I saw Burton's version of Planet of the Apes on TV.  I didn't dislike it; I'm really not sure how I felt about it.  To me, it seemed that the main problem was that he wasn't sure in what way he wanted to go with it.  Pierre Boulle's original novel (literally translated from French as "Monkey Planet") had the simians living in a pretty-much 20th century technological world, driving cars, going to work, tossing laundry into the clothes washer, etc., with humans being mute animals (save for the astronaut who crashes onto their world).  The first screenplay, scripted by Rod Serling for the original film version starring Charlton Heston (don't forget to look for his cameo appearance in Burton's version), followed Boulle's concept of a modern-day simian world (a fascinating screen test with Edward G. Robinson as Dr. Zaius shows this), but for several reasons this was dropped and in its place came the more primitive ape world; most of Boulle's plot had been discarded with only certain characters remaining; yet, the story remained intriguing and logical.  Burton's often appears confusing and jumbled basically because of the interactions of apes and humans.  Humans are not mute animals; for the most part they are intelligent, articulate, social creatures who are, while viewed as inferior, are more like slaves to the ruling apes than just mere animals.  Somehow, this whole concept just didn't really click. 

I'm not sure what this has all got to do with any possible vision Burton might have for Dark Shadows, but I'm hoping that Depp will keep a close eye on what will be going on and make sure he reigns in anything he might think is going askew and doesn't let Burton's DS become Burton's POTA.

Gerard

Such wonderful films and such memories!  Back when I was a kid one of our local theaters would show, for free, horror movies on the Saturday before Halloween.  For the younger fry, there would be a matinee with a movie that was not quite as bloody (usually a Godzilla flick), and in the evening more adult fare, quite often one of the afore-mentioned classics, along with such cinematic enjoyments as one of the Corman/Price/Poe films, etc.  When I was in junior high, I finally got permission to go to the evening presentation; that's where I had my first exposure to Amicus movies as well as all the rest.

Gerard

The thigh implants will never come to fruition.  The black-patent leather shoe industry is too powerful to ever let that happen; even the oil industry quivers in its shadow.

Gerard

Don't forget the other classic London/France scene, when two newlyweds enter Collinwood in the PT1970 storyline which set the hearts a patter of many a young chap, myself included (even us gay ones), who had (and still have) massive crushes on TLATKLS.  Maybe MPI can do a video of outakes.

Now, as for Barnabas and Jeff, when Dr. Lang offered to make our hero look like our, well, whatever you want to call him, it would stand to reason that Barnabas would've pondered for a minute and then said:  "You know - no thanks.  I'm not even that desperate if that's what it takes to have Vicki.  I think I'll see what Julia is doing for dinner tonight, and if she's not around, I'll ask Mrs. Johnson.  Would you happen to know a place in town for some good prime and decent martinis?"

Gerard

It was, and from what I recall, it was the first TV show to have a major character being openly gay, causing quite a stir.  We're talking about the seventies here, so that was something really big.  And Soap also had a DS connection - it had an entire storyline wherein Billy Chrystal's gay character manages to have a child with a female character, and the baby eventually ends up being possessed.  (Not because his father was gay, by the way.)  I remember the "cliff-hanger" conclusion to one episode, where the baby's parents bid the child goodnight and leave the nursery, and suddenly things start levitating, windows blow open, and an evil, gutteral laugh echoes.  It was really creepy and the audience reacted with a shriek of fear.

Gerard

I think a perfect cast for Dr. Julia Hoffman would be...........Kathy Bates.  Wait, wait, wait - hear me out.  I can kind-of see her character formed somewhat in the way Grayson Hall did it (I don't know if she did, but it's just the way I see it as formed).  Dr. Hoffman is not exactly a knock-out; she has her own unique - and even regal in her own way - look.  Not being exactly Cindy Crawford, she spent her personal life trying to find some love, but was never quite successful.  So, she throws herself into her career, becoming an incredible physician, experienced in various facets of the profession, from hemotology to psychiatry.  In her private life, she closes in on herself, but still there is always that desire to find someone - anyone - who will give her the most miniscule romantic time of the day.  She keeps that to herself, unknown even to her friends.  And then along comes this mysterious "case" in which she is asked to get involved, leading her to Barnabas (Depp).  The rest of the story plays out, including her plan to "cure" him.  They are both strong personalities, clashing with each other, and then coming to a truce, and then to somewhat of a trust.  Barnabas begins to show his appreciation, and Dr. Hoffman begins to - wrongly - read the much "younger" Barnabas as having an romantic interest in her.  And away we go.  I can just so see Ms. Bates doing this.  I can also see her playing Countess Natalie DuPres, an aristocratic woman with an equally strong personality.  Ms. Bates is an incredible actress, a box-office draw, an Oscar winner. 

And, to be pefectly honest, I don't want to see people hired because they're just a bunch of young "hot stuff."  I never saw the aborted 2004 WB pilot; however, while it was being developed, I was very uncomfortable with some of the people they casted to play the characters.  To me, many were just a bunch of Beverly-Hills-90210 (or whatever that zipcode is) clones, making it look like Melrose-Place-Meets-Buffy.  I don't know if that's how the pilot turned out (because I didn't see it), but I just think that Depp and Burton should look at what's more "realistic" to make it a character-driven film, rather than just a bunch of hit-the-gym-six-days-a-week-and-eat-rabbit-food-late-twenty-somethings-looking things that just don't reflect how normal folks living in Maine would appear.

Gerard

Many props were used over and over again, or so it seems.  There's that afghan that showed up in more places than lost luggage on a United Airlines flight. 

Gerard

I mentioned on another thread that Helen Mirren would be perfect as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (or Naomi Collins, depending on how Depp is going to approach this).

Gerard