Depp's Dark Shadows

[Janet the Wicked]

Watching Depp’s interpretation of DS. Although I find this film amusing, I must say that it stinks. I am discouraged and disappointed that The Forum has taken such a liking to this thing. I am also saddened to see that the Forum has been dedicated to this film to the point that it hails over all the original show. I was not surprised that Mr. Depp and Mr. Burton came out with such a nut-case story, for that is the norm for them. I have been a member of the Forum for several years. I have found it amusing and a most informative site. I’ve even made friends here over the years. I want to know, Moderator, what in God’s name you find so great about this film???

[michaelhacketttodd]

It is necessary to take exception with this post.  Granted, the movie was more of a spoof than anything else.  And it's true that the movie had far more to do with the eccentricities of Depp & Burton than anything to do with the original show.  They are truely an Odd Couple.

Still, my final verdict on the film is one of appreciation.  Although for a fleeting moment, it was Jonathan Frid's final film appearance.  And Depp/Burton, in my opinion, did their best to appeal to a new and far more fickle audience while trying to remain faithful to the original show and fan base.  It was a daunting and very expensive task.  My hat is off to all the people that worked so hard on this production. 

Sadly, Dark Shadows, The Series is, like The Beatles, a phenomenon of the 60's.  We will always feel its influence, but the past is gone and will never return.  Dark Shadows without Jonathan Frid as Barnabas is like The Fab Four without John Lennon.  Anything less will pale in comparison.  Let's be grateful for any effort to recapture the magic of Dark Shadows because it calls attention to the original show and its devoted fans the world over.   

[David]

I thought the film was a fun tribute. Many of the comic bits fell flat, but the serious moments were wonderful.
It was visually stunning, and the acting from Depp/Pfeiffer/Green was superb.
It could have been better, but it wasn't bad.

I attended Lara Parker's book signing two weeks ago here in San Francisco. Here's what she had to say about the film: "A big budget from a major studio with big stars. What a tribute that is to what we did forty years ago!"

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Mainly the reason the Depp/DS film is currently featured on the BoardIndex every day is because, as the latest incarnation of DS, it happens to be the latest featured slideshow in the forum's slideshows series. Other versions have included one for the '91 DS (which ran on the BoardIndex for that show's 30th anniversary), one for the two original films (which ran on the BoardIndex spanning 2008 and 2009, and all of 2012), and two separate slideshows for the original DS (which in total ran for a period of 4 years on the BoardIndex).

And as for what's to like about the Depp/DS film, well, there's honestly much to like about it. And by reading through the slideshow topic for the film ("And Yet Another New Slideshow"), many of those reasons will be cited. And while we realize that many fans weren't all that impressed with the film, it's also true that quite a few actually were.

Plus, there's also what we hope is an important aspect to the forum, and that's that we strive to showcase all the various versions of DS and all the original show's storylines and characters and actors - and we do this despite the fact that some versions of DS and some of the original storylines and characters and actors have many detractors. But again, there are also quite a few fans who love those very same versions and those very same storylines and those very same characters and those very same actors. Ignoring any one version of DS or any of the original series' storylines or character or actors would be a slight to the fans who do indeed enjoy them. We strive to be inclusive of all the DS universes, which is also one of the reasons the set of backgrounds and logos for the forum alternate through all the various TV and film versions of DS that there have been (well, save for the WB's '04 DS pilot - though, trust me, we've considered including it too) and there are ongoing topics for other things like the Dynamite comic book series and the Big Finish audio dramas.

[Gerard]

I loved the film.  I thought it was a fine tribute to DS.  As far as I'm concerned, it contained much more in this remake sans Dan Curtis than the '91 version with Dan Curtis.  Barnabas totally lost 200 years later trying to understand 20th century life, style and technology?  That was brilliant, so much more than DC haveing him resurrected and withing 72 hours fitting in when he shouldn't have had a clue as to what's what without months of prepration.  We all kvetch about how DC totally discarded logic and rationality in the OS DS, but we still love it.  As far as I'm concerned, we shouldn't kvetch about how it should've really been.

Again, as someone who loved the film and thought it presented DS brilliantly, I know there are those OS DS fans who think differently.  But then, to each their own.  I'm just glad I didn't see another rehash lacking logic like the '91 version full of stereotypical melodrama that was basically not a remake of DS, but of HoDS.  The sagrine retelling of Barnabas/Vicki (which was actually Barnabas/Maggie which the movie brought back) just simply not can be done again in a Twilight setting.

But then again, as has been stated, to each their own.  I watched it again last night and was enthralled.  That's my own.  I don't want to see a totally "serious" reimagining of the Barnabas/Vicki thing.  Vicki is a stupid bore.  By '67 she had become a secondary character, if not just an annoyance.  In JD-DS, the main character in the female leading lady who caught Barnabas' attention was Maggie - she used the made-up name of Vicki to find out what it was all about.  That's brilliant and a great homage to the OS DS. In the JD-DS, Vicki as Josette was "fictional."  The only Josette was Maggie.  Brilliant.  But theh, if people didn't like it, to each their own.  I will never accept Vicki as Josette.  Maggie is Josette.

Gerard

[David]

Well said, Gerard & MB.
Each incarnation of DS has things that work and things that don't.
The original has 1795, 1897, 1995, Haunting of Collinwood, and Maggie in the basement, all of which remain brilliant to this day.
But we all know how poorly executed the last 6 months of the show and parts of the Leviathin story are.

DS is a small franchise when one compares it to Star Trek, Star Wars & others. It needs our support in order to survive.
Constructive criticism is good.
Boycotts and public trashing are not.

[MagnusTrask]

I don't think more value is placed on the Depp film than on the original series, not at all.   It's not considered better or more deserving of attention than the 60s/70s show by anyone here, I'll go out on a limb to say.   This forum isn't really a place for any new fans of the new movie, who don't appreciate the old series. 

The only reason that news about the new movie is trumpeted the moment you come to the site is that it WAS news, the only new and interesting DS event for many years.   The reason wasn't that anyone thought the film was better.

I post in the captions board, and the Watching Project, and those are overwhelmingly about the original series.   We could use more people there, I admit.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Speaking of the captions type boards, I still have a lot of captures and set ups that I want to post for the Depp/DS film. But I've fallen so behind on the stuff that's already been posted and replied to for the original series that I'm focusing on trying to catch up there.    But I will get back to the Depp/DS film's boards, as well as the boards for NoDS, which I've also been neglecting...

[michael c]

i'm sorry but this topic is really nervy and out of line...



not only is an explanation being asked for but also something approaching an apology. no one should have to apologize or defend themselves on this subject.


the "fan" attitudes and borderline hysteria around this film are ridiculous.

[michael c]

I don't particularly care for the 1991 series but I wouldn't criticize the moderators for featuring it on the board.

[Gothick]

I'm not a fan of Depp Shadows but I am enjoying the slide show because the design elements of the film were so fantastic.  I am also gaining more appreciation for HBC's performance as Julia.  On my single viewing of the film I had already decided that Michelle Pfeiffer was the real star of the movie and what I've seen here has confirmed that.

For what it is worth, I do understand where you're coming from, Janet.  For those of us who watched it as kids, the DS characters are like family.  At least that is how I feel about them.  And some of the stuff in the Burton/Depp movie was sooo cheesy and cartoonish.  I had a pretty emotional reaction myself when the trailers started coming out. 

I simply choose NOT to talk about how it all makes me feel 90 percent of the time when the movie is discussed here.

cheers, G.

[David]

i'm sorry but this topic is really nervy and out of line...



not only is an explanation being asked for but also something approaching an apology. no one should have to apologize or defend themselves on this subject.


the "fan" attitudes and borderline hysteria around this film are ridiculous.

There is a history of fan-on-fan bullying that often gets out of control. Only last week, a disabled fan had to publicly ask other fans on Facebook to stop bullying him. His crime:
He enjoys the the DS comic books from Dynamite Entertainment, which he has "no right" to do!

Such behavior is really embarrassing and turns a lot of people off to fandom.

[MagnusTrask]

I know bullying very well, and this wasn't it.  Janet was just expressing strong disappointment.  Sometimes an honest opinion is negative.

[michael c]

i'm not remotely suggesting "bullying" of any sort...


i'm just over this business where one is supposed to justify, defend themselves or even apologize on this particular subject.


and that others feel entitled to that apology is just too much.


here's a suggestion to those who might feel "discouraged" and "disappointed" that this board has taken a rather positive attitude towards the film: start your own DS message board and ban it's discussion from the ouset as board policy or limit it's discussion to only negative viewpoints. problem solved.

[MagnusTrask]

I don't think anyone expects or requires anything like an apology or self-defence.   It's okay to be undiplomatic once in awhile, I think, though this can be misinterpreted as an attack.   I don't want to speak for Janet, and can't, but I'm going to guess that she was slamming the film, but just expressing bafflement and/or frustration at members here who like it.   Nothing worse than that.  Maybe all the positive talk about Depp Shadows put her on the defensive, hence the post.

I will say that there's no real answer to make to Janet's post, except for people who like the film to repeat all the same things they've said about it on other threads.

Hi Janet, by the way.  Good to see you here again.