What do you get when you combine the 1970's, an old soap opera, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, witches and vampires? Well.....something that is very unusual, at least for film, but considering all of those elements are strange to begin with seems to work. Dark Shadows was definitely a unique film to be certain. It seemed to me that Burton tried to make it serious, yet also very playful and comedic. This is of course a usual trend for Burton and Depp when they work together, like Sleepy Hollow for example. At times it worked quite well for the film, then there were times when it didn't quite work as well. The film stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, who of course did a spectacular job as he usually does. Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins, was equally awesome as the matriarch of the modern family. Helena Bonham Carter was Dr. Julia Hoffman, and she was hysterical at first, and then her character became a little...well, not as interesting or humorous. The best part of the entire film (aside from Depp) was Eva Green as the witch Angelique. I don't know if I have ever mentioned how much I enjoy her presence on screen, but she is truly fantastic, and I have actually seen almost all of her films. Based off an old soap opera from the 1970's, it follows the story of a family whose patriarch was cursed by a witch because he failed to return her love. Buried for almost 200 years, Barnabas Collins awakens from his grave to find his family in turmoil, and he goes about trying to eliminate the curse and bring his family to prominence once more. It was an entertaining film, minus a very awkward and poor attempt to make humorous a sex scene between Depp and Green after 200 years apart. I could see myself watching it again I suppose, but it comes across as more of a group film to watch with friends than anything else. Thus I give it a "Yearning Ability" because honestly I don't know why Tim Burton had to create a film based off of a soap opera at all, and then there's some of the stranger performances on the film by the supporting cast, along with his choice of filming techniques. Watch or not, you won't miss much. I had a few laughs myself, but nothing really that great. It was a crazy week at work! I will not repeat the exact stories or what happened, but shall we say that there is no end to the deplorable depths of human nature. Fortunately though one is able to come across good natured people from time to time. When I haven't been working, I have been steeped in homework for grad school, of which there always seems like there is something to work just like there was in college, except now I don't have as much time to work on everything. The good thing is that I am not carrying as large of a load as I did during my undergrad, otherwise I might be shooting myself in the head right now. Apparently according to a news article that I read in the Wall Street Journal, the Chinese government is beginning to clamp down on it's people's online liberties and activities. Warnings are being issued for people to mind what they write and say concerning the government, and of course you can imagine what happens if they do not comply. I am curious what would happen if the Chinese people tried to rise up against their oppressive government and asked the world, or rather the United States for help. Would everyone stand by and watch as a repeat of Tienanmen Square happened, or would something get done. Based on what's happened with Syria, I don't think anyone in the world is holding their breath that the United States or Europe will come to the aid of anyone, unless it serves their own "interests." On that note, may the Force be with us all.Dark Shadows trailer
Rush trailer (apparently it is supposed to be a really good film, but I don't know how I feel about that. After all it is a racing film, and I don't have a really track record with those.)
