Dark Shadows

[ccollinsmith]

I liked Depp in the movie. I thought the ending was a mess, but regarding the points that Midnightsfire brought up in the Spoiler tag, I think the film was just putting as many old DS plotline in-jokes into the story as possible. I don't think Burton or Depp were really thinking about spinning this thing out into a series of movies, despite the final image - which is really just a tribute to a horror movie cliche, not an indicator of future films. So...

Spoiler: show

Toss in the Phoenix (David's mother), toss in the destruction of Collinwood (1995 plot), toss in a variation of Julia cleaning Barnabus' blood (one of the early Barnabus plotlines, except that here, Julia has a completely different agenda).

I think a lot depends on what the viewer wanted from the film. I wasn't expecting much more than I got, so I was reasonably satisfied.

But I agree that it's not a great movie. I found it entertaining, and I'll see it again. So I gave it a B.

[Midnightsfire]

Originally Posted by HedwigOwl

I understand Jonathan Frid did a cameo in the movie, so I'd imagine he thought it was OK or wouldn't have agreed.

I have no idea who Frid played in this movie.

Did anyone recognize him?

[ccollinsmith]

He was a party guest, arriving with Lara Parker, Katherine Leigh Scott, and David Selby. Depp welcomed them at the door to Collinwood.

[Wab]

Originally Posted by HedwigOwl

I understand Jonathan Frid did a cameo in the movie, so I'd imagine he thought it was OK or wouldn't have agreed.

More likely that he was asked if he wanted to do a cameo and agreed. I doubt he would have been given details of the script.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by Wab

More likely that he was asked if he wanted to do a cameo and agreed. I doubt he would have been given details of the script.

That's likely. It seems he had an enjoyable exchange on set, though, with Johnny Depp (according to Katherine Leigh Scott).

[WelkinCooper]

A few of Depp's lines in the movie were quite nice...such as the thing about Victoria's name...and his observation to Angelique near the end. They captured the courtly Barnabas well. Too bad there weren't more of them.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by WelkinCooper

A few of Depp's lines in the movie were quite nice...such as the thing about Victoria's name...and his observation to Angelique near the end. They captured the courtly Barnabas well. Too bad there weren't more of them.

Those were famous lines from the show actually.

[WelkinCooper]

Originally Posted by ccollinsmith

Those were famous lines from the show actually.

Ahhh...so that's why they felt so right. It's been so long since I've seen the original, I didn't remember.

[ccollinsmith]

Originally Posted by WelkinCooper

Ahhh...so that's why they felt so right. It's been so long since I've seen the original, I didn't remember.

I didn't remember either. I think it was my friend who wrote his dissertation on Dark Shadows who pointed it out.

[SnyderD]

I was unaware this was a remake. Saw an earlier comment that most of the funny parts are in the trailer...hope that's not right. I'll still probably see it anyway, because I like Depp.

[Animagus86]

I never saw the TV series either, never even heard of it actually until I got part of an interview with Johnny Depp. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I expected it to be odd because Johnny Depp is a little odd, though he did a good job with his character. There were, however, some parts I didn't really care for at all. The only reason I saw it in the theater because my husband wanted to see it. Otherwise I would have waited until I could rent it on DVD, or at least gone to see it when it got to the $2.00 theater.