Dark Shadows ~ Not boring... and it's Johnny.

I’m not even going to fake it. I’m not going to pretend I was a fan of the old classic show. I knew of it but I really had no time to watch it when I was younger, nor was I inclined to watch a British TV show if it wasn't Benny Hill. That being said, this movie was not bad. I don’t know if they stayed true to the original story line but in today’s world of movies, does it matter?

Face it. If you’re a Dark Shadows fan, you’re going to watch it. If you swoon over Johnny Depp, you’re going to watch it. If you’re a diehard fan of the 70’s, you might watch it.

Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is a cursed man. He is a vampire, and he has spurned the love of a witch, a very sexy witch, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) and if she can’t have him, no one will. Take the vampire from the 1770’s and place him in the 1970’s. Now we have the plot of the movie. There are some very comical parts as Barnabas comes to terms with his new world and the dwindling of his family’s prestige.

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the matron of the struggling Collins estate. Their wealth is gone, their company is in ruins, and they are not the cream of the crop. Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) seeks employment as a governess for Elizabeth’s young grandson and she also has a secret.

Ok, long story short, Barnabas is chained in a coffin and sealed in the earth until 1970 where he is freed and finds out Angelique, the witch, has been plaguing his family for centuries, and he means to rebuilt the family honor. Throw in the 70’s hippies, free love, sexual innuendos, and that’s the movie. What I did like about the movie is that they didn’t sugar coat the “Vampire” parts. He drank blood, he killed, and he moved on. Don’t worry, he apologizes first. Angelique still loves Barnabas and wants to “join” him in every way.

The movie disappointed me in that all of the funny scenes are in the trailer. You see the scenes coming, but they lose the punch, so tell people who are going to see it to avoid the trailers by all means if they wish to laugh a little louder. It is worth a look, and the story is interesting but you really don’t need to see it in the theater unless you want the “theater” experience. It will be just as good on DVD.

And... BTW... it has ALICE COOPER!