How would you like to work in an air conditioned building all summer long, while your friends slave outside in the scorching heat? How would you like to work with some awesome librarians surrounded by books, while your friends are swatting away the wasps because they accidently stepped on a nest while working? How would you like to work with children that are excited to go to programs, while your friends have to clean the toilets of the family washrooms? Do I have your attention yet? Then apply for the best SUMMER JOB EVER by clicking here!!
As I’ve brought up before, the collaborations between director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp have been numerous and varied, though honestly, some themes keep popping up with a fair amount of consistency (how much white make-up do you need for that many movies?). The latest film, Dark Shadows, is their eighth movie together, preceded by, and I’ll see if I can get this in order, Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Burton and Depp have had a very lucrative and well-enjoyed partnership for the last 20 years or so, but as YouTube and other sites have pointed out, their work might be getting a tad repetitive by this point.
Dark Shadows seems to be no big exception. Based on the 1966-1971 fantasy soap opera of the same name, it centers around Barnabas Collins (Depp), a young man in eighteenth century Maine who manages to tick off a witch named Angelique (Eva Green), who proceeds to make his life a literal hell by cursing him to become a vampire and burying him in a coffin underground. He doesnt reemerge until 1972. There he connects with his descendants and their staff (Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloe Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter, Bella Heathcote, etc.) and attempts to restore his family name to it’s original glory, all while contending with his vampirism, this new time period and the return of Angelique, who is just as vengeful and unhinged as ever.
Much of the humor derives from Barnabas adjusting to the wacky time that was the 1970s, and there are plenty of references to that decade, from lava lamps to Scooby-Doo to a cameo by Alice Cooper, the latter tying in to one of the best things about Dark Shadows; it’s soundtrack of great 70s music. But as Burton films go, there’s not a whole lot to make this one memorable. It wasn’t a bad movie, but it wasn’t a great one either, and it may not end up standing alongside the classic Burton movies. Still, if you’re looking for a vampire-related chuckle, you could do worse. Just be prepared for things to get really crazy near the end.
Here’s a trailer to give you a taste.
And just in case you’re curious, here’s a clip from the original Dark Shadows, featuring the recently and dearly departed Jonathan Frid as the definitive Barnabas Collins. Teens would rush home after school to catch the latest installment. It was a different time back then.
Heya peoples! How’s everyone doing this very fine and loverly day?? Seriously, what a day out, huh??? It’s so prettty outside! =D
Ok, so how you doin?? Haven’t heard much of you guys for a while – anything new? Exciting? How many of you have prom coming up??
Dress shopping done? Got your tux all settled?
(p.s. random tangent – it’s kinda annoying how guys get to rent a tux but girls have to buy a dress…this goes for all levels of celebration: formals, prom, weddings…the whole shebang! What’s up with that??)
And so, since I’ve been uberly busy and my brain seems to have stopped working, I will leave this short and sweet and end here.
Oh, and include this pic that George Takei posted on his Facebook page….That guy kills me!! =P
