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Current Talk '24 I / Re: Depp/Burton DARK SHADOWS Is In Release!!
« on: May 12, 2012, 03:41:08 AM »
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.
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.