Dark Shadows

   
Based on the daytime gothic soap opera that ran from 1966 to 1971, Dark Shadows is about a family who moves from Liverpool, England to Maine in 1760 to build a fishing empire. They become so successful that a town is named after them (Collinsport), and the youngest son, Barnabas Collins, grows up to be a wealthy playboy. He has an affair with one of the servant girls, Angelique Bouchard, but breaks her heart when he falls in love with another girl, Josette du Pres. Turns out that Angelique is a witch and her rejection is answered with a curse that causes the death of Barnabus' parents as well as his lover Josette and turns him into a vampire. She then turns the townspeople against him and has him buried "alive" in a coffin.
    That coffin is unintentionally dug up nearly 200 years later and Barnabas goes about restoring the family name and grandeur that has fallen from what he once knew. He struggles with the ways of the world in modern times as well as dealing with Angelique, who is still around and plans to keep him and his family in ruin at all costs.

Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, the family matriarch
Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman, the family's live-in psychiatrist
Eva Green as Angelique Bouchard
Jackie Earle Haley as Willie Loomis, the manor's caretaker.
Jonny Lee Miller as Roger Collins, Elizabeth's "ne'er-do-well" brother
Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters, David's governess and Barnabas' love interest. Heathcote also plays the role of Josette du Pres; Victoria and Maggie Evans' roles, separate in the series, were combined in the film.
Chloë Grace Moretz as Carolyn Stoddard, Elizabeth's rebellious teenage daughter.
Gulliver McGrath as David Collins, Roger's "precocious" 10-year-old son

Who will like this movie

Because the original series was done in a soap opera style format, it is difficult to translate that into a film. However, I think that fans of the TV show will find things to enjoy about the movie, especially cameos by original cast members; Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott making appearances as party guests during a ball held at Collinwood Manor. This is a "take your brain and put it in the cup holder" type of movie that will be appreciated for those just wanting to be entertained for a while. Fans of Tim Burton will surely see his influence, while not being a classic "Burton-esque" style movie. This is less "Nightmare before Christmas" and more "Sleepy Hollow" in his approach. Speaking of which, this is the 8th time that Tim Burton has teamed up with Johnny Depp.
There are a few amusing moments in Barnabas trying to understand the time he is now in that is reminiscent of the first "Austin Powers" movie.

Phantom Thoughts

I have to admit, I have not seen any of the original series to compare it to. Nevertheless, this is a cult classic that most Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans all know. In 2004 and 2007, Dark Shadows was ranked #19 and #23 respectively on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever, so I do know a little about it. There are those who say that it is a parody of the original or that they did not do the series justice. But in watching this myself, I can see some soap opera type elements, just enough in fact, to pay homage to the original Dark Shadows. I found it kinda funny that it was set in the year 1972, especially since Dark Shadows ended in 1971.  I believe it is what it is, which could be a rental or on-demand viewing, but was a decent movie that I liked. It was visually well done, as is all Tim Burton's movies, and the plot was well put together. Simple and true with not a whole lot of twists and turns to blow your mind out. This is the type of movie that I'd watch some evening in the Fall, when there is nothing else worth watching on TV. Johnny Depp plays the character very well (maybe a bit over the top at times). There was one scene or two that his make-up looked like it was done with an airbrush about 5 minutes before he walked on the set, but for me...that just lent itself to the campy, soap opera type show this was based on in the first place. 

Until next time, see you in the center seat.