a part of the pervading design of the art direction (ultimately, presumably, all pointing back to Tim's sketches and paintings).
You probably heard that some site called the Vulture Crew or some such as named Depp Shadows the 2nd worst movie of 2012. I forget what won for worst movie. It was something I had never heard of.
G.
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You probably heard that some site called the Vulture Crew or some such as named Depp Shadows the 2nd worst movie of 2012.
Actually, no, I hadn't heard that. But then I don't even know what the Vulture Crew is, so... Though there are certainly plenty of sites on the Internet that make up all sorts of lists - some that even decide that some if not all of the films nominated for and even that win Oscars and other awards are the worst films of the year. And for the most part, even when I am aware of them, I don't pay them much attention. After all, anyone can create a site and make a list about anything - but all it does is reflect the site creator's opinion - just as I could make a site and declare the Depp/DS film the best film of 2012. Not that I actually believe it is. But then, I don't believe it's the 2nd worst film of 2012 either, so...
But getting back to the main topic, I don't *think* the same sort of technique that was used for Beowulf was employed with the DS film. At least I've never read or seen anything that indicates it was - and I've read all sorts of articles about the visual effects used for the film as well as seen all sorts of footage on the making of the film and the visual effects. I would think that if it was used, it might have come up somewhere. But who knows? Perhaps some sort of offshoot of the technique was used because several different offshoot techniques have been created since Beowulf was made. Though even at that, I haven't read or heard it mentioned.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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To say that Depp Shadows was one of the worst films of the year is ludicrous. The same goes for it being one of the best films, as you rightfully point out, MB.
It might make more sense if the Vulture Crew had a slew of fans on its editorial board... But, still...
There's so much that is wonderful about it. And so much that isn't. It's one of those "in the middle films," in my opinion, as I believe that the mixed reviews are pretty spot-on. I still can't help but wonder what the film might have looked like if it were pushed back to Fall 2012 instead. Perhaps we'd get to see Angelique's aged body as opposed to just the cracking doll death scene... That is something I would have loved.
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I wonder if the relaunched Hammer Films would consider doing a DS movie if we wrote to them?
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It might make more sense if the Vulture Crew had a slew of fans on its editorial board... But, still...
I suspect it might be more like they could have a slew of Burton haters. After all, there are hordes of them online. [snow_rolleyes]
I still can't help but wonder what the film might have looked like if it were pushed back to Fall 2012 instead. Perhaps we'd get to see Angelique's aged body as opposed to just the cracking doll death scene...
In all probability Angie's death wouldn't have turned out any differently had the film's release been delayed - and the only reason I say that is because, as explained in the "From Sketch to Screen" featurette, the whole cracking of her skin was a concept that Burton came up with on his own for the scene:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK001675.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/SK001675.jpg) for a 1920X1080 version)
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That's a pretty cool drawing by Burton. The DVD I got from Netflix had NO extras on it apart from some trailers. blech.
This is the site I mentioned in my earlier post, for those curious to see what was said:
http://www.vulture.com/2013/01/the-10-worst-movies-of-2012-critics-poll.html
Best, G.
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That's a pretty cool drawing by Burton. The DVD I got from Netflix had NO extras on it apart from some trailers. blech.
The "From Sketch to Screen" featurette was one of the pre-release featurettes that were made available online. Here's but one link to it:
Dark Shadows: From Sketch to Screen Featurette (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLjkuwEYyDc)
This is the site I mentioned in my earlier post, for those curious to see what was said
Somehow they had to conveniently pick and chose which critics to include for that list because even if one goes to the site that I never name, one can easily see that even with their consensus, there's no way DS could end up as the second worst film of 2012 based on critics' opinions. But then, as we well know, a lot of the sites that make up these lists have their own agendas - and hating on Burton is definitely one of them. ::) [sad3]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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As some have already noticed, the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board has had another batch of 7 new screen caps and set ups posted to it. And once again, just be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [snow_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Just wanted to say hello guys! I am have totally missed you all. I hope everyone is good. I am really excited to get the blu ray soon. Thanks for all the great info. Later I plan on writing a note to let everyone know why I have been absent so long....till then....have a great day!!!
I love and have missed you all so much!!!!
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And I'm honestly surprised no one seems to have picked up on a few things that either I've pointed out or have come up on their own on the forum in some other fashion recently. :tsk: ;)
Particularly, I'm really surprised that no one seems to remember that the two major trailers for the film implied a certain moment that supposedly took place in this sequence -
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0113DS2012_0.jpg)
1776 - Josette (to Barnabas): 'Promise me we'll be together
forever.'
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0114DS2012_0.jpg)
1776 - Barnabas: 'God as my witness, Josette...I swear it.'
- yet that moment doesn't appear in the film (and quite possibly never was supposes to appear - but that's a whole other point). And I could easily understand it if the moment merely appeared in, say, a couple of the TV ads that only ran a few times - but what is supposedly missing was practically pounded into our heads for two months in the two major trailers and their shorter TV ad counterparts. :)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Do you mean the shot of Josette and Barnabas embracing?
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The correct sequence from the trailers/ads ([thumb]), but the wrong moment ([sad7]) because they do embrace and kiss in the film. But we're finally on the right track! :)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Well, I only saw the thing once, but I don't remember the sequence that these frames are from at all. In fact, quite a number of the bits of dialogue and scenes from the pre-credits prologue, I don't recall. But since I only saw it once and can't go back and check, I don't feel I have any right to comment. Particularly given how low-grade my short term memory is these days.
G.
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Particularly, I'm really surprised that no one seems to remember that the two major trailers for the film implied a certain moment that supposedly took place in this sequence -
(images removed)
- yet that moment doesn't appear in the film (and quite possibly never was supposes to appear - but that's a whole other point). And I could easily understand it if the moment merely appeared in, say, a couple of the TV ads that only ran a few times - but what is supposedly missing was practically pounded into our heads for two months in the two major trailers and their shorter TV ad counterparts. :)
MB, I've been trying to figure out what you're referring to here. The only thing I can think of is that maybe Barnabas doesn't say "My love" in the final film. What else is going on in the trailer that I'm not picking up on???
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You have hit exactly on it, KMR. [snow_wink] And what's most interesting about that is that I don't believe Barnabas was ever supposed to say "My love". If one looks closely at Depp, one can see that what we're actually being shown is the end of Barnabas saying "swear it" - right down to the exact same smile at the end. Apparently the "My love" was merely dubbed in the trailer to quickly establish the Barnabas/Josette relationship. And while it's probably the most blatant example, it isn't the only place in the trailer where words are dubbed that don't appear in the film and that weren't said in the footage that's accompanies the dub. But more on that once the 2012 DS Film Slideshow reaches the scene with the next example.
Very good, KMR! [thumb]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Wow, that's interesting, MB. I just had the movie running again last night (watched intently up to Vicki's arrival at Collinwood, then let it play in the background while I was doing chores in the living room). I didn't actually catch that then, just deduced it today from reading your quotes and viewing the trailer. (Don't have all the dialog memorized yet... [snow_wink]) And now I'm going to have to watch the trailer some more, and the movie some more, to figure out what the other differences are!!!
BTW, is it just me, or are Johnny's eyes exceptionally dark in that scene? Is he wearing dark contact lenses?
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It has certainly been a while but I finally got the chance to post 7 new screen caps and set ups to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. And as always, be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [snow_wink]
And speaking of the film, it's interesting how Angelique's fate in the climax is actually hinted at in the scene where her forehead cracks slightly after she witnesses Barnabas and Vicki kissing at The Happening:
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS03470.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/BTS03470.jpg) for a 1920X1080 version)
Plus, I wonder if this boat is the same one that was written about as having been a landmark but was purchased for the film?
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/CLW02097.jpg)
I haven't had the chance to hunt down the link to that article. But whether it is or it isn't, is that boat even seen in the film? If so, I can't actually place when.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I am happy you posted this big-ass picture of Green as Ange, it reminds me of how much I enjoyed her flawless & fantastic portrayal of Angelique. It makes me want to buy the DVD. I hope it goes on sale at an incredible price soon! Slightly OT, sorry for that.
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It doesn't look like that boat could have been used in the movie's opening sequence unless it was mostly done with CGI. Love the captures.
Depp has again been nominated for his work in the movie. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1302/S00424/nickelodeon-unveils-2013-kids-choice-awards-nominees.htm
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Slightly OT, sorry for that.
Nothing connected to the film is ever OT in this topic. [snow_wink]
Depp has again been nominated for his work in the movie.
Very interesting - especially when once again it's a nomination voted on by the people who'd supposedly ignored the film in droves. Well, once again, so much for those bloggers/journalists readings of the appeal of the film. [snow_rolleyes]
Thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [snow_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Another DS-related award nomination: Alice Cooper has been nominated for Best Cameo in a 2012 Film, by The Scorecard Review:
Best Cameo in a 2012 Film? Vote Now — 11th TSR Movie Awards (http://thescorecardreview.com/news/2013/02/15/best-cameo-in-a-2012-film-vote-now-11th-tsr-movie-awards/36888)
(Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise are also nominated for 21 Jump Street, among other nominees).
You can vote, though it looks like you have to register with your e-mail and I won't get a chance to do that until this evening. Good luck, Alice!
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Hey guys...sorry it's been a while. My father got sick last week with BLOG clots...he is much better now. WHEW. I sure hope things calm down from here on out...
Anyway, hello cousins. I was curious if we know how much DS has brought in with ticket sales/and DVD sales? Come MB....u have to know! :)
[snow_happy] to be back! :)
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Glad everything is okay now, Taeylor!
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with Liz stepping into Julia's role in the original show as Barn's ally and defender.
Hmm...Vicky and Maggie were squeezed into one person in the movie. I wonder if Liz and Julia are also actually one person, whom some evil spell caused to be separated at birth into two people. If so, the eventual joyous reintegration of Liz and Julia into one person is becoming less and less likely as time goes on.
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Hi Lydia, well, my take is that "Liz" and "Julia" in Depp Shadows are completely independent characters who just happen to have the same name as characters in the 1960s series "Dark Shadows."
The personalities, traits, aesthetics, etc. are so different from the 1960s versions that I don't even attempt to compare. The Helena Julia is more like a takeoff on the fabulous Bea Arthur's performance as "Maude" than it is somehow in any way a nod at what Grayson did in the series. I see zero relationship between Joan's characterization of Elizabeth and the character portrayed by Pfeiffer (who was the best thing in the movie, from this viewer's perspective).
I think this way as well about the characters as portrayed in "house of DS" although since it was the same actresses there was an element of "Parallel Time" about that redaction.
cheers, G.
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For me personally, I have much more of a problem with hoDS than I do with the Depp/DS film, and that's because with the Depp/DS film we were told almost at the outset that there would be many changes made to the characters and the situations. And just as was the case with the '91 DS, I have no problems keeping an open mind and being accepting of any blending, swapping, changing of personality traits of the various DS characters so long as the essence of the characters remain. And for me the essence of all the characters is there in the Depp/DS film even if there may be things about them that aren't the same as their counterparts on the original show.
On the other hand, the publicity for hoDS clearly went out of its way to purport that it was going to be a theatrical version of the daytime show with all the characters we'd come to love on the show. But that was most definitely not the case. What we got was a Hammerized blood and gore fest version of the daytime show which may have had the same actors mostly playing characters with the same names as their daytime counterparts - but it wasn't a theatrical version of the daytime show with all the characters we'd come to love on the show - especially when it came to Barnabas. It was a very different animal altogether from the daytime show.
Even with its comic touches and what have you, for me personally the Depp/DS film is far closer to the spirit of the original series than hoDS ever could be.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Dark Shadows has been nominated for Best Horror Film from the Jameson Empire Awards (from the UK magazine Empire). It's up against: Sightseers, Sinister (I haven't heard of these first two), The Cabin In The Woods, and The Woman In Black. This is one that fans can vote for, and the Awards will be announced on March 24. Good luck, DS!
The 2013 Awards Shortlist: Vote Now (http://www.empireonline.com/awards2013/)
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I'm not surprised that the film is nominated because Empire Magazine is another place that gave the film a good review. [snow_wink]
Thanks so much for the alert and the link, madscntst. [snow_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I hope I don't get banned from the board for this:
I'm in the pro-Depp Shadows camp, but I'm not sure I can say it's a better film than the genuinely scary Woman in Black!
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Yes, David, you're banned - pack your things and get out! [snow_mad]
But seriously, I've said this before but I really liked The Woman in Black too. [snow_smiley] Interestingly enough, though, is that a lot of the places that liked the Depp/DS film liked it better than TWiB (Entertainment Weekly being one of them) - and a lot of the same places that savaged the Depp/DS film also savaged TWiB (maybe they're just not horror fans).
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'm glad DS was nominated, but I doubt it will win. I think the inconsistent tone might work against it. It's a horror film, sort of. It's also a comedy, sort of. It's a romance.... I wonder if it will be enough of a horror film to actually take home the prize.
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I don't know what sort of a chance it has to win. I think it's hard to predict because the film was so much more popular in Europe than it was in the US and Empire is a European magazine. But regardless of how things pan out, even though it's a cliche to say it, it's still an honor that the film was simply nominated. [snow_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I finally got the chance to post another 7 new screen caps and set ups to the film's Complete This Phrase / Fill In The Blank(s) board. Please be careful of spoilers if you haven't already seen the film. [snow_wink]
I wonder if this boat is the same one that was written about as having been a landmark but was purchased for the film?
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/CLW02097.jpg)
I haven't had the chance to hunt down the link to that article.
I've been trying to locate the link but haven't come across it so far. But I will keep trying...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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No sign of Depp Shadows on HBO's schedule--it should be showing up soon!
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Isn't that shot of that wrecked boat meant to be what is left of the boat the Collins sailed in on?
Forgive me if I am belaboring the obvious.
I seem to recall a derelict 1950s boat having been bought for the movie during the pre-production period.
G.
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Depp Shadows comes to Cinemax on April 6--many airings are scheduled.
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I just heard that Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, which was savaged by way more critics far worse than the Depp/DS film was, and which only managed to gross $54.7 million domestically and a bit over $200 million worldwide, both less than the Depp/DS grossed, is getting a sequel! [snow_shocked]
The commentator on the entertainment show that reported this (EP Daily) was even more shocked than I was at the news. And his reasoning behind the sequel was that the only reason Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters must be getting one had to be because its foreign gross was more than $100 million. But obviously that can't be the reason because if it was, a lot more films would be getting sequels these days because more and more it seems like a lot of films' foreign grosses are much better than their domestic grosses have been - including the Depp/DS film. And, well, unless it's being kept way under wraps, no one is saying the Depp/DS film will be getting a sequel because it grossed more than $200 million foreign (one of these days I really do have to add up the foreign charts on Box Office Mojo because at this point it certainly isn't looking like WB is going to release a fully updated figure).
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Hi MB. I remember reading an article somewhere saying that the Hansel and Gretel 2013 movie cost something like 60 million (I could be wrong) which would be far less than DS' 150 million dollar budget. I doubt WB wants to do a DS sequel. Well since I said it, it may happen.
Johnny Depp won at the kids-choice awards. http://www.justjared.com/2013/03/23/kids-choice-awards-winners-list-2013/
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More on Johnny winning the award. Hopefully here will be some video where he may have said something. http://www.justjared.com/2013/03/23/johnny-depp-kids-choice-awards-2013-winner/
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kids-choice-awards-winners-hunger-430560
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Very interesting that Depp did actually win. Thanks for all the links, jimbo. [snow_smiley]
And as for a Depp/DS sequel, well, who knows what WB's thinking is? And actually, the only person on the production end of things who was even talking sequel was Graham King. We've never had any idea if anyone else was even the slightest bit interested in a sequel. In fact, Burton went on record more than once saying that he normally has no interest whatsoever in them. Though I strongly suspect that with each passing day WB has been looking at the box office figures for DS and only wishing they could repeat something like them with their latest releases because their last five releases in a row have done terribly - and not just terribly domestically, but terribly worldwide. DS may not have been as big a success domestically as some may have hoped, but at least it was a worldwide success. And remember that that $150 million budget figure at places like Box Office Mojo is merely a guesstimate that fell into a range of guesstimates between $100 million and $175 million - but when Burton went on record as saying the film was already making a profit, using the 2.5 rule of a film's budget vs. its gross becoming profitable, we figured that given the gross at the time of Burton's remarks, the actual budget of the film had to be much closer to Variety's guesstimate of a $100 million budget for the film to have already been profitable at that point.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Good points MB. I guess it comes down to if Johnny Depp wants to do a sequel. I would think his company has a deal in place for a sequel so obtaining the rights should not be an issue. I would think TB is out in any sequel. Plus the movie is still making money. As we already know Cinemax will be playing the movie in April and in addition to earning money the movie may find a new audience possibly wanting a sequel. http://www.cinemax.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=727564
I'm sure everyone here knows how I feel about this movie. I think another reboot on the small screen may be a better option. We shall see.
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I will always be in the pro-Depp Shadows camp. It's a flawed but fun homage with a brilliant opening and awesome visuals.
Plus great moments here and there.
But I'd still have preferred a straight horror movie.
My dream: HBO does John August's original script as a mini-series--HBO & Warners are part of the same company.
Regardless of what happens, it's obvious that the DS franchise is alive and well.
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David I like your idea of having a straight horror DS movie and using August's script.
My question is which camp would be pushing for a new DS project? WB may be thinking of a sequel but would JD's company be pitching a new DS project in any form including a sequel or is it back to DCP to do that.
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Johnny Depp was just voted favorite movie actor for Burton's DS in the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards!
Might this increase the chance of another movie?
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I think it's quite likely that Johnny's contract with DCP for the rights to DS include at least one sequel. And I would be VERY surprised if the contract with WB didn't include WB in any sequel. From what I understand, it's rather common for sequel rights to be locked in. After all, every studio is always aiming for a successful franchise. Even for something that might look like a long shot for big success, why would they want to take a chance on a sequel going to the competition just in case it happens to hit it big?
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i put the video of johnny depp getting the kids choice award on my facebook page.
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Thanks cousin KMR for your post. I would assume then if WB and JD passes on a DS sequel, it would fall back on DCP to pitch a new DS project rather than JD's company to try to pitch a new project under its developmental projects i.e. a new small screen series. As MB pointed out WB could certainly use a hit. The DS movie probably returned a small profit but that's better than the losses it is taking on this year.
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Even though it was a success, the DS film may not have made a huge profit at the worldwide box office. But by the time the worldwide sales/rental figures for the DVDs/Blu-rays, on demand, and cable showings are factored in, its profits are expected to be in the hundreds of millions. WB may have been disappointed with the domestic box office take - but the overall showing of the film will give them a tidy profit. [snow_wink] There will definitely be smiling faces in the WB board room over the film's bottom line. [snow_smiley] At this point, though, it's looking like there will be a lot of frowning in the board room over this year's releases so far. Because the worldwide box office numbers are so low, unless something miraculous happens, it's looking like even once the worldwide sales/rental figures for the DVDs/Blu-rays, on demand, and cable showings are factored in for some of this year's films, many of them will still be straining to make a profit. [snow_undecided] That's why I said that I strongly suspect that with each passing day WB has been looking at the figures for DS and only wishing this year's releases could repeat them. [snow_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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If there is going to be a sequel do we think WB has learned its lessons? Will the studio be better prepared on how to market the movie? It would need somehow to introduce the first movie in the sequel's trailers for those who haven't seen the movie. Additionally has it learned you need to have teasers well in advance of the movie? If there is a sequel I just hope it will be a more serious take than the 2012 version.
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With Barnabas no longer a fish-out-of-water and with Angelique out of the picture, it would be hard to try to pack in as much "comedy" into a sequel, especially given the current cast of characters and their rather serious issues -- Unless of course they wanted to make Quentin a buffoon.
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If there is going to be a sequel do we think WB has learned its lessons?
Well, as we've said, there is no indication that there will be a sequel, so a lot of the points we're making here are probably completely moot. But believe it or not, I somehow doubt WB regrets marketing the Depp/DS film the way they did. And the reason I say that is because I was just looking around the film's pages on IMDb and, surprisingly enough (some might even say shockingly enough considering how most of us would agree that the marketing misrepresented the actual tone of the film), I noticed that three separate aspects of the marketing were nominated for Golden Trailer awards. They didn't win. But why do I suspect that the nominations alone completely reinforced for WB that the way they went had definitely been the way to go.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Something written in the latest SG Update reminded me that I forgot to mention yesterday that I was surprised that no one has corrected the dates in the film's description on IMDb. It still indicates that the events of the prologue take place in 1752 and 1772 even though in the film they take place in 1760, 1761, and 1776. And it's certainly not like changes haven't been made to the film's pages since the film was released because many things have been updated/corrected. [easter_undecided]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Love it or hate it, Depp Shadows begins airing on Cinemax tonight: many showings are scheduled.
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Just saw the flick. All I can say is that I did not like it so much. [easter_angry]
[spoiler]Between Carolyn being a werewolf, Victoria/Maggie, and Dr. Hoffman's last moment in the film, I was completely turned off. Not to mention that Dark Shadows was never a story to rely on CG and action. The comedy was misplaced, I only chortled once and I can't even remember what it was that I did that at -- a comment made by "Angie" (ANGIE, REALLY? ugh) [easter_angry]. One compliment goes to Depp for actually focusing on the Barnabas character; he seemed to have gotten it (when he wasn't making asinine comments for cheap thrills). [easter_smiley] Pfeiffer was miscast and did the best she could. [easter_undecided] Eva Green overdid Angelique -- Angeliques scariness was her subtleness in her actions -- Green was doing the BIG BAD WITCH routine, which was not even an attempt at creepiness, just bitchieness. The sex scene and puking scenes -- totally uncalled for. Didn't Barnabas and Angelique always have a sexual tension after Martinique? [easter_huh] Bonham Carter almost had Hoffman down, but failed. [easter_rolleyes] Burton seemed to have wanted a cartoon effect and he did actually get that down.[/spoiler]
So, I can honeslty now criticize the move with authority now. It basically sucked.
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Cinemax promo for the movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnMjYeqXerA
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Thanks so much for sharing the link, jimbo. [easter_smiley]
It's also nice to see that DS is heavily featured in Cinemax 2013 Spring Preview Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYq1AS6ImUY), where it also has the distinction of being only one of two films to include a clip with dialogue. [easter_wink] (And it's also nice to see clips of Banshee - though including them only makes me miss the series more than I already do, seeing as it won't be back until 2014. [easter_sad])
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Excellent MB. I think WB could learn from Cinemax on how to construct a proper trailer. I haven't seen Banshee yet. Looks good.
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Great trailer, jimbo. Thanks for sharing it.
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Last night I posted on Facebook that Depp Shadows was about to air on Cinemax.
"Is anyone else watching?" I asked.
I got 71 opinions about the film--it does get people talking!
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does no one learn...
so now we're back to a "trailer" featuring the camp/comedic aspects of the film??? teen werewolves and flying green puke?
isn't that what turned so many people off in the first place? that definitely wouldn't make me want to see the film. [easter_rolleyes]
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I agree Michael.
fyi Word and Film listed the movie 5th of Tim Burton's best movies.
http://www.wordandfilm.com/2013/04/through-the-big-eyes-of-burton-5-of-tim-burton%E2%80%99s-best/
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It's excellent to see the film considered to be among Burton's 5 best! Thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [easter_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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After all these months, Box Office Mojo just added $6 million to the overseas box office. The site now says the film's worldwide gross is $245.5 million.
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Great (if belated) news, thanks David-Elijah!
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It's very nice to see that BOM has actually updated the foreign numbers again, and thanks so much for alerting us, David. [easter_smiley] However, I still think the foreign figures are underreported because back at the end of July when I tallied and posted a list of the foreign figures that were known to us at the time:
So, given that last we officially heard the foreign gross was $156,800,000, at the very least the foreign gross has to be $161,358,837, especially when the foreign numbers through July 29th have yet to be reported. And as of this past weekend DS' worldwide gross must have been at the very least $240,709,366. Though even beyond the foreign numbers through July 29th, it has to be more because of all the countries that haven't been reported on BOM.
Plus all that was even before DS opened in Venezuela. And let's also not forget that DS was still playing in some US theaters long after WB stopped updating its domestic box office. [easter_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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it's interesting how Angelique's fate in the climax is actually hinted at in the scene where her forehead cracks slightly after she witnesses Barnabas and Vicki kissing at The Happening
And as I was preparing the quotes/captures for the slideshow this month, I noticed that it's also interesting that from the very outset of seeing Angelique in 1972 we're shown that it's as if her retained youth and beauty are simply a mask she's presenting to the world, which is indeed exactly what she is doing -
(http://www.dsboards.com/DeppDS/facemask.jpg)
- though without knowing the ending, we certainly wouldn't really pick up on that so soon in the film.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I'm watching the original series, and just finished episode 346 (Vicki's dream of being in Josette's room with Barnabas and Julia; Julia bringing flowers to Vicki and them wilting after Barnabas touches them). There isn't really anything plot wise that made me think of the Burton movie, but the overall tone--and in particular some of the actors' mannerisms--really struck me as being key to the essence of the movie. Just the whole weirdness of it all, and the melodrama mixed with humor. THIS must have been what Burton was after, and I think he did very well in that regard.
One other thing came to me: A major criticism of the movie is that Vicki drops out of it for an extended period of time. Well, part of what Burton said he wanted was to emulate the episodic, soap opera aspect of the show. And on the original show, characters would frequently disappear for several days, often even for weeks at a time. For instance, Carolyn just showed up today after being gone a long time.
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Re: Episodic Drop-Outs
Well, that was not something that needed to be repeated in the film. It was a necessity for the TV show, but certainly not for the film. "Victoria" was a great character who deserved a lot more screentime. I doubt it was stylistic. Most of her scenes probably ended up being cut, because they wanted to focus more on the "first... last... everything" angle.
In HoDS, Maggie was featured prominently. I don't think anyone felt she was missing. Dan Curtis made the on-screen relationship make sense, though it could have been a little more fleshed out. But in Depp Shadows, the character just sort of disappears for the whole time the relationship should have been building. For the first time, it actually worked out for Barnabas, which I love, but the viewers didn't get to see any of the build-up. More of the Josette-Maggie relationship/take over would have been welcome.
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There are a lot of positive reviews posted for the film at Amazon, with 5 & 4 star reviews far outweighing one star reviews.
It seems the only people who really hated the film are those who went in expecting a carbon copy of the original.
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it isn't the only place in the trailer where words are dubbed that don't appear in the film and that weren't said in the footage that's accompanies the dub. But more on that once the 2012 DS Film Slideshow reaches the scene with the next example.
The current scene depicted in the slideshow -
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0520DS2012_0.jpg)
- contains the moment where the trailers once again deviate from the actual film. But before I point out what's different, I'll give someone the chance to point it out for us. [easter_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Doesn't she say, "Hello Barnabas, remember me?" or something like that? And to be fair, I don't know if Eva Green ever said "remember me" at all during the entire film (but I also was convinced for awhile that Gully McGrath said "I don't like him" in the trailer, vs. the "I like him" he utters in the film).
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I saw last night Dark Shadows starts June 8th on HBO. Bout time....
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Doesn't she say, "Hello Barnabas, remember me?" or something like that? And to be fair, I don't know if Eva Green ever said "remember me" at all during the entire film
Yup, that's it. And I knew that if anyone would pick up on that, it would be you. [easter_cheesy] And just as with the Barnabas "My love" line from earlier in the trailers, Angie's lips don't even match her asking "Remember me?" Plus, you're also right that she doesn't even say "remember me" at all during the entire film, so once again it's a dub specifically to make things in the trailers clearer for the audience.
The other day I happened across one of the latter set of TV ads, and I believe there was something in it that also isn't in the film. But more on that when I find the time to research it better...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Sort of OT but not really because we went through the same sort of foolishness with the Depp/DS film:
You've got to love the Hollywood prognosticators, many of whom are now declaring that The Hangover III is DOA because in its first two days it hasn't made as much as either of the first two films did (though it's merely less than about $5 million behind the first). Only in these wacko's deluded minds could a film that has so far brought in an estimated $26.3 million in two days be DOA! ::) But then, as I said, we know only too well the type of things many of them said about the Depp/DS film. It's amazing how they live in their own little worlds where if a film doesn't meet the expectations that they made up for it themselves, then it's DOA. [sad3]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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there were several such dubs in the trailers...
I recall one where liz tells barnabas to "fight on...fight on FOR US". in the film she indeed tells him to fight on but the dramatic "for us" part is never uttered.
and wasn't it already noted that several lines spoken during the initial barnabas/josette flashback sequence in the trailer were never in the film either? come to think of it did josette even speak during that part of the film at all?
and the scene at the breakfast table where barnabas states "my beloved Collinwood...the Collins family!" in the trailer is a verbal pastiche of other lines from the film.
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another line from the trailer where angie tells barnabas "i'll destroy you...AND YOUR FAMILY" never shows up either.
she just threatened him.
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Showing scenes in trailers that weren't in the movie (because they ended up on the cutting room floor) is nothing new. There were scenes from NoDS, especially during the seance scene, that were in trailers but didn't appear in the film. Nothing changes in Hollywood. It's all tease and bait-and-switch.
Gerard
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did josette even speak during that part of the film at all?
Yes. From January 13th's installment of the film's slideshow:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0113DS2012_0.jpg)
1776 - Josette (to Barnabas): 'Promise me we'll be
together forever.'
[spoiler]Which sets up the end of the film[/spoiler]
and the scene at the breakfast table where barnabas states "my beloved Collinwood...the Collins family!" in the trailer is a verbal pastiche of other lines from the film.
That's true - and it's not the only example of such a pastiche because there's also the one that accompanies Angie's "Hello, Barnabas. Remember me?" - namely his answer, which is "Witch, you cursed me to be this hideous creature." The "Witch" and the "you cursed me to be this hideous creature" come from dialogue from two totally different scenes. All of which brings up an intriguing possibility: rather than being dubs - meaning Depp, Green, and Pfeiffer went to a studio to record bits for the trailers, what if all the bits of dialogue in the trailers were assembled from scenes that were indeed shot? It's just that what doesn't appear in the film ("My love." "Remember me?" Etc.) is actually taken from bits of dialogue from deleted scenes, so that's why we're unfamiliar with it.
It's a fascinating thought, anyway...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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That's quite possible, MB. And it would be fun to be able to see everything that was filmed.
I also remember the news that Bella had to go in and dub some dialogue after filming was completed. Perhaps that was for promotional purposes?
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I believe it's very common for a significant amount of dialogue to be rerecorded ("looped") after photography is finished. There can be lots of reasons that the original sound from on set isn't clean enough to use in the final soundtrack.
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Oh, I know that, KMR. But it's fun to speculate - especially if some of the lines in the trailer were written especially for promotional purposes.
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Why does AMC think the movie made just a little money in its answering a video question if there is a potential for a sequel? So misinformed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJJKh678fKo
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My understanding is that it did make "just a little money" at the box office, considering the old "having to earn back twice its budget" formula.
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Actually, what I think he's more misinformed about is the critic and audience response. Though not all that long ago we addressed the misconceptions in those two areas, so we needn't get into it all over again.
Also, to me it looks more like his own opinion of the film colored his response more than the actual facts of how the film did. But then, how often have we also seen people twist the facts to suit their own views on DS, be it the original show, the original films, the '91 show, or the '04 pilot? Sadly, all too often (as in: the original show was canceled due to bad ratings, NoDS was a complete box office failure, the '91 show was a ratings disaster, the '04 pilot was totally unsalvageable - and those just scratch the surface). [ghost_rolleyes]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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People trash DS because it's a soap.
Look at Susan Lucci: a huge celebrity with a huge fanbase: she has no problem finding work outside of AMC.
Yet the press treats her like a joke because she's a soap star: same with DS.
But as long as DS products continue to turn a profit as they do, the franchise will survive.
Didn't the head of NBC later admit that cancelling the 91 series was a big mistake?
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I agree with David. I think there has been a long hatred of DS by horror "experts" because it was a soap. It doesn't matter that it was the first soap of its kind and years ahead of any of the rest airing. It set standards to this day. Interview With the Vampire wouldn't have been written if it wasn't for DS (and I'll stand by that). Without DS, there wouldn't have been the insipid but highly popular and profitable Twilight series. I'll stand by that, too. So much of what horror "experts" enjoy today is because of DS, and because it was a soap, with all its warts, they hate that. That's why they hate the Depp/Burton movie. It brought back all that came because of the original. They like what came, but they hate the source. Why? I don't know. Maybe it was because of the soap perspective. Who knows?
Gerard
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I think almost all vampires that have come since Barnabas have been inspired by him to some level.
There are a lot of similarities between Barnabas and Angel from Buffy and his own spin off series. His family background (domineering father, kind but weak mother and a sweet much younger sister), his origins in the past, even his vampire maker Darla (a beautiful but wicked blonde with an obsession for him and her own complicated issues of morality and redemption) can be compared to Angelique.
Barnabas was the first real romantic vampire, with issues of morality. Before that, the only other one was thirty odd years ago with Daughter of Dracula. Dan Curtis invented the modern vampire, with romanticism, sexuality and shades of grey in his morality and a desire for humanity.
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I think there has been a long hatred of DS by horror "experts" because it was a soap.
This is interesting. I have not come across any Horror fans that expressly hate Dark Shadows. There are a ton of fans of classic horror who love it. Then there are those who aren't sure about it because it is a soap. And there are others that have never really heard of it. So, I would be interested in knowing who these "experts" are... Now, I am certain there are some folks in the general entertainment media that look down on it because of its soap origins, but I have not personally come across this is the realm of Horror. Then again, I don't dabble in any circles that enjoy modern horror. My love for the genre basically ends at the early Carpenter films, but there are some select "modern" titles I enjoy, nothing that I am a fanatic about, however. [easter_grin]
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It is clear to me that the person answering the question limited his response to the Depp/Burton movie. I am puzzled why the supporters of this movie would bring up the o/s. I agree with Cousin Barnabas' last post.
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I don't necessarily know about "experts," and I don't know if I would go so far as use the word "hate," but there have definitely been horror Web sites that have looked down their noses at DS. Evidence for that has been well represented on the forum through the years, with many such sites having been linked to and their writings about DS lamented about. [ghost_sad] Though Cousin_Barnabas is right that there have been more people in the general entertainment media who've looked down on DS.
And I can't speak for others, but the only reason I brought up the original series was in the broader context of DS in general and how there's definitely a pattern of how those who aren't fond of it often seem to resort to misrepresentations in regard to its various versions, so misrepresentations in connection with the Depp/DS film is, sadly, simply more of the same. Not to mention but more additions to the forum's laments through the years...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Yes DS certainly has been a victim of misrepresentations. In a good way no one apparently is watching this video as it only has 18 views since two days ago. But he does represent the feelings of many out there, perhaps not the majority. I don't know of course if he is also has a bias to the original series.
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I received an email from Amazon saying that the film is on sale. $8.49 for the DVD. I don't know if this is new, but I figured I should let everyone know, if interested.
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There is a Huffington Post piece (actually, it's dated yesterday but it was only just posted to one of the Depp forums I visit), talking about a topic that we've discussed many, many times- the fact that the media is often too quick to call a film a "bomb" when it actually made a decent amount at the box office!
Happily, DS is listed as #3, and Depp's other often maligned film, The Tourist, comes in at #1 on their list [easter_smiley]
Box Office 'Bombs' That Grossed More Money Than You Realized (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/box-office-bombs_n_3386236.html?ir=Entertainment)
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Thanks madscntst for posting the article. It is stated that the budget for the movie is $150 Million. However, we still don't know if this includes the marketing costs which could be substantial perhaps up to another $100 Million. Perhaps we will never know the truth.
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members of the media, film critics and, of course, the fanbase, has had this film in it's crosshairs from the outset. perhaps the depp/burton pairing simply inspires a particular brand of hostility from certain camps who revel in any perceived "failures" on their part.
and certainly the "fans" still haven't piped down a year later. over on the FB boards it's still bemoaned as if it was released yesterday and it's mere mention inevitably leads to the same deluge of complaints that it wasn't "serious".
unfortunately this discontent has woven itself into the very fabric of the DS culture where it remains as a sour, unpleasant undercurrent in the whole thing. it's never going to go away. [easter_rolleyes]
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I see several people posting comments that they enjoyed Depp Shadows. There's been a "conspiracy" of sorts to label the film a bomb that was hated by all.
It's sad to see that so many long time fans participate in this.
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it does have it's supporters. lots at this board to be sure...
but negativity tends to drown out positivity and the malcontents tend to dominate conversations on the subject.
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I've been without Internet for a couple of days, so I'm only now seeing the link to the Huffington Post piece. Thanks so much for posting the link, madscntst. [ghost_smiley]
As for the budget listed in the article, remember that that $150 million amount was taken from Box Office Mojo and is only a guesstimate. But based on what the current gross was when Tim Burton remarked in the NYT that the film was already making a profit, we figured that the budget had to have been closer to $100. Though, yes, jimbo, I really do believe we will probably never know what the film ultimately cost WB because studios just don't release those figures. In fact, they hide those figures in 100 foot thick steal vaults that are buried 500 miles below the surface of the earth, and they surround the entrances to the access shafts with gigantic motes filled with millions of hungry piranha. Or so it's been rumored. [ghost_grin] But you get the picture. [ghost_wink] To say the least, they don't want anyone to ever know...
And as for the discontent over the film that still haunts some corners of fandom, well, perhaps we should never say never as far as it going away because there used to be a huge amount of discontent surrounding NoDS. Believe it or not, it used to be disliked in some corners of fandom just about as much as the Depp/DS film is now. But a funny thing happened when attitudes changed over time. And nowadays there's a seemingly ever increasing amount of fans who actually believe NoDS to be far superior to hoDS. So, I suppose we can never really predict what just might happen...
(And as a sideline, given the complete foolishness that was spouted about The Hangover III's box office figures before its opening weekend was even complete, it's really no surprise to see it included on the article's list.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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[easter_grin]
I think those pihrana at the WB vaults are meant for the IRS!
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As well as anyone who has a piece of their films. [ghost_cheesy]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I wasn't around at the time of the HoDS/NoDS releases but i find it hard to imagine them inspiring the sort of apoplectic, angry, almost hysterical reactions that have surrounded the film.
things have cooled off to some extent but the subject still generates very bitter emotions. I doubt i'll hear the word "travesty" used as often for anything else in my life.
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The tirades against NoDS were more so between the '80s and early '90 when fanzines were still quite popular and the primary way in which DS fans communicated with each other - though it did carry over into the early days of online fandom in the early-to-mid '90s. And while it probably didn't reach quite the same level of hysteria that the Facebook rants against the Depp/DS film did, at times it was just as apoplectic. (Primarily driven by the contingent of fandom that believes Barnabas IS the end all and be all of DS and without him nothing can ever hope to be DS. But, of course, that's a whole other discussion for an entirely different topic.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I didn't know there was such vitriol against NoDS. I saw it in the theater when it came out, a double-feature with HoDS in a semi-second run. I was 14. It had none of our familiar characters from the show. Yes, a few of the names were the same, but not the people. Did that disappoint me as a die-hard, glad-to-have-this-a-year-after-it-was-gone fan? It didn't. I found the film creepy, atmospheric, edge-of-your-seek tenseful and spooky. My only criticism was that it became confusing at times, and it was only later that I discovered that was because of the editing blood-letting mandated by the MGM PTB's. It was a well-told ghost story (even with the cuts). So it surprises me that there were so many, well, maybe not many, but at least very vocal detractors regarding the film. And I don't think that either HoDS or NoDS was a "better" film. Both utilized a different form of approach. HoDS was blatant, including the use of vivid color; NoDS was subtle with subdued color, for example. Two entirely different mediums.
Gerard
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interesting about HoDS/NoDS...
while widely acknowledged to be flawed(largely blamed on studio editing)those films almost seem regarded as sacrosanct today.
almost anything involving the original cast in fact seems to be almost above reproach. for instance one almost never, ever hears anyone being remotely critical of the audiodramas because of their original cast association.
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By the way, if you haven't seen NoDS, or if you haven't seen it in a long time, you can watch it, in parts on a website. I think you know what it is. I'm not saying to you what it is because I'm trying to be suttle to you in case you-know-who finds out and calls out the army of lawyers and threatening letters. You know how he makes sure anyone posting anything that takes away even imagined money forces postings to take a you-turn.
Gerard
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MB I thought I was getting somewhere but I got nowhere. I made an inquiry to Mojo to see if its budget figure (150 Million) for the DS movie included marketing costs. They sent me an email response indicating that its figure did not include any marketing costs. They did not expand much further. So all we know is that Mojo has the budget at 150 Million, Deadline has it between 150-175 Million. Then you have to factor a minimum of $50 Million more on marketing. I think when the movie crossed $200 Million it began to see a profit not including the DVD sales etc... Far from it being a "bomb" or "disaster" financially that is.
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Also remember that Variety had the budget at $100 million and The Hollywood Reporter had it at $125. But, yeah, the most important thing is the film was far from any sort of financial failure - especially considering its box office is still under-reported - and then there's the worldwide DVD/Blu-ray sales to factor in. [ghost_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Lucky timing!! I moved a week ago. I had Verizon FiOS at the old place, but that was unavailable at the new one, so I switched back to Comcast xfinity. I didn't have any extra "pay" channels on the previous set-up, but the new bundle came with HBO and STARZ. And, I was checking the schedule, and what should I find on HBO but Dark Shadows!! I recorded it today, but haven't had a chance to watch yet. I guess it's almost a year since I saw it, so I'm anxious to refresh my memory and check out a lot of the details I've been reading about from everyone else since then.
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What great timing, Josette. [ghost_smiley]
I'm anxious to refresh my memory and check out a lot of the details I've been reading about from everyone else since then.
When you get the chance to watch, try to pay attention to some of the things Roger does in his early scenes. Either on the 15th or 16th (whichever day I get the chance to get into a scene that will be skipped in the slideshow between those two days) I plan to make a post in the film's slideshow topic about Roger's mannerisms. He does quite a few things that could be up for interesting interpretation, and I've been waiting to get into them until just about the halfway point in the film.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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one almost never, ever hears anyone being remotely critical of the audiodramas because of their original cast association.
One thing that has to be said about the audio dramas, they have attracted a following of fans who've never seen the original show. Go to the Big Finish site and read the posts. You don't hear about people saying I never watched DS but I read the Ross novels or the Gold Key comics. I'm not sure about the current comic series. I'm sure the Vampirella crossover was bought by a large number of people who didn't care about DS.
When I went to the festivals though, I'd hear quite a few people criticizing the CDs. Some buy them simply to have them, something I fail to understand.
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Depp and his box office clout even with the DS movie
http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2013/06/johnny-depp-and-others-take-a-paycut-for-passion-projects
Re: 91 series Warren Littlefield would have cancelled the series no matter what NBC's relationship was with Curtis?
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It would have been nice had they reported the latest updated worldwide gross. And I love how they make it seem as if DS was one of Depp's least successful films - but even subtracting its entire foreign gross, it's still among his Top 10 most successful in the US. But then, what else have we come to expect but inaccuracies and negative spin? [ghost_rolleyes] But be all that as it may, thanks so much for the link, jimbo. [ghost_smiley]
(And, yes, Littlefield definitely had the '91 DS in his site. However, it wasn't alone because he had several of former NBC president Brandon Tartikoff's pet projects in his site that year and canceled every one of them. Though, apparently, DS was the only show he came to regret cancelling. Not that that's much consolation. [ghost_sad])
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I caught the writer's underreporting the film's box office success and that is unfortunate and inexcusable. My take was that he was aware of the perception out there that the movie wasn't a financial success so in that context it was a positive. It's hard to find a DS article without any inaccuracies and mispresentations.
To relive the 91 series' cancellation is bringing back some real bad memories. But it also brings back how hard we fought to keep the show on the air.
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According to this Forbes writer the 245 Million dollars earned at the box office did not cover the movie's production costs. http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/06/26/johnny-depp-and-britney-spears-fail-to-make-the-2013-celebrity-100/
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That Forbes writer has been making the rounds of the various entertainment shows for the last few days practically proclaiming the death of Depp's career. I began wondering which guesstimate she was using for DS, figuring she had to be using one of the biggest ones - and sure enough on one of the shows she proclaimed the budget for the film was $175 million, which is the biggest guesstimate there is on a legitimate Web site. So, sure, if she wants to use that one, there would be no way DS made back its money and turned a profit based on boxoffice alone because it would have had to have made like $430 million before that could have even begun to happen. But there is no way she can know for sure that that was the budget for the film because, as we've stressed time and again with these people, WB just isn't about to give out that figure and everything that's been reported from $100 million to $175 million are all guesstimates. Plus, I would believe Tim Burton when he says the film made a profit (no matter how small) before I would believe someone like the Forbes writer who obviously has an agenda with Depp and who apparently picked the guesstimate she thought would best prove her point. But then, so what else is new with some of these writers.
(Of course, we might also recall that Forbes gave the film a positively scathing review back in May of last year. To say it was excessively harsh and extremely vitriolic in its opinions of both Depp and Burton would be an understatement!)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Hi MB. I am a bit confused. If we used $150 million as the movie's budget, the movie would still have needed to gross over $400 million to break even and show a profit? I thought we had surmised that the movie did make a profit so I am thrown off by the $430 million figure.
In either event it would be nice if that writer disclosed her sources/data that she relied on to support her remarks.
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It's extremely likely that she has the exact same sources that we all have: the various guesstimates on Web sites like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Box Office Mojo, etc. And as I've said in the past, when it comes to these articles, whether they be at Forbes, Entertainment Weekly, or dozens of other Web sites, it's so easy to pick the guesstimate that most serves the agenda the writer wants to put forth. (Remember how I mentioned last year that the people who wanted to claim Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance was a huge flop picked the high end guesstimates of its budget, and the ones who wanted to stress that it did indeed make a profit picked the guesstimates on the low end? So who was right? Who knows?) And like I've also said, secrecy rules at the studios. (Remember that vault buried miles under the earth with the topside moat filled with piranha? [ghost_wink]) People who work at the studios aren't slipping out the real budget/accounting figures for any film. If they were even suspected of doing so, they'd be kicked out on their asses faster than they knew what hit them.
As for the DS film, yes, more than one source has reported that the film made a profit. So it all depends on who you want to believe. Though at least when it comes to Burton as a source, he was presumably close enough to the film to know, unlike the people who are pulling guesstimates out of a hat and spinning whatever agenda they want to from there.
And as far as the profitability of any film goes, many use the 2X to 2.5X rule, meaning a film doesn't become profitable from box office alone until it's made back 2 to 2.5 times its budget. That's why I've been saying that for the DS film to have already been profitable when Burton said it was, the budget for the film has to have been much closer to the $100 million guesstimate than the $175 million one.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Thanks so much for the clarification MB. I think WB has been pretty silent in the media as to how it performed unlike Disney's John Carter where it told the media it had to write it off as a loss. As you said we may never know.
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There should probably be no doubt that the DS film became profitable - particularly once the worldwide DVD/Blu-ray sales/rentals and on demand figures were factored in. A film doesn't always become profitable by box office alone. But that sort of logic didn't fit in with the Forbes writer's agenda, so of course it's not touched upon. [ghost_nowink]
(As for John Carter, even its lowest budget guesstimates were huge, so there wasn't much Disney could do but admit they had to write it off because the fact that they did wasn't a secret to anyone.)
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I was just over on IMDb checking out the correct name for a character who's going to be featured in the 2012 DS Film Slideshow for July and I noticed that the film was nominated for three more related awards:
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Awards:
Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress: Chloë Grace Moretz
Best Production Design: Rick Heinrichs
Sadly, neither won - and in the case of Rick Heinrichs' production design, that's terrible a shame because his work on the film was truly magnificent! But of course, it was still fantastic to see that both Chloe Moretz and Heinrichs were nominated.
And:
BMI Film & TV Awards
Film Music: Danny Elfman
However, in this case, Elfman did indeed win! And that doesn't surprise me because his score for the film is wonderful. It's a CD that I often play whenever I'm in the mood for some DS music in the background while I'm working on the computer. In fact, in honor of his win, I'm playing it now. [ghost_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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It never occurred to me until today that Stokes was't represented in the Shadows '12. I wonder why the omission? I guess he wasn't necessary as a character.
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Wow, the Anti-Depp Critics Brigade has been out in full force when it comes to the reviews for The Lone Ranger. They make many of what I would have considered harsh reviews for DS look like they were actually favorable by comparison. But then, as many of us have said before, the Anti-Depp Critics Brigade isn't merely a joke (particularly when it comes to the online critics) - it's a fact - and those critics really do lay in wait for Depp's films just so they can rip them apart, whether their criticisms are fair or not. And it's really quite sad that these critics seemingly can't go into a Depp film with open minds as should be their attitudes.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I wonder whether American Film or Video Watchdog or something similar will ever do an article on the technical aspects of Depp Shadows. I am really very curious about the process used for the realization of what we're seeing here. The snapshots are underlying just how unusual the look is achieved by Burton in this one. It often really does look like an animated painting. I may have to get the DVD back from Netflix at some point to try to see if I can tell myself through the film just which sequences were done this way. It seems as if the process was used in its fullest form for certain scenes. HBC looks as if she wasn't just made up but CGI'd for her role in this, and if it was done for Alice Cooper, why not for others? But this is a kind of CGI that's new to me. Then again, I don't see very many current films...
I just may drop Tim Lucas a note and ask him about this... Had it not been for the series of captures on display here, I would never have noticed this aspect of the movie. It's intriguing me much more than anything to do with the actual content.
cheers, G.
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So... The Lone Ranger... The weekend has only just started, yes? And it's already "bombing."
All I can say is that it's good to know that any remake Depp is in apparently "bombs" and is "awful." It's not just Depp Shadows. [ghost_cheesy]
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I saw Lone Ranger on Thursday. I enjoyed it very much. the stunts were incredible. there are sequences where Johnny Depp even resembles Jonathan Frid during certain sequences that I cant reveal without spoiling it. HBC looks like she went right from the DS movie to this without even changing her makeup or hairstyle!
I am shocked that this is bombing. I only wish Jerry Bruckhiemer directed the DS movie!
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i've heard mixed things, that it was both good and bad. so i dunno i'll at some point watch it. i don't mind the original show from the 50's. and i never saw the apparent (1981) film. but i heard that was dreadful as well.
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The same writer seems to have soften her stance a bit but still claims that the DS movie did not make a profit. I think the word is slowly getting around that the DS movie was not a flop. In another article I saw somewhere it stated that the marketing costs for The Lone Ranger was $175M. If that is true the marketing for DS had to be at least 100M.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/07/08/the-lone-ranger-shows-that-not-even-johnny-depp-is-a-sure-thing/
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Every article I have seen about the Lone Ranger flopping always tells readers to look back at last year's domestic flop, Dark Shadows. But, today, the article mentioned that Depp Shadows did well overseas. Improvement!
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I haven't read any The Lone Ranger articles that have referred to DS as a flop. If they've referred to it at all, they've called it a "domestic disappointment." - and when it comes to its US box office, I suppose it was. But then, I haven't read any of the columns by the usual suspects who just love to refer to DS as a flop. [ghost_rolleyes]
One of the columns I did read, though, called The Tourist "an epic flop," which is was not - and it has been well publicized that it was not. But, of course, some people will never let it get through their heads that The Tourist wasn't a flop of any kind - just like they won't let it get through their heads that DS wasn't one.
Another column was quick to point out that The Lone Ranger made less during its opening weekend than DS did. And while that's technically true, they conveniently neglected to take into account that TLR opened on a Wednesday and had already played in theaters for two days before its first three day weekend occurred. Though it is also true that TLR is playing in more theaters than DS did, so the fact that it pulled in less in its first weekend may not bode well for it. Also, DS' opening weekend per screen was $7906, while TLR's was $7482. And on another front, there have also been reports that TLR isn't exactly lighting up the foreign box office. But to be fair with that, I don't know which/how many countries it's playing in.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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The same writer seems to have soften her stance a bit but still claims that the DS movie did not make a profit.
And so long as she's using the figures she's using to determine that for herself, she never will say it made a profit. [ghost_rolleyes] But as we well know, just because someone writes something and presents it as the truth, that doesn't necessarily make it true. Just ask the financial participants in The Tourist, who are no doubt laughing their way to the bank as columnists continue to claim that film was an epic flop. [ghost_wink]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I did see some articles, one in particular, that blasted and laughed at the "fact" that The Lone Ranger was another JD "flop." The author did, indeed, reference DS, stating that it only made $80 million dollars in total (a blatant lie, of course). Of course, I didn't save any link to the article.
Gerard
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That's the one I saw, Gerard. But it was okay, because the next day, they pointed out that Depp Shadows did well overseas.
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As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I got HBO just in time for them to be showing DS. Even though I have it recorded and plan to keep it, every time I see it listed in the schedule, there's a temptation to want to get it!!
I haven't paid attention to which HBO channels it's on. Originally it was on the main channel, but since then it's been listed on others. I don't always know what the abbreviations stand for, anyway. One day recently I was checking the HBO schedule online and discovered that many of the recent showings are on their Comedy channel, so apparently it is still being classified as a comedy.
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Alas, thanks to the film's marketing campaign, which unfortunately continued along the same lines with the release of it on DVD/Blu-ray, it would seem the film will more often than not be classified as a comedy rather than as a dramedy, which it more resembles. [ghost_sad]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I just found out that Depp Shadows screened on 8/4 at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC as part of a series titled Warner Bros Today.
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Very interesting. Thanks for the notice, David. [ghost_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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For those not happy with Depp Shadows airing on HBO Comedy:
the film is also airing on HBO Signature, a channel reserved for more "upscale" fare.
Let's be honest: Depp Shadows does flirt with both the serious and the comedic!
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Check this out:
www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/the-fcking-black-sheep-dark-shadows-2012
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Wow, awesome, I missed that! Thanks David-Elijah!
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Thanks so much for posting the link, David. [ghost_smiley]
It's nice to see him single out Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter, but it was quite interesting for him to say that for him the real standout is Chloe Moretz because of her undeniable charisma. I suppose opinions like that explain the many nominations she received for the film.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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I hadn't checked what was going to be on ES.TV this week and was surprised to discover this morning that the show reran the May 9, 2012 segment with Chloe Moretz and Bella Heathcoate promoting the Depp/DS film. Who knows why - except that maybe because the film is showing on various HBO channels? But whatever the reason, who are we to complain if the show wants to continue to promote the film? [ghost_wink]
And given what I discovered today, I checked tomorrow and Friday and learned that Eva Green's May 10th segment will be on tomorrow and Michelle Pfeiffer's May 11th segment will be on Friday.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And it's looking like this week ES.TV is reshowing the May 14, 2012 segment with Jonny Lee Miller and Jackie Earle Haley (today), the May 15, 2012 segment with Johnny Depp (tomorrow), and the May 17, 2012 segment with Helena Bonham Carter (Thursday). [ghost_smiley]
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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And today ES.TV is reshowing the May 21, 2012 segment with Tim Burton.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Getting back to the subject of DS playing on premium cable stations and on demand, a friend just bought herself a 60 inch TV, she's invited a bunch of friends over tonight to watch a movie, and she wanted us to look online on her cable company's Web site to see what's available on demand. Well, as I was glancing through the selections I noticed DS, so I checked how long it will be available on demand, and it said until November 1st. I wonder if that's the end date for all cable companies or just hers?
It was also interesting to note that the available movies were sorted by popularity, and even at this late date with the DVD/Blu-ray having been released almost a year ago and the film having been available on Cinemax and HBO for months, DS comes up on page #5 out of 248 pages. Not bad. [ghost_wink] But what makes that even more interesting is that DS is only available on demand with her cable company to people who subscribe to Cinemax, which makes the fact that it's on page #5 even more impressive because it's not just anyone who belongs to her cable company that can see it on demand.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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as we discussed elsewhere, the film isn't a masterpiece nor is it perfect.
But it's a fun, well made homage, and much better than it gets credit for.
More and more people are finally admitting this.
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i'm not seeing much of this newfound appreciation...
just today over on one of the FB boards the subject came up to the usual wails of discontent followed by revelry at it's supposed "flop" status. i'm afraid it's created a permanent, irrevocable schism within the fanbase.
today the gripes were less the usual whiteface complaints but that the OS cameos were too brief. so they wanted longer cameos in a movie they despise anyways??? makes no sense.
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I'm not sure Facebook, the biggest flame war in the world, can be taken too seriously.
But I have seen changes for the better attitudes towards the film here and in a number of blog posts.
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I haven't honestly been paying attention to the various blogs, but there was that one at joblo.com that you posted the link to where they definitely changed their mind about the film.
As for the DS fans who've condemned the film, well, it took decades for many fans to finally see and to finally admit that NoDS wasn't a disaster, so it may take just as long if the same ever happens with the Depp/DS film...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Believe it or not (I know I can barely believe it), but ES.TV reaired the May 9, 2012 Chloe Moretz/Bella Heathcote segment yet again today. And tomorrow they're reairing Johnny Depp's May 15, 2012 segment. Though those seem to be the only ones this time around - or at least this week.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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for what it's worth I watched the dvd with my mom(who watched the OS when she was pregnant with me)the other night and she absolutely loved it. she thought it was great...
even the explosive woof-i'm-a-werewolf climax, which drove me insane, didn't bother her. [ghost_rolleyes]
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Chloe Grace Moretz: I Love Horror Movies Because ... (http://www.toofab.com/2013/10/08/chloe-grace-moretz-carrie-remake-video/)
It's interesting to note that the Depp/DS film still ranks as her top grossing film. It will be interesting to see if her Carrie can surpass it. Statistics and prognosticators say no. But one never knows...
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Statistics and prognosticators say no.
And apparently they were right. It's definitely looking like DS will remain Chloe Moretz' top grossing film because, while Carrie opened in third place this past weekend and was only about $300 thousand behind the film in second place, it pulled in only $16,101,552. And actually, it ranks 7th so far as the opening weekends for her films go.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Too bad for her as this is her film, Shadows was not. I hope it does well for her when all is said and done. Any reviews yet on her work in Carrie? I'll have to check that out now that I'm reminded of it.
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I've only seen a couple of the reviews (and I haven't seen the film), but the ones I saw thought that Chloe and Julianne Moore were both good, but that the movie was bland. 'Course, lately, I have been a little suspicious of movie reviews in general, so who knows if the reviewers are correct or not. But I think that's what I've seen. On the bright side, if they did like her performance, at least that might help her with future roles.
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I saw CARRIE yesterday. I thought it was a pretty good remake and CHLOE was excellent. PIPER LAURIE was a little more over the top as the mother in the original but JULIANNE gave a great performance as the mom in this version.
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the subject of the film came up yesterday over on one of the FB boards to yet again the usual wails of discontent. it was a "travesty". it made a "mockery" of the series. blah. blah. blah...
I really have to say this here at this board we exist in something of a deluded isolation bubble in terms of the film. the moderators liked it. as did several of the more active posters. so we've been lulled into the false impression that fans have gradually cottoned to it's offbeat sensibility. that's there's been an overall softening up towards it after the initial wave of outrage and hostility.
but that's really not accurate. from what I've seen elsewhere most "fans" still despise it with a passion bordering on a mania. the lynch mob mentality is still out in force. to even suggest you might have enjoyed it is to instantly find oneself on the defensive.
and even here we've seen that several prominent members, some who've posted here for over a decade with great enthusiasm, have hit the highway. i'm afraid that the film has created an irrevocable schism within the fanbase that's never going to be healed.
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I enjoyed the film, though I do think it could've been more, and I think I'm actually a bit more bothered by a few of my pet peeves now than when I first saw the film. But at the end of the day, I liked it and am glad for its existence.
I definitely respect the opinions of those who didn't like it, or even those who hated it, AS LONG AS they respect my opinion, too. In other words, I don't want to feel bullied or put down because my opinion might differ from theirs, and when I heard that this happened on Facebook and other places, I just had to wonder why some people have to be so childish. I am so very grateful for this forum, that the folks here have been so civil and willing to let everyone express their own views. But I'm sorry if people left this place because it was more accommodating toward the film than they wanted. It seems a silly reason to leave. Can't we all just get along? :)
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unfortunately the situation is not just one of "respecting one's opinions"...
it's gone beyond that. a line has been drawn in the proverbial sand. one is either "for" or "against" the darn thing. there's no gray area.
it's not just a question of "opinion" but overall tone within the fanbase. a sourness. a discontent. a lack of unity or cohesion. the whole thing feels unpleasant.
because registration at this board has been disabled for years, well before the film was released if i'm correct, we've been spared a lot of the hysteria because it's a self contained group and the malcontents have largely been kept at a distance. but the film has really upended the entire community in a permanent way. [hall_sad]
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This is why I will never become a member of something as insipid as facebook (or "fazebook," as I call it). As "trendy" as it is (along with other things like tweater-or-whatever), all just the current fad, like pet rocks, smiley buttons, pogs and cabbage-patch-kids. It's time will pass (even now, it's starting to become "untrendy" among the "tweenties," as it's become something someone's grandma uses to exchange recipes and pics of the grandkids). The only thing with face/fazebook is that, even in mint condition, it can't be sold for big bucks on e-bay down the road. I wouldn't take anything serious anyone says on that website. Pics of kitties and finding out a "friend" had toast for breakfast? C'mon. How can anyone take it serious? As Betty White stated: "It's an enormous waste of time."
Oh, dear, I think I've just opened another can of worms.
Gerard
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Facebook is also a place where simpletons shove their beliefs down your throat. I'm getting ready to leave it.
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not a can of worms. just off topic...
the point is the schism within the fanbase is real and unpleasant. the delivery system..."fazebook", this site or any other online message board...is sort of irrelevant.
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You're right, Michael, it is off-topic. "Fazebook" just completely rubs me the wrong way and when I see that it's used by fans of DS to tear and rent each other apart over what's considered "correct" DS and what's not just got my dander going. Why don't they just stick to those inocuous things no one cares about like that toast for breakfast?
Anyway, it's interesting to see how vociferous fans are, and even rabidly "protective" of their beloved show. I really, really liked DS12; I saw it three times in the theater. When I finally got the DVD, over a year out, on sale, I've watched it three more times at home. Is it a perfect film? Heavens, no. It's no Citizen Kane. And from what I'm finding out here about all the cut scenes which would've added greatly to it, I get saddened (I have the DVD which doesn't contain all the Blu-Ray stuff since I can't afford a Blu-Ray player). Do I begrudge those who don't like it? No. Everyone has their own cup of tea. But to go to war over something like this? Heavens, no. It's like the fans who get all upset when adaptations of DS, like Ms. Parker's latest novel, break with the "canon." In the case of her latest book, she didn't have to, but she wanted it placed in a certain time period that would violate it. So Liz, in 1929, is not a twelve-year-old but an almost grown-woman who's a flapper and has had quite a few adventures under he chemise dress and cloche hat. So what? It's not like DSOS didn't violate its own canon a gazillion times. The whole 1970/Gerard-haunting-1840/41-flashback mess had so many discrepencies that it left holes big enough for a Let's Make a Deal final-curtain-grand-prize Chevy (with tax and license included) to drive through with Carol Merrill at the wheel. Does anyone complain about that? Are their fazebook and other websites dedicated to bashing the OS over it? Heavens, no. I was a 13-year-old watching it and when it was over I felt like I was taken. I was glad to shift to PT41. By then I was ready for Bramwell over Barnabas as a break. Despite a few incredible scenes, everything - to me - about 1840/41 was aggravating, including the characters. When it initially started in 1970 (and 1995), it promised much and delivered nothing. Well, I still considered it "my" DS and appreciated it, warts and all. If I can do that with DSOS, why can't people accept how others take it in other forms and fashions? All the squabblers (and I don't mean anyone here; maybe just those who lurk and have their fazebook and other social media to tear and rip), get a grip. Like William Shatner said in that classic SNL skit where he was attending a ST convention and fans were getting all wild: "People, it's only a show. Get a life."
Gerard
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shatner's remarks(though meant as a joke)certainly strike a chord in this situation...
if nothing else this has the cast the DS fanbase in an unflattering light. [hall_rolleyes]
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Three times on the third:
Depp Shadows will air three times on Sunday, 11/3 on HBO Signature.
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I haven't really been here in a while, but I do agree with what some of you have to say regarding the new film, and those ds fans that blasted it. I enjoyed it very much. It was different. I enjoyed that. Even my late friend Bernie, whom passed this summer enjoyed it and wanted the Blu ray, and he was not a fan of the original series.. Speaking offans complaining that it was too different. Rememmber back when the 1991 series started. Do some of you remember what the biggest complaint was, or at least one of them. That Dan remade House in the pilot. I loved that show, and remember even over 20 years ago, original fans were blasting that show. Some people are never happy.Star Trek has survived because its fan base accepted all the different versions that came about through all the years. Many DS fans did nothing but complain, and yes, I guess bother and harass other. I wish we could just enjoy what we have had.Considering that the original series was a different type of daytime show, that did spawn many different things from it. We truly have been very fortunate.Thankyou for letting me air my feelings about this, I love all versions of DS!
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my feelings originally were that after the first outburst of hostility the film would gradually get absorbed into the DS culture along with all of it's other weird manifestations...
but as of yet that has unfortunately not happened. the "outrage" is as fresh as it was the day that stupid trailer was released and everyone blew a gasket. as much as the actual content of the film a lot of the anger seems to be directed personally at burton and depp. they've become the "villains" in this tale.
outside of DS i'm totally unfamiliar with "fan" culture, behavior and decorum. so perhaps it's "normal" for grown men to weep and threaten suicide over a film. but to me it's been a tremendous turnoff. [hall2_rolleyes]
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Though, as I said a couple months back:
it took decades for many fans to finally see and to finally admit that NoDS wasn't a disaster, so it may take just as long if the same ever happens with the Depp/DS film...
And the same also holds true for the '91 DS.
And since Star Trek fandom has been brought up, I must say that back in August I found this fascinating:
Into Darkness voted worst Star Trek film by trekkies (http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/14/star-trek-into-darkness-voted-worst)
So, it's not just a phenomenon that happens in DS fandom.
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows played in US theaters for at least 161 days/23 weeks!!
The Depp/Burton Dark Shadows is now out on DVD/Blu-ray!!
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Hi Mysterious Benefactor, I did not know that the recent Star Trek film was voted upon so badly. They did a lot of freedom with the original Star Trek history. I also was wondering how in the world Khan shows up. Thankyou for letting us know that. I appreciate your response.
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I may be wrong, but from what I have observed, there is a similar factor at work with the latest Trek film as with the Burton/Depp Shadows opus. There is a growing cabal of people out to "get" JJ Abrams just as there are those determined to hoist Burton and Depp upon their own petard. So, some of the expressed displeasure may have nothing to do with what was actually shown or done, but part of a continuing personal vendetta against the director.
G.
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On tonight's edition of Entertainment Tonight the stars of the upcoming Vampire Academy interviewed each other. Why does that relate to this topic? Well Sarah Hyland (from Modern Family) asked Zoey Deutch (Lea Thompson's daughter) if she would rather be bitten by Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire or Johnny Depp in DS? (A clip from the first confrontation scene with Angelique in the drawing room of Collinwood accompanied the question.) Zoey enthusiastically said "Oh both, thank you very much." Which was probably cheating. But what do we care? [snow_cheesy]
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While glancing through the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, I just discovered that Eva Green has an article entitled "Fierce Beauty." Not really surprising considering she has 300: Rise of an Empire opening in theaters on March 7th and Penny Dreadful coming to TV in May. But the most interesting part for us comes after the part of the article in which Green laments that even though she embraced her role as Vesper Lynd in '06's Casino Royale, she feared what it might do to her career to be perceived as a Bond Girl (given the stereotype that's often associated with being one). But then the article goes on to say:
Turns out she'd needn't have worried. The actress has been much employed in the years since cozying up to Daniel Craig (most memorably as a Johnny Depp-tormenting witch in 2012's Dark Shadows)
I did a search for the article on EW's Web site, but it doesn't seem to be posted there. Perhaps in a few days...
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Eva Green was on ES.TV promoting 300: Rise of an Empire, and while describing her character she said "She's irreverent. You know, she can't be bothered, you know, by people not capable or morons. You know, she's just this 'off with his head,' you know, there's no conscience. She kind of a psychopath. And she's so crazy that she kind of becomes fun to play, that kind of, you know, character really."
Sound like, you know, any other character we may have, you know, seen her play? And, you know, now we kind of know why she kind of enjoys playing that kind of character. You know. Really. [snow_wink]
But seriously, quite obviously she loves playing characters like Angelique in the Depp/DS film. And honestly, from an acting perspective what wouldn't be fun about playing them - they have to be a hoot and a half!
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I saw the movie and thought she acted very much like angelique minus having supernatural powers.
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She acts like a 1970's women in a 2000 year old period story?
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yeah she does in some ways and pure evil !
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That's too bad. I'd hoped she had more depth/a wider scope as an actress.
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Trust me, she does. I've seen her as several characters that are nothing like Angelique. But she does love psychopaths. [nodassent]
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I don't know if this particular review was posted here with others back in 2012. Nancy Kersey just posted the link on FB. I thought it was an interesting take on Depp Shadows. The author also talks about the original series and the other incarnations:
http://www.counter-currents.com/2012/05/why-dark-shadows-sucks/
G.
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I'm thinking a link was previously posted at some point. I know I've read it before. And as before, I have a hard time accepting much of what he says - and that doesn't simply relate to what he says about the Depp/DS film. For one, I thoroughly reject his attitude towards NoDS. It's extremely hard to take serious anything anyone says who can't even begin to appreciate the least little bit of just how wonderful much of that film is. But this isn't an NoDS topic, so I'll leave it at that, as I did last time around...
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I finally found it, the Carpenters performance that Barnabas and Carolyn watched on TV on DS12, singing Top of the World. For Barnabas, it was a confusing understanding of the future. For many of us here, it's a wonderful return to the past, when TV sets were bit, boxy things with knobs, three clear channels (six-or-so with a rodor attached to an antennae if the weather was fine), phonographs with automatic drop-arms and spindles for '45's. What a wonderful world that was. It may not seem like that to our more "yungins" here, but it was. Cable was a rarity and only for either most wealthy or for those isolated in values where high hills blocked reception. Only the "fancy people" (as my dad called them) had color TV. Most home radios had only AM. So, in honor of 1972, and DS12, and us old fogeys, here are the Carpenters from DS12:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRgNIQ32G1o
Gerard
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Thanks Gerard, that was sweet. RIP Karen, one of the most distinctive voices of her generation. I was one of the households with a black and white TV, and I used to try to get invited to my friend Patty's house to watch DS in color! [ghost_wink]
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Thanks, Gerard. I remember those days too.
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Thanks, Gerard. In the clip seen in the movie, the sibs were performing live (Karen in a halter jumpsuit). Here's that performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baSUO3zjneA
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[candle_in_skull_2] [candle_in_skull_2] [female_skull]
Someone posted the finale to Depp Shadows on You Tube: comments are largely positive. There are people who like the film.
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Imagine my surprise when I just discovered this photo -
Honey, You're Hired! (http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview/PhotoGallery/Honey-Youre-Hired-1087068/1087078)
- on the homepage of tvguide.com, along with the caption:
Celeb Couples Who Work Together
See Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter and other stars who collaborate on and off the set
And I'm not even sure if I've ever see this particular photo - though I probably have and just don't remember...
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Great picture!
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Wonderful find, MB. I don't recall seeing it before either.
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And as part of this article -
13 TV happenings to get you in the mood for Halloween (http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/13_halloween_specials_charlie_brown_pretty_little_liars_the_simpsons_brooklyn_nine_nine_grimm-2014-10)
- I also discovered this:
Oct. 19-31
"13 Nights of Halloween" (ABC Family) -- This marathon is a must-stop for any true Halloween lover because it's your best chance to see the classics like "Hocus Pocus" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." This year "13 Nights" will also include new the cable premieres of two more Time Burton films, "Dark Shadows" and "ParaNorman." Get the full schedule here (http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/abc_familys_13_nights_of_halloween_schedule_is_full_of_new_specials-2014-10).
And if one checks out that schedule, one sees:
Friday, Oct. 24
8:30 - 11:00 pm ET/PT: "Dark Shadows"
Saturday, Oct. 25
3:30 - 6:00 pm ET/PT: "Dark Shadows"
Thursday, Oct. 30
8:30 - 11:00 pm ET/PT: "Dark Shadows"
Friday, Oct. 31
4:30 - 7:00 pm ET/PT: "Dark Shadows"
Very nice to see the film has two key primetime showings.
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[candle_in_skull_2] [candle_in_skull]
HODS & NODS will be airing on TCM this month. It's always nice to see any incarnation of DS on the air.
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So this is where the rest of the board spends its time...
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31 horror movies in 31 days: Dark Shadows (http://www.chicagonow.com/red-company/2014/10/31-horror-movies-in-31-days-dark-shadows/)
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Nice article, but I'm disappointed that someone who seems so knowledgeable about it kept putting an "s" in "Collinswood." That was kind of disconcerting every time it came up.
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This just tweeted from GK Films:
https://twitter.com/gkfilms/status/528234815389061122/photo/1
Apparently someone quite talented carved that.
(Though I wish whoever posted it on Twitter knew how to spell Barnabas! [hall2_rolleyes])
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On one of today's eps of Family Feud (and I say one because in my area there are six new eps of the show aired every weekday (who knows how they manage that), so the one I'm about to talk about that I just happened to catch may or may not have been on in other areas) the first question was "Name the first thing a vampire does before he crawls out of his coffin at night." The first contestant got the #1 answer "Hunts/Looks for blood" (35 pts.). That family played and the next contestant got the #5 answer "Flies" (3pts.). The third contestant said "Take a shower," but it wasn't there. The fourth said "Nothing," which also wasn't there. And the fifth said "Sharpens his fangs," which turned out to be their third strike.
So, why am I posting about any of this and why am I doing so in this topic? Well, it's because the second family was able to steal by saying "Stretches" and that turned out to be the #2 answer (33pts.). So based on that survey, apparently Depp's Barn did what a third of people expected a vampire to do when he was seen stretching upon rising. [hall2_wink]
(And just for the record, the #4 answer was "Takes a whiz" (4pts) (thankfully we didn't see that in the film [hall2_cheesy]), and the #3 answer was "Yawn" (12pts) (something Depp's Barn also did - and combined with streching, that brings the combination to almost what half the people expect a vampire to do - so who knew the film exhibited such insight [hall2_grin])
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Wait, wait, wait. How could a vampire do any of the putative responses BEFORE leaving the sepulchre? Was the actual question first thing Vamp does AFTER leaving coffin?
You have amazing patience MB...
Best,
G.
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No, it was before. And that's why those two answers were perfect for the film because Depp's Barn did them before he left his coffin. [hall2_wink]
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A production still from Depp Shadows showing Tim Burton directing Johnny Depp on the Collinwood set was featured on the Fangoria website recently:
http://www.collinsporthistoricalsociety.com/2014/11/fangoria-has-some-laughs-at-johnny.html
G.
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That's great. [hall2_smiley]
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Love it! Thanks for posting the link, Gothick. [hall2_smiley]
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Haha, thanks Gothick! [hall2_grin]
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Actor-Director Partnerships: Tim Burton and Johnny Depp (http://www.theartsguild.com/actor-director-partnerships-tim-burton-and-johnny-depp/)
It's nice to see a flattering article about them for a change. And, of course, DS is mentioned and a still is featured
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Great article, thanks MB! [8_2_59]
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Burton mentions Depp Shadows and his personal explanation for why it was perceived as a failure here. (I haven't played the interview, but there's a post about it today on the Collinsport Historical Society site that summarizes Burton's comments.)
It's interesting to me because he seems to acknowledge here that the film failed--artistically, at least:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/interview-tim-burton-talks-making-big-eyes-going-digital-the-disturbing-process-of-alice-in-wonderland-more-20141218?page=2
G.
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It's no secret by now, but when it comes to the Depp/DS film, I feel pretty much the exact same way that the poster johnbuoy does in the comments section of the article on CHS (so I won't repeat their views here). And it's also no secret that, given all the material that never made it into the final cut of the film, I've laid most, if not all of any possibly perceived problems with the film with the editing. And the blame for that might easily be laid at Burton's feet and his search for the "right tone" - though we know that WB also exerted its influence on the final cut. If only one day we might see a copy of the complete script, it might turn out to be as much of a revelation as the NoDS script is...
Also, as we've discussed at length, it's a misconception that every critic disliked the film because the film received many good reviews. Sadly, though, they're mostly overshadowed because all the press wants to focus on are the negative reviews. Though, and as we've also discussed at length, when it comes to Burton/Depp, that is all too often the case with the press...
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Despite my views on the Depp Shadows confection, I am aware that how it is presented in the mass media (including the interwebs) is very much distorted by the fact that, if it were the 1930s, Burton would have been declared Box Office Poison by now--regardless of the fact that the DS movie MADE MONEY. In H'wood, spin is all.
I wonder if Depp is getting to the same point in his career. I was surprised at the ferocity of the attacks made on him just because he was mildly drunk delivering a short speech at somebody's gala recently. I played the video and the reaction seemed really extreme. Media prudery in full dudgeon--to paraphrase Lord Macaulay (if I'm remembering correctly), the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible.
G.
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This site has more props from the Burton/Depp film for sale:
http://www.propstore.com/movie/dark-shadows/
Angelique's conjure doll is shown on a feature about the sale and I thought that had been sold quite some time ago. I have no idea how legitimate all of this is.
G.
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@gkfilms just posted/texted this tweet:
gkfilms · 2 minutes ago
Happy birthday @ChloeGMoretz #DarkShadows #Hugo #5thWaveMovie
with a nice publicity still from the film. One that I don't think I've ever seen.
Check out: http://t.co/yLftezGlbN/s/EdOv
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I just saw the movie for the first time tonight. It was used for $2... It's now hard to imagine 114 pages of comments about it. It was enjoyable. It wasn't actually Dark Shadows. It was a movie that used DS to do something else. Basically a comedy, not quite a parody. I said this earlier-- you can't expect Tim Burton not to make a Tim Burton movie. It was never going to be DS first, and a Tim Burton movie second. Accusing it of not being true to the original sort of misses the point. It's like accusing the Star Trek gunfight-at-the-ok-corral episode of not being enough like a real Western...
One laugh: When BC touched the "Operation" game.
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the rage and hostility it still engenders almost 3 years later is astonishing...
simply post an image, or even a passing reference, on most of the boards and one can fully expect a nuclear meltdown complete with biblical language like "travesty" and "abomination" and fury about what a "mockery" it made of the material.
I've never seen such childishness. [snow_rolleyes]
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You're so right, Michael C. When I first saw it in the theater, with dozens of friends (none of whom were fans of the original or even saw it), all of my friends loved the film. Afterwards, when we went to eat an Olive Garden, they asked me countless questions about the OS. They were fascinated. Some saw the movie again in the theater several times. They started researching DS. A couple bought the entire series on DVD. Those unfamiliar with the series were fascinated by the movie. It brought them into the DS world. And yet, fans of the OS - well, some of them - got their grundies in a bundle about it. They wanted another spooky rendition of the OS. They want all the inconsistencies of the OS. They don't want reality to be a part of it (I mean, c'mon, Barnabas is released from his coffin and manages to fit into the 20th century within 48 hours, as opposed to a Barnabas struggling with the difficulties of understanding the 20th century). It would be a struggle for him - and comedic for us - to see him trying to adapt and understand. The Burton/Depp version of DS was far more realistic than the DC/OS version (and the '91 version).
Gerard
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viewers unfamiliar with the original source material probably saw it as a typical Burton cartoon romp. they had no reference point.
most "fans" like their DS serious with a capital "S".
still the continued anger seems disproportionate.
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I agree completely. There's a large section of fandom that considers anything other than the original series to be blasphemy. The criticism that was levelled most often in regards to the Depp movie is that it should have been more like the TV show. Precisely how like the TV show usually remains unanswered. Translating a 4 1/2 year TV into a 2 hour movie is not an easy thing to do. The film did a reasonably good job at capturing the essence of the characters.
But this was not a movie that was made just for hard core fans. The DS fan base is not large enough (or focused enough) to support that kind of vehicle. If it were, one of the attempts to get a reunion movie together with the original cast might have actually been produced.
This severe reaction is similar to the uproar over the NBC incarnation, magnified by the use of social media. And, when you come right down to it, it is, after all, just a movie.
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I wasn't around when the 91 series was happening.
but today most fans seem to hold it in pretty high esteem given it's "seriousness".
I don't see that happening with the movie. it's like picking a scab even mentioning it.
I haven't attended the fest (or "cruise") type activities since it's release but from what I understand it's pretty much verboten.
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There's a large section of fandom that considers anything other than the original series to be blasphemy.
I have seen the same attitude leveled towards the audio dramas. I remember a lot of fans were incensed when Barnabas was recast, even though it was explained through a plot device. I can understand some people who claim they can't follow audio because it's not visual. We've become a very visually oriented society. But many fans have harshly criticized them without listening to them. I find it oddly ironic that they appear to be more successful in the UK than they are here. Many of the overseas fans have never seen the OS and are checking it out because of the audio dramas.
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I've never come across anything close to the simmering rage directed at the Depp film with the revival or any of the more recent spinoff media...
I've seen attitudes of dislike or indifference but nothing like the lynch mob mentality aimed at the film.
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I've never come across anything close to the simmering rage directed at the Depp film with the revival or any of the more recent spinoff media...
I've seen attitudes of dislike or indifference but nothing like the lynch mob mentality aimed at the film.
Yes, that's true. I'd have to say indifference is the dominant attitude among those who do not care for the audio series. Indifference and annoyance. I have at least two friends who feel they have to buy them even though they will not listen to them! Why? Because they have to have EVERYTHING DS!! Ok....
Personally, I was only invested in the Depp film because I'd hoped it would be the catalyst for the restoration of NODS. Once I got that, the film, good, bad, or indifferent was just a bonus. Turns out the restoration never happened.
As for the film, I have never seen a film I have loved and hated as much as that one. If you strapped me to a meter, you'd see portions I think are brilliant. I love the talk Barnabas and Victoria have on the balcony as Alice Cooper plays. I hate the "love scene" with Angelique. I love the bits where he's adjusting to the 20th Century. I hate the part where he gets vomited on. I hate all the parts in which he is advertising that he's a vampire. Burton could have at least kept the essence of who Barnabas is, the guy with a "hang-up" hiding the secret. I loved the opening. I love the confrontation with Julia. I hate the oral sex; it cheapens the character. I watched the film many times in the theater and have it on DVD/Blu-ray. I've only watched it a few times at home. That seems to happen whenever I buy a film.... Once I own it and can watch it "ANYTIME" I rarely do!
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The film did a reasonably good job at capturing the essence of the characters.
That was my main feeling. It was obviously very different from "our" DS and I expected that. I couldn't really decide if I liked the way it was or not, but by the end I felt that the major characteristics of each person were there and it was sufficient to definitely consider it as being DS.
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It was a sort of psychadelic alternate DS, with everything turned inside out and upside down, and therefore is in keeping with DS, which kept twisting into different versions of itself, by time travel and dimension-hopping. It takes real fans to appreciate the giddy sensation of everything we know about DS turned on its head.
One thing, I was surprised to see that Carolyn didn't actually become a werewolf... it was more like she thought she was one. She still looked like herself, didn't look at all like a wolf, and just jumped around a lot.
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How interesting - apparently the Depp/DS film was screened in Canada as part of this month's Windsor Pride potluck dinner and film screening: Worth The Drive: Top Things To Do Around Town (http://blogs.windsorstar.com/entertainment/worth-the-drive-top-things-to-do-around-town-104)
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I wonder if a lot of the fans who hated the film wanted a very very serious, dignified, pricey retelling of the exact same story, a sort of validation of the life they've spent in DS fandom, something that might even be flattering to their sense of themselves as fans... an antidote to the mocking of non-fans, over the cheap special effects, onscreen bloopers, plot holes, etc.. "See!", they could say... "THIS is the essence of DS that we always saw! We could see past technical mistakes to the heart of it!" And non-fans would never mock it again. A fantasy like that.
Sometimes I put some unflattering ideas out there, about fans of this or that show. I don't want to be insulting, and I hope I'm not. I do question, though, feeling so betrayed by an absurd take on DS, perhaps feeling betrayed by anything not dead serious and a copy of the original plotline. I wouldn't think it would be of any value to do that all over yet again.
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Apparently on May 12th you can catch:
"Beetlejuice" and "Dark Shadows." Make it a totally weird Tuesday with a spooky fun double feature. "Beetlejuice" (1988) starts at 6:30 p.m. on ABC Family, followed by "Dark Shadows" (2012) at 8:30 p.m.
Source: Tube Time: Your guide to must-see episodes, May 7-13 (http://www.goerie.com/article/20150507/ENTERTAINMENT04/305079970/tube-time-your-guide-to-must-see-episodes-may-7-13#)
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Interesting.
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Magnus, I completely feel it was an 'homage', and written, directed, etc for Dark Shadows fans.
We (the old timers) know where, for a couple of different reasons, 'they' had to make short-cuts.
But, I enjoy it; there are one or two partial scenes that I don't particularly care for, but, it's still nice to watch.
And, boy howdy, look at how many of the cast is CURRENTLY and, IINM, GAINFULLY employed now. (Good for them!!)
I like the way Johnny Depp will do any piece he wants to, but, doing it well, not just for a paycheck.
My kids went on Mother's Day with me & saw it. At the time, they didn't like it. But, I own 3 copies of it plus it's frequently on ABC Family. They do 'like' it now. They don't know what's 'wrong' (as in the aforementioned short-cuts for timings sake).
It was on Tues? night, and I was thinking if any studio/producer is thinking about another TV series remake, it should NOT be named DS, but, perhaps CE (this is the new 'A.D.', it stands for Common Era); but, the CE could stand for Collins Enterprises, or maybe, "There's One in Every Family".
It would be lovely if the remaining originals could on rare occassions pop in.
I don't know though; for 15 straight years, there have been multiple 'science fantasy, horror, mystery', etc. Buffy, Angel, Charmed, Bitten, True Blood, etc, etc, E T C.
Patti
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I just discovered the The New York Times also counted DS among Tuesday night's TV highlights. And what's ever better is that they gave it a nice write up (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/arts/television/whats-on-tv-tuesday.html?_r=0):
8:30 P.M. (ABC Family) DARK SHADOWS (2012) Johnny Depp summons the spirit of the romantic vampire hero Barnabas Collins in Tim Burton’s revisiting of a soap opera from the 1960s and early ’70s. Eva Green, right, plays the maid Angelique, who paws at Barnabas; Bella Heathcote is Josette, who runs off with his heart. Three’s a crowd, and the witchy Angelique casts a spell that leaves Josette dead and Barnabas in a deep grave, where, after 200 years of entombment, he awakens in 1972. “Barnabas’s liberation does the same for Mr. Depp’s performance, and it’s delightful to watch how the actor handles the vampire’s readjustment to the world of the living, which, after he has thrown back some invigorating human Slurpees and faced down a ‘demon’ (a car), he does with both lofty entitlement and abject bewilderment,” Manohla Dargis wrote in The Times. “ ‘Dark Shadows’ isn’t among Mr. Burton’s most richly realized works, but it’s very enjoyable, visually sumptuous and, despite its lugubrious source material and a sporadic tremor of violence, surprisingly effervescent.” She added, “And while there may not be any deeper resonance lurking in his ‘Dark Shadows’ — the show first surfaced in the middle of the Vietnam War, when real horror was playing out daily in the news — Mr. Burton’s gift for deviant beauty and laughter has its own liberating power.”
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Just saw this- what a sweet writeup by the NYT! Thanks MB!
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A few production photos from Depp Shadows have been posted on this most excellent blog:
http://shadowsonthewallzine.blogspot.com/2015/05/behind-scenes-of-dark-shadows-2012.html
For my money, by far the nicest shot is a candid photo of a delighted Depp and Burton chatting with THE Elder Statesman of classic horror, Christopher Lee.
G.
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Very nice! Thanks Gothick for sharing the link! [snow_smiley] (And thanks Nicky for posting them! [snow_smiley])
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Someone who agrees with many of us about Helena Bonham Carter's performance in the film:
Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (http://www.heraldextra.com/dr-julia-hoffman-in-dark-shadows/article_8eaa3df0-e3b6-5049-904e-84941c5c3532.html)
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I agree with Carter's portrayal of Dr. Julia Hoffman. If the OS had not been restricted by the controls of the times, this is what Julia would've been like.
Gerard
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like everything else about the film I don't understand why so much hostility is directed at carter's performance of julia...
I thought it was an entertaining and interesting take on the character(although the bj scene was gratuitous). the idea that these characters need to be treated with some sort of "reverence" can get a bit thick.
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The level of venom directed at the film three years after the fact is mind boggling. There are fans who are extremely vocal about their dislike of every other incarnation of DS, from HODS to the Depp movie. If you ask them to elaborate, they will invariably tell you that it wasn't like the series. It would be extremely difficult to recreate the original at this point. Not is there any reason to. That version is still available and unlikely to go away. There should be room for all the variations. How many different interpretations of Hamlet have there been? Or Barman, for that matter.
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I don't understand it either, Uncle Roger. What do these fanatic "fans" want? A line-by-line recreation of the OS? As much as we love it, it was far from perfect. The comedic aspects of '12 regarding Barnabas trying to understand and deal with the culture and technology of 200 years was not only funny but brilliant. So much better than the OS, '91 or '04 versions that had him fully understand it all within 48 hours so he could slip into society (how utterly preposterous; what did he do? - have Willy give him a crash course in everything from history to how zippers work?). And '12 paid greater homage to the OS story than '91 or '04. Sorry, but Victoria was not the reincarnation of Josette - Maggie was. Both '91 and '04 committed heresy. In '12, Maggie Evans remained Josette's reincarnation; she made up the name of "Victoria Winters."
Gerard
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They get a little flustered when you try to pin them down as to what they are actually referring to. The Leviathans? Sky Rumson? Amanda Harris? Hallie Stokes? Those are all parts of the original series, with somewhat less than ardent fan followings. To paraphrase Simone Signoret: Nostalgia isn't What it used to be. [snow_smiley]
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I don't understand it either, Uncle Roger. What do these fanatic "fans" want? A line-by-line recreation of the OS? As much as we love it, it was far from perfect. The comedic aspects of '12 regarding Barnabas trying to understand and deal with the culture and technology of 200 years was not only funny but brilliant. So much better than the OS, '91 or '04 versions that had him fully understand it all within 48 hours so he could slip into society (how utterly preposterous; what did he do? - have Willy give him a crash course in everything from history to how zippers work?). And '12 paid greater homage to the OS story than '91 or '04. Sorry, but Victoria was not the reincarnation of Josette - Maggie was. Both '91 and '04 committed heresy. In '12, Maggie Evans remained Josette's reincarnation; she made up the name of "Victoria Winters."
if I may you seem to be something of a "one issue voter" in terms of the movie...
everything else being what it was in terms of tone and tempo, if Maggie had not been part of the story, or had been a 'supporting' player (like she was in 91), and had NOT been the "reincarnation" of Josette, but Victoria had (as she was in other iterations), would you have actually loved the movie so much? or even liked it???
at any rate most "fans" don't seem to care who "gets" to be Josette. they still despise the movie.
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Good question, Michael C. What I was trying to say was how so many fanatics ("fans") of the OS hated the movie was that it was not "DS" according to the OS. It was more of the OS than the other reincarnations. Burton stuck to the original and paid homage to it. Dan Curtis couldn't even do that with his '91 version. Concerning Maggie vs. Victoria as the reincarnation of Josette, that didn't even exist in the OS; Barnabas decide to go after Vicki only because his attempt with Maggie (who was the real thing) failed and Vicki was sloppy seconds. Vicki being Josette didn't even vaguely occur to anyone in fandom until Curtis decided to cut corners and have it happen in '91. What was he thinking? When I saw the '12 version in the theater, DS fans all around resounded, in the scene on the train, when the young woman started to say: "I'm Maggie Eva..." They all said in glee, including me, "Oh, my god, she is Maggie Evans!" Fans did care. They knew. They remembered. So did Burton and Depp.
Gerard
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that really wasn't my question...
is that the only reason you liked the movie???
and "glee"? that's a bit thick.
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It was one of the reasons, Michael C. I thought it was fantastic to meld the characters of Maggie and Vicki. The back-story of Maggie being haunted by the ghost of Josette (who was reincarnated into her) was, to me, brilliant. I also loved setting it back to the early 70's, when the OS ended. It was fun and nostalgic. And as I stated before, Barnabas dealing (with a great deal of fumbling) with 20th century culture and technology was far more realistic than all other previous adaptations, from the OS to '91 and '04. You've been out of the grave for - what? - two days (or nights) and you can completely comprehend things like fashion, cars and the latest TV hit? Angelique hanging around, "reinventing" herself as her own descendants, was also imaginative. The movie kept the love/hate/lust relationship between the two. Was it a perfect film? Heavens, no. But, again to me, it was a wonderful tribute to the OS, much better than the other two remakes. I could nit-pick the failures of them (and I have). I can nit-pick the failures of the film. We can all nit-pick the failures of the OS (and we all have). But I loved the movie. I'm grateful Depp/Burton were so appreciative of this classic series to place it on the big screen. They did their homework. Unfortunately, Curtis - whom we all appreciate for his work - didn't. Trying to turn the OS into some updated Count Yorga would've been a disaster.
Gerard
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***snort** Ha! Count Yorga!!
I really didn't know 'fans' of OS hated/disliked the movie.
From what I could tell, friends/family of fans went with 'fans'; they 'didn't get it' (hello Vicki)....
I think Burton and Grahame (sorry, can't remember), left doors as I previously mentioned if not opened, the at least ajar, for additional story arcs. Do I think Burton or Depp or all the other INCREDIBLY FAMOUS actors will be involved, doubtful.
But, when DS actors are filming....there's always new Collins' and/or Collins wanna bes.
If, there were to be another DS (in league with the '12), I would really like to see:
Michelle Pfifer
Laura, the 'real Laura' Perhaps Carolyn could get together with Burke? Joe? (can't remember) where trying to piece together 'Laura 1, 2, 3, et al, that was a good story arc.
Thayer David's 'Professorial' intellect'
Not sure about Willie....
Liz will stick David in public school (she has to, because of the lack of housing accomidations).
Maybe, just maybe one short shot of Dr. Hoffman
Maybe a new character....someone to make goo-goo eyes at Elizabeth.
Patti
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Fans wanted a serious movie. Tim Burton was not about to change his style for fandom. He and Depp got it in their heads to make DS into a typically twisted Tim Burton movie. It was always going to be either that, or nothing. So fans should ask, would I rather have had nothing instead?
It wasn't Dark Shadows. It was a sort of parody and fan tribute TO Dark Shadows. It twisted DS inside out and did winking jokes only fans would get. By twisting its reality inside out, it honored DS, since the series kept doing that, by swapping universes and time travelling, recasting the same actors into (sometimes) very different parts. Think of it as yet one more DS alternate reality.
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it was what it was...
it wasn't what most fans wanted, and in retrospect perhaps it was a misfire, but it's what happened.
the continued virulence of the hostility directed at it, and even at it's individual participants, is what's mystifying. on several of the FB boards simply put up an image from it and literally within seconds the floodgates are opened. expect to be fully bombarded with biblical language like "travesty" and "abomination" and continued calls for burton and depp's heads on a pike.
there's actually one page dedicated to the film's poor financial performance and the dvd's continued spiral into the 99 cent bins.
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It has certainly polarized fans like nothing else short of the Leviathans.
But it was never going to be something that was directed at hardcore fans of the original. The fan base is not large enough or focused enough to support it. If it were, one of the proposed reunion MOTW's with the original cast might actually have gotten made.
Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion about the movie but I do take exceptionally to it being called a tragedy. The shooting of defenseless children at Sandy Hook was a tragedy. An updated version of a 1960's daytime show? Not so much.
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indeed the hyperbole used in association with it is almost comical. [snow_rolleyes]
from what I understand it hasn't even been referenced (never mind screened) at recent festival or "cruise" type fan activities. the subject is verboten...
but a woman who played a nurse in a SINGLE episode of the OS is an honored guest.
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Very true, michaelc. Like the 1991 series, the Burton movie is never a presence at Festival events. They screen HODS and NODS every year but the 2012 movie is not screened.
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when I first entered the "fandom" about 15 years ago the 1991 series was the "sore spot"...
in retrospect the hostility directed at is was nothing. it took itself "seriously". DEAD SERIOUSLY. which is apparently what "fans" want and attitudes about in in recent years have softened because of the more "comical" take the film took.
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Time has been rather kind to the 1991 series. And there's also a more recent target to take the heat off.
I remember the buzz about the show. An updated Dark Shadows, produced by Dan Curtis. What could possibly go wrong? Until it premiered anyway. Joanna Going and Julianna McCarthy seemed to have been reasonably well received but the rest caught major criticism. Most of it was directed at Ben Cross for not playing Barnabas exactly the way that Jonathan Frid did. The Roger/Maggie relationship was a close second. One fan (and I use the term loosely) wrote an extended piece as to how Michael T. Weiss' razor stubble was not Dark Shadows.
The major difference is that there was no internet at the type and most of these tirades took place in the fanzines. Given the erratic publishing schedule of the fanzines, the show was off the air before the zines actually saw print.
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yes I've heard tale about the fuss started by the changes the revival made to the original story and several of the performances...
but as you say in the pre-internet age the damage had to have been well contained. I mean some grousing in a few printed "zines" that went out to probably a few hundred (at most) die hard fans compared to the constant hysteria and snark enabled to millions by the internet almost seems quaint in hindsight. [snow_rolleyes]
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The only time I've seen the '90 revival, was 1990/91 while channel surfing.
That took itself way too seriously.
As far as .99 bin, I feel like a schmuck, because I pre-ordered THREE of the Depp movie. (Two are still in the original shrink wrap.)
Hmm...what would be the 'likelyhood' of a combo Sam Evans and Sebastian Shaw?
I don't really care what others think of the '12 movie; I liked it, my kids didn't, but, now that ABC Family plays it 9 billion times (the 31 days/Halloween deal), they like it too. And they know they can just watch my DVD.
They also (sort of ) know that I have a VHS of HoDS and a DVD of NoDS, but have never shown an interest in either. Reality though, both those movies wouldn't mean anything , because all they know of DS is First and FOREMOST - - - QUENTIN , and Johnny Depp.
Again, I find the movie enjoyable.
Patti
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most movies eventually get relegated to the discount bin. it's part of the natural cycle of a DVD release.
it doesn't necessarily speak to an individual film's quality or success. at the dollar store in my neighborhood nearly George Clooney's entire oeuvre languishes in the bin. and he's still a huge star. DVDs get pressed out by the millions and after the initial burst of activity of a new release are nearly worthless regardless of a film's success or lack thereof. really only "classics" get repackaged and rereleased at full price into perpetuity.
still haters of the Depp film look at this as "validation" that the movie "sucked".
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I am conflicted about the '12 series. What I mostly object to was the radical change in the character of Barnabas. As Frid himself stated, Barnabas played the lie. In '12 we get Depp coming out of the coffin proclaiming for all to hear that he is a vampire! It makes him seem like an imbecile. Being a vampire got him entombed and now he's emerged and is showing off? Elizabeth is ok with this blood sucker being loose in her home? I also HATE the "LOVE??" scene with Angelique. She's ruined his life and he's in bed with her? Totally unnecessary and not even funny. If you hooked me up a to a meter that showed how much I loved or loathed something you'd see it bounce back and forth like a pendulum. There's a lot to love. Depp's performance, regardless of how a scene was written is fantastic. I love the scenes that ran parallel to Cooper's performance. I for one, do not care for the tone. I would have preferred a more serious horror movie. I would not have excised all of the comedy. I thought the scenes about Barnabas adjusting to the 20th Century were spot on. I also loved most of the performances by the actors. The casting was terrific. I still watch it from time to time but I forward scan past certain scenes if no one else is watching with me.
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Very true, michaelc. Like the 1991 series, the Burton movie is never a presence at Festival events.
Interestingly, at the only Festival that I have attended, the 1991 series was very much present and wasn't at all a subject of controversy. In fact, it was celebrated, and some cast members were in attendance. But that was in the summer of 1991, after the series had aired and been cancelled. Maybe the lack of a continuation of the series eventually made some people sour on the whole thing?
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the 1991 series was very much present and wasn't at all a subject of controversy. In fact, it was celebrated, and some cast members were in attendance. But that was in the summer of 1991, after the series had aired and been cancelled. Maybe the lack of a continuation of the series eventually made some people sour on the whole thing?
Was it the original series cast, or the '91 cast?
I can't really say anything about the continuation, since I never watched from start to finish.
How many episodes were there filmed for that series?
Patti
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There were 12 episodes, Patti.
In reality, those 12 episodes should have been more like 36 given the amount of story they covered. [ghost_wacko]
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Was it the original series cast, or the '91 cast?
I can't really say anything about the continuation, since I never watched from start to finish.
How many episodes were there filmed for that series?
There were cast members from both the original and 1991 series. I think the only from 1991 were Lysette Anthony and Adrian Paul. Most of the usual suspects from the original series were there (the ones I remember were Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, Roger Davis, John Karlen, Christopher Pennock, Michael Stroka, Marie Wallace, and Terry Crawford).
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There were cast members from both the original and 1991 series. I think the only from 1991 were Lysette Anthony and Adrian Paul.
If you are referring to the 91 Festival in LA, Veronica Lauren and Michael Cavanaugh were also there. I don't recall if there was a 91 Festival in NY. If so there was most likely a different group of 91 guests.
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Julianna McCarthy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were at that same California convention. Lysette Anthony came to several, including one where she was teamed onstage with Lara Parker. The last time any of the NBC cast attended an event was the 1994 Festival in NYC, which had Roy Thinnes, Jim Fyfe and Barbara Blackburn.
Fyfe and Joanne Dorian (who played a nurse in the 1790 setting) are scheduled to appear at the event in Norwalk, Connecticut later this month.
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Julianna McCarthy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were at that same California convention.
They were not at the 91 Con in LA. I have all the panels on video tape. They may have gone there another year or perhaps NYC in 91.
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If you are referring to the 91 Festival in LA, Veronica Lauren and Michael Cavanaugh were also there. I don't recall if there was a 91 Festival in NY. If so there was most likely a different group of 91 guests.
Oh, that's right! This was LA, and while I don't remember Lauren, now I do specifically remember Cavanaugh, and him talking about his distinctive and entertaining Maine accent as Sheriff Patterson. (And if the Fest had occurred after my subsequent viewings of the series, I would most definitely have kept Cavanaugh in my memory--initially I was sort of indifferent toward him, but over the years he's the one in the cast that I've found myself most attracted to!)
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It's very nice to see that the Depp/DS film makes a return for this year's ’13 Nights of Halloween’ (http://zap2it.com/2015/09/13-nights-of-halloween-schedule/) on ABC Family:
Night 10 –- Wednesday, Oct. 28
“Dark Shadows” (8:15 – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
And it's great to see that once again it's being run in primetime.
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what is the current "status" of the film??? it seems to exist in some sort of void...
largely reviled in the fandom. not a "bomb" at the time of it's release as some would have you believe but it's come and gone for the general public without much resonance. the dvd can regularly be spotted in the discount bins.
does it have a small fanbase of it's own I'm unaware of? how is it regarded in the burton/depp lexicon? is it considered one of their better collaborations with that audience? you don't see it mentioned like 'sleepy hollow' or 'beetlejuice'.
it just seems to have fallen through the cracks. [ghost_undecided]
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You raise some interesting questions here. The Depp movie did have several Facebook groups devoted to it at one point. I am not sure if they are still active.
In fandom, it still seems to be as reviled as the NBC series and Betsy Durkin once were. Time has been rather kind to both of them. I wonder if that will also be the case with the Depp film.
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I really liked it...
but other than on this page I don't even mention it unless I want to get attacked and bombarded with words like "insult", "travesty" and "abomination".
and you can't just dislike it. you have to HATE IT. [ghost_shocked]
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I just glanced at a couple of the 2012 FB pages and they haven't had any activity in years.
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They should have known what it would be like, the moment they heard that Tim Burton was making it. Anyway, DS fandom survived it, we're still here, and the Depp movie can be watched in a more relaxed way now, knowing the fate of the free world doesn't hang on it.
Good question, michael c.
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I wish attitudes around it were more relaxed...
I constantly have to extricate myself from conversations because of the dramatic flareups that occur with it's mere mention.
in most corners of the fanbase the venom is as potent as it was the day the first stills were released.
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Who knows what the feelings about the film are outside of that very vocal group in fandom that still hates it? Some things we do know, though: the film was much more successful in the rest of the world than it was in the US - on Youtube there are many tribute videos for the film, with several seemingly fighting it out as to who's better for Barnabas: Angelique or Vicki (so that alone shows there is some sort of fanbase for the film beyond the members here who like it) - there is actually at least one movie critic who, when compiling a list of Burton's 5 best films, included DS on that list (at #4, I believe - and there's a link to the list around here somewhere) - and the film shows up quite often on ABC Family as part of their special presentations (it even had a May Sweeps showing there this year - sort of an acknowledgement of the third anniversary of its release), so I doubt the film doesn't do well on ABC Family or else they wouldn't keep showing it, particularly during primetime, particularly as high profile showings, and especially scheduling it during a ratings sweeps period.
Of course one thing to keep in mind is that quite often fandoms are a film's harshest critics and their opinions don't necessarily jibe with those of the general public. Case in point, Star Trek: Into Darkness was voted the worst ST film in a fan poll, despite the fact that the film received mostly good reviews and made a bucketload of money at the boxoffice. Go figure... (And BTW, Star Trek: Into Darkness also frequently shows up in the discount bins.)
And so far as the persistent belief in some corners that the DS film was a bomb, the Huffington Post once addressed that directly in an article they did on films that not only weren't bombs, they were much more successful than some would have us believe. In part they encapsulated the phenomenon with the old saying "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." And that's exactly what the case is with DS. Many wish to ignore the real facts in favor of the inaccurate "legend." And no matter how many times the facts are actually addressed on places like the Huffington Post, the "legend" is what continues to be spread...
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Certainly everyone is entitled to their own opinion but, when all is said and done, it is just a movie. And, if a Dark Shadows movie is the only thing that you have to complain about, that you're pretty damn lucky.
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does burton's trippy oeuvre have it's own fanbase similar to DS???
I wonder how it's regarded there on it's own terms and not in comparison to the OS???
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The Depp/Burton Shadows film was mentioned in a paragraph in a surprising context in a very short book I read sections of last week. The book is a monograph on the Mario Bava classic BLACK SUNDAY from 1960 with Barbara Steele. I think the author's name is Martyn Conterio but I don't really feel like looking it up on Amazon. The book is in a series called Devil's Advocates, published in London by Auteur press; the series is supposed to be dedicated to re-examinations of classic horror films.
In a penultimate chapter, the author discusses what he calls the "legacy" of the Bava film. He mentions a couple of scenes in the Burton/Depp film as instances of Tim Burton's adulation of this movie and use of imagery from it in various films of his oeuvre. SLEEPY HOLLOW (the Burton film) is also cited. I remember he mentions the secret passage through the fireplace as one instance of influence or homage, and something about the scene where Elizabeth and Barnabas are together down in the catacombs as another.
His discussion of the film and the sequences was done in a very flat, objective tone. Nothing about how awful or scandalously bad it all was or any of the other rhetoric we've seen in various fannish discussion threads. I'm not sure that the author is familiar with other avatars of Shadows.
Best, G.
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I'm quite surprised that Depp's Black Mass didn't open bigger than it did. It seemed like a sure fire big opening to me. But then, maybe that's because I live in MA and Whitey Bulger is still a huge story here (in fact: ‘Black Mass’ Does Big Box Office in Boston (http://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/black-mass-boston-box-office-johnny-depp-1201597954/)). But I suppose in the rest of the country that's not quite the case. But there's definitely one good thing when it comes to Black Mass: while writing about it the entertainment columnist for KUTV.com (https://kutv.com/news/entertainment/the-scorch-trials-takes-the-crown-black-mass-comfortable-in-second-place) acknowledges that DS made money. Shocking, right?! What is wrong with him?! Doesn't he know he's supposed to be in lock step with all the columnists who insist the film was a bomb?! If he doesn't watch out, he might actually write other truths about other films - and that certainly won't do - and he'll be likely to find himself shunned and without a job. [ghost_wink]
Though there is one thing that he got wrong because he makes it seem as if the $23.4M opening for Black Mass is more than DS brought in for its opening. But DS actually opened with $29.7M, and under much stiffer competition than Black Mass had.
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The title Black Mass is somewhat misleading. That would be more appropriate for a horror movie.
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That's true, Uncle Roger.
And I see that now that the actuals have come in, Black Mass has been adjusted to $22.6M - so that makes DS' opening even better in comparison...
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CNN had a lot of coverage of the recent trial (I just looked it up and I can't believe it was 2 years ago), so I'm fairly familiar with him. I don't know how much other national reporting there was, though, so maybe most people don't know about it. I agree with Uncle Roger about the title.
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Bulger's arrest in 2011 while living under the radar near the beach in Santa Monica made big headlines on the West Coast. Otherwise not so much.
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Yes, a three day story (at most) on the national news as I remember it.
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I think that Black Mass is doing pretty well for the type of film it is. It had a relatively small budget, and like many films this time of year it is more of an "awards consideration" film than a "big box office" film. Plus, it's rated R, which also cuts down on the box office. It actually did better yesterday (Monday) than that Maze Runner film that beat it over the weekend, because it was a school day and more of the kids that see Maze Runner will go on the weekend than a weekday, whereas adults will still be going on school days.
I agree about the title being a little misleading, but it is part of the title of the book. And in a way, after seeing it, I'd argue that in a way, it's a bit of a horror film, anyway [ghost_shocked]
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I went to school in Boston and thus have a slight connection to story...
I read the book many years ago and found it fascinating. there's a good documentary on Netflix about Bulger as well. when this hits Netflix i'll give it a look.
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More critics unafraid to step up to profess their love of the Depp/DS film:
Take 2: Dark Shadows
(Boston Globe) Ty Burr and Wesley Morris express their enjoyment of Tim Burton's movie version of the television show 'Dark Shadows' in this edition of Take 2. (http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2015/09/28/take-dark-shadows/hfQU9KiiaisBOgF8vjkcrL/story.html)
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Very interesting comments - nice to hear! And they seemed to be familiar with the original, so it wasn't just the impression of newcomers, but someone who could evaluate it in terms of original fandom.
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Thanks to a DS-related article I've discovered these two quite interesting videos that I'd never seen before which feature interviews with Tim Burton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bella Heathcoate, Chloe Moretz, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, and Jonny Lee Miller. In the second the actors have particularly interesting comments about their characters, especially JLM.
Tim Burton on the "Dark Shadows" Big Screen Adaptation (03:24) (http://on.aol.com/video/tim-burton-on-the-dark-shadows-big-screen-adaptation-517363769)
Tim Burton on Adapting Dark Shadows for the Silver Screen (07:47) (http://on.aol.com/video/tim-burton-on-adapting-dark-shadows-for-the-silver-screen-517362893)
(For some reason, in this video only the audio is available on the actual clips from the film. [hall2_huh])
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More critics unafraid to step up to profess their love of the Depp/DS film:
Take 2: Dark Shadows
(Boston Globe) Ty Burr and Wesley Morris express their enjoyment of Tim Burton's movie version of the television show 'Dark Shadows' in this edition of Take 2. (http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/2015/09/28/take-dark-shadows/hfQU9KiiaisBOgF8vjkcrL/story.html)
very interesting...
frankly there was been a remarkable lack of objectivity in reviews of the film since day one. most of the noise has been coming from disgruntled "fans" or critics hashing out vendettas with burton and/or depp over other things. it hardly gets critiqued on it's own terms which is how a "film review" is supposed to work.
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Depp Shadows is showing on the "ABC Family" channel tonight at 8:15 p.m. I would think there are likely to be some minor cuts to the movie since some of it is hardly what I would call "family friendly" (a phrase I detest, but if you're going to go that route, it means no hanky-panky at all).
Just in case anybody cares.
G.
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Believe it or not, ABC Family's programming isn't totally "family friendly." And that's probably why the network is changing its name to Freedom in January - though I'm not quite sure how they think that new name will reflect their brand...
But anyway, thanks for reminding us that the film is on tonight because I'd honestly forgotten what night it's on this week. [hall2_smiley]
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Actually, the new name is going to be "Freeform", according to Variety -- see http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/abc-family-freeform-rebranding-network-1201610697/
Still a puzzling name, however. The target audience seems to be the 14-34 age group. (And that in itself is puzzling!)
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Actually, the new name is going to be "Freeform"
Can you tell that I really didn't pay all that much attention when the name change was announced a few weeks back? [hall2_wink]
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I just opened a Google Alert to a NYT article that says that apparently the Depp/DS film began on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) 30 minutes ago. Better late than never. [snow_wink]
What to Watch Wednesday (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/arts/television/what-to-watch-wednesday.html?_r=0)
Though people on the West coast would probably still have an opportunity to catch the whole thing...
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So without reading the first 119 pages I take it most people here liked it?
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We once had a poll and the results were 87% Thumbs Up! and 13% Thumbs Down!, so I'd say your interpretation is correct. [snow_smiley]
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I have very conflicted feelings toward the movie. I love it, but am extremely disappointed by it. The cast, production design, photography, and music are phenomenal and there's very little in those areas that I would want to change. And I love most of the humor. (My favorite bit is when Barnabas hypnotizes Willie and bids him to "Tell me your innermost thoughts"--and Willie starts snoring. Well, Barn, you asked and you got!)
But parts of the story and the editing drive me crazy. A certain Barnabas/Angelique scene is totally over the top and unnecessary. The the foreshadowing for the Carolyn plot twist is way, way too subtle (you really only can see it on subsequent viewings)--and her big moment plays like it's breaking the fourth wall. The subplot about David's mother needs a lot more development. Barnabas' relationships with the characters need more development. Most of the deleted scenes shown on the Blu-ray are really important and should have been kept in the film.
But even with all its imperfections and wrong decisions, the film still has a lot of stuff to love.
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Okay...without having actually watched the movie...let me say this about that.
Having loved the original series and tolerated the 1990 remake well, I was put off by images from the film and the idea of its being a comedy. I absolutely didn't want to be trapped watching it in a theater so never went when it was playing.
The other night, when I was too tired to do anything but watch TV (I'm recovering from a severely broken leg and my activities are limited) and I'd been around every channel three times and there was REALLY NOTHING on, I decided to watch the beginning, as it was just coming on and I wanted to at least see the house. I really enjoyed the way house and grounds were done! Wonderful to see a large budget brought to Collinwood and not worry about things such as walls shaking when brushed! All the photography and cinematography was great.
Barnabas was not only my favorite character but my first love so naturally I am touchy and protective of him. Johnny Depp is a good actor I've always admired, but his hair and makeup were so over the top I was completely distracted as to whether his acting was any good or not. Perhaps this was intentional, to start him off looking like a ghoul and then warm him up a bit after Dr. Hoffman had worked him over--I didn't watch for long enough to know. I really feel Barnabas might reasonably start out pale after being in a coffin for 170-odd years, but he shouldn't look like some kid dressed for Halloween who did his own makeup or a silent film actor with a bad makeup man. Ben Cross was not a patch on Jonathan Frid, but I never recall him looking like a monster except in sequences where he was supposed to, and don't recall cringing while watching him. I like Johnny Depp 100 times more than Ben Cross but couldn't here, which was distressing.
I had the channel on for 45 minutes but can't claim to have watched that much of the actual film as the channel was mostly commercials. I didn't stick around long enough to see if the workmen foolish enough to open Barnabas's coffin were injured, killed, or some combination. Like Gremlins and Fargo, not really funny. Of course if any survived they might have talked and opened a can of worms, which may or may not have figured in the plot. As far as comedy, not funny haha but I chuckled a few times.
Anyhow, the best thing I took away was when Carolyn was playing the record and Roger made her shut it off. Today I played "The Season of the Witch" all the way through while staring out my window at tree branches and got a truly awesome decorating idea for a wall which has stood blank for five years while I was hung up for an idea, so that made the whole thing worthwhile. This is a movie I would watch if I were with fans who really wanted to watch it with me and discuss it but for myself would not watch alone.
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But parts of the story and the editing drive me crazy. A certain Barnabas/Angelique scene is totally over the top and unnecessary.
KMR summarizes my feelings about this movie almost exactly. I gave it a thumbs up. I pre-ordered the DVD/Blu-ray combo. I have never been so conflicted over a movie. If you hooked me up to some machine that registered likes and dislikes you'd see extreme reactions to various scenes. I had to go thumbs up because I pre-ordered the movie and went to see it multiple times. I even made an excuse to spend a day in a town 150 miles away to see the movie on an IMAX screen. We did not drive all that way just to see it. We go at least once a year to Corpus. We made a full day with other fun activities, but I've never done that for any other movie. When I first saw the movie I hated that scene KMR mentioned most of all. Looking back though the thing I really loathe is the fact that they got a central part of Barnabas' character wrong. Frid said over and over again the essence of Barnabas is the guy with a hangup. He's an addict and has the awful secret. There's not much that tie together all the myriad DS "universes." Prior to this, all the movies, books, comics, and other remakes shared several things in common. They all took centered around Collinwood, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard was the matriarch, there was an Angelique (for my purposes, I'm assuming that HODS and NODS are the same universe), and they all have Barnabas. In all his incarnations, he's hiding a secret. Burton/Depp throw this out the window with him blabbing about being a vampire to anyone who will listen.
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Yeah, Barnabas being my first love really started the whole theme of me being drawn to guys with at least hangups and even secrets.
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About the movie, there were things I liked and didn't like from what I saw so it's hard to form an opinion.
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I am not a fan of Depp Shadows. But it's worth remembering statements from Burton and others (if I recall aright) that a large chunk of the movie was sliced away by studio mandated edits. Something like half an hour to forty-five minutes of the print he turned in. It was so weird to read about this because it was such a repeat of what happened with NoDS. I know DS seems to be a phenomenon with some truly uncanny aspects but that one really takes the cake.
Apparently a number of plot elements that no longer make any sense in the picture were more fleshed out in Burton's completed film. Which was then butchered by the studio.
Depp's makeup AND performance are two crucial elements that don't work for me. I actually thought the early scenes before Depp's arrival were well done and show signs of being a decent movie--not how I wold have liked this to be done, but not the awful embarrassment that does often make me cringe when people who aren't fans mention it to me.
G.
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No one cast Johnny Depp, he cast himself because he got the movie made. That's part of what's wrong with Hollywood. It's an interesting high budget fan parody. Depp was not Barnabas in the slightest. To call their choices mistakes though, is to miss the point. Depp and Tim Burton were bound to make a Depp/Tim Burton movie, no matter what. But without Depp, no DS film would have been made at all. So it shouldn't have been Depp and Burton, but at least an odd DS-related film got made. A serious film was never going to happen.
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Considering that he was replaced by Seth Grahame-Smith as screenwriter and is now simply given a co-story credit, it's interesting that this article (http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/lego-movie-writers-polish-scary-stories-to-tell-in-the-dark-for-del-toro-213) refers to John August as "DARK SHADOWS' John August". But then, interestingly enough, it's not the first recent article to reference August that also references him in connection to the Depp/DS film...
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'Fifty Shades Darker' Dakota Johnson, Bella Heathcote: Their Sexy Johnny Depp Connection (http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/81280/20160229/fifty-shades-darker-dakota-johnson-bella-heathcote-their-sexy-johnny-depp-connection.htm)
'Bella Heathcote starred alongside Johnny Depp in the 2012 hit film "Dark Shadows."'
Hmmm - apparently fashionnstyle.com didn't get the memo that the Depp/DS film is only supposed to be referred to as bomb. [snow_wink] Well, either that or they've decided to forgo toeing the line that way too many would want the world to believe and to see that the film actually was a hit when its worldwide box office is considered and not simply its US box office. [snow_smiley] And there's also the fact that the film actually played in US theaters for at least 23 weeks and not simply the 14 weeks that WB stopped reporting boxoffice figures at. But then, why should reality play any part in the actual track record of any film... [snow_rolleyes]
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This is interesting - from India comes:
Weekend treat for Johnny Depp fans on MN+ all this month (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/weekend-treat-for-johnny-depp-fans-on-mn-plus-sweeney-todd-walk-of-fame-dark-shadows/1/612305.html)
"This March, MN+ will feature some of the best films starring Johnny Depp, one of the most gifted and talented Hollywood actors.
...
Another remarkable movie that is set to be aired, is Dark Shadows, a 2012 American horror comedy based on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows. The film is about an imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, who is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection."
And once again we see that outside the US there is often a very different opinion of the Depp/DS film from what some in the US would like us to believe...
And while I'm on the subject of the film, once again I just have to say that more I see of Helena Bonham Carter as Julia, the more I love her performance. Her body language is so fascinating, as has been on view lately in the film's slideshow:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0302DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Julia: 'Yes, David believes his mother has some kind
of, um... cyclical immortality. Fascinating, really.
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0304DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Vicki: 'I think ghosts are just people who've moved
into a slightly different dimension than ours. And I think some
people just have antennas strong enough to pick them up.
And changing the focus to Vicki's line in today's slideshow, who better to have an opinion on what ghosts might be than Vicki, who has been seeing one for nearly her entire life. Vicki's opinion get's thrown away in the scene because Liz doesn't want to hear any of it because it will only encourage David, but little do they all realize how she speaks from experience. But then, as I've mentioned before, for just so many reasons that first dining room scene is one of my favorite things about the film...
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This might be a repeat - Shadows12 review:
http://lwlies.com/reviews/dark-shadows/
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Today's slideshow just happens to feature one of that reviewer's favorite moments from the film:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0312DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Barnabas (to a McDonalds sign): 'Mephistopheles.'
[wink2]
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Methinks it's time for another viewing. You know, they got me right off the bat using The Secret Room for the opening scene, even before the actual story began.
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Another US Web site that apparently hasn't gotten the memo, or at least chooses to ignore it: Collider.com has recently written:
"Despite the general consensus that Burton has softened and become less inventive in his recent years, he has turned out a few minor masterworks, including Dark Shadows, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, and Frankenweenie."
(Find a link to the article in the Miss Peregrine topic on the "Calendar Events / Announcements '16 I" board.)
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Who knew that Fandango has a Depp/DS section in German? For some reason I received a Google alert to it today:
DARK SHADOWS (GERMAN) (http://www.fandango.com/movie-trailer/darkshadowsgerman-trailer/147176?mpxId=328826435739)
It was a hoot to watch the German trailer, especially because it contains a moment that was deemed too sexual and was cut from the US version of the trailer. Hello, US MPAA, the film is PG-13 and the US trailer is approved for PG-13 audiences - it's not like there's an R version of the film!! ::) But then, the US is often sooo puritanical...
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College students given movie star treatment (http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/college_students_given_movie_star_treatment_1_4479997)
Article about movie set caterers, Anne and Kevin Chamberlain, with two photos that purport to have been taken "on the set for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows." The first I can see as being true because it looks like it may be from the souvenir book that was handed out to the crew to commemorate the production. It's hard to tell about the second one...
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BarnaDepp bears a REALLY strong resemblance to an adult Eddie Munster in today's shot...
Just reporting what I'm seeing.
G.
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If only there was a werewolf doll on the chest instead of a big troll. (Plus, it's placement in the scene could have been a potential clue to Carolyn's secret.)
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Until I happened to just come across it on Amazon, I had no idea that this packaging of the Depp/Burton DS film with Depp/Burton's Sleepy Hollow was even available:
Dark Shadows/ Sleepy Hollow (DBFE) (http://smile.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Sleepy-Hollow-DBFE/dp/B00HNWYL7G/ref=sr_1_8?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1462748773&sr=1-8&keywords=Dark+Shadows&refinements=p_n_format_browse-bin%3A2650304011%2Cp_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A2651255011)
But don't even get me started on how much better the releases of the DS film are in other countries, especially the steel book releases in Europe. [ghost_sad] But then, it's no secret that the film was a much bigger hit in Europe and elsewhere than it was in the US, so I suppose WB felt they would be able to recoup more there so they went bigger. But charging the likes of $75 on Amazon for some of them does seem more than a bit excessive...
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Given my love of all things Helena Bonham Carter in the Depp/DS film (as well as many of her other films), I swear that I didn't actually write this article under an assumed name([ghost_nowink]):
Helena Bonham Carter 50th birthday: Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Fight Club and more highlights (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/helena-bonham-carter-50th-birthday-harry-potter-alice-wonderland-fight-club-more-highlights-1562013)
And among the "and more" is the Depp/DS film, of which the author says that "while it may be an acquired taste, it is one of our favourites of the trio", the "the trio" being Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, and Johnny Depp. And that's not the only positive thing the author has to say regarding the film.
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Unpopular Opinion: Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows' Was Awesome. Here's Why... (http://moviepilot.com/posts/3789884)
I swear I didn't write this under a pseudonym (if I did, there would have been much more regarding HBC [ghost_wink]). And while several will disagree, many of us will agree with the author's opinions. But it's unfortunate that the article mentions the guesstimate that the film cost $150 million as if it's fact because as we've discussed numerous times, it isn't - it's a guess - and only one out of about 4 guesses that range from $60 to $150 million. And as Burton has gone on record in the New York Times as saying the film did make money, that would mean that at the time he said that it could be deduced that the most likely cost of the film was right around $100 million. Plus the $245.5 million worldwide gross figure is also off because that's only up to the point that WB reported box office figures, but, for example, we know for certain that the film continued to play for at least 9 weeks afterward in the US and who knows how many weeks in other countries...
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It's going to be fascinating to see what the legacy of the film Warcraft will be in the US. Thus far its foreign box office has been quite successful but mostly every article I've read about its US opening this past weekend has said that the film's a "flop" because it opened in this country with only $24.4 million. So, like they've done so many times in the past, are many US reporters going to consider the film a "flop" despite what it might do worldwide? It's probably too early to say for sure - but why do I suspect they will because, well, after all, in their minds it's only how a film performs in the US that counts...
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I have no idea why I'm suddenly getting Google Alerts to these photos from over 4 years ago - but better late than never, I suppose:
LONDON - MAY 9, 2012: Bella Heathcote attends the Dark Shadows - UK film premiere at the The Empire, Leicester Square on May 9, 2012 in London (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-440414719/stock-photo-london-may-bella-heathcote-attends-the-dark-shadows-uk-film-premiere-at-the-the-empire.html)
LONDON - MAY 9, 2012: Eva Green attends the Dark Shadows - UK film premiere at the The Empire, Leicester Square on May 9, 2012 in London (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-440411605/stock-photo-london-may-eva-green-attends-the-dark-shadows-uk-film-premiere-at-the-the-empire.html)
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I enjoyed those photo's, glad you got the alert, I'd have never viewed them otherwise. I missed all the hoopla in '12.
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If I'm interpreting this page correctly after having my browser translate it -
Dark Shadows
HD Cinema Village , 13:50 (http://tv.pathfinder.gr/village-cinema-hd-dig/village-cinema-hd-dig201607051350.html)
- it looks like the Depp/DS film is playing in some theater in Greece.
It lists the film as 120 minutes, but I doubt what they're showing is longer than what was originally released...
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it could be noted that at the fest there was not a single reference to the film in any way. no merchandise. nothing...
it simply does not exist to most fans.
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it simply does not exist to most fans.
Well, I don't know if we can say most fans - but a certain someone is determined to make it seem as if it doesn't exist. But what would be absolutely fascinating would be to remind that certain someone of the things he said while the film was in production and leading up to its release. But sadly, I doubt anyone will ever do that at a Fest. [ghost_nowink]
I commend The Friends Of The 1991 DS group for not only being more than willing to acknowledge it, they actually screen it...
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whatever planned or hoped for "synergies" between the OS and the film have long since fizzled out.
JP knows it's a toxic subject better left unaddressed.
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whatever planned or hoped for "synergies" between the OS and the film have long since fizzled out.
Well, yes, that is certainly true. But then, the same could be said of any hoped for "synergies" between the OS and the '91 series. These days the '91 series is also pretty much ignored at the Fests as if it doesn't exist. The fact of the matter is that there is definitely a contingent in fandom that will never accept any versions of DS other than the original, just as there is still a whole contingent of Star Trek fans for whom there will never be another Star Trek except for the original. Though the big difference between the DS and Trek fandoms is that Trek has been able to produce versions of itself that have been hugely successful apart from the original and they can stand both apart from and together with the original - but for whatever reason, subsequent versions of DS have never taken off to the same degree as the original. And until something like that can happen, until there can be a newer version of DS that can stand just as successfully on its own, if such a thing can ever happen, more than likely there will never be any sort of synergy between the OS and a new version of DS like there is between the various versions of Trek...
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It's very similar to what happened with the NBC show. The actors were invited and actually attended several festivals, then nothing. It's only in the last few years that fandom has reevaluated the series, if not embracing it.
The Depp film remains an extremely polarizing element in fandom, ever four years later. The amount of venom spewed out is excessive. If the biggest thing that people have to complain about in their lives is a Dark Shadows movie, then they're pretty damn lucky.
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when i first joined the fandom in the early aughts the 91 revival was the hot button, toxic subject.
i think it's been reevaluated in the years since the movie particularly because it was so darn serious. it wasn't a "comedy" which is what a disproportionate number of fans still erroneously label the film.
it's not so bad "by comparison".
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And I've mentioned this before but before the '91 series the target of derision was NoDS. That film was hated by many in fandom for a good 25 years - not necessarily because of any of the enforced editing but mainly because Barnabas isn't in it. As such, the comments often went like "It's not DS without Barnabas," which, of course, completely invalidates the first nine months of the show as well as the last three. But then back then few fans had even seen the first nine months. And who's to say if finally being able to see those nine months on Sci-Fi or on VHS had anything to do with it, but right around the mid '90s the tide began to turn and more and more favorable comments about NoDS were often seen. At first it still was the case that more fans liked hoDS better - but today you're just as likely to see fans say they actually prefer NoDS. Saying THAT would have been considered blasphemy during those 25 years of hatred and would have prompted responses similar to those that have been seen against fans of the Depp/DS film.
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when i first joined the fandom in the early aughts the 91 revival was the hot button, toxic subject.
I remember a very vocal and significant number of fans protesting the cancellation of the show and campaigning to have it brought back.
I agree with your earlier comments about the Depp film and other versions being totally ignored, except for the '04 pilot. That got screened again at this year's festival.
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did it? when? i was just there for the day Saturday.
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I remember a very vocal and significant number of fans protesting the cancellation of the show and campaigning to have it brought back.
Very true. Even some of the stars took part in the rallies in LA.
If only those same people were as vocal for the '91 DS to be a continual part of the Fests. And if we can believe postings on the Internet, the '91 DS supposedly gained a lot of fans when it was frequently rerun on the Sci-Fi Channel. But by that time the '91 show was all but forgotten so far as the Fests went. [ghost_sad]
What will be interesting will be to see how the Depp/DS film is regarded in fandom after it's been around for 25 years. Though many of us won't be around to see it - or even if there still is an organized DS fandom...
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I missed it too.
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I remember how viciously the NBC series was treated in the fanzines at the time. There was no internet to speak of at the time, so most of the discussion of the show came in the printed zines. But because of the sometimes long gap between issues, most of the criticism wasn't seen until after the show was off the air.
Most of the criticism was leveled at Ben Cross who didn't play Barnabas the same way as Jonathan Frid did. A lot of it was about the Roger/Maggie affair. But virtuality everything including the razor stubble on Michael T. Weiss came under the microscope for not being Dark Shadows enough.
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did it? when? i was just there for the day Saturday.
I believe the 04 pilot aired on Saturday in the mid afternoon. It was not in the program. It may have been Friday night though. The whole thing is blurring together.
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How was it? Better than you remembered? Has it held up? Do you think it would have made it if it had been aired?
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Tim Burton's Home for Peculiar Ideas: A Family Of Usual Suspects
Happy Birthday to Tim Burton! We love all that you do, and how creative you are! (http://wrif.com/2016/08/25/tim-burtons-home-for-peculiar-ideas-a-family-of-usual-suspects/)
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Thanks for the link, MB. A nice little article, although I couldn't help noticing a few inaccuracies. For instance, Burton's animated films are not "Claymation" (such films use malleable substances such as plasticine for the figures). Also, although Tim and Helena were partnered, they neither married nor divorced. And the section about his work with Johnny Depp gives the impression that Burton brought Depp into the Dark Shadows project, while it was actually the other way around...
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Yeah, well, as we've sadly lamented many times, all too often on the Internet the idea of checking reliable sources to actually get things right is a lost art. That's why on the Internet there's so much misinformation on almost any subject. Assumptions become facts. Theories become facts. Rumors become facts. And actual facts go by the wayside. After all, what place do little things like facts have? [ghost_rolleyes] And Burton and Depp have more than their share of misinformation about them out there...
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I didn't realize until I just checked my e-mail today that yesterday this was posted on the film's Facebook page:
Click here (https://www.facebook.com/darkshadowsmovie/photos/a.313868312007143.71321.164201903640452/1136413496419283/?type=3&theater)
(And I love how for Christmas of 2014 someone posted the cast photo taken in the drawing set and captioned it with the film's tag line "Strange is relative".)
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Looking at today's Burton/Depp image, I was reflecting that Depp Shadows was the only version of the story where Barnabas didn't prey on Carolyn. But then, I don't think he went after her in the WB pilot. It would be interesting to know if they were planning to do that storyline.
In the Burton/Depp project, it would have been so very icky if he had attacked Carolyn since to all intents and purposes, she was still a child--albeit, a very precocious one.
G.
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Gothick,
Yes, some of the fan speculation regarding the relationship between the Rev. Gregory Trask and his daughter Charity during the 1897 story line was disturbing enough. I can see how Barnabas' possible "relationship" with Carolyn in the film could be, as you so aptly put it, "icky."
Bob
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But then, I don't think he went after her in the WB pilot.
(Barn's attack on Carolyn was one of the best parts of the WB pilot!
Re: And Even Yet Another New Slideshow
And the makeup for Carolyn's wound is really quite graphic.
Re: And Even Yet Another New Slideshow
)
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Gothick,
Yes, some of the fan speculation regarding the relationship between the Rev. Gregory Trask and his daughter Charity during the 1897 story line was disturbing enough. I can see how Barnabas' possible "relationship" with Carolyn in the film could be, as you so aptly put it, "icky."
Very much so, Bob. However, the great literary scribe goes to some lengths to hint at a Barnabas/Carolyn romantic relationship in some of the later books
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Thanks, MB. I'm so confused by whether it's Daphne or Carolyn that gets attacked at whichever point in whatever version, apart from the OS of course... my memories of the WB thing are really quite sketchy. I know I should be really clear about it since you spent a year analyzing every page of that script but alas...
G.
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I'm so confused by whether it's Daphne or Carolyn that gets attacked at whichever point in whatever version
That's certainly understandable! [nodassent]
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Yes, it's almost that time again, time for Freeform's (formerly ABC Family) 13 Nights of Halloween, and once again the Depp/DS film is a part of the celebration. It will be running:
Wednesday, Oct. 26
6 p.m. — Dark Shadows
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15 Iconic Scenes From Tim Burton Movies (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/15-iconic-scenes-tim-burton-150000458.html)
Hmmm - I would have picked almost any other clip rather than the one they've chosen from DS (even though it does have its moments). But it's great to see DS included, and that's all that really matters, I suppose. [ghost_wink]
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Tim Burton's Movies, From Best to Worst
EW has been reviewing the director's films since his early days — here's how he has fared with our critics over the years (http://www.ew.com/gallery/tim-burton-movies-graded)
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And yet another list:
Tim Burton’s 17 Films Ranked — From Worst to Best (http://variety.com/gallery/tim-burton-films-ranked-worst-to-best-batman-edward-scissorhands-johnny-depp/)
DS is "Burton's most underappreciated" - indeed...
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It's very nice that more and more places are setting the record straight about the Depp/DS film:
Tim Burton’s Flop-Less Career
As a director, he’s one of the most consistent moneymakers. (https://filmschoolrejects.com/tim-burtons-flop-less-career-8071322e7c8d#.v7l4lnw69)
Although, I still take issue with articles that report the film had a $150 million budget when that was only one guesstimate, and not even the most widely reported one at that. $100 million and $125 million were the most reported quesstimates - and as we've pointed out before, it's actually greatly likely that the real budget was between $100 and $125 million for the film to have already made a profit when Burton said in the NYT that it had.
It's also interesting that a few reports (citing just one source) are saying that Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children's opening foreign boxoffice outpaced what the Depp/DS film brought in for its opening - but MPHfPC brought in $36.5 million in foreign markets, whereas DS brought in $37.3 million, so how in the world is that outpacing DS?! [hdscrt]
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Just a reminder:
Yes, it's almost that time again, time for Freeform's (formerly ABC Family) 13 Nights of Halloween, and once again the Depp/DS film is a part of the celebration. It will be running:
Wednesday, Oct. 26
6 p.m. — Dark Shadows
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It will also be on Friday the 28th at 8:20 PM and Saturday the 29th at 2:35 PM.
And, on Syfi on Nov. 2 at 10 PM and Nov 3 at 6:30 PM.
I was hoping HBO would get it again - I had to get a different DVR and so lost the one I had and was hoping to record it again, but I don't want it from a station with commercials.
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Thanks for the info, Josette. [hall2_smiley]
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Hollywood's new scream queens - Bella Heathcote (https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/gallery/the-walking-dead-star-lauren-cohan-and-more-of-hollywoods-new-scream-queens/ss-AAjlcqf?li=BBnb7Kz#image=10)
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I laugh hystericallly every time I'm reminded of the moment from the film that immortalized in today's slideshow:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/1106DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Barnabas: 'Never mind that.'
And not just because of how it relates to events in the film but because that answer was given on too many occasions to even count because it was the go to answer for so many characters when they didn't want to answer a question that was asked of them in practically every version of DS. Next to saying that something of some sort "must" happen, or someone saying they "don't understand," someone saying some variation of "never mind that" has to be the most often repeated words in the DS universe!!
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How interesting. Apparently on December 3rd the Depp/DS film will be shown on public television in Armenia:
Public TV Company of Armenia: Dark Shadows (http://www.1tv.am/en/1tv-news/2016/12/03/Dark-Shadows/15458)
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I laugh hystericallly every time I'm reminded of the moment from the film that immortalized in today's slideshow:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/1106DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Barnabas: 'Never mind that.'
And I just love how a bit of the red fabric clings to Barnabas' face, in a way that suggests a trickle of blood coming from his mouth. Was he munching during his time in there? [naughty]
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Apparently the Depp/DS film recently has been and will be showing in Australia:
MOVIE: Dark Shadows (http://www.pressreader.com/australia/daily-mercury/20170325/282699046954597)
(http://www.dsboards.com/images/DS12_Aus.jpg)
An Australian M(Films classified M (Mature) contain content of a moderate impact and are recommended for teenagers aged 15 years and over) rating is equivalent to our PG-13, only two years older...
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Apparently the film was also shown on Greek television yesterday:
Dark Shadows (http://tv.pathfinder.gr/village-cinema-hd-dig/village-cinema-hd-dig201703261450.html)
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Another foreign showing, and on Easter yet - two resurrections for the price of one. [easter_wink]
Dark Shadows , RTS 1
From 00:15 to 02:05
00:15 - 02:05
Sunday, 16.04.2017
USA 2012
110 minutes (https://m.srf.ch/programm/tv/sendung/247334568)
I think their cast list must list everyone in the film with the odd exception of one! [hdscrt]
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last night i watched a movie called 'The Legend of Hell House' filmed in 1973...
it was set at a Gothic style mansion similar to Collinwood. i really think much of the 2012 art direction and set design was at least in part inspired by the look of this film. Burton has to have seen it. the gloomy Gothic setting with touches of early 1970's decor. lamps and other small decorative items seen throughout the house were definitely evoked in Burton's film.
and lead actress Pamela Franklin's overall look definitely inspired the costuming for Vicki in the 2012 film as well. wide collars. capelets. blouses worn under jumper style dresses. some of the outfits were almost identical.
if you watch it you'll see what i mean. it was certainly a source of visual inspiration.
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there was also some big clunky early 1970s machinery incongruously dropped into this setting that reminded me of Julia's lab setup.
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LOHH is perhaps my all-time favorite haunted house film. As I've mentioned before, I love to watch it alone at like 1am with all the lights off - and then by the time it's done I'm going around turning all the lights in the house on. [easter_cheesy]
As for LOHH possibly being a visual inspiration for the Depp/DS film, I haven't watched either in a while, so one of these nights I'll have to watch them together...
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last night i watched a movie called 'The Legend of Hell House' filmed in 1973...
it was set at a Gothic style mansion similar to Collinwood. i really think much of the 2012 art direction and set design was at least in part inspired by the look of this film. Burton has to have seen it. the gloomy Gothic setting with touches of early 1970's decor. lamps and other small decorative items seen throughout the house were definitely evoked in Burton's film.
and lead actress Pamela Franklin's overall look definitely inspired the costuming for Vicki in the 2012 film as well. wide collars. capelets. blouses worn under jumper style dresses. some of the outfits were almost identical.
if you watch it you'll see what i mean. it was certainly a source of visual inspiration.
I looked at pictures of the house. Burton's Collinwood is obvously based on Seaview. The house in LoHH looks something like Seaview as well, but it looks darker and more sinister. I can't really put what I mean into words, but there's a quality about it that reminds me of Burton's Collinwood. I find it easy to believe that his vision of the house was influenced by the house in the movie.
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the exteriors of the houses is somewhat different. it was more the interiors.
Burton's vision certainly took things in a campier direction...there are no macrame owls or troll dolls in LOHH...but some early 1970s design elements imposed on the Gothic setting brought DS to mind. and like i said Pamela Franklin's style was very evocative of Vicki in the Burton film (although the hairdo was different).
Burton creates a visual pastiche of multiple sources but i definitely think this film was swirling around somewhere when he was laying out his vision for DS.
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last night i watched a movie called 'The Legend of Hell House' filmed in 1973...
This is definitely off topic, but I should have mentioned earlier that I hope you got to see an unedited version of LOHH. TV showings tend to cut a good 10 to even 15 minutes out of the film, stuff that never should be sacrificed because it's central to the plot.
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The original book by Richard Matheson is even better. It is even more explicit. And just as riveting.
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the exteriors of the houses is somewhat different. it was more the interiors.
Really? The images I saw were of the exterior. Now maybe I was reading too much into it, but I thought I saw a similarity. I'll have to watch the movie again and look at the interior design.
Come to think of it, I need to look at the exteriors shots again. I googled LoHH and looked at the images given to me, but maybe they weren't even from that movie. That sometimes happens. It's been so many years since I've seen that movie, I hardly remember it. In fact, I'd forgotten Roddy McDowall was in it until I saw some pictures of him. I did see the outfit on one of the women that was definately similar to Victoria's. Although to be honest, her outfit kind of made me think of Tuesday Addams. I'll need to check out that movie again.
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Maybe I was reading into it, but when I saw this house earlier, the towers reminded me of the ones in the Burton film. They don't seem as strikingly similar to me now though.
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OK - now I'm beginning to think I'm in some sort of a time warp. Not only did I just post something from a Pennsylvania newspaper's Web site that thinks it's already the 27, but I just received a new Google alert to this:
Five Incredibly Handsome Actors You Haven’t Heard of Yet (https://www.tvovermind.com/entertainment-news/five-incredibly-handsome-actors-havent-heard-yet)
And that article is, in part, about how Thomas McDonell, who it says "is slated to play the younger version of Depp's character on the new "Dark Shadows" film that's coming out." And that article is dated June 25, 2017...
[crazy]
Though one thing I do wish is that we knew whatever happened to McDonell's part in the film. One might think that these 5 years later we might know by now - but no... But then, after his last appearance on the CW's The 100 last year, McDonell himself seems to have dropped from view...
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on some of the FB pages there has recently been a lot of people "hearing" or "reading" about a sequel to the Depp film that ends up being based on misinformation like this.
old articles reposted. out-of-context quotes. for some reason the film is getting chatter on the internet lately.
after 5 years i think we can safely assume the Depp/Burton association with the "franchise" is dead and buried.
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It never even dawned on me that someone might read that and think it's about a sequel. But considering that it is currently dated (instead of being from 2011-2012, when the info for McDonell was originally all over the Internet) and the info for some of the other guys in the article is also current, I can see where someone could think that...
Who knows how/why the person who wrote the article could possibly think that DS info for McDonell is anywhere near current?! But then, as we've often lamented in the past, so few Internet writers bother to check their facts...
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I saw the article that michaelc is referring to and the brouhaha that has accompanied it. While the DS related quote did indeed come from an email that Johnny Depp had written, it was actually written before the movie even began. There's a certain group of people, certainly not limited to DS, that see something on the internet and jump to major conclusions.
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I totally agree that Eva Green "blew up the screen" in the Depp/DS film:
Eva Green, ... To Star In Tim Burton's 'Dumbo' (http://www.konbini.com/us/entertainment/eva-green-colin-farrell-michael-keaton-star-tim-burton-dumbo/)
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Apparently the film was on some other European TV outlet on the 26th at 19:10 (apparently they use a 24 hour clock). Even after having my browser translate the Web page listing the showing, I still have no idea what country it was because I didn't see any clues. But this was the listing:
"Dark Shadows
Wednesday
26.07.2017
19:10
ONET
110 min
Dark Shadows (2012) is a horror comedy directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer. Barnabas Collins is a rich, powerful nobleman who has the reputation for being a lady-killer. He breaks Angelique Bouchard's heart and this turns out to be a fatal mistake. The girl applies black magic and turns him into a vampire who is buried alive. Two centuries later Barnabas is accidentally set free and finds himself in a completely different world."
The part about Barnabas being a "lady-killer" would seem to come from early press releases because there really isn't evidence in the film as it stands. Though in the lead up to the film's release there were definitely hints of scenes to that effect - and there would also appear to be a storyboard for one such scene in the DS Visual Companion book. But apparently, if they were ever shot, they all ended up on the cutting room floor when the prologue was trimmed...
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Interesting that up until recently, the last film that got him out of his house to see a film in a theater was the Depp/DS film:
Local man asking for help through donations
Bringing the theater to home (http://www.tribtown.com/2017/08/08/bringing_the_theater_to_home/)
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Fife vintage furniture specialist hits the props jackpot on new film Victoria & Abdul (http://www.insider.co.uk/news/fife-vintage-furniture-specialist-hits-11178425)
When one reads the article, it's mentioned that they supplied props to the Depp/DS film.
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VFX Production Manager Nikeah Forde Helps Projects Keep Everything on Track
Forde has worked alongside Kenneth Branagh on both “Cinderella” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” Tim Burton on “Dark Shadows” and Ridley Scott on “The Martian.” (http://variety.com/2017/artisans/production/vfx-production-manager-kingsman-1202564840/)
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Apparently the Depp/DS film will be shown in Australia on October 13th:
Dark Shadows
9Go! Sydney
On Fri 13 Oct 9:30pm - 11:45pm
An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free
and returns to his ancestral home, where his
dysfunctional descendants are in need of his
protection.
DIRECTOR: Tim Burton
CAST: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Helena Bonham-Carter, Eva Green
YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 2012
(M) Horror, Violence
135 mins
|
But what's most interesting about the listing is that it says the film runs 135 mins instead of the 113 mins we're all familiar with. We should probably presume that's simply a mistake. Or perhaps there are 22 minutes of commercials during the showing (I have no idea if 9Go! is a commercial or cable network). But it would be fascinating if they were getting some sort of an extended cut similar to what ABC often does when it shows many Disney and Harry Potter films...
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I would think commercials would be the most likely explanation.
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It dawned on me to track down online if the network is commercial or cable, and it's commercial. In fact, its Wikipedia page explains exactly what we need to know:
'Movies screen with "limited and brief commercial breaks".'
So, as suspected, that explains the extra 22 minutes.
It's still odd, though, that they list the time for the films they run with the commercials added rather than listing a film's own running time. Networks here in the US always list a film's own running time no matter how long the time period may last for showing it. But, of course, Australia is not here...
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The Depp/DS film is among this person's Good Halloween Movies (http://www.klll.com/good-halloween-movies/)
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According to this article, the Depp/DS film is among the 7 spooky film to watch this Halloween:
From 1922 to The Invitation: 7 Spooky movies to binge-watch this Halloween! (http://www.dnaindia.com/hollywood/report-from-1922-to-the-invitation-7-spooky-movies-to-binge-watch-this-halloween-2555940)
"Dark Shadows: Based on its yesteryear gothic soap opera, this is the story of the immortal Barnabas and his dysfunctional family. Sorcery, black magic, and romance – this horror flick has it all."
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Fife vintage furniture specialist Scaramanga supplies products for Paddington 2
The Cupar-based firm handed over two large antique brass padlocks for the favourite kids book character's second big screen outing - the seventh major movie to use its products in five years (http://www.insider.co.uk/news/fife-furniture-specialist-scaramanga-paddington-11495566?service=responsive)
You don't think of all the vintage things that were used in the Depp/DS film and wonder where they came from...
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Dark Shadows
Lot 62 - Holiday Auction 2017 - Collin's Factory Mackerel (https://propstore.com/product/dark-shadows/lot-62-holiday-auction-2017-collins-factory-mackerel/)
"Scene Reference: Plastic mackerel was used to dress the Collin's and Angel Bay's canning factories, notably when Angelique (Eva Green) is first introduced in 1972."
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This critic feels The Man Who Invented Christmas in a way "imitates" the Depp/DS film:
The Man Who Invented Christmas
How Dickens made the holiday season so quintessentially Victorian. (http://www.sfweekly.com/film/film-film/the-man-who-invented-christmas/)
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Who knew - one of the bachelorettes on the upcoming season of The Bachelor considers the Depp/DS movie to be one of her three all-time favorite movies:
Marikh Mathias -- 5 things to know about Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s 'The Bachelor' bachelorette (http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/marikh-mathias----5-things-know-about-arie-luyendyk-jr-the-bachelor-bachelorette--23240.php)
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considers the Depp/DS movie to be one of her three all-time favorite movies:
Plus Beetlejuice and Practical Magic? Besides being gorgeous, she has great taste in movies. [reindeer]
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Who knew they had covers for your LG phone based on the film:
Exquisite Designs Dark Shadows Movie Case Cover for LG G3 Design By [Jeremiah Lyons] (https://www.amazon.ca/Exquisite-Designs-Shadows-Jeremiah-Lyons/dp/B01MQFR423)
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How cool is that! Amazing what can be done without the uncreative imagination of MPI! [santa_shocked]
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the films from London's forgotten corner (https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2018/may/07/south-east-london-nil-by-mouth-bromley-boys-thor-2-six)
Article about how few films ever shoot in south east London but the Depp/DS film is cited as an example of one that did when it shot in Beckenham Place Park (Maggie's escape from the asylum).
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An article that isn't afraid to acknowledge that the Depp/DS film received many good reviews -
Jonny Lee Miller went on to star in not just the sequel, T2 Trainspotting (2016), but plenty of other critically acclaimed films like Afterglow (1997), Dark Shadows (2012) and The Flying Scotsman (2016) (http://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/tv/2018/jun/08/jonny-lee-miller-tvs-latest-sherlock-holmes-is-back-for-the-sixth-season-of-elementary-and-heres-wha-8040.html)
- though it takes a Web site based in India to do it...
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DS surfaces again on a best of list:
Five Up, Five Down: Ranking Reboots, Revivals and Remakes
Nothing is new. Everything is old. Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes its bad. (https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/6/9/17442198/five-up-five-down-ranking-reboots-oceans-8-dark-knight-star-wars-god-of-war-x-men-e3-superman)
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‘Hereditary’ Star Alex Wolff Decided Method Acting for a Horror Film Was a Good Idea (https://theblemish.com/2018/06/hereditary-star-alex-wolff-decided-method-acting-for-a-horror-film-was-a-good-idea/)
This article contains a bit of trivia about how Depp prepared to play Barnabas (or Barnabus, as the article spells it [hmh]).
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Scaramanga delight as props used in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again movie
New hit musical is the latest big screen blockbuster to turn to the Cuper vintage furniture specialist for props (https://www.insider.co.uk/news/mamma-mia-sequel-scaramanga-fife-12947318)
"Other Hollywood movie props supply roles for the Fife firm have included ... – and 2012 Tim Burton epic Dark Shadows - they supplied trunks for Liverpool Docks scenes."
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The Great Pretender: England on film (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-42976301)
(Scroll down to: "Dark Shadows: Collinsport, Maine")
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The article mentions parts of World War Z being filmed in Britain, particularly the coast of Nova Scotia being the coast of England. I'm surprised it didn't include another important location. The film opens in Philadelphia and, while some overhead shots were made, the city wanted way too much money for the massive street scenes of panic and mayhem. So Edinburgh, Scotland stood in because its asking price was much cheaper. I've been to both multiple times and many Edinburgh streets are very similar to those in Philly.
Another classic horror Maine locale filmed elsewhere was the '02 version of Carrie. Originally produced for theatrical release, CBS (I think it was CBS) bought it out during its making and expanded on it as a pilot for a hoped-for TV series (Carrie survives and goes into hiding at the end). The devastated town of Chamberlain, Maine was filmed in Vancouver, BC and Anchorage, AK. Fortunately, unlike the classic '76 version which was filmed in California, there were no palm trees in the background (palm trees, palms trees, palm trees, PALM TREES!!!).
Gerard
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i tried really hard to watch the 02 Carrie my god was that so bad i couldn't even sit through the whole thing.
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I guess we differ. To me, it was the best adaptation of King's novel. The '13 with Chloe was the worst.
Gerard
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i haven't seen the 13 one to be fair. but i love the 76 version. and really? have you seen Stand by Me, shawshank. Green Mile i loved Salam's Lot. the long version of the 79 film. of the books i've read i'm going by.
i love Pet Sematary as well. i read the book not that long ago and it's pretty faithful to the novel. yes some things were changed but for me i think the film is better than the book. more scarier but that's me though.
there i'm sure are more but these are ones i love. i love the shining but that's not faithful, the 97 is and what hurts that one is it's cast not the script. anyways sorry for going off topic a bit here but he's my favorite author and i can go on for hours about King
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‘Murder on the Orient Express’ on HBO: Who Wants to (Gets to?) Murder Johnny Depp? (https://decider.com/2018/08/11/murder-on-the-orient-express-on-hbo/)
"Michelle Pfeiffer as Caroline Hubbard, a skittish, husband-hunting actress who is likely trying to cover up the fact that she and Depp have a past relationship from working on the movie Dark Shadows."
Not quite, but a good guess. [ghost_wink]
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10 Things You Didn’t Know About John August (https://www.tvovermind.com/entertainment-news/john-august)
References DS...
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Well, I haven't read the entire thread here, but I aim to do so! What a remarkable relief after all I've had to endure. Rationality. Simple feelings, calm discussion. And we can discuss this movie. I will likely come back and detail a lot more that I love for the sake I can do so safely.
Oh, to go back in time when the world made more sense...
I was so excited, calling Mum on the phone and calling out, "They're making it now, as we speak! They're finally creating the film!" Then we saw the trailers and thought, "Okay, there's gonna be some jokes, and that was fun." One of the lines they gave Carter for Hoffman, just her voice, "Who the hell is this?" made me think, "Wow, I'm convinced!"
It coincides with so much, my personal experience. Years before we'd been on a trip and I managed to get an NPR station on my sanza with speakers of a show that asked players, "Which of this line up of unbelievable things is actually real?" I can't remember the list but the real thing was a book called "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" in which an author took Jane Austen's book and added zombies to it somehow.
Cut to this film being released and I see the screenwriter is the same man who added zombies to a Jane Austen novel, and I think, "OH! That is the type of person who could write good period piece dialogue for Barnabas. Excellent!" And a lot of that very dialogue surpassed my expectations. Didn't love every line, but his version of "kiss my rear end" was a delight!
Because of some things I'd seen and heard about I didn't expect to really enjoy it, one of which was knowing it was Victoria Winters and not Maggie Evans. And there I was in the packed theater on opening night with my husband and a a few friends, cringing through a few credits. (I think we were the only people to riotously laugh at the exploding tree for the Lincoln preview.) The train sequence starts and she said, "Hello, my name is Maggie Evans-"
Time stopped. I could not believe what I heard.
Then the bonus delight of seeing the Amtrak ad for Winter Sports in Victoria B.C. (A spot we spent our very enjoyable honeymoon.) And she switches her name to that, but we haven't heard the last of Maggie. THEN they started "Nights in White Satin" which I had recently fallen in love with a year or two before and I just about melted in my seat. I thought, "My God, I might actually enjoy this movie!"
I liked what some one suggested earlier in the thread that she had thought of the name before but the poster was a reminder, because when introducing oneself one automatically goes with what they're used to. So it could be a film "oops" or a Maggie "oops". Hee hee hee.
There is so much I love about this film that I haven't been able to discuss with anyone in years. (That's terrifying.) My name is Victoria Winters and Willie responding, "Congratulations." all dead pan. Elizabeth explaining why they didn't use the whole house to save on heating. I can't remember if it was in the OS but it felt good for someone to finally address that bit.
I absolutely adored the fish-out-of-water jokes and wanted more of them. It was something that irked me about the OS and I thought, "Um, where did this vampire steal his instant knowledge about a century he's never lived in?" I remember phrasing it once with "Well the culture shock is no small potatoes." But it's fun to speculate, isn't it?
I had my troubles with Roger but I remembered this style of him in what we saw of the '91 and thought, "Well, I can't have everything." And as I've told a couple friends, "I'm able to perform a more enjoyable Roger than that other guy, so who cares?" ^_^
And then Barnabas, apologetic to the last, requests forgiveness from the people he's killing, or at least one of them. The McDonald's sign was hilarious. I want to say, "Don't be too hard on yourself for being a vampire, Barnabas. There's a big display right there of one that's even bigger than you."
Willie only getting one smack was also nice. (The beating felt scary for the OS and HoDS.) In retrospect it being in October makes me think of the beginning of the 2004 pilot. "Fetching creature" Carolyn being a werewolf was a fun twist for me. I kept wondering if the werewolf bit was why Paul Stoddard left for the film, that perhaps he was the one who handed it down to her.
I was good that first night catching all the eggs. Okay, my sweetie caught Wyndcliff on the loony bin wagon that took Maggie away as a child. I caught the cameos and pointed very quickly for him, "There they are!" and he was grateful I pointed them out. The Blue Whale was in there, and I gotta say, it was nice to actually SEE this cannery before we managed to get all of the OS series to catch glimpses of it there.
And I actually got misty when Magtoria says, "For most of my life I've wanted a place where I belonged. A place where I could feel at home again, feel loved again. And I found that place here at Collinwood and with you." I just felt like, "She took the words right out of my mouth!" That's how I've felt about Dark Shadows. (Possibly the fandom too if a lot of folks didn't get so harmed by the new tech stuff. Yikes.)
I really want to talk about this more, if I may. But I'm going on and I want to wrap up for now.
What I've especially noticed outside of the viral, regurgitated hate-speak that resounds with people about this film, even when it isn't even mentioned which I find Orwellian in structure, that people in my age bracket (late thirties/early forties) have no problem with this film because we lived in a world where we longed for what Tim Burton had to offer in his work prior to its existence. We've seen both sides, a world with and world without. We grew up with Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas when they were brand new. We loved the spooky but we wanted it to be fun. Tim Burton made it fun. Halloween became safe to love year round when once you could be ostracized for that. He helped provide safety in loving the spooky.
So with this film we knew what to expect. Kooky fun, but with that edge of other things, a mixture. Like "Ghost" it had romance, drama, comedy and the supernatural involved. Perhaps we love that because much of life is a mixture, it's complicated, there are many people and communities involved.
But the greatest part of all is being able to discuss this with rational people. It's astounding me that the reincarnation aspect is being discussed so casually when I've been surrounded by fans who treated it like a taboo. Thank you for giving me a place to type my enjoyment without the fear of being yelled at, harassed or being retaliated against. I hope I can discuss more of what I like soon. Blessings.
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Freeform Releases 31 Nights of Halloween Schedule, So Prepare to Be Spooked (https://www.tvguide.com/news/freeform-31-nights-of-halloween-schedule/)
Sunday, October 7
11:20 p.m. — Dark Shadows (2012)
Monday, October 8
6:30 p.m. — Dark Shadows (2012)
Thursday, October 18
6:30 p.m. — Dark Shadows (2012)
Friday, October 19
3:30 p.m. — Dark Shadows (2012)
Saturday, October 27
7 a.m. — Dark Shadows (2012)
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What is freeform?
Gerard
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Freeform is what used to be called ABC Family.
I'm almost certain that they have commercials. I've been trying to get a full (non-commercial) version of it again, but any channel that has it seems to be one with commercials. I don't actually object to having the commercials, as long as I could be sure there would be no cuts, but I always assume there must be.
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Thanks, Josette! I'll have so see if my cable-carrier has it (and if it's free or part of a higher-cost plan).
Gerard
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I won't say in all because who knows about some cable companies, but in most Freeform is part of Basic Cable and should be included without any extra charge.
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This is Halloween! 44 frights and delights coming to TV this October - Dark Shadows — 2012 film (https://ew.com/tv/2018-halloween-tv-listings/#dark-shadows-2012-film)
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I didn't check my e-mail yesterday so I missed this - but I'm going to share it anyway:
Tune in Tonight for Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018
highlights
Johnny Depp stars in the 2012 adaptation of the campy soap “Dark Shadows” (5:30 p.m., Freeform).
Why they picked that particular showing when there have already been two others on Freeform this year (and there was one this afternoon and there will be one more on the 27th), who knows? But who are we to complain...
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On the cover
Halloween is fast approaching, and Freeform's "31 Nights of Halloween" event continues with programming that includes witches, dinosaurs, monsters and other creepy creatures. (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/oct/21/on-the-cover-20181021/)
I love how they mention DS twice. And it's not because it still has two showings because it only has the one on the 27th left.
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43 Best Halloween Movies To Keep You Busy This October - 21. Dark Shadows (https://www.yourtango.com/2018318237/43-best-halloween-movies-watch-october-2018)
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The Wizard of Odd: A Spotlight On Tim Burton (http://ringsidereport.com/?p=75964)
Of course it mentions the Depp/DS film...
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A day late - but still worth sharing:
Here are the 5 best movies on TV tonight (https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/5-best-movies-tv-tonight-9-652244)
"Dark Shadows - SyFy - 8.00pm
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton reteam for the millionth time on this monster comedy about a family of vampires and werewolves and stuff who must adjust to the modern world. An all-star cast help make it a lot better than it could have been, especially the living legend that is Michelle Pfeiffer."
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I'm pretty sure most of us have seen these on set photos - but perhaps not:
Tim Burton on Set: Behind the Scenes -
“DARK SHADOWS” (2012)
Tim Burton working with Helena Bonham Carter on the set of “Dark Shadows.” (https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/tim-burton-set-photos-batman-edward-scissorhands/#!5/dark-shadows-2012/)
“DARK SHADOWS” (2012)
Tim Burton blocking a scene with Michelle Pfeiffer on the set of “Dark Shadows.” (https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/tim-burton-set-photos-batman-edward-scissorhands/#!6/dark-shadows-2012-2/)
Actually though, when it comes to the second one, I don't think I've seen a print wide enough to show Chloe Moretz...
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Johnny Depp net worth 2019 (https://www.tuko.co.ke/300728-johnny-depp-net-worth-2019.html#300728)
Refers to DS twice, including Depp as "the Dark Shadows actor." One might think that would be the Pirates actor, but apparently not...
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Tim Burton’s Career in Posters, From ‘Edward Scissorhands’ to ‘Dumbo’ - DARK SHADOWS (2012) (https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/tim-burton-movies-posters-dumbo/#!16/dark-shadows-2012-3/)
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MB, I happened to read your new link on here last night; didn't know Burton was doing Dumbo.
Turned on Good Morning America, there was Colin Farrell talking about it!!
(With his wonderful Irish brough!)
Patti
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Eva Green brings wild adult energy to the maligned late-period films of Tim Burton (https://film.avclub.com/eva-green-brings-wild-adult-energy-to-the-maligned-late-1833475860)
Quite a bit of the article is about what Eva Green brings to DS.
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Eva Green and Colin Farrell on working with ‘mysterious’ Tim Burton on ‘Dumbo’ (exclusive) (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/eva-green-colin-farrell-working-mysterious-tim-burton-dumbo-exclusive-140519154.html)
She actually speaks about working with Burton on DS.
There's also video of her interview. It will pop up on the page after you scroll down a bit...
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This is quite funny:
Honest Trailers - Every Tim Burton Movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=320&v=8tWG2t_ZugU)
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Trunk call as Fife firm supplies props for Disney’s Dumbo remake (https://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/media-leisure/trunk-call-as-fife-firm-supplies-props-for-disney-s-dumbo-remake-1-4897296)
References how their stuff is also used in DS.
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Tim Burton movies, ranked by weirdness - "Dark Shadows" (2012) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/gallery/tim-burton-movies-ranked-by-weirdness/ss-BBVkYH3#image=14)
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British jewellers’ bespoke creations fly onto the big screen in Dumbo remake (https://www.professionaljeweller.com/british-jewellers-bespoke-creations-fly-onto-the-big-screen-in-dumbo-remake/)
Apparently also supplied jewels to DS.
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What’s Coming to Netflix UK in May 2019 (https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/whats-coming-to-netflix-uk-in-may-2019/)
Apparently the Depp/DS film...
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Here’s What’s New on Crave for May 2019 (list) (https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/carriers/bell/whats-new-crave-may-2019/)
It looks like the Depp/DS film is also being added to the the STARZ add-on to Canada's Crave:
DARK SHADOWS (May 24)
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Birthday Highlight: Johnny Depp - Jun 9, 2019
Actor Johnny Depp is 56 today, so here's a quick slideshow of some career highlights from the archives of the Associated Press. (https://magicvalley.com/news/archives/birthday-highlight-johnny-depp/collection_7b0b349c-a656-5423-aab2-f9976d7e2ce7.html#1)
(Scroll down to 2012 and 2013)
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i'm still shocked they didn't do a Dark Shadows video game when the film came out i thought they would have and in fact i was hoping for it, cause there are times when a good one does come out not all video games based off movies are crap.
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If you've ever dreamed of having Chloe Moretz as Carolyn as your computer's wallpaper, apparently now is your chance:
1680x1050 Chloe Moretz Dark Shadows, movies desktop PC and Mac wallpaper (https://wallpaperstock.net/chloe-moretz-dark-shadows%2C-pel%C3%ADculas_wallpapers_57545_1680x1050_1.html)
Interesting how this just pops up more than 7 years after the film's release...
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More Downloads:
Download - Dark Shadows Hd, HD Png Download (https://www.pngix.com/viewpng/imbToxh_download-dark-shadows-hd-hd-png-download/)
(Barnabas)
Relaxing On Chair - Dark Shadows, HD Png Download (https://www.pngix.com/viewpng/hTxowhi_relaxing-on-chair-sophie-kennedy-clark-dark-shadows/)
(Carolyn)
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Someone's a fan:
Barnabas Collins From Dark Shadows by Jonathan Stryker (https://na.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/2078887/boards/cosplay-1/Image/barnabas-collins-from-dark-shadows-by-jonathan-stryker)
He's done a good job.
And it's funny how all this stuff related to the film is suddenly showing up in my alerts...
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Apparently the film is offered for free on 124movies.com:
Dark Shadows (2012) (https://124movies.to/movies/watch-dark-shadows-online-free/3811/)
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More props from the film:
Johnny Depp (https://www.spotern.com/en/people/382/johnny-depp?media=1192)
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Dark Shadows movie poster (https://1.pinnar.online/pin/53550683039380690)
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This year's schedule:
Full schedule: 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform (https://abc7.com/entertainment/full-schedule-31-nights-of-halloween/5500528/)
Monday, October 7
1:30pm/12:30c Dark Shadows (2012)
Sunday, October 27
11:20pm/10:20c Dark Shadows (2012)
Monday, October 28
7am/6c Dark Shadows (2012)
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Several Pinterest boards devoted to the film:
Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/322922235756002763/)
And I think one actually has a still I don't think I've ever seen of Burton directing Eva Green...
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I've never seen this review from India of the film:
Nothing dark about 'Dark Shadows'! (IANS Movie Review) (https://www.indiaforums.com/article/nothing-dark-about-dark-shadows-ians-movie-review_33605)
And it's quite funny that I would suddenly receive a link to it all these years later...
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Until I just checked out a link to it, I had no idea that Spotify has a version of the film's soundtrack that has songs that aren't included on the CD:
Dark Shadows Soundtrack (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZhuJdcdLhf3QHA0ajB5un?si=0kwR1IJDTd6BeOAV6HIseQ)
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More 2012 Barnabas photos and drawings:
Barnabas Collins PNG Images (https://imgbin.com/free-png/barnabas-collins)
Even Thomas McDonell is included, which is odd because nothing he shot made it into the film. So, unless someone followed the casting process and/or the shooting of the film, they wouldn't be too likely to know he had the part...
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More photos:
photos of Dark Shadows (2012) (https://johnnydepps.tumblr.com/post/25305991626/2250-photos-of-dark-shadows-2012/amp)
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Apparently the film is available to watch on Chillax:
Watch Dark Shadows full HD - Chillax (http://mananus.com/film/dark-shadows-257/)
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Lots of art based on the film:
Dark Shadows by JMillz847 (https://www.deviantart.com/jmillz847/favourites/52496582/dark-shadows)
Some of it is quite good, some of it is quite funny, and some of it is both...
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Lots of art based on the film:
Dark Shadows by JMillz847 (https://www.deviantart.com/jmillz847/favourites/52496582/dark-shadows)
Some of it is quite good, some of it is quite funny, and some of it is both...
She's got some talent!
However, something about the one in the middle of the 4th row (heads of Barnabas and Julia) makes me see Jodie Foster instead of Helena Bonham Carter. (Hmm... I wonder what she would have been like in that role?)
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Chloe Grace Moretz from the movie DARK SHADOWS (https://www.edbedrickautographs.com/store/qrcspecials/chloe-grace-moretz-from-the-movie-dark-shadows.html)
An autographed still from the film.
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It's nice to see that some libraies are stocking the DVD for their patrons:
Dark shadows (https://www.hcpl.net/title-record/359799)
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A few more drawings and photos:
Dark Shadows PNG (https://www.cleanpng.com/free/dark-shadows.html)
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10 Things In Comedy Movies You Didn’t Know Were CGI - 7. JOHNNY DEPP'S EYELIDS (https://screenrant.com/comedy-movies-cgi-fun-facts/)
I can't say I've ever noticed. I'll definitely have to pay attention the next time I watch the film (which may be in October during one of the Freeform showings).
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I'm sure I wouldn't notice something like that, but I don't like them listing it under "comedy movies." While there WERE humorous aspects, as a whole it certainly wasn't a comedy.
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No, the film definitely isn't a comedy. But what can we do...
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Another drawing - and quite a good one at that:
The Dark Shadows. Bright Moon (https://www.designspiration.com/save/2135426527192/)
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The Sanditon cast IN REAL LIFE: (https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/hfm/gallery/2019090977406/sanditon-cast-in-real-life/10/)
I didn't even realize that Esther Denham is in The Sandition - but then, I also have no idea who she was in the Depp/DS film...
"she had a small role in Les Misérables in 2011 and Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp in 2012."
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I did a little research which is more than the person who wrote the article did. Esther Denham is not an actress. That is the name of a character in The Sandition. The actress is Charlotte Spencer and she played the coat check girl who has a brief romp with Roger in the 2012 film.
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I wondered why the name Esther Denham wasn't listed on the film's IMDb page. Now I know... Thanks for tracking things down, Uncle Roger! [ghost_smiley]
As for the mistake, well, sadly, it's just par for the course for too many Internet writers...
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Dark Shadows GIF (https://telltaletv.com/2019/09/tv-news-wrap-up-game-of-thrones-prequel-nears-pilot-order-at-hbo-the-cw-plans-resurrection-of-dark-shadows-apple-tv-gets-launch-date-and-more/dark-shadows-gif/)
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Several photos/drawings for the film, many featuring Eva Green, hence why it's called: Eva Green in Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/173459023118259127/?lp=true)
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Ever wanted to see The Depp/DS film dubbed into Hindi? Well, here's your chance:
Dark Shadows 2012 Hindi Dubbed (http://hdmovieswiki.co/tag/dark-shadows-2012-hindi-dubbed/)
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Photos of Tim Burton behind the scenes of his films, including this one, and including a photo with Depp and Christopher Lee that I don't think I've ever seen...
Tim Burton behind the scenes (https://za.pinterest.com/pin/672162313114761410/)
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I found it quite fascinating to learn today, thanks to an alert about the CW's DS script deal, that apparently there's a thriving online community of fanfiction based on the Depp/DS film. Who knew?
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This is quite well done:
Dark Shadows commission from a few years back. (https://www.reddit.com/r/somethingimade/comments/d5s0ow/dark_shadows_commission_from_a_few_years_back/)
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#darkshadows feeds (https://instagetter.net/tag/darkshadows)
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‘Downton Abbey’ isn’t the only TV series to get turned into a movie. Here’s 15 others we love (https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-ent-movies-based-on-tv-shows-downton-abbey-cb-20190919-c2jfm7fluzf4vjlb3d2qeocus4-story.html)
Not a surprise this article focuses on the Depp/DS film. But considering that the '70s films came much earlier, it's a shame they don't even get a passing mention. And it's not like some of the other shows don't mention that there are multiple films based on them...
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And how could they have passed over The Brady Bunch movies, Batman 1966, Munster, Go Home, The Nude Bomb (Get Smart revival) and the cinematic glory of McHale's Navy Joins The Air Force?😉😉😉
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[pointing-up] I guess those are ones that the writer doesn't love. [ghost_grin]
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Ray Shirley in Dark Shadows. Silicone Bald Cap. (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/553942822889316963/?lp=true)
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BARNABAS COLLINS AND VICTORIA WINTERS (https://www.tumblr.com/search/barnabas%20collins%20and%20victoria%20winters)
Mostly the Depp/DS film - but a few things regarding the original series...
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More art work, mostly for this film...
Barnabas Collins (https://www.deviantart.com/dark-shadows-fans/gallery/33178800/barnabas-collins)
I swear the first one looks like Barnabas with a man bun!! [ghost_grin]
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10 Most Powerful Vampires In Horror Movies, Ranked - Barnabas Collins (https://screenrant.com/10-most-powerful-vampires-in-horror-movies-ranked/quickview/4)
"A debonair and stylish vampire that first appeared in Dark Shadows the soap opera on ABC, and then decades later, in Tim Burton's film Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) proves that a vampire is just as malicious wrapped up in silk as a biker jacket.
Barnabas awakens in the modern-day, which in the case of the film is the 70s, and returns to his ancestral home to rebuild his family's trade empire. Barnabas runs afoul of a witch and has to do battle with her to protect his home, his family, and his unlife. Through the power of flight, super speed, and supernatural strength, he is victorious."
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DARK SHADOWS Original – 27″x40″ Poster (http://verticalsprouts.com/product/dark-shadows/)
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The repetitive 31 Nights of Halloween (http://dailycampus.com/stories/2019/30/09/the-repetitive-31-nights-of-halloween)
Many people commented on this year’s lineup negatively. ... Others complained about the poor time slots for the good movies they’re not repeating daily, like “Edward Scissorhands” and “Dark Shadows.”
There have been years when DS had great time slots and other films had "poor" ones. Freeform seems to shift things around every year to make sure that over the years all the films get the spotlight so I don't think fans of any of the films Freeform regularly includes can complain all that much...
(On the other hand, fans of hoDS can complain that Turner Classic Movies isn't showing it this year - probably for the first time in more than 30 years that it won't be shown!)
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A collection of links to UK trailers and TV spots:
Dark Shadows Official (http://arabsong.top/song/1351926/DarkShadowsOfficialTrailer1JohnnyDeppTimBurtonMovie2012HD.html)
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Johnny Depp Barnabas Collins GIF (https://tenor.com/view/johnny-depp-barnabas-collins-dark-shadows-burn-baby-on-fire-gif-15211103)
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If I'm understanding this correctly, it looks like this movie theater is showing the Depp/DS film today:
Dark Shadows (https://www.hebdenbridgepicturehouse.co.uk/movies/dark-shadows)
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If I'm understanding this correctly, it looks like this movie theater is showing the Depp/DS film today:
Dark Shadows (https://www.hebdenbridgepicturehouse.co.uk/movies/dark-shadows)
I decided to look it up - Hebden Bridge is the name of the town in the UK - "Hebden Bridge is a market town in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, England. It is 8 miles west of Halifax and 14 miles north-east of Rochdale, at the confluence of the River Calder and the Hebden Water."
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The mantle of Victoria Winters / Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) in Dark Shadows (https://www.spotern.com/en/spot/movie/dark-shadows/237712/the-mantle-of-victoria-winters-josette-dupres-bella-heathcote-in-dark-shadows)
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Hmmm - IF this is supposed to be Collinwood in this film, I'm not sure what to think of it:
Here is my recreation of the movie house in Dark shadows (https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/de6qbc/here_is_my_recreation_of_the_movie_house_in_dark/)
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I have no idea what language this site is written in and for some reason my browser doesn't offer to translate it, but the thing I find unique is that -
Dark Shadows 2012 دانلود فیلم (https://www.film2movie.li/tag/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-dark-shadows-2012-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%A9-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%DB%8C%D9%85/)
- it features a poster of Jonny Lee Miller as Roger rather than Johnny Depp as Barnabas...
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Apparently another place where one can watch the film:
DARK SHADOWS (https://www.bitchute.com/video/bGl5WRW3CrtX/)
Though who knows how many of these sites are legit...
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Star Students: Smithfield State High School graduates who have excelled (https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fstar-students-smithfield-state-high-school-graduates-who-have-excelled%2Fnews-story%2Fbb3205c9513fc82ded8395898151c491&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=56-b)
"Nikeah worked on such films as Narnia – Dawn Treader; Dark Shadows; Cinderella; Kingsman 2 and Artemis Fowl."
Nikeah Forde worked on the DS film as a visual effects coordinator...
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I have no idea what language this site is written in and for some reason my browser doesn't offer to translate it, but the thing I find unique is that -
Dark Shadows 2012 دانلود فیلم (https://www.film2movie.li/tag/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-dark-shadows-2012-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86%DA%A9-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%DB%8C%D9%85/)
- it features a poster of Jonny Lee Miller as Roger rather than Johnny Depp as Barnabas...
I tried putting a line into Google translate and it detected Persian. It also translated it as "Black Shadows."
-
7 Movies Like The Addams Family You Must See (https://www.thecinemaholic.com/movies-like-addams-family/)
(Check out #1.)
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The Music in My Head – The Raspberries “Go All The Way” (https://chapelboro.com/the-ron-stutts-show/the-music-in-my-head/the-music-in-my-head-10-14-19)
References how The Killers did a cover for this film. I love both versions. But then I'm not only a big Eric Carmen fan, I'm also a big Brandon Flowers fan...
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Barnabas Collins Vampire GIF (https://tenor.com/view/barnabas-collins-vampire-hands-up-vampire-hands-burtonist-gif-15304969)
Actually, there are several on the page...
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YOU CAN GET A DARK SHADOWS FRAPPUCCINO AT STARBUCKS (https://totallythebomb.com/you-can-get-a-dark-shadows-frappuccino-at-starbucks)
Who knew such a thing existed?! But apparently there are fans of the film at Starbucks...
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SPELLBINDING SUCCESS FOR SCOTTISH VINTAGE SPECIALIST (http://www.bqlive.co.uk/retail-personal-services/2019/10/18/news/spellbinding-success-for-scottish-vintage-specialist-36512/)
References working on this film...
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FEATURED DARK SHADOWS GIF GIFS (https://gfycat.com/discover/dark-shadows-gif-gifs)
More GIFs from the film. Love the expression on Julia's face after Liz warns her to leave Vicki alone. But then I love Helena Bonham Carter's performance. And I love that scene...
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Even more GIFs:
FEATURED DARK SHADOWS GIFS (https://gfycat.com/discover/Dark-shadows-gifs)
(And there are also a few from the original DS.)
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MOVIES QUIZ / DARK SHADOWS CAST
Can you name the Dark Shadows Cast? (https://www.sporcle.com/games/mvaler317/dark-shadows-cast)
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American Society of Cinematographers Taps 4 Veteran Lensers for Special Honors
Frederick Elmes, Donald A. Morgan, Bruno Delbonnel and Don McCuaig will be recognized at the 34th annual ASC Awards gala Jan. 25. (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/american-society-cinematographers-taps-4-dps-special-honors-1249447)
"Delbonnel is a five-time Oscar nominee for Darkest Hour, Inside Llewyn Davis, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, A Very Long Engagement and Amélie. Other credits include The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Francofonia, Big Eyes, Dark Shadows, Faust and Across the Universe. Earlier this year, the Cannes Film Festival bestowed Delbonnel with the Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography Award. His next projects include Joe Wright's The Woman in the Window and Joel Coen's adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth."
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Musicians In Horror Movies: 13 Best Cameos and Starring Roles (https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8539942/musicians-horror-movies-best-roles)
(Scroll down to the Alice Cooper section.)
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Lot 35mm Movie Trailers Wolfman Dark Shadows (https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/78249499)
I'm presuming the trailer is for this film because 1) it says DS and note hoDS or NoDS, and 2) because it says WB. But that presumption could be wrong...
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A listing for a showing of the film on November 1st on Australia's FOXTEL:
Dark Shadows (https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Dark-Shadows/108063983)
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Unfortunately, it looks like you have to pay to read this:
Johnny Depp is “absolutely lovely,” says Australian actor Bella Heathcote (https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adelaidenow.com.au%2Fentertainment%2Fconfidential%2Fjohnny-depp-is-absolutely-lovely-says-australian-actor-bella-heathcote%2Fnews-story%2Febefb7379200dd16d3ee9f6fd0e32cc9&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21suffix=56-b)
The part that shows up in the alert reads:
"But Heathcote, who starred alongside Depp in the 2012 Tim Burton film Dark Shadows, said she saw no sign of that behaviour. “We had quite a few ..."
no doubt referring to Amber Heards accusations against Depp...
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Another site that's also featuring the article and also asking people to pay included this bit in its alert:
"Aussie actor Bella Heathcote says embattled superstar Johnny Depp was “absolutely delightful” when she starred in a big-budget film alongside him."
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Johnny Depp Helena Bonham Carter GIF (https://tenor.com/view/johnny-depp-helena-bonham-carter-dark-shadows-tim-burton-movie-gif-15383522)
It's getting to be amazing just how many fans of the film are taking the time to create GIFs...
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Yet more:
FEATURED DARK SHADOW GIFS
(https://gfycat.com/discover/dark-shadow-gifs)
Mostly from this film, but there are some from the original DS. I particularly love the second one of Carolyn and Jason - he looks like he's getting ready to do Jazz Hands...
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I finally found a copy of the article where you don't have to subscribe to the site to read it:
'He was just absolutely delightful!' Former Neighbours star Bella Heathcote recalls 'super cool' experience working with Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7616247/Former-Neighbours-star-Bella-Heathcote-loved-working-Hollywood-superstar-Johnny-Depp.html)
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Granted, it's been a long time since I've looked at the magazine articles for the film, but I don't recall ever having seen the first and fifth photos on this page of the film's actresses:
Dark Shadows Michelle Pfeiffer Wallpapers (https://aiinpunya.blogspot.com/2019/10/dark-shadows-michelle-pfeiffer.html)
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I never saw this review from India back in the day and only just came across it thanks to a different alert I received today:
Nothing dark about 'Dark Shadows'! (IANS Movie Review)
Film: 'Dark Shadows'; Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green; Director: Tim Burton, Rating: ***1/2 (https://www.indiaforums.com/article/nothing-dark-about-dark-shadows-ians-movie-review_33605)
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When someone tells me Spooky Season is almost over (https://www.pictame.com/media/2165672025158637291_50506075)
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HERE’S WHAT TO WATCH ON NETFLIX IRELAND FOR A HAUNTING HALLOWEEN NIGHT IN (https://extra.ie/2019/10/31/entertainment/movies-tv/watch-netflix-ireland-halloween)
(Scroll down to the 7th entry.)
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Eva Green (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/494692340319772553/?lp=true)
DS as well as some of her other films (as well as a few other original DS photos thrown in for good measure)...
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Dark Shadows – A Gothic Tim Burton Inspired Bridal Shoot (https://www.boho-weddings.com/2012/05/08/dark-shadows-a-gothic-tim-burton-inspired-bridal-shoot/)
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#DarkShadows feeds (https://stagramer.com/hashtag/DarkShadows)
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Dark-Shadows-Fans - Wallpapers, Tumblr, Icons, Stamps, Etc. (https://www.deviantart.com/dark-shadows-fans/gallery/33178811/wallpapers-tumblr-icons-stamps-etc)
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For some strange reason the same still of Vicki shows up on this site more than a dozen times:
Girls (https://pl.pinterest.com/tkgalaxy/girls/)
(There's also one still of Eva Green that I think is from Miss Peregrine.)
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I wouldn't necessarily trust the download site, but I'm posting the link anyway. It may be perfectly fine...
MEGASTREAM WATCH! DARK SHADOWS (http://hazelmovie4k.over-blog.com/tt1077368tt1077368.html)
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Helena Bonham Carter, Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/145663369187233376/?lp=true)
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Retro Bedrooms - Chloe Moretz in Dark Shadows (2012) - Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/815433076261064081/)
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DARK SHADOWS PHOTOS + POSTERS (https://www.fandango.com/dark-shadows-147176/movie-photos-posters)
A nice slideshow...
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Deskgram - #darkshadows (https://deskgram.co/explore/tags/darkshadows)
More drawings and photos...
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Deskgram - #collinsport (https://deskgram.co/explore/tags/collinsport)
And more (including the original DS.)
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Deskgram - #victoriawinters (https://deskgram.co/explore/tags/VictoriaWinters)
And even more (also including the original DS.)
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sweeneywonkahatter (http://picpanzee.com/sweeneywonkahatter)
Should actually be sweeneywonkahatterbarn...
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Eva Green Dark Shadows Angelique Bouchard Vesper Actor (https://favpng.com/png_view/actor-eva-green-dark-shadows-angelique-bouchard-vesper-actor-png/SieEEFZm)
Features others as well...
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MBTI®: Which Johnny Depp Movie Character Are You?
Based on your Myers-Briggs, which of Johnny Depp's many roles would you be most like? (https://screenrant.com/mbti-myers-briggs-johnny-depp-movie-characters/)
Interesting assessment of Barnabas...
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#actress, #blonde, #movies, #stockings, #Chloë Grace Moretz, #Dark Shadows, #selective coloring wallpaper (http://mocah.org/4590992-chlo-grace-moretz-blonde-actress-movies-dark-shadows-stockings-selective-coloring.html)
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Eva Green Red Dress GIF (https://tenor.com/view/eva-green-red-dress-dark-shadows-angelique-bouchard-gif-15792392)
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darkshadows popular pictures and videos (https://insta-pic.com/darkshadows/)
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If you're a fan of this film, which you might easily be if you're checking out this topic, you might find the following board interesting. I just discovered it today.
Movies>Dark Shadows (https://www.fanfiction.net/movie/Dark-Shadows/?&srt=1&r=103&p=1)
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#darkshadows
#darkshadows Instagram photos and videos (https://savesocial.net/tag/darkshadows/)
Features several things related and sort of related to the film, as well as some that I have no idea why they were posted...
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If you're a fan of this film, which you might easily be if you're checking out this topic, you might find the following board interesting. I just discovered it today.
Movies>Dark Shadows (https://www.fanfiction.net/movie/Dark-Shadows/?&srt=1&r=103&p=1)
Wow. Just... wow.
I picked one that looked particularly interesting, and opened it up to read.
Wow... Perhaps the purplest of prose I have ever laid eyes on, but oddly compelling--probably because it was just so unbelievable. I have no idea how representative my selection was, but I wonder if this might be a good site to go to when the news of the day has gotten me down and I need something to take me totally away from the real world...
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Bella Heathcote Dark Shadows (https://pibaupencader.info/stunning-articles/bella-heathcote-dark-shadows.htm)
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Eva Green Dark Shadows Premiere (https://pibaupencader.info/stunning-articles/eva-green-dark-shadows-premiere.htm)
(Also with Bella Heathcote in a couple photos.)
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Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (http://nl.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30775984/title/barnabas-collins-photo/2?show_2013=true)
Many behind the scenes photos - some of which I don't think I've ever seen...
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Victoria Winters (2012) (https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/329536897708438118/)
(Among other characters...)
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Deviant Art: Dark Shadows (https://www.deviantart.com/demonhunter679/favourites/81828291/dark-shadows)
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Dark Shadows Movie POSTER 27 X 40 Johnny Depp, B, LICENSED, USA, NEW (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dark-Shadows-Movie-POSTER-27-X-40-Johnny-Depp-B-LICENSED-USA-NEW-/172602187372)
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For some odd reason I received an alert to these posters and stills as if they're new. But if you haven't seen them all before and/or wish to download them, here's another chance:
Facebook: Warner Bros. Pictures: Dark Shadows (https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosnl/photos/a.343536672363485/343536912363461/?type=3&theater)
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WATCH Dark Shadows 2012 Online Full (http://dragonmovieeye.over-blog.com/ikh1wwh0kvfdv)
Supposedly in 4K...
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Eva Green Sombras Tenebrosas (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/673499319255002294/?lp=true)
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Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows, very attractive. (https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/452963675003720418/)
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Johnny Depp as "Barnaby Collins" (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/354377064405594690/?lp=true)
More Barnaby Collins?! You really have to wonder what is wrong with these people's ears ans eyes...
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VARIOUS - DARK SHADOWS - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK FLAC ALBUM (https://www.designday.fr/106930/various-dark-shadows-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-flac-album-download.html)
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Chloe Moretz Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/550072541963670058/)
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Victoria Winters (2012) (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/437482551280044187/)
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Mostly from this film:
DEVIANT ART: Explore Victoriawinters (https://www.deviantart.com/tag/victoriawinters?order=popular-all-time)
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The American Society of Cinematographers handed out awards recently and Bruno Delbonnel, who chot this film, was awarded The ASC International Award:
34th Annual ASC Award Winners (https://www.newsshooter.com/2020/01/26/34th-annual-asc-award-winners/)
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Wow - it took Google a long time to find this and to send out an alert for it - but the wait was worth it:
Jackie Earle Haley on Dark Shadows, Character Acting, and Pre-Twilight Vampires (https://www.vulture.com/2012/05/jackie-earle-haley-dark-shadows-interview.html)
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Pinterest: Eva Green as the evil witch Angelique Bouchard in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/71353975329767555/?lp=true)
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Pinterest: DARK SHADOWS (2012) > PROMOTIONNAL SHOOT > Chloe Moretz (https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/584271751639560469/)
I don't know it f I've ever seen this still before...
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Chloe's own Web site definitely has some photos/stills I've never seen before:
Dark Shadows (2012) (http://chloemoretz.org/photographs/index.php?cat=27)
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Another:
Pinterest: Dark shadows /eva (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/amp/misslouboo92/dark-shadows-eva/)
-
Tim Burton: Finding Magic in Big Eyes, Big Ears, and The Peculiar (https://25yearslatersite.com/2020/01/31/tim-burton-finding-magic-in-big-eyes-big-ears-and-the-peculiar/)
Briefly discusses DS...
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Dark Shadows~Angelique Bouchard (https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/517984394633102632/)
It's more like Angelique's red dress and other red dresses...
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reminded me of the end of the movie "Dark Shadows" (https://www.pinterest.it/pin/294704369344012115/)
-
Fanpop: Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169691/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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It's interesting that fans keep posting things like this -
Fanpop: Thomas McDonell - Young Barnabas Collins (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/24400841/title/thomas-mcdonell-young-barnabas-collins-photo)
- even though everything he shot ended up on the cutting room floor...
-
Fanpop: Dark shadows (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/29901045/title/dark-shadows-screencap)
-
Fanpop: Dark Shadows - Featurette (Vampire History) (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/30628232/title/dark-shadows-featurette-vampire-history-photo)
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Fanpop: Johnny Depp - Dark Shadows (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/30477794/title/dark-shadows-photo)
-
trendsmap: Dark Shadows (2012) (https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/1224120780180664323)
-
Fanpop: Johnny *Dark Shadows* (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/42554949/title/dark-shadows-photo)
Animated gifs...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Billy and Nell in Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30866097/title/billy-nell-dark-shadows-photo)
Along with several animated gifs...
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Pinterest: Helena Bonham Carter attends the UK premiere of "Dark Shadows" in London. (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/115123334197790237/?lp=true)
-
Pinterest: Green. Eva Green. (https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/474848354442344984/)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Dark Shadows - "Barnabas Unleashed" (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30731643/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-unleashed-photo)
I know I've never seen all the stills in the slideshow - particularly the one that shows Depp's Barnabas double and the one where Barnabas' fingers are bent...
-
(From the above slideshow)
Granted, I haven't watched the Depp/DS film in a few years, but I don't remember any point in the scene in Angelique's office where she put his hand -
(http://www.dsboards.com/images/Barnabas-tim-burtons-dark-shadows-32713771-960-540.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/images/Barnabas-tim-burtons-dark-shadows-32713771-960-540.jpg) for a 960X540 version)
- on her breast that he looks up at her doing so. I wonder if that still was simply taken during rehearsal or if it's a cut moment from the scene?
-
Dark Shadows movie Victoria Winters fashion (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/463659724131755880/?lp=true)
-
I don't believe I've ever seen this photo either:
Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/356206651752846913/)
-
Interesting video made by a Depp Shadows fan back in May of 2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2RPcrBmwVw
G.
-
tenor: Dark Shadows: Dark Shadows Movie GIF (https://tenor.com/view/dark-shadows-dark-shadows-movie-tim-burton-tim-burton-obsession-page-tim-burton-universe-gif-16230483)
-
A Look Back At Shane Rimmer’s Career (https://www.thenerddaily.com/a-look-back-at-shane-rimmers-career/)
He played Board Member 1 in the film...
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tenor: Tim Burton: Dark Shadows GIF (https://tenor.com/view/tim-burton-dark-shadows-dark-shadows-movie-tim-burton-dark-shadows-burton-gif-16230447)
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Print 8x10" - Barnabas Collins - Dark Shadows Johnny Depp Tim Burton Vampire (https://www.etsy.com/listing/246919680/print-8x10-barnabas-collins-dark-shadows)
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Fanpop: Johnny Depp Dark Shadows (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/29799870/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Favorite Female Character? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/picks/show/1031697/favorite-female-character)
Current results:
Dr. Julia Hoffman 25%
Angelique Bouchard 24%
Carolyn Stoddard 20%
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard 16%
Victoria Winters 15%
Josette DuPres 0%
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Michelle Pfeiffer - Dark Shadows Premiere London (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/michelle-pfeiffer/images/30889103/title/michelle-pfeiffer-dark-shadows-premiere-london-photo)
And many other photos of her...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30842490/title/barnabas-collins-photo)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Elizabeth (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32283690/title/elizabeth-photo)
Love this what I presume is a screen cap of Elizabeth. But then it's no secret that I love all the dining room scenes in the film...
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Fanpop: Michelle Pfeiffer - Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32283690/title/elizabeth-photo)
This GIF is a hoot and a half...
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Fanpop: Helena Bonham Carter
'Dark Shadows' London Premiere (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30783672/title/dark-shadows-london-premiere-photo)
'Dark Shadows' London Premiere (May 9 2012) (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/31247084/title/dark-shadows-london-premiere-may-09-2012-photo)
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From Coat Check Girl to Cinderella. Check out:
Missy Elliott & Billy Porter Set to Star in a Magical ‘Cinderella’ Remake (https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/missy-elliott-billy-porter-cinderella-remake/)
(IMDb isn't listing her character's name...)
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/29784078/title/dark-shadows-photo)
I don't remember if I've ever seen this photo...
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Fanpop: Barnabas Collins & Victoria Winters videos (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/barnabas-collins-and-victoria-winters/videos/30851196/title/always-something-pulling-here-film-clip-from-dark-shadows-hd)
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Pinterest: just sayin' (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/599752875356697397/)
I'm pretty positive I've never seen this photo...
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I don't recall ever seeing this one either:
Fanpop: Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169689/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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Pinterest: Eva Green (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/857021004064444242/)
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Fan Art of Dark Shadows - Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30925425/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
This is actually quite good...
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Angelique Afterglow (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32352506/title/julia-angelique-absolute-favs-photo)
I've definitely seen the stills of Barnabas and Angelique in the, uh, afterglow - but I don't believe I've ever seen this still of just Angelique...
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Fanpop: Smokin' Barnabas (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32330514/title/burton-photo)
I've never seen this still either...
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Fanpop: Bella Heathcote (http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32300000/burton-tim-burtons-dark-shadows-32330472-504-290.jpg)
Or Burton directing Bella Heathcote...
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BEST OF GOTH ROOM DECOR (http://www.creativemaxx.com/goth-room-decor-bedrooms-dark/)
Includes three production still of the sets...
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Pinterest: Eva Green in Dark Shadows as the witch Angelique (http://pinterest.es/pin/651685008564725831/?lp=true)
Good GIF...
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows on set (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burton/images/33049525/title/dark-shadows-on-set-photo)
I know I've definitely never seen this still of Burton in the corridor leading to the secret vault set.
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Fanpop: Dark shadows - Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30925451/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
This is certainly psychedelic!!
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This GIF makes it look like Liz is about to throw up -
Fanpop: Dark Shadows for fans of Michelle Pfeiffer (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/michelle-pfeiffer/images/30605369/title/dark-shadows-photo)
- but that's not at all what was happening in the scene. [ghost_nowink]
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Fanpop: Barnabas Collins.GIF (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30835427/title/barnabas-collinsgif-photo)
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Pinterest: Chloe-Moretz-loup-Garou-makeup-Dark-Shadows-05b (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/758434393474456640/?lp=true)
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows (2012) roleplay Dr. Julia Hoffman (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/dark-shadows-2012-roleplay/images/31062491/title/dr-julia-hoffman-photo)
I love all the moments in the dining room scene where Julia is looking over her sunglasses. Though I'm not sure what anything on this page has to do with roleplay...
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Fanpop: Julia (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/dr-julia-hoffman/images/33143490/title/julia-photo)
One of my biggest disappointments about not getting a sequel is we never got to see Julia as a vampire. I bet HBC could have killed it!!
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - On set (https://nl.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/33086259/title/on-set-photo)
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Fanpop: Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806286/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
I find it really interesting that I never received alerts to these things but now I suddenly receive several links every day...
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Pinterest: Behind the scenes on Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/739927413761304445/)
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Fanpop: Johnny Depp (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/30660481/title/dark-shadows-fan-art-fanart)
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Fanpop: Carolyn for fans of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32292541/title/carolyn-photo)
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DARK SHADOWS: The Visual Companion - Mark Salisbury (http://terment.ru/en/?q=Dark+shadows+companion)
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows Behind the Scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/33044263/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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Fanpop: Helena Bonham Carter Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30077589/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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The most notable director/actor collaborations (https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_most_notable_directoractor_collaborations/s1__31359218#slide_1)
(Scroll to the Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp sections.)
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Fanpop: out for a late night bite (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/29799660/title/out-late-night-bite-wallpaper)
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One site that offers this film for streaming summarizes it as: "Rich playboy Barnabas earns the wrath of Angelique, a witch, when he breaks her heart. She turns him into a vampire and buries him alive." What's interesting with that is all the parts that depicted Barnabas as a playboy ended up on the cutting room floor...
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Fanpop: "Dark Shadows" Cast Photoshoot (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/angelique-bouchard/images/31024101/title/dark-shadows-cast-photoshoot-2012-wallpaper)
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Fanpop: Julia and Angelique are my absolute favs (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32352430/title/julia-angelique-absolute-favs-photo)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Barnabas Collins - Ink, ink pen and water colour (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burton/images/30126841/title/tim-burtons-dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
This is a hoot. And why am I not surprised that a lot of these Fanpop posts are being made by British fans...
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I've definitely seen the still of Barnabas bent down and checking the pavement of the road, but I'm not sure if I've ever seen this one of him standing:
Fanpop: Johnny Depp Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/30371651/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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Fanpop: Dark shadows - Barnabas Collins Fanart (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30925430/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
Looks like he's picking his nose - and with those nails he could do some damage...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows McDonald's (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32283694/title/mcdonalds-photo)
I've never thought about when I've watched the movie, but I wonder how accurate 9 Billion served was for 1972?
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows Behind the Scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169697/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
I know I haven't seen this photo before. Love the expression on Depp's face. But then, maybe he's one of those actors who remains in character between shots...
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Love this scene where she's telling off Liz after she learned the truth about Barnabas:
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Julia Hoffman (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30798463/title/julia-hoffman-photo)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows poll: Josette du Pres or Victoria Winters? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/picks/show/1590045/josette-du-pres-victoria-winters)
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows Behind the Scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169754/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
If they smoke in that scene with the hippies in the woods, I don't even remember them doing it...
-
If they smoke in that scene with the hippies in the woods, I don't even remember them doing it...
They were pretty stoned, MB.
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The funny thing is I have no memory of them giving it to him.
Actually, it might have been a hoot to see a stoned Barnabas!
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows Michelle Pfeiffer (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/michelle-pfeiffer/images/30605351/title/dark-shadows-photo)
I love, Love, LOVE that moment when Liz looks over at Roger!!
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What kind of accent does Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows? (https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/15578896)
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Fanpop: Were You Surprised That The Daughter Was A Werewolf? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/picks/show/1029855/surprised-daughter-werewolf)
Currently 84% were surprised...
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I don't know how we seemed to have missed this article:
'Dark Shadows': The story behind the grand, Gothic set design (https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/05/dark-shadows-set-design.html)
Or why I didn't get an alert for it until almost 8 years later...
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Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be available anymore:
Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - Dark Shadows bracelet (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30550032/title/dark-shadows-johnny-depp-bracelet-fanart)
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Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/185351340885075324/)
-
Tim Burton's Dark Shadows GIF (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30798524/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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Fanpop: Poll - Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Out of the girls in the cast, which actress do you believe is the prettiest? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/picks/show/1058023/out-girls-cast-which-actress-believe-prettiest)
Currently Helena Bonham Carter is leading
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Pinterest: Johnny Depp playing a Vampire the right way in Tim Burtons new upcoming movie "Dark Shadows" (https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/35677022028852385/?lp=true)
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This is certainly a unique article:
Iconic Johnny Depp Characters Sorted Into Their Hogwarts Houses
From Willy Wonka to Jack Sparrow, here are 10 iconic Johnny Depp movie characters sorted into their appropriate Hogwarts Houses. (https://screenrant.com/iconic-johnny-depp-characters-sorted-hogwarts-houses-harry-potter/)
Apparently Barnabas is Slytherin...
(Also, it's debatable as to whether or not DS wasn't a critical success. Even sites like Rotten Tomatoes say many more reviews gave it 3 or more stars out of 5 than didn't. If the algorithm that RT has been forced to adopt by the industry had been in place in 2012, DS' rating would be much higher on that site...)
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Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears is the latest movie to come from a TV show (https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6659729/when-tv-takes-to-the-big-screen/)
I love the Miss Fisher series and would almost post about it just for its own sake. Almost - but in and of itself it has nothing to do with DS. However that article references the 2012 DS - and that references is another bit of evidence that the film wasn't a flop...
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I haven't got the vaguest idea what this is saying about the film but thought I'd share it anyway:
ALIMAA'S MOVIE GUIDE (https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=2478317979157652&_rdr)
At least one can enjoy the video...
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A dated poll, but still a fun one:
Dark Shadows What actress would you like to see play Dr. Julia Hoffman in the new Johnny Depp Dark Shadows movie? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/dark-shadows/picks/show/299961/what-actress-would-like-see-play-dr-julia-hoffman-new-johnny-depp-dark-shadows-movie)
Helena Bonham Carter comes out on top - but who knows if that's because of votes she got before she was cast or after...
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Fanpop: Helena Bonham Carter Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806347/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
Comments after my own heart...
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I don't even know who this actress is. And she wasn't even in DS.
Alison Lohman arrives at Dark Shadows Premiere in Hollywood (https://hipnplay.com/en/download/alison-lohman-arrives-at-dark-shadows-premiere-in-hollywood-LS1YWG9BdXVkS0lEbw)
But apparently someone felt she was worth sharing...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Barnabas (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32713854/title/barnabas-photo)
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Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Victoria Winters (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32283640/title/victoria-winters-photo)
The amazing thing about this still from the film is just how much CGI there is to it!!
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There are so many different poster variations for the film. The Barnabas and his women version (without the credits):
Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows poster (http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31900000/Dark-Shadows-poster-tim-burtons-dark-shadows-31910021-800-1132.jpg)
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Those bangs do have to look perfect:
Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32889227/title/behind-scenes-photo)
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Fanpop: Eva Green Dark Shadows Wallpaper (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/eva-green/images/29804216/title/eva-green-dark-shadows-wallpaper-wallpaper)
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Not sure why someone would make a GIF of Julia getting a cup of coffee. But, hey, it takes all kinds.
Fanpop: Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806250/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-photo)
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One of the best lines in the breakfast scene:
Fanpop: Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806292/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
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Mad Hatters: 10 Best Johnny Depp Cosplays That Look Just Like Him
Johnny Depp has portrayed so many great characters that it's no surprise they have inspired so many amazing cosplays. These are the best ones yet. (https://screenrant.com/best-johnny-depp-character-cosplays/)
(Scroll to #5.)
He really does look quite good. I only wish people would spell Barnabas correctly...
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I like this compilation video from Instagram:
dark shadows (2012) (https://www.instagram.com/p/B9vjgmFF7rd/)
It's also great that they used Nights In White Satin because a lyric in that song basically sums up the whole Barnabas-Victoria/Josette relationship...
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Nights in White Satin has been forever linked in my mind to DS 2012. One of the most haunting main title sequences I've ever seen in a movie...
-
Pinterest: Michelle Pfeiffer and Johnny Depp at the premiere of their film, the Tim Burton-directed “Dark Shadows” (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/351351208429346105/)
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Not that many of us would have been watching the film on TV in the UK, but unfortunately I didn't get to this in time because -
Dark Shadows (2012) (https://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/1686388/21730204/dark-shadows-2012)
TVguide.co.uk (blog)[/url]
- it ran on Sunday...
Interesting that they used a still of Julia/Helena Bonham Carter rather than Barnabas/Johnny Depp...
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ISOLATION ENTERTAINMENT | ZEROPHILIA AND DARK SHADOWS (https://thefutureoftheforce.com/2020/03/18/isolation-entertainment-zerophilia-and-dark-shadows/)
It's amazing how many recommendations the Depp/DS film is getting for stay at home viewing...
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I love this Carolyn publicity still:
Pinterest: Chloe Grace Moretz as Carolyn Stoddard in Dark Shadows! (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/227994799865967805/)
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Tim Burton's 10 Weirdest Characters, Ranked
Tim Burton is famous for his macabre stories of the supernatural, usually starring Johnny Depp. We shine a light on Burton's most bizarre characters. (https://screenrant.com/tim-burton-weirdest-characters-ranked-beetlejuice-edward-scissorhands/)
(Check out #8.)
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Dark Shadows: Who's a better vampire Johnny Depp or Robert Pattinson? (https://hipnplay.com/en/download/dark-shadows-who-s-a-better-vampire-johnny-depp-or-robert-pattinson-LS1aVkxqUXBwdDc1NA)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169696/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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BRAVO, IFC & SUNDANCE IN PRIMETIME
Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of March 29 - April 4, 2020 (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-03-27/movies-on-tv-this-week-sunday-march-29-2020)
Considering it says "March 29 - April 4, 2020," I'm presuming the film is on IFC on April 4th...
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10 Helena Bonham Carter Roles, Ranked By How Iconic They Are
Helena Bonham Carter has had a lucrative career studded with many definitive movie roles, but which of them were the most iconic? (https://screenrant.com/helena-bonham-carter-most-iconic-movie-roles-ranked/)
Well, well - who knew Julia would rate so high?! And I certainly agree that she "gives a solid performance."
"Had the movie performed well enough to merit a sequel, it's likely that Carter's character would have played its vampiric villain."
If only...
-
15 Photos That Describe Johnny Depp's Career
Having played a variety of different roles, Depp can easily be considered one of the most underrated actors in movie history... (https://www.thethings.com/15-photos-that-describe-johnny-depps-career/)
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Another one of my favorite scenes:
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dr. Julia Hoffman <3 (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30798423/title/dr-julia-hoffman-3-photo)
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Carolyn Collins Stoddard Dark Shadows/Carolyn Stoddard - Best Scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/carolyn-collins-stoddard/videos/39495756/title/dark-shadows-carolyn-stoddard-best-scenes)
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Fanpop: Jonny Lee Miller 'People Don´t Throw Balls Anymore' Film Clip From 'Dark Shadows' [HD] (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/jonny-lee-miller/videos/30640517/title/people-throw-balls-anymore-film-clip-from-dark-shadows-hd)
Love that look from Liz!!
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Chloë Grace Moretz - Dark Shadows Interview [HD] (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/videos/30660239/title/chloe-grace-moretz-dark-shadows-interview-hd)
-
BRAVO, IFC & SUNDANCE IN PRIMETIME
Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of March 29 - April 4, 2020 (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-03-27/movies-on-tv-this-week-sunday-march-29-2020)
Considering it says "March 29 - April 4, 2020," I'm presuming the film is on IFC on April 4th...
Apparently the film was on again this past Sunday:
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Sun. 6:45 a.m.
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Love the name of this post on Fanpop. It won't display correctly on the forum, nor will its URL, so anyone who wants to see it will have to substitute the real word in its URL:
https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/37031832/title/eva-f**king-green-photo
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#darkshadows gif (https://www.tumgir.com/tag/dark%20shadows%20gif)
Some fun GIFs...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169777/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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Groovy Ghoulies | Make-Up Artist Magazine (http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/30800000/Make-Up-Artist-magazine-tim-burtons-dark-shadows-30883255-800-519.jpg)
I never even knew this magazine existed...
-
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169744/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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This really isn't too bad:
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark shadows - Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30925426/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton Dark Shadows on set (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burton/images/33049504/title/dark-shadows-on-set-photo)
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Pinterest: Chloe Moretz Dark Shadows Premier (https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/550072541963670058/)
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Pinterest: Tim burton dark shadows by ruloradio on deviantart. Johnny Depp Dark Shadows (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362821313732183096/)
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Apparently the film was on again this past Sunday:
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Sun. 6:45 a.m.
And apparently it will be on again on Thursday, 4/16:
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Thur. 1:15 p.m
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Pinterest: Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows' (2012).
Costume Designer: Colleen Atwood (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/388365167847575704/)
I don't think I've seen this photo before. Love it - quintessential Julia...
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Dark Shadows videos (https://m.facebook.com/darkshadowsmovie/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0)
I don't recall if I've ever seen the production video...
-
Fanpop: Chloe Moretz Dark Shadows LA Premiere (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chloe-moretz/images/30780468/title/dark-shadows-la-premiere-photo)
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of April 19 - 25, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Sat. 1:45 p.m.
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Apparently, unlike the first two DS films, where different countries had very different posters for each film, this film seemingly just changed the wording into the proper language:
DARK SHADOWS French Movie Poster 15x21 - 2012 - Tim Burton, Johnny Depp (https://www.mauvais-genres.com/en/movie-posters/13588-dark-shadows-french-movie-poster-15x21-2012-tim-burton-johnny-depp-3700865463381.html)
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of April 26 - May 2, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Sun. 9 a.m. IFC Tues. 10:15 a.m. IFC Wed. 5:30 a.m.
Oops, already missed Sunday's showing - but this is the first week it's on more than once...
-
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark shadows - Barnabas Collins (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30925448/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-collins-fanart)
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Tim Burton: The 10 Funniest Moments In His Movies, Ranked
Tim Burton's movies are uniquely dark and funny, as proven by these 10 hilarious morbid scenes that always leave viewers in stitches (https://screenrant.com/tim-burton-movies-funniest-moments-scenes-ranked/)
(Check out #9.)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows <3 (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30798593/title/dark-shadows-3-photo)
Love this moment with Roger...
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Fanpop: Dr. Julia Hoffman Helena Bonham Carter talks about Dark Shadows and her character Julia Hoffman (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/dr-julia-hoffman/videos/31036010/title/helena-bonham-carter-talks-about-dark-shadows-character-julia-hoffman)
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As many on the forum know, not all DS fans react this way:
imgflip: Dark Shadows (https://imgflip.com/i/3zbkpl)
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Dark Shadows V11,movie poster, T SHIRT BLACK NAVY all sizes S to 5XL Johnny Depp (https://www.luanvisoa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=279122)
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A pivitol moment in the story -
Fanpop: Angelique Bouchard. angie (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/angelique-bouchard/images/32304123/title/angie-photo)
- when she learns about Route9...
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5 Vampires From Films & TV We'd Love To Hang Out With (& 5 We Wouldn't)
From Twilight's Edward Cullen to Sesame Street's own Count, here are 5 movie/TV vampires that would be cool to hang out with (and 5 who'd just suck). (https://screenrant.com/coolest-movie-tv-vampires-hang-out-best-worst/)
Barnabas is among the woulds. If only they'd spelled his name correctly...
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of May 10 - 16, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Fri. 3:30 a.m.
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Julia (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32352957/title/julia-angelique-rule-photo)
Love this moment of Julia entering the dining room for breakfast!
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Interesting how they made both of these:
Barnabas Collins Dark Shadows GIF (https://tenor.com/view/barnabas-collins-dark-shadows-johnny-depp-movie-film-gif-13625682)
Dark Shadows Eva Green GIF (https://tenor.com/view/dark-shadows-eva-green-johnny-depp-tim-burton-movie-gif-13494863)
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Best Hollywood films adapted from TV shows in the last decade (https://www.filmfare.com/features/best-hollywood-films-adapted-from-tv-shows-in-the-last-decade-40844.html)
DS is the 3rd film down.
Chloe Moretz is also in The Equalizer...
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MONDOMOVIES: Dark Shadows (2012) (https://mondomovies.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/dark-shadows-2012/)
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If this is a still and not a screen cap, I've never seen it:
(It's also not the dress you might think it is.)
The evening gown of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) in Dark Shadows (https://www.spotern.com/en/wanted/movie/dark-shadows/57158/the-evening-gown-of-angelique-bouchard-eva-green-in-dark-shadows)
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films that started as a series (https://codelist.biz/2020/05/13/21-jump-street-los-locos-adams-and-other-films-that-started-as-a-series/)
(Check out #4.)
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7 best vampire movies and TV shows on Netflix, Sony LIV, Youtube and Disney+ Hotstar (https://www.gqindia.com/binge-watch/collection/7-best-vampire-movies-tv-shows-on-netflix-sony-liv-youtube-disney-hotstar/)
Besides DS (2012), the list includes THE ORIGINALS, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and VAN HELSING, all of which we follow on the forum...
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Sheffield filmmaker releases new music video during coronavirus lockdown
A part-time supermarket worker, who has battled medical conditions to continue his filmmaking dream, has released a new music video to cheer people up during lockdown. (https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/sheffield-filmmaker-releases-new-music-video-during-coronavirus-lockdown-2861313)
"The music video includes work from make-up artist Amanda Ellis, who has helped create films such as Fast and Furious 6 and Dark Shadows."
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Hannah Murray bio: age, height, net worth, movies and TV shows
Hannah Murray became a star at a young age when she played Cassie Ainsworth in the E4 TV series Skins. She is also known worldwide for her role as Gilly in the popular HBO show Game of Thrones. (https://www.legit.ng/1328645-hannah-murray-bio-age-height-net-worth-movies-and-tv-shows.html)
And in case you've forgotten- Dark Shadows (2012) - Hippie Chick 2
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Helena Bonham Carter Birthday: 5 Brilliant Trasnformations for Her Roles That Stunned Us (https://newsbrig.com/helena-bonham-carter-birthday-5-brilliant-trasnformations-for-her-roles-that-stunned-us/24442/)
It's certainly no secret that I loved HBC's portrayal of Julia. Different from the original series and the '91 DS, but certainly valid. And if only the sequel had been made and we had seen her take of Julia as a vampire...
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Skins then and now: you won't believe how much the cast has changed over the years! (https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/gallery/2020052890555/cast-of-skins-then-and-now-see-how-much-stars-have-changed/1/)
(Scroll down to the Hannah Murray section.)
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Pinterest: Tim Burton Dark Shadows (https://br.pinterest.com/eliskocarova/tim-burton/dark-shadows/)
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Deviant Art: Chloe Grace Moretz in Dark Shadows (https://www.deviantart.com/chickengeorge88/art/Chloe-Grace-Moretz-in-Dark-Shadows-844143169)
And be sure to check out his other art based on the film...
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of June 7 - 13, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Tues. 7 a.m. IFC Wed. 4 a.m.
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reddit: Dark Shadows - The Moody Blues Nights In White Satin Scene (https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/gxg9g2/dark_shadows_the_moody_blues_nights_in_white/)
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How very strange that I didn't get a Google Alert to this until today considering that the site posted it on March 24, 2012, over 8 years ago!!
First-Look: ‘Dark Shadows’ Poster (https://www.clickthecity.com/movies/article/38694/first-look-dark-shadows-poster/)
Better late than never, I suppose. [ghost_wink] But what's more interesting is that I checked the film's production topic and we didn't have links back in March of 2012 to any sites with a copy of the main poster...
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The Female Villains Wiki - Angelique Bouchard (Dark Shadows) (https://femalevillains.fandom.com/wiki/Angelique_Bouchard_(Dark_Shadows))
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Dark Shadows Wallpapers
A collection of the top 49 Dark Shadows wallpapers and backgrounds available for download for free. (https://wallpaperaccess.com/dark-shadows)
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Dark Shadows (https://uk.flixable.com/title/dark-shadows/)
No surprise that this is a UK site...
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Fanpop: On set - Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Photo (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/33086262/title/on-set-photo)
Nice photo of Deep as Barnabas with Richard D. Zanuck, who has since passed away...
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Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Favorite Male Character? (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/picks/show/1031711/favorite-male-character)
Interesting but hardly surprising how the votes pan out...
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I've never seen this behind the scenes still from the film:
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169699/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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This is kind of funny:
Me reading at the beach after 3 months of lockdown (https://thelogicofthetrance.tumblr.com/post/620656207732129792/me-reading-at-the-beach-after-3-months-of-lockdown)
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of June 14 - 20, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Sat. 7:15 a.m. IFC Sun. 4:30 a.m.
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'Dark Shadows' european premiere - Michelle Pfeiffer (https://www.capitalpictures.com/image/I00004bTCH5xofTg)
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One of her best scenes:
Fanpop: Helena Bonham Carter Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806321/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
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Pinterest: Tim Burton appreciation Dark shadows (https://www.pinterest.com.mx/amanda072704/tim-burton-appreciation/dark-shadows/)
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Pinterest: Johnny Depp and Bella Heathcoate as Barnabas & Victoria in Dark Shadows on DeviantArt (https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/267893877817221788/)
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Someone is supposedly learning English by watching this film:
Would you tell me if the following sentences are correct? (https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/16596997)
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Tim Burton; Helena Bonham Carter attend the European Film Premiere of 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.piqtured.com/image/I0000B1Dp7nT9w2s)
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'Dark Shadows' world premiere (https://www.capitalpictures.com/image/I0000kgOqzbAisKQ)
Gee, Lara Parker, you look amazingly like KLS...
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Pinterest: Dr. Julia Hoffman (https://www.pinterest.de/pin/654218283360542965/)
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Fanpop: Movies Dark Shadows 2012 (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/movies/images/30701189/title/dark-shadows-2012-wallpaper)
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Bravo, IFC & Sundance in primetime, airing the week of the week of June 21 - 27, 2020
Dark Shadows (2012) IFC Mon. 10 a.m. IFC Tues. 6:30 a.m.
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Chloe Grace Moretz .'Dark Shadows' LA premiere at The Grauman's Chinese Theatre (https://www.capitalpictures.com/image/I0000Lfi0enGyIdw)
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Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter.'Dark Shadows' european premiere, Leicester Square, London, England (https://www.capitalpictures.com/image/I00001.KmUXDZ8mM)
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Michelle Pfeiffer.The Los Angeles premiere of "Dark Shadows" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre (https://www.capitalpictures.com/image/I000046keGXXAqtI)
Who knows why all these 8 year old premiere photos are suddenly surfacing...
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Was it a bad wig she wore in Dark Shadows? (https://www.reddit.com/r/EvaGreen/comments/hcrkgf/was_it_a_bad_wig_she_wore_in_dark_shadows/)
This person actually gets it wrong that her hair is brown naturally. Like Joan Bennett did before her, she's a natural blonde and dyes her hair brown...
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Eva Green Dark Shadows GIF (https://tenor.com/view/eva-green-dark-shadows-angelique-bouchard-take-it-heart-gif-17566673)
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Michelle Pfeiffer at the Dark Shadows Premiere at the Chinese Theatre (https://www.gamma-usa.com/image/I0000LteUQ.s4jCM)
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Hippie Bedroom Chloe Moretz In Dark Shadows (2012) (https://www.laughology.info/hippie-bedroom-chloe-moretz-in-dark-shadows-2012-i-dc63122d92690d16.html)
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MAY 07 'Dark Shadows' LA premiere (https://www.capitalpictures.com/gallery/MAY-07-Dark-Shadows-LA-premiere/G0000FlnMwdChVHk/0/C0000f8A6nK8oTLs)
Dozens of photos...
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Great still of Liz:
Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, Tim Burton, 2012) (https://www.facebook.com/cultmoviespassion/photos/a.370796660168908/665680090680562/?type=3&theater)
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Fanpop: Johnny Depp Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/32881333/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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Eva Green arriving for the European Premiere of 'Dark Shadows' at Empire Leicester Square, London (http://archive.featureflash.com/image/I0000XKgDj07d98Y)
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Pinterest: Johnny Depp, Dark Shadows (https://id.pinterest.com/pin/449515606553456413/)
Various Barnabas stills and artwork...
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It appears as if the posters and stills in this are from a press packet:
Dark Shadows (https://www.darkestgoth.com/2020/06/smn_dsrev/ds-dgm-poster-0-jpg/)
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An interesting group for Barnabas and Angelique to pop up in:
Tim Burton's Dark Shadows 2012 (https://es.fanpop.com/clubs/movies/images/29030847/title/tim-burtons-dark-shadows-2012-photo)
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A Chloe Moretz page on Fanpop:
Fanpop: Chloe Moretz ark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/chloe-moretz/images/30046226/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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Chloe Grace Moretz Batches (https://www.pinterest.cl/JPEGFile/chloe-grace-moretz-batches/)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32889227/title/behind-scenes-photo)
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows Behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/33044260/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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Pinterest: Eva green, Eva green dark shadows, Actress eva green (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/14073817565651026/)
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Someone captured a perfect moment from this scene:
Fanpop: Helena Bonham Carter Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806285/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
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Dark Shadow Wallpaper (https://www.teahub.io/viewwp/iTimTmi_png/)
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I've seen many behind the scenes stills of DS 2012, but I'm pretty sure I've never seen this one:
Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Dark Shadows behind the scenes (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32169738/title/dark-shadows-behind-scenes-photo)
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South Devon's 14 quietest beaches for social distancing
Quiet coves and hidden gems to enjoy away from the crowds in the time of Covid-19 (https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/south-devons-14-quietest-beaches-4338177)
8 Great Mattiscombe Sand, near Start Point
Actor Johnny Depp filmed the Tim Burton movie Dark Shadows on location at this remote location near the lost village of Hallsands. It's tucked behind the Start Point peninsula between Limpet Cove and Frenchman’s Rock.
Hmmm - Frenchman's Rock - Collinsport is supposedly located near Frenchman Bay off the coast of Maine. So how appropriate is it that they used that beach as a location?
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Pinterest: Portraits of Eva Green as Angelique Bouchard in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/83175924348198929/)
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Dark Shadows - Adam Brockbank (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/297378381648887894/)
Be sure to click on the image to see several storyboards, portraits and set drawings for the film, including that one from a scene in the past that is not in the film...
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I have no idea why these types of articles keep coming up as new:
Chloe Moretz Continues to Stake Her Claim as Hollywood Ingenue at 'Dark Shadows' Premiere (https://www.egotastic.com/chloe-moretz-continues-to-stake-her-claim-as-hollywood-ingenue-at-dark-shadows-premiere/1022545/6493009)
But I've never seen them, so I'll keep posting links to them...
It's also weird how this one starts out with the 3rd photo...
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Chloe Grace Moretz In Dark Shadows Wallpaper,dark Hd - Dark Shadows Chloe Grace Moretz (https://www.teahub.io/viewwp/iiomimh_chloe-grace-moretz-in-dark-shadows-wallpaper-dark/)
Also features Eva Green...
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Johnny Depp attends the European Film Premiere of 'Dark Shadows' at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, London, UK. (https://piqtured.photoshelter.com/image/I00001hmZG_eFzyY)
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Dark Shadows Wallpaper (https://louann-mirr-yiw6549.web.app/dark-shadows-wallpaper.html)
More choices...
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Hd Wallpapers 2012 Eva Green - Eva Green Dark Shadows (https://www.teahub.io/viewwp/TTRxob_hd-wallpapers-2012-eva-green-eva-green-dark/)
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Fanpop: Dark Shadows | Barnabas & Angelique love scene (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/videos/43475802/title/dark-shadows-barnabas-angelique-love-scene)
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Pinterest: Iconic Movie Posters Minimal Movie Posters Iconic Movies Film Posters Music Posters Film Poster Design Poster Art Dark Shadows Movie Film Movie. (https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/621004236109696303/)
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Dark Shadows HBO Caribbean (https://www.hbocaribbean.com/ni/movies/detail/dark-shadows/wbi028034)
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DARK SHADOWS (2012) VF - HD (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7vgvw3)
Various related videos (including a trailer dubbed in French)...
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I don't believe I've ever seen this -
Promotional Shots - 006 (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/697424692275244505/?autologin=true)
- or -
This one (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/473933560777843625/)
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Dark Shadows (2012) (https://oltnews.com/dark-shadows-2012-imdb/)
Interesting trivia - I never realized that...
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Pinterest: Over 20 High-Resolution Images from Tim Burton’s DARK SHADOWS (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93731235965033399/)
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Dark Shadows UK Premiere (https://www.cinema.com/articles/8776/dark-shadows-uk-premiere.phtml)
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Where Skins cast are now - Hollywood stars who don't speak and Danny Dyer's toyboy (https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/skins-cast-now-hollywood-stars-22521169)
The section we're interested in is about Hannah Murray and references her appearance in the film...
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Dark Shadows: Julia Hoffman model packet (expressions) (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/0naYYy)
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THE 25 BEST MOVIE AND TV WEREWOLVES - Carolyn Stoddard (2012's Dark Shadows) (https://www.wonderwall.com/entertainment/the-25-best-movie-and-tv-werewolves-374545.gallery?photoId=374553)
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Best uses of the Killers songs in movies and series (http://)
References their cover of The Raspberries Go All the Way for DS...
(Love The Killers and particularly Brandon Flowers' solo work.)
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10 MOVIES EVERY TIM BURTON FAN SHOULD WATCH IMMEDIATELY
If you just can’t get enough of Tim Burton’s dark whimsy, we’ve got the films for you. (https://www.altpress.com/features/movies-to-watch-if-you-love-tim-burton/)
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Things only adults notice in Corpse Bride (https://www.looper.com/240512/things-only-adults-notice-in-corpse-bride/)
Describes DS as one of Buton's "dark, macabre, and surprisingly sensitive movies for adults."
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A Google Alert I received lists DS as one of the best "Dark Comedies" - yet clinking the link brings up dark comedies on Netflix, but DS isn't available there. Very strange... [ghost_wacko]
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Tim burton's artwork (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30920294/title/tim-burtons-artwork-photo)
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eva green in dark shadows movie samsung galaxy s10 Wallpaper (https://www.instawallpaper.com/samsung-galaxy-s10-lite-wallpaper/eva-green-in-dark-shadows-movie/82771)
Foolish me - I've never even considered formatting DS images to use as backgrounds for my phone. Hmmm...
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Pinterest: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter - Dark Shadows (2012) (https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/454582156134337449/)
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Pinterest: Johnny depp dark shadows, Johnny movie, Tim burton movie (https://www.pinterest.cl/pin/582653270529307681/)
I don't think I've seen this behind the scenes photo...
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I suspect many fans would have preferred this look on Johnny...
Pinterest: Pin by Sarah Sylvester on Johnny deep (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/AbZ_P1OzV-3ZaWxazDpmgb-xMo4RCtJvnP-SVDcP4nOKiVr6AV7Ojx0/)
I don't believe I've ever seen that photo - it looks like it might have been a make-up test...
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Fanpop: Tim Burton's Dark Shadows Johnny Depp at Dark Shadows Premiere 2012 (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30766556/title/johnny-depp-dark-shadows-premiere-2012-photo)
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Dark Shadows Avatar (https://avatars.alphacoders.com/avatars/view/253490)
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Johnny Depp - Dark Shadows portrait Mask (https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Johnny-Depp-Dark-Shadows-portrait-by-KevinVee/56539453.F8Y4C)
Yet another mask...
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Pinterest: Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows' (2012). (https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/172544229454371057/?nic_v2=1aQ1IxRAD)
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Fanpop: Photos of Dark Shadows! for fans of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/30798515/title/dark-shadows-photo)
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Fanpop: Barnabas Painting - Tim Burton's Dark Shadows (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/tim-burtons-dark-shadows/images/32283668/title/barnabas-painting-photo)
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Pinterest: (Dark Shadows) | Tim burton (https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/537265430525170700/?nic_v2=1aQ1IxRAD)
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Movie recommendations: gothic / dark themed - 6. Dark Shadows (https://weheartit.com/articles/351543898-movie-recommendations-gothic-dark-themed)
Some great screen caps from highlight moments...
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Every Johnny Depp Movie Ranked From Worst to Best (https://screenrant.com/johnny-depp-movies-ranked-worst-best/)
"By the time Dark Shadows rolled around, the Burton-Depp collaboration had almost become a parody of itself. Depp would don another dousing of white-cake makeup, and Burton would continue to endlessly copy his original films, with rapidly diminishing returns. It's a bit surprising, then, that this is actually one of their best offerings in years, with Depp giving a wonderfully funny performance and Burton reveling in the sort of deviant humor that made his early work so engaging."
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Fanpop: Helena as Dr. Julia Hoffman in 'Dark Shadows' (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/helena-bonham-carter/images/30806334/title/helena-dr-julia-hoffman-dark-shadows-fanart)
Ah yes, Julia and her drinks...
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Fanpop: Johnny on the set of Dark Shadows - Johnny Depp Photo (25323987) (https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/johnny-depp/images/25323987/title/johnny-on-set-dark-shadows-photo)
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In case anyone is interested, it will be on HBO again - Sunday morning (4/4/21) at 12:20 a.m. Eastern.
Way back, I saw it in the theater, but then recorded it on HBO, in short segments watched the whole thing once, but then kept it, presumably forever. Then, I had to switch to the XFinity cable box and no longer had it. I've been waiting for several years to get it again. Other channels have had it, but I think they all have commercials, and I assume they might make cuts, so I wasn't interested. Recently, Cinemax has had it frequently, and I thought that went with HBO, but it turned out I didn't have it.
So, quite a surprise to discover tonight that they will finally have it again tomorrow - all set for recording!!
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Thanks for the info, Josette. [easter_smiley] It's always nice to know when the film is on again...
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Just thought I'd mention, that having finally brought it back, HBO will be continuing to show it. It's on again Tuesday afternoon and a number of subsequent times.
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A the Barnabas who never was* sighting:
And More Qs (https://tvline.com/2021/04/16/shameless-series-finale-frank-covid-tv-questions-answers/)
"3 | ... Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist ... And did you spot The 100 alum Thomas McDonell in his brief appearance in the art gallery scene?"
I DVR ZEP but I haven't watch this past Sunday's ep yet so I wasn't even aware that he's on it...
(* Though I probably shouldn't say he never was because so far as we know from what was shared on Twitter, he did shoot his part - it's just that it all ended up on the cutting room floor...)
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Episode 361 (Dark Shadows, Eva Green And Tim Burton) Movies, Films And Flix podcast (https://player.fm/series/movies-films-and-flix/episode-361-dark-shadows-eva-green-and-tim-burton)
Interesting...
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On the 17Q Web site:
Dark Shadows Movie Witch (https://line.17qq.com/articles/hsaqrswcx.html)
Dark Shadows Eva (https://line.17qq.com/articles/pqfwsffny.html)
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A "must" quote:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0716DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Barnabas: 'However, please know that it is with
sincere regret that I must now kill all of you.'
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Another "must" quote:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/0726DS2012_0.jpg)
1972 - Barnabas: 'You must have faith, doctor - for if a man
can become a monster, than a monster can become a man.'
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Here’s what’s leaving HBO Max in September:
SEPTEMBER 30:
Dark Shadows, 2012 (HBO)
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Seth Graham-Smith's revision of John August's script for Dark Shadows can be downloaded at the link below. This version of the script is significantly different from the final shooting script.
https://archive.org/details/dark-shadows-2012-script
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Can't wait to read it, especially to see if it's close to bits that have leaked online...
Thanks so much for sharing, The Doctor and K9. [easter_smiley]
Between this and the Mark B. Perry interview, today has turned out to be a great day...
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I only got the chance to read the first 10 pages before I had to do something else. But even just those pages confirmed something we'd suspected, and that is that the artwork on page 102 of the Dark Shadows Visual Companion depicts a scene from the prologue that featured Thomas McDonell's version of Barnabas (it's on pages 2 & 3 of the script). And even though that scene isn't in the film, because of tweets made to twitter in September of 2011, we know McDonell did indeed shoot his material for the film. So, chances are that scene or some version of it remained in the shooting script.
Another thing that's interesting is that originally Victoria did the voiceover. We knew that as late as April of 2012 a new voiceover had been written by Grahame-Smith and recorded by Depp. But we had no idea that Victoria had once done the voiceover, or at least that it was planned for her to do it...
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I just read up through page 36 as I was having my lunch. So far it's quite close to the finished film, though it's impossible to tell what are John August's and what are Seth Grahame-Smith's contributions. I suspect up to this point, most things are John August's - though what's missing from this script makes clear certain things that Grahame-Smith changed and/or added later...
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Today I had the chance to get up to page 68, a little past halfway in the script, and more and more I'm surprised by how closely this earlier version of the script resembles the finished film. Maybe I'm going to find major differences as I get through the second half, but not so far. Sure, there are some differences (I actually like how this version deals with the "tiny songstress) instance more than what they did in the final film, though I don't dislike what they ultimately ended up doing - but this version is more subtle). And it's interesting to come across scenes that were alluded to either in the film or publicity - scenes that help to flesh things out a bit more. So, I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the script. But as I said before, it seems to me like most of what I've read so far is John August's work, so it doesn't appear that at the point this version was done Seth Grahame-Smith had made very many changes. But as I said, maybe they're going to show up more in the second half...
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I haven't had a chance to read any more of the script because I've been busy doing other things. But when it comes to the portion I've already read, I forgot to mention that the favorite thing I've learned so far from the cut scenes is just why Barnabas doesn't restore the Old House as he does in every other version of DS. To say the least, there's an excellent reason and I won't spoil it for those who haven't read the script...
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Seth Graham-Smith's revision of John August's script for Dark Shadows can be downloaded at the link below. This version of the script is significantly different from the final shooting script.
https://archive.org/details/dark-shadows-2012-script
OMG. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can't wait to read it. (But of course what I am REALLY itching to read is August's original version before Grahame-Smith got involved...)
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did anyone here like the film at all? i went in knowing it was a comedy and enjoyed it more that way than had i went in looking for a serious film.
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I loved it. Especially the Barnabas' life recap, which I thought that was brilliantly (and beautifully) done. Loved Eva Green as Angelique and I loved what they did with the character all the way through. I'd rather have seen different actors in the parts of Barnabas (I couldn't see past Depp) and Julia (WTF?). But overall I thought it was a fabulous movie - not Dark Shadows as we knew it - but shit, that would be impossible. No one should have expected that.
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i loved it too after hearing how bad it was from various people i went in with low expectations and i was surprised to enjoy it as much as i did. i think Depp should have played it more Serious than he did the film would have worked a tad better i think. but by the time i saw it i knew it was a comedy, now than you have the buffy film where you have fans of the show hate the film thinking it's gonna be a Serious film like the show.
well that was promoted back in (1992) as a comedy and it was a comedy and that's also a favorite film of mine as well. i do think the DS film the tone is all over the place. it can't make up if it wants to be serious or a comedy, i'd love to see a Sequel but not with Burton doing it.
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I enjoyed the film. I saw it eight times in the theater. But I knew what I was getting from the beginning. It's far less a Dark Shadows movie than it is a Tim Burton movie. By that, I mean that it looks gorgeous and is largely well cast but there isn't much of a story. After Barnabas is released from his coffin, the scenes just go from one to another until the big special effects finale. There's a lot of wasted screen time. It's established early on that Barnabas is a fish out of water in 1972 but by the time we get to the "tiny songstress" bit, the point has been made. It was very nice of Burton to give Christopher Lee a part but that bit could easily have been removed without hurting the film.
I never quite understood why so many people seem to hate the movie so much. Because it wasn't like the series? Well, it was never going to be like the series. It was not made for hard-core fans. DS fans are undeniably loyal but are not particularly well organized. The movie was targeted at an audience that was not overly familiar with DS. That audience seemed to enjoy it.
A lot of fans make a big deal about the small parts for the original series actors. I thought that it was great that he used them at all. After all, Burton didn't want Adam West anywhere near his Batman movies. Did Burton make significant changes to DS lore? Sure. But that's not unusual for him. He is not noted for being faithful to source material. Again, see Batman. Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a far more respected piece than Dark Shadows and look at the changes that Burton made to that
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1stly i love Burton's batman films with Returns (1992) being my all time favorite Batman film of all time. Jack is my Joker cause he is true the original Joker from the 40's which is what he was going for i think? sure some of Jack's Personality was put into his performance but it was needed for that type of role i think.
anyways, as for the DS film. i don't think anyone expected it to be 100% faithful like the show regardless who made it. they did not expect it to be a f... comedy either they expected it i think to be a serious film like the show and that i do get, had i not known ahead of time that it was a comedy and went in with that mindset too i think i would have hated it.
i like the idea that they made it in (1972) a year after the show went off the air. the culture of the times the hippie movement and such was very well done. it was a really damn good looking film too. i wish the Original cast did have far bigger parts than they did, part of what hurts the film is that while i didn't mind Depp as Barnabas what hurts it is he's in on the joke. if he would as i said played it straight and it would have felt more natural i think, the tone is also all over the place as well. Depp in recent years is known for doing really weird Characters unlike back in the day when he would be really creative, part of the reason that hurts his performance is he shows his characters that he wants to do on the way he wants to do them rather to his young kids.
i read an interview he said that a few years back, i do think that the film should have been more serious than having it be a comedy that would i think have gained more fans and it wouldn't be considered one of Burton's worst films if he would have made a serious film. i actually do want to see a sequel to it but have it be a serious film this time around but with a different writer though. i think someone told me that Burton on purpose pissed the hardcore fans off with his fans i dunno if that is true or not. but if he did why even make the film at all? Burton and Depp did it cause they were kids when it was on the air back in the day and they watched it back than too. yet Burton went in a direction i did not expect to see him go in that's why i think his film is hated so much
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I received an e-mail from Netflix today that DS 2012 will become available on the service tomorrow, January 1st:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Netflix.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Netflix.jpg) for a 852X609 version)
When I first accessed the link it played the scene in which Liz introduces Barnabas to Julia, who wonders if he's for real. Then it switches to the graphic above.
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I suppose because I have the Netflix app on my phone, that's the reason why they frequently send me messages about what's happening on the service. And, well, today they updated me on DS 2012. Apparently, not only is it available, which we already knew, but it's #6 in today's TOP 10 Movies:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220103-163949.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220103-163949.jpg) for a 1080X2270 version)
[santa_thumb]
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A good reason why the film may be doing so well on Netflix could be because they're definitely promoting it. A short while ago I received an e-mail with this graphic:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Netflix2.jpg)
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This just keeps getting more and more interesting every day:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220104-131312.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220104-131312.jpg) for a 1080X1197 version)
Now it's #5. [santa_thumb]
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Well, now it's reached the TOP 10 of not just the movies -
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220105-114442.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220105-114442.jpg) for a 1080X1197 version)
- but of everything available on Netflix -
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Netflix3.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Netflix3.jpg) for a 1225X214 version)
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Now it's back to being in the TOP 10 Movies:
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220106-095146.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220106-095146.jpg) for a 1080X1197 version)
This time #7. But still, considering the film is nearly 10 years old and has been available other places during that time, it's quite fascinating that it's been doing as well as it has been on Netflix. [santa_thumb]
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Still in the TOP 10 Movies -
(http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220107-105409.jpg)
(Click here (http://www.dsboards.com/2012moviequoteimages/Screenshot_20220107-105409.jpg) for a 1080X1197 version)
- at #10.
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These are America's favorite actresses of all time, according to data: #26. Michelle Pfeiffer (https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/these-are-americas-favorite-actresses-of-all-time-according-to-data/ss-AATNEMt?li=BBnb7Kz#image=26)
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Who knew someone would produce bedding sets based on DS 2012?
One of the Barnabas sets:
DARK SHADOWS POSTING OF THE MAIN ACTOR MOVIE POSTER BED SHEETS SPREAD COMFORTER DUVET COVER BEDDING SETS (https://www.beddingprint.com/products/dark-shadows-posting-of-the-main-actor-movie-poster-bed-sheets-spread-comforter-duvet-cover-bedding-sets?variant=1000006633368080)
One of the Liz sets:
DARK SHADOWS MICHELLE PFEIFFER IS ELIZABETH COLLINS STODDARD MOVIE POSTER BED SHEETS SPREAD COMFORTER DUVET COVER BEDDING SETS (https://www.beddingprint.com/products/dark-shadows-michelle-pfeiffer-is-elizabeth-collins-stoddard-movie-poster-bed-sheets-spread-comforter-duvet-cover-bedding-sets?variant=1000006999849621)
A Roger set:
DARK SHADOWS MAY 11 THE MAIN ACTOR PORTRAIT MOVIE POSTER BED SHEETS SPREAD COMFORTER DUVET COVER BEDDING SETS (https://www.beddingprint.com/products/dark-shadows-may-11-the-main-actor-portrait-movie-poster-bed-sheets-spread-comforter-duvet-cover-bedding-sets)
A David set:
DARK SHADOWS GULLY MCGRATH IS DAVID COLLINS MOVIE POSTER BED SHEETS SPREAD COMFORTER DUVET COVER BEDDING SETS (https://www.beddingprint.com/products/dark-shadows-gully-mcgrath-is-david-collins-movie-poster-bed-sheets-spread-comforter-duvet-cover-bedding-sets)
And even though links didn't come up, I bet the other characters have sets as well. It's just too bad there probably aren't any Mrs. Johnson sets. That would have been a hoot and a half!! [easter_grin]
However, something else that came up was a poster set:
DARK SHADOWS WICKEDLY FUNNY MOVIE POSTER BED SHEETS SPREAD COMFORTER DUVET COVER BEDDING SETS (https://www.beddingprint.com/products/dark-shadows-wickedly-funny-movie-poster-bed-sheets-spread-comforter-duvet-cover-bedding-sets)
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"Send me the pillow that you dream on, so, darling, I can dream on it too." Vintage Dean Martin song.
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I'm kind of surprised no Eva Green bedding set. For me though, it's hard to believe it's been 10 years since Dark Shadows was released .. Wow.
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Something interesting has been going on. The success of the Wednesday series on Netflix has caused some to revisit/visit the Depp/DS film. I just read online that the film "has been surging on iTunes this weekend."
Well, as I said the other day in the Wednesday topic, there are definite similarities between the two...
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Renfield movie: 5 actors who could've played Nicolas Cage's Dracula (https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/renfield-movie-5-actors-could-ve-played-nicolas-cage-s-dracula)
References Depp and DS...
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Fans of this film (I am not one) might be interested in this new Burton/Depp DS movie coloring book which is being sold through amazombie:
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Coloring-Book-Mindfulness-Happiness/dp/B09YS6MPMX
I found out about this thanks to Dan Silvio. It's funny to think that this is being marketed as something to promote mindfulness and happiness. But I guess for some it would provide that.
G.
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The 10 Best Vampire Horror Comedy Movies of All Time, Ranked
A fan-favorite genre that's high on laughs, medium on scares, and low on logic, here are some of the best vampire horror comedies of all time. (https://movieweb.com/best-vampire-comedies-ranked/)
You may be quite surprised where the Depp/DS film ranks on this list. Let's just say it comes in higher than both the original Fright Night and The Lost Boys...
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A different list:
14 Funniest Vampire Comedy Movies to Sink Your Teeth Into
These vamps will nibble on your funnybone. (https://collider.com/funniest-vampire-comedies-to-sink-your-teeth-into/#39-once-bitten-39-1985)
This list also includes 'Dracula: Dead and Loving It', which I really love. And what's not to love when it lampoons DC's Dracula so well!! [easter_wink] [easter_cheesy]
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Tim Burton’s ‘Dark Shadows’ Doesn’t Suck as Much as You Remember
Sorry, fans of the 1960s soap opera (https://collider.com/tim-burton-dark-shadows-movie-good/)
No, I didn't write the article, but I've been saying for years that Helena Bonham Carter and Eva Green are two of the best things about the film...
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Tim Burton has always received my praise for his version because he did the one, faithful thing, taken straight from the DS bible, something even Dan Curtis turned into heresy in his attempts to remake the show ('91 and '04 [which had his fingerprints all over it]), something to me that is sacrosanct: Maggie Evans is the reincarnation of Josette, not Victoria. Curtis wasn't loyal to his original work, but Burton was.
Gerard
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[pointing-up] If Alexandra Moltke hadn't left in 1968 and had continued with the show, I strongly suspect that DC would have made Vicki Barnabas' obsession in hoDS and we would have seen the shift from Maggie 20 years earlier than we did with the NBC DS.
As for this film, it's sort of the best of both worlds when it comes to the Maggie/Vicki dynamic because we get Maggie Evans saying she's Victoria Winters.
(And it's funny that you say you think the '04 pilot had DC's fingerprints all over it because John Wells and Mark Verheiden made sure that DC had limited involvement with it. Even the WB got in on that act because after Rob Bowman dropped out as director, DC wanted to direct the pilot, but the WB absolutely refused to let him. But all that's a discussion best had in the pilot's topic...)
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The 25 Essential Vampire Movies: Must-Watch Selection - Dark Shadows (2012) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-25-essential-vampire-movies-must-watch-selection/ss-BB1hFRbn?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=4dcbb9c49a3347d69efc14cebad3a952&ei=31#image=3)
Why do I suspect having the Depp/DS film on this list would come as a huge surprise to some - particularly the claim: "The dark twist in the story attracted a large following, becoming a trend after its release in 2012."
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Dark Shadows Movie Framing Print Poster Sci Fi Horror Wall Decor (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1678215385/dark-shadows-movie-framing-print-poster?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=MSAN_US_DSK_Reactivation_RTG_Dynamic-Remarketing&utm_content=bing_412581323_1304021117862120__aud-812263671_c_&utm_custom2=412581323&msclkid=e479e34e4b5b13304f34869a6c227299)
Interesting that out of all the posters for the film, they chose the one for Josette. Although I do have to admit that it's one of my favorites.
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[pointing-up] Just for the fun of it I went back today and discovered that do have one other poster: Carolyn -
Dark Shadows Movie Framing Print Poster Sci Fi Horror Wall Decor (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1664045776/dark-shadows-movie-framing-print-poster?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=dark+shadows&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&frs=1&organic_search_click=1)
- so perhaps at one time they had others but they're no longer available. Or maybe not...
(However, what they do have are dozens of other framed posters related to both the original DS and the '91 series. One that's particularly good is a replica of Josett'e portrait for the original, though the cross stitch of it is better, even if it does mistakenly include the mantle clock as part of the portrait...)