Thanks for the fascinating info, Darren.  I can't make up my mind whether to buy the DVDs or not.  The two snaps posted were not very impressive, but what you say about the color in the hoDS print makes me want to see for myself.

I really lack words to express the distaste I feel for the box cover designs, the same images repeated for those crap menus.

I'll stop now as I can feel a rant coming on.

G.

Golly, those DVD captures look dark.  Maybe it's the delightful people who work for the home video department punishing anyone who refuses to buy a Blu Ray player. *shrug*

The "cropping" might be a result of the correct screen ratio being restored.  I remember Darren writing in previous posts about pan and scan versions where more of the frame actually showed up than was intended by the director.  I wish I could recall the details, but my short term memory is like a swiss cheese that a rat has had its way with these days...

G.

MB, if I'm remembering that Carlotta scene correctly, at the beginning of it Carlotta has just come in with fresh flowers for the vase in front of Angelique's portrait.  That's a subtle touch that I love.

Perhaps Olivia can be glimpsed next month in the scene where Julia recalls having seen Olivia on stage in NYC, and we ponder the irony of such a poised actress as Grayson Hall feeding a line like that to "Olivia Corey."  (but I'm not bitter)

The Carolyn/Burke shot is fab, too...

G.

What a riot!  Thanks, Retzev.

G.

Yes, I mentioned to the journalist when he was researching this piece that Art Wallace claimed to have created Barnabas.  I asked a friend who owns the Art Wallace story bible publication "Shadows on the Wall" if there was any material relating to Barnabas or a vampire storyline in that volume and the answer was negative.  Perhaps the material has never been published or perhaps Wallace simply destroyed it.  Who knows.

I thought it was interesting to hear Marmorstein tell his story.  I don't recall this particular angle having been covered in the Ed Gross interview with MM (there was one, wasn't there?).

G.

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.

That would be extremely kind of someone.  Someone who has fed Gothique's desire to drool and pander to the glories of the male physique in the past.  Someone who always takes Gothique's tacky remarks about nipples, shoulder blades and other ... appendages with sterling good humor.  Someone who has a kind, generous, giving heart.

G.