Gee... you thought the nudity was unnecessary?  I thought it made perfect sense given what was happening... and was pretty unexceptional...

My favorite thing is Eva Green as Vanessa Ivy. Wow.  I'm wondering though if Alan Moore has grounds for a lawsuit.  It is VERY reminiscent of the original comic books, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN... Green's character in particular is reminiscent of Mina Murray (who, somewhat confusingly, is also a character in this).  A to-me-unrecognizable Timothy Dalton plays Sir Malcolm Murray who seems very much based on Allan Quatermain in the LEAGUE comics (borrowed from the Rider Haggard novels, of course).  Simon Russell Beale plays a possibly mad Egyptologist at the British Museum (and reminded me of the late Victor Buono in the role... hope he comes back).  A young actor, Harry Treadaway, appears as a believably neurotic and obsessed Victor Frankenstein.  Rory Kinnear has a surprise role...

The first episode includes vampires, Jack the Ripper, Frankenstein (obviously), tarot cards, Egyptology, mummies, carnivorous beetles, spiders, ghosts, and no doubt more I'm forgetting...

The Victoriana here is a little more believable than was the case in Jonathan Rhys Meyers' eye-poppingly lush DRACULA.  If I had Showtime, I'd definitely be watching.

G.

dom honey, I really appreciate your astutely written review of this bagatelle, especially your red flag regarding

gratuitous full frontal male nudity.

As the Cyber Leader on Dr. Who used to say... EXXX-CELLENT.

This is definitely on my must-view list now...

G.

[spoiler]Maybe I'm hallucinating, but I remember reading about a leaked version of the script in which Angelique materialized at the Blue Whale and indulged herself in wreaking some catty havoc and/or quizzing another character about the current personnel at the Great House.  Perhaps that was one of the fabricated leaks, or simply disinformation.  Anyhow it sounds as if this isn't on the radar for coming attractions in this thread.[/spoiler]

cheers, G.

Wonderful photos!  The one of Vicki with the director and the creature actor (which is scarier to stand next to for a young actress??) reminds me of a candid photo that surfaced during the MPI distro period of Julia and Barnabas with Alex in full werewolf makeup.  And, a little, of my friend Nicky's favorite photo of Vicki being menaced by all the ghouls and horrors of Collinwood... Barnabas, Nicholas, Adam, Cassandra.

G.

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.

Very cool photos, MB! And excellent descriptive work and dialogue transcription, as always.

G.

I'm glad your memories are so strong MB.  I can't recall this scene at all.  I might have been distracted by whoever I was sitting with, though.

Very cool touch having the garlic flowers interwoven with the chains...

G