Š-DR-DARK SHADOWS (fin)

02/07/2014 18:17 par tellurikwaves

Tribute to original Dark Shadows
10/10
Author: Jo Hess from United States
12 May 2012

I saw Dark Shadows yesterday, and I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good or bad movie based on the crappy preview, BUT I have to say the preview gives the actual movie little justice. It showed many of the jokes in the movie but none of the really good parts. The movie is amazing, everyone should go see it, Johnny Depp really payed tribute to the original series, Depp was even able to get down some of the mannerisms of the original Barnabas. Sure some of the things are slightly different, but it doesn't matter because the movies is so well made. Plus to top it all off, Alice Cooper was in the movie and Cooper is just amazing. So Tim Burton does it again and gives us another amazing movie!

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02/07/2014 18:11 par tellurikwaves

amazing a must see movie of 2012 best PG13 movie best IMAX movie
10/10
Author: jaemiewaters from United States
12 May 2012

it is an amazing movie it is just the a must see movie of 2012it is also the best PG13 movie of the year and it is the best IMAX movie of the year i hope you enjoy this masterpiece it is a movie that i could watch over and over again i think you will enjoy this magical movie if you like johnny Depp movies than you will enjoy this movie Johnny Depp is at his best in this movie it is OK for kids i really think that you will enjoy this funny horror film it is a movie that you will say what have we been missing this was wonderful that is how good this movie is

i never saw anything this good before in my whole life it was a classic you just have to watch this movie it will blow you away that is how good Dark Shadows is i recommend it to everyone in the whole world it rocks this is Johnny Depp's best film ever i never saw anything like this in my whole life it was a out of this world movie i think you will enjoy this amazing film it is a must see movie for everyone hope you enjoy everyone

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02/07/2014 18:05 par tellurikwaves

I always like Johnny Depp.
10/10
Author: Anita de Acosta Keith (g_keith@sbcglobal.net) from Columbus, Ohio USA
15 April 2014

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I always like Johnny Depp.He can really play the quirky characters, like Edward Scissorhands or Willy Wonka. He was great here as Barnabas Collins. He looked like Michael Jackson when he donned the dark fedora and sunglasses.

Johnny's delivery of Barnabas was hilarious. He carried the jokes well. He looked really gory with blood on his face. He just had to have those meals, though. Angelique would never take no for an answer. She dogged Barnabas mercilessly, and I am glad he got in the final blows for her demise. She was a real tormentor.

I saw the original Dark Shadows TV series, way back in the day. I liked it. I also liked Jonathan Frid as Barnabas. Johnny's lines are funnier, but I think that Frid's lines were of a drier type of humor. I liked Jackie Earle Haley's quiet performance. It was low-keyed and humorous. He must have been the handyman or caretaker of the mansion. He drove the car great.

This is a marked difference of character compared to his disturbed rapist in "Little Children". Of course, he is known from his youth in "Bad News Bears" and "Breaking Away". He is very versatile. The special effects were fabulous. They could be funny, and also scary. Johnny's Barnabas has a way of surprising people. In addition, he is also very thoughtful. He is astute to old times and new times. He even provided the real Alice Cooper for his descendant's party. That was very kind and caring. Barnabas at first thought Alice was female.

It was nice that Barnabas wanted to bring back his family's fortunes from their near demise. He had a positive and determined effort to revive the family treasury and community leadership. Did he get to spend eternity with Josette? Would they live forever? This was at the end. Tim Burton, you are always great. 10/10

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02/07/2014 17:52 par tellurikwaves

A great night out
10/10
Author: Hunterdliteful from United States
12 May 2012

Despite all of the negative reviews, I took my twelve year old daughter and fourteen year old son to DS. We all enjoyed the movie thoroughly and I am slightly irritated that we almost didn't go because I read multiple reviews that said the movie was inappropriate for children. I disagree, it might not be great for a six year old but this is a mild pg13 film. Tim Burton is most definitely on a comeback with this flick. Great story, good character development great cast incredible effects ...even an awesome fight scene, disappointing that many will opt for the Avengers when this is a far more original and time lasting movie.......stop reading and go and see now definitely worth the cover charge

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02/07/2014 17:38 par tellurikwaves

Absolutely absurd and wonderfully unpredictable
10/10
Author: anne-217-54013 from Finland
12 May 2012

There are not many movies like this one. One doesn't see whats coming. The lead characters aren't heroes or morally strong. Everyone is wonderfully twisted and very broken. Different. Michelle pfeiffer and Johnny depp do a wonderful job in creating the melodrama wibe required for remaking a soap-opera. When you watch this you ought to remember the whole drama part of it is intentionally over the top. Keeping that in mind the unpredictability is to be appreciated.

My opinion is that critics are too tough on Johnny Depp. They are so to speak used to his brilliance. Depp' s Barnabbas is another great character. It seems he has already given so many memorable performances so that people cannot fully take them all in. If this would be the first Depp film a person sees, that person would surely think it was a one of a kind role performance.

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02/07/2014 10:46 par tellurikwaves

The Vampire, The Witch and The Dysfunctional Family
10/10
Author: batmanjokercatwoman from United Kingdom
13 May 2012

Horror-comedy involving various supernatural creatures, this is Tim Burton at his best. Burton does not set to direct perfect films he directs how he sees them, he and Johnny Depp really treated this film like their baby. Having not seen the original yet, so not knowing how faithful it is, this review is judging this as a stand-alone.

The cast and characters are all excellent; they all have their moment to shine. Johnny Depp is excellent as always, not his best performance however he clearly cares about the Barnabas Collins character. Eva Green is like an exaggerated version of Glenn Close from Fatal Attraction, perfect choice as the evil witch. Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderful as the family matriarch Elizabeth, this woman does not seem to age. Chloe Moretz is great as a moody teenager, clearly hiding a secret. Bella Heathcote is lovely as Victoria/Josette, so sweet and likable it is no question why Barnabas falls in love with her. Helena Bonham Carter is hilarious as an alcoholic doctor, Johnny Lee Miller is great as a selfish low-life, Jackie Earl Haley is well cast in a small but effective role as a scruffy caretaker.

Tim Burton's visual work amazingly as usual, every shot in the film is beautiful and artistic. The film is not as over colourful the advertising makes it out to be, just in certain parts, a lot of the colours are actually washed out, in a good way so you won't get a headache. The songs used in the trailers are present in the film, not in the same context, mainly during short montages and they are not overlong as many people are making them out to be. The Collins mansion is very well design, it almost a character itself in the film.

The opening credits are very simple compared to Burton's usual opening credits, which is simply following Heathcote through her journey to the Collins with Nights in White Satin playing.(j'adore) Any criticisms I can think are nit-picks; looking at it from a critical point-of-view the mixed reception is understandable. As a big fan of shows like Buffy and True Blood, and just like them you can nit-pick this film till you bleed but that is missing the point. It's not meant to be taken seriously, it's over-the-top, it's fun, it's got clichés and some decent metaphors involving family problems.

The climax was awesome and over-the-top action and CGI. It kind of reminded me of Jan De Bont's remake of The Haunting, I know it's a bad comparison because that film is horrible, however it works here because Jan De Bont expected his audience to take it seriously; Burton does not he knew his film was silly and took advantage of it. There are complaints of the climax involving a twist of Chloe Moretz's character, yeah it's very sudden but has a great metaphor behind it, especially when Pfeiffer finds out. The CGI effects are quite obvious, however it fits the tone so you won't care; it's still 10x better than The Haunting.

If I had to nit-pick I would say that because there is so many characters their moments felt kind of forced and rushed but I expected that, the story is very slight but this isn't meant to be Memento, and it does feel like it ends too suddenly but it's kind of bittersweet. And leaves it open for a sequel or let you decide what happens next. This film is an escape not meant to be picked apart, just to be enjoyed with an extra large popcorn. After all films are made for entertainment, it doe not have to teach lessons, make sense or be analysed. Just play to your certain interests, that's where the film succeeds.

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02/07/2014 10:39 par tellurikwaves

A Must See
10/10
Author: mcewen-368-877549 from United States
12 May 2012

This movie was one of my all time favorites! It had quite a few similarities to the 1966 Dark Shadow series. But they brought it up to date and made it from a excellent T.V. Show to a must see amazing movie! Johnny Depp was the perfect choice for Barnubus and portrayed him in every way!Overall I would recommend this to all my friends as a must see!Tim Burton made everything go together so nicely in this movie and the stars that play the part fit their parts perfectly as I am a fan of the Dark Shadows Series and I must say I am VERY impressed with this movie! I don't think that there is anything that I didn't like and would ever think of changing! Now I'm just hoping for a sequel! Again I say it's a must see!

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02/07/2014 10:34 par tellurikwaves

Return to Collinwood
10/10
Author: CountVladDracula from United States
13 May 2012

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Dark Shadows is the Gothic day time drama from 1966 in which most of the leading characters were supernatural beings. First let's begin with the bad about this movie.

I love bats. I love wolves. I miss vampires would take bat and wolf form in movies. It's gotten so bad that there are major news sites that mistakenly think Evil Ed of the original Fright Night is a werewolf despite all the evidence to the contrary because modern audiences can't wrap their mind around vampires taking wolf and bat form.

Now on to Carolyn's secret. I had no problem with Carolyn being a werewolf but I do think her werewolf form could have looked a lot better.The one joke I HATED was when Barnabas told Carolyn she should put her birthing hips to use lest her womb shrivel and die. It was a period based joke that didn't really work for me. It was a running gag that did not deserve to be one. It was old before it even started. Let it go.

There's also some questions of continuity and plot. In Dark Shadows there were a few such questions. After Barnabas was sealed away and his parents and "one true love" were dead where did the new Collins family come from? Were there other siblings or cousins of Barnabas they just forgot to mention? Granted the original show had similar plot holes.

How did Elizabeth not know her daughter had been a werewolf since a baby? I also noticed if you do the math they try to imply that Barnabas was very young when he became a vampire and I feel condescended to when they try to make him much younger just to appeal to a younger crowd, the man is almost fifty! Don't try to claim he's younger than forty.

Now for the good:

I LOVE Barnabas' vampire form. I like that he's a traditional, classic vampire. Like the actual 1897 Dracula novel he has the slightly pointed ears, the very white skin, the long fingers and sharp claw-like nails of Dracula himself.Some people had whined that he's too obviously a vampire but let's be realistic here, most people do NOT automatically assume someone is a real-life vampire.The more obvious choice would be that he suffers from a form of porphyria  I loved when he slept upside down like a bat with his arms folded over himself. I loved his use of hypnosis and that he was easy to hypnotize.

The film Dark Shadows is not as much a comedy as the advertising would have you think, I loved the aesthetic vision of the actual movie. It had great visuals. Collinwood itself looked fantastic. Widow's Hill is haunting. I absolutely adore the image of Josette's ghost. I miss ghosts looking like that, whispy, watery, translucent. Not things that look like jerky and spazzing video tape footage.

I loved the use of symbolism in the movie. I am fairly certain that Josette's ghost was not a ghost at all but actually the subconscious mind of Maggie Evans / Victoria Winters coming to the surface trying to reveal who she was in her past life and make her remember. I felt the ending of the film was exactly how Barnabas of the original TV show would have wanted Dark Shadows to end.

When Depp's Barnabas prattled on about the architecture and why he would not call Victoria by Vicky it was VERY true to the original Barnabas Collins. I loved the melding of Robert Corbert's original Dark Shadow's TV scoring with Danny Elfman's own instrumental pieces. I also loved the Alice Cooper songs, particularly the use of the Balad of Dwight Fry when Vicky's past iis revealed. Drwight Frye is a famous Classic horror movie actor who usually played insane henchmen, most famously Renfield in the 1931 Dracula.

I liked the small nod to the Paul Stoddard Plot during that scene because when Carolyn does the opening of the song "Mommy, when's Daddy coming home? He's been gone for such a long time. I don't think he's ever coming home" Elizabeth looks mortified. In the original show Elizabeth believed she had accidentally killed her husband. A character I thought I would hate but actually ended up liking was Mrs. Johnson. She's just crazy! I loved Christopher Lee's cameo. The cameo of the original Dark Shadows actors showing up at the party was bitter sweet. You can tell Jonathan Frid was very frail.

I loved the ending. I felt what happened was Maggie / Vicky finally knowing who she truly was and embracing her past, the life that had truly been happy, the one with Barnabas. The ending was how I imagine Barnabas of the original TV show wanted Dark Shadows to end. I also loved that Dr. Julia Hoffman was trying to make herself into a vampire. I actually pitied her.

This wasn't just an adaptation of the original 1960s Dark Shadows. It was a hodgepodge of all previous incarnations of Dark Shadows with something new added and I appreciated it for what it was. Even the plot holes which I mentioned felt similar to plot holes you would find in the original series so it was surprisingly satisfying. This was a lovingly done homage, not a spoof, not a parody, a homage.I have already watched the film twice and I will likely watch it again.

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02/07/2014 10:09 par tellurikwaves

I really loved it!!!
10/10
Author: fuzzy-one22 from Clinton, Utah, USA
19 June 2012

I loved it! Although, I never watched the original. It was an amazing movie the acting was really good! It is a definite must see! I kind of wished it was longer because the ending could have been potentially better. I thought is was worth the money spent. I am definitely buying it when it finally comes out on DVD and Blu-ray! Its a perfect date night movie. I considered it more of a comedy than a horror movie... Especially since there isn't anything scary about the movie. The joke setup and timing was perfect! I hope this helps y'all make a decision on if this movie is worth the money. My personally opinion is that the movie is, but its up to you! Enjoy!

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01/07/2014 16:35 par tellurikwaves

Great cast, effects, story, and entertaining
10/10
Author: msmaxi from United States
23 May 2012

I wasn't expecting much since I used to watch the TV show back in the day. There wasn't much to it then, so I didn't know what to expect. I thought it would be more of a  drama and possibly bland. Not the case. First, I liked the way the story enfolded and how we got to know the characters one by one and how they worked in a group  setting. Quite humorous and funny. I didn't expect that. Johnny Depp is great. He can play anyone or anything.

He is so versatile and believable. He also has a comical  side which added life to the movie. Eva Green, who played his nemesis was great. So believable. Very good actress and quite witty herself, too. If you grew up anywhere  from the 60's to 90's, you will like the soundtrack. Great music. Appropriately placed in scenes. It's worth a night out and to be entertained. I liked it that much I may see it  again on the big screen. I think it will have a better effect than watching it at home on a much, much, smaller screen and nowhere near the sound equipment the Cinemark  theater has. Go see it with an open mind. If you're a Tim Burton fan then you will appreciate the film's direction, special effects and his dark humor. I can't wait till  Frankenweenie comes out.