User reviews

I will be honest - off all the Tim Burton projects during the last decade this was the one I had little to no interest. I didn't seen the original soap opera and "Burton is making a vampire movie" didn't sounded like left-over idea. All reviews I hear where bad and I only went to see this out of principal "Ok, I can't talk bad about this movie until I seen it"

And to be honest - At first It was a pleasant surprise! The first 40 minutes did a excellent job of introducing the world as well building up the dark atmosphere. There was so humor now and then but overall it was pretty good.

But then the movie got a bit flat and what I really hated was the love story! They spent like 20 minutes introducing Victoria character but after that there is little to no of here in the movie, and she has only like two scenes with Barnabas so it's hard to buy the whole romance between the two. The only thing that was making movie good was Eva Green character which was totally Psyco (and Deep as well)

But then the movie reach the climax and... It got cool again! The entire final fight was so dark and insane but campy at the same time it was hard not to enjoy it!

Overall one of weakest of Burton films but it has it moments. Some of the characters are fun (especially Eva Green) and I LOVE visuals during the final scene, to be honest worth of the ticket price.

In 1760, the Collins family moves from Liverpool to the Maine to expand the family empire and dedicate to fishing business. One year later, they are successful and the city of Collinsport is raised in the place. Then, for fifteen years, Joshua and Naomi Collins build their Collinswood mansion. Their servant Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) has an unrequited love for their son Barnabas (Johnny Depp) that actually loves Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote). But Angelique is a powerful witch that curses Barnabas and his family, killing his parents, Josette and turning him into a vampire. Then she brings the locals that lock him in a coffin and bury him for the eternity.

In 1972, the young Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote) comes to the decadent Collinswood to be the tutor of the young David Collins (Gulliver McGrath), who lost his mother two years ago. She finds a dysfunctional family composed by the devoted matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) ahead of the family business that is near bankruptcy; her rebel daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloë Grace Moretz); her brother and David's father Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller); the psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) that takes car of David; and the servants Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mrs. Johnson (Ray Shirley).

When eleven workers release and awake Barnabas, he drinks their blood and returns to Collinswood. He meets Elizabeth and she tells that the family has been cursed, and Barnabas shows a hidden room with a treasure in side and he promises to protect them and assume the business. When he sees Victoria, he rekindles his love for her. But the witch Angie is still alive and is prominent in the town and she has not forgotten Barnabas.

"Dark Shadows" is a film by Tim Burton that has a promising beginning but the development is lost between comedy and horror. As usual, the dark cinematography is awesome and the music score is spectacular, with hits from the 70's. This film is certainly not among the best films by Tim Burton, but is entertaining. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sombras da Noite" ("Night Shadows")

I love Johnny Depp and I love Tim Burton. Together they can be sublime. Look at "Ed Wood" and "Sweeney Todd" Here, well here they seem kind of lost. Everything is in over the top tones without getting to the root of anything. The performances are shrill and disconnected with the exception of the wonderful Helena Bonham Carter. The script is underwritten and the story is tired and unconvincing but in the present film going landscape it is more enjoyable than most others. I'm tempted to advise Mr. Burton and Mr.Depp to be a bit more daring in their intentions. We're all aware of Burton's visual wizardry and of Depp's remarkable beauty and talent, why not put all that at the service of something meaningful?

Few director-star collaborations have been as fruitful as that of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, or for that matter quite so deliciously eccentric, and their eighth time together proves no different.

Never mind if you haven't any inkling of the cult '70s daytime soap opera on which this is based- a swiftly told prologue recalls the setup by telling of the Collins' voyage to America, their instrumental role in the founding of the Maine seaside town called Collinsport by starting up a successful fishery business, and most importantly, of their heir Barnabas' unfortunate run-in with a jealous witch Angelique (Eva Green). Spurned by Barnabas for another named Josette (Bella Heathcote), Angelique hypnotises her to throw herself off a cliff while turning Barnabas into a vampire and imprisoning him in a coffin.

It will be nearly two centuries later by the time some construction workers inadvertently free him, awakening Barnabas to an unfamiliar era where he promptly mistakes the golden arches of a McDonald's for Mephistopheles. That's not the end of the fish-out-of-water jokes that passes as humour- other than the anachronistic values about women and childbirth that Barnabas still clings to, he is just as out of step in front of a TV playing a Karen Carpenter show or among a bunch of hippies.

Fans of the original series may object to the deliberately campy tone that Burton and his screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (with an extra story credit to Burton's frequent writing partner John August) adopt for the movie, but those less bound by expectations will lap up Johnny Depp's delightfully quirky rendition of Barnabas. As always, Depp is a master at facial reactions, with every twitch and raised eyebrow perfectly calibrated to elicit maximum hilarity. Depp and Burton are fully aware of the campiness, but both embrace it so wholeheartedly that you can't quite help but be won by their fidelity.

There is also much more than just Barnabas' anachronism of course, with Smith giving the film its due weight in Barnabas' mission of restoring the former Collinwood empire to its former glory. Since locking Barnabas away, Angelique has spent her time building up her own booming fishing business. In the meantime, the Collins have been content to let their lives fall into decay like their sprawling mansion- among the dysfunctional members the matriarch Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer), her dissolute brother Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), her impudent teenage daughter Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Roger's disturbed young son David (Gully McGrath).

However kooky they may be, Barnabas regards them one and all as family- and as Depp's opening voice-over emphasises, blood is indeed thicker than water. Burton-Depp's collaborations have always demonstrated a tremendous amount of heart for peculiar characters, and this latest reaffirms their love for characters of different quirks and idiosyncrasies.

Restoring the empire to its former lustre earns the ire of none other than Angelique itself, the ensuing love-hate relationship between the pair giving the film a mildly sexual edge as well as a thrilling climax which culminates in a visually sumptuous showdown. Admittedly the pace does amble on with little narrative tension for most of the movie, but Burton eventually satiates the thirst for bombast in summer audiences with an extended ending made with most of the film's inflated budget unheard of in the days of the TV series' miniscule own.

To be fair, some of that has obviously gone into the ornate sets by production designer Rick Heinrichs as well as the elaborate costumes designed by Colleen Atwood. As is Burton's signature, the imagery stands out as much as the characters do, and the finale is a perfect example of the visual richness of Burton's warped imagination brought to life with CGI. But Burton is not foolish enough to rely simply on these modern-day devices, relying too on good-old fashioned casting to ensure that his film is also a rapturous delight.

Any actor besides Depp would probably be upstaged by the fine female cast, each of whom shine not simply because of Atwood's colourful costumes. The standout would probably be Green, who plays Angelique with bewitching aplomb, projecting sass and menace with razor-sharp precision and setting off dangerous sparks with Depp as ex-lovers. With Green's showy performance, it's easy to ignore Pfeiffer's more understated but no less loopy own, the actress who once played Catwoman in Burton's 'Batman Returns' clearly relishing one of her best roles in recent years. Bonham Carter unfortunately gets sidelined in this film, her act as a neurotic shrink underwritten and quite out-of-place amidst the other unfolding plot lines.

Amidst the new faces, Burton also pays homage to the original actors of the TV series by inviting four of them- Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott and David Selby- to appear briefly in the film, as well as the era's definitive musician Alice Cooper for an extended cameo. Despite his irreverent take on the material, Burton is clearly in love with the artefacts of the '70s, and the film's awesome soundtrack with the likes of Moody Blues and the Carpenters is testament to that.

So yes, fans of the TV series will have to accept that this big-screen adaptation is a reimagining of the original. Yet for those without that historical baggage, it is with any of the Burton-Depp collaborations that have come before it a thoroughly enjoyable visual feast filled with offbeat characters that turn out ghoulishly endearing. This is clearly a passion project for both Depp and Burton, and 'Dark Shadows' as its deliberately idiosyncratic title suggests is an unusual summer season offering that packs its own unique brand of kooky appeal.

My overall opinion is not negative but I feel like the idea is wasted a bit. The movie started pretty good. But after twenty minutes, everything became predictable. It was not boring but it was not very entertaining either. I don't even think this movie is comedy. There are very few jokes. Overall acting was kind of OK but Depp is becoming a very one dimensional actor by playing always similar characters. The scenery was pretty good and I must say, visuals were quite good as well. At the end, I wouldn't watch this movie once more but at least I didn't regret paying for it. If you didn't like the other Depp and Burton movies, don't even think watching this one.

Captivating and attractive tale with a very charming character nicely played by Johnny Depp . In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins , with young son Barnabas , set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America . But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family . Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport , Maine . The master of Collinwood Manor , Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) . A witch, in every sense of the word , Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death : turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later , Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972 . He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better . Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist , Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) , to help with her family troubles. This fine film revolving around Johnny Depp who plays a vampire who goes back from beyond . He awakes and meets the rich Collins family of Collinsport , Maine is tormented by strange occurrences . Eventually, the Collins' "cousin from England", Barnabas Collins , arrives and takes the show in a new direction ; his vampire curse introduces a new history of the Collins family and each of the members of this maladjusted family hides dark secrets . Part of this revised history is the popular character of the witch Angelique whose jealously led to the tragic death of Barnabas' great love Josette (Bella Heathcote in a double role as Victoria Winters/Josette DuPres) and who placed the curse upon Barnabas . Every Family Has Its Demons !. Strange Is Relative !. The legend bites back.

Visually competent film with plenty of brilliant images , thrills , a little bit of humor and emotion . Based on the TV series (1966-1971) created by Dan Curtis , the story of Dark Shadows begins with newly hired governess with mysterious origins named Victoria Winters arriving at Collinwood , the Collins' estate in Collinsport, Maine in search of a job , she soon is caught up in the strange events and mysteries that seem to surround the Collins family , each harboring their own dark secrets ; then an imprisoned vampire , Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home , where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection . Dark Shadows is fundamentally an entertaining and bemusing movie that has a large number of agreeable and stunning moments . It contains breathtaking production design and brilliant cinematography along with attractive soundtrack. Tim Burton adapts this vintage television series from the sixties to the big screen in which the usual creatures of the world of terror appearing here and there , such as : ghosts , zombies, vampires, werewolves or witches . Burton delves back into a story in a comedy starring an all-star cast and in which classic horror movies such as Christopher Lee and even singer Alice Cooper play himself . Johhny Depp is terrific as the ingenuous , rare vampire get into problem , as well as Eva Green as the nasty , scheming witch Angelique Bouchard . Accompanied by veteran Michelle Pfeiffer as Elizabeth Collins , Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman , Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters / Josette DuPres , Jackie Earle Haley , Jonny Lee Miller , Chloë Grace Moretz. And including short appearances from other secondaries as Josephine Butler , William Hope , Shane Rimmer , Michael Shannon and cameos of the original actors who played the classic TV series as Jonathan Frid , David Selby , Lara Parker , Kathryn Leigh Scott .

It packs a gorgeous cinematography full of light and colour and with plenty of shades by French cameraman Bruno Delbonnel . As well as enjoyable and rousing musical score by Danny Elffman, Burton's regular. The motion picture was well directed by Tim Burton in his usual style . Burton is deemed to be a master of the dark fairytale and the grotesque . His films often have a Gothic feel to them , often including Christmas and/or Halloween scenes. Burton's plots often focuse around a misunderstood outcast and frequently uses composer Danny Elfman . In 2001, he began his relationship with actress Helena Bonham Carter, whom he met while filming Planet of the Apes (2001), and she has appeared in all of his subsequent films. Tim has written, produced and directed pretty good movies , such as : ¨Beetle Juice¨, ¨Batman¨, ¨Batman returns¨, ¨Ed Wood¨, ¨Mars attacks¨, ¨Sleepy Hollow¨, ¨Planet of apes¨, ¨Big Fish¨, ¨Charlie and the Chocolate Factory¨, ¨Corpse bride¨, ¨Sweeney Todd¨, among others . Rating 6.5/10 . Better than average. The flick will appeal to Johnny Depp and Eva Green fans , being essential and indispensable watching for horror/comedy aficionados . Well worth seeing.

I'm an avid fan of anything with the Burton-Depp-Carter trio, so when I saw something involving vampires I was stoked. I didn't know it was based on a TV series until a couple hours before I saw it, so I can't judge it based on that, only that I know Burton and Depp are both fans of the show.

Overall, I felt the movie was average for Burton, not one of his best, but solid. The effects were good, costumes were quite nice, and the set was very nice and they kept CGI to a minimum. People who have a gripe with the plot of the film seem to have wanted the film to pick a genre. I feel that the movie did a wonderful job using dark comedy, and that soap operas don't often stick with just one genre. As for sub-par acting, once again soap operas are incredibly melodramatic, and I would say acting in this is better than that.

My biggest issue was with some developments at the end of the movie that seemed a bit askew but all-in-all, I was entertained and enjoyed myself.

Fun movie, funny and dark and different. (2 viewings)

I admit I am a bit wary about Tim Burton and his quirky dark films, some of which I did not really like too much. However with so much advanced hype about this particular collaboration with Johnny Depp, I felt compelled to watch it. I am happy I did. It was certainly one of the most visually-stimulating fantasy-black comedies I have seen, since maybe "Death Becomes Her."

The story of "Dark Shadows" begins in the 18th century when the Collins family crossed the Atlantic to begin their fishing business in Maine. Love-struck maid Angelique (Eva Green) took a fancy to the Collins scion Barnabas (Johnny Depp). Her love remained unrequited though because Barnaby became enamored with sweet Josette (Bella Heathcote). With the traditional fury expected from a woman scorned, Angelique resorted to powerful black magic to kill Josette and turn Barnaby into a vampire. The main story picks up 200 years later in 1972, when Barnabas was released from his grave by a road crew. He not only meets the very dysfunctional current generation of Collins, he also meets Angelique again! It seems that this witch also survived the centuries past, and is now the CEO of the competitor fishing company, Angel Bay. So, will Angelique finally possess Barnabas' love? Or will the pretty doe-eyed governess Victoria (also Heathcote) succeed to win him back, where her look-alike Josette failed 200 years ago?

A lot of the charm came from the cast who played their characters in this dark comedy so tongue-in-cheek, it was delightful. Johnny Depp, playing an undead character from 200 years ago waking up again in 1972, so funny as he encounters recent inventions. Eva Green, I have never seen her attack a role with this much ooomph and passion before. I have seen her before drably playing characters before in films like "The Dreamers," "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Casino Royale." This turn as Angieis a high point in her acting career.

I had never seen Bella Heathcote act in anything before, but I understand how Barnabas could be so mesmerized by her beauty. Of course it won't be a Tim Burton without Helena Bonham-Carter, and here she plays a trippy redhead psychiatrist. I do not always like her characters before, but here she is also so funny! The other supporting characters played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Jackie Earl Haley and the kids were not so remarkable. The character twist that involves the daughter Carolyn was so sudden and out-of-the-blue that it does not really contribute much to the improvement of the story.

For me, the best feature of this film is its amazing look. The visual effects, costumes and set design were all top-notch. They set the mood and the period of the story very effectively. And the soundtrack of early 70s songs, beginning with "Nights in White Satin" over the opening credits, wow! The song choices were unexpected, surprising and nostalgic at the same time.

Despite my raves, I know this film will not really appeal to all sectors. I found out during the credits that this was based on a TV show. I had not see this since the series was from the late 60s so I would not know how faithful this film was to its inspiration. I enjoyed it a lot. I found it very well-conceptualized and well-executed, despite the shortcomings of the script. I must admit the derivative script is not really the highlight of this film. It seems it contains various elements which had been bits and pieces of several ghost and vampire films we have seen before. Much to my chagrin, the violent make- out scene and the final conversation on the cliff edge came straight out of the "Twilight" films! However, the film as a whole was just very beautiful to watch, in a Gothic and eerie sort of way. Just don't expect too much, sit back and enjoy it!

Back in 1966, decades before "True Blood", "Buffy" and "Angel", America had a supernatural TV series called "Dark Shadows". This series, which ran up to 1971, was centred on Barnabas Collins, a 200-year-old vampire played by Jonathan Frid (who died after this movie was filmed). Curiously, this campy series had such an influence on director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp that they decided to make a modern version of it.

The result is this lavish production that has Depp playing Barnabas Collins as a 200-year-old vampire who wakes up in 1972 and is forced to navigate an era of hippies, pot, disco and free love. With its clock set in the Seventies, I suspect the movie will resonate better with the older viewers than the youngsters.

A voice-over prologue relates how the Collins family moved from decadent Liverpool to Maine, in the New World, circa 1795. The family set up a fishing industry in a town named after themselves: Collinwood. Just when the future seemed bright for Barnabas (Depp), a love triangle involving a witch (Eva Green as Angelique), and Barnabas' girlfriend Josette (Bella Heathcote) turned tragic - sending Josette to her watery grave and turning Barnabas into a vampire. Angelique then set the townsfolk on Barnabas who was captured and buried alive.

Fast-forward to 1972 and we find young Victoria Winters (Heathcote, again) arriving at Collinwood Mansion to take up a position as governess to David Collins (Gully McGrath), nephew of matriarch Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer). Also staying at the mansion are Elizabeth's brother, Roger (Jonny Lee Miller); her impudent teen daughter, Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz) and child psychiatrist Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter). Meanwhile, construction workers unearth Barnabas' coffin and resurrects him...

"Dark Shadows" is certainly not among the best of Burton's films and neither is it among Depp's greatest efforts. However, the weird and offbeat Burtonesque ambiance and tone are evident and coupled with notable performances by the cast, it is an entertaining effort. The gags that sent our preview audience into laughter and guffaws involve Barnabas' view of the 'modern' world of the Seventies. The vampire is intrigued by lava lamps and the songs of Karen Carpenter, whom he thinks also deals in woodwork. And yes, he also thinks Alice Cooper is the ugliest woman he has ever seen.

Burton puts the Seventies hit songs to good use, evoking nostalgia and a sense of campiness among the audience. One of the pleasures of watching a Burton movie is seeing Depp in his deadpan, tongue-in-cheek role, setting a jocular mood to the proceedings. His violent love tryst with Eva Green's sexy Angelique is a highlight of the movie.

Another delight is Chloe Moretz who delivers some of the juiciest lines. Among the flaws are Barnabas' inconsistent reactions to sunlight and other vampire clichés which I prefer to overlook. Overall, a nice change from the "Twilight" offerings. (Full review and pictures at limchangmoh.blogspot.com)

1770's. The aristocratic Barnabas, whose family founded the small harbor town of Collinsport, has a tawdry affair with one of his maids(who feels scorned by the higher-ups, thus going into the class struggle), and when he breaks it off, he finds that she was a witch(Eva Green, whose wicked smile sends chills down your spine), and... she doesn't take it well. She places a curse on his entire line, kills his parents and fiancée, Josette(another beautiful young woman... Tim has taste...! And Chloë Grace Moretz is... still jailbait, oops) and turns him into a creature of the night. She has him trapped in a chained-shut coffin, where he remains for two centuries. Waking up, he finds it to be the 1970's(something that this draws surprisingly few jokes from... heck, half of them are in the trailer; it's mostly the backdrop(the production design of this is great, costumes, sets... they built this city! No, I don't know if they used rock 'n roll!), and this whole thing is a love-letter to the decade... the soundtrack is fantastic, and from that period as well), and he must familiarize himself with this new time(Johnny Depp is impeccable at portraying eccentrics, so why this is the first time he was cast as a 200-year-old fish-out-of-water vampire(and this doesn't shy away from the blood-sucking and tragic nature thereof, he is conflicted and we can't view him quite as a role model) is anyone's guess), and when he finds his beloved estate, Collinwood, in disrepair and the family(a big theme in this is the strength of such) connected by little other than blood relation, he vows to improve both to their destined high stature. And there he also meets a woman who looks just like his lost love, and he falls for her. This is based on the show of the same name, I'm told, though I know little about it and can draw no comparisons. There are a few interesting characters, such as Elizabeth(Michelle Pfeiffer), the strong, independent woman who was the head of the Collins' until the return of the patriarch. I like Jackie Earle Haley who plays Willie Loomis, the drunken caretaker... in other roles. Several jokes and gags genuinely fall flat. Is this a black, campy comedy(and Burton brings his sometimes dirty sense of humor, along with his visual flair and signature style)? Yes. But it's also fantasy(there are mysteries and most of the main players have a secret each... and the majority are cool), a dark love story and a soap opera-ish drama. The climax is very nicely done, and this has some truly memorable, inspired sights(such as the sex scene between our two supernatural leads you see in the previews, with them throwing each other into walls, rolling on the ceiling, etc.). There is some bloody violence, disturbing content and mild to moderate language in this. I recommend this to fans of the director and/or the star. 7/10

A bit of a difficult on to review as I haven't seen the original 1966 series. i knew that it had horror and comedy in it and that's exactly what we do see here. On the other hand I also didn't found it a typical Tim Burton flick.

Johnny Depp is really looking great as Barnabas Collins, his stiff and on the other hand funny. There are a few good horror moments but in fact it's more about the comedy and situations. Not that it was bad at all. The original cast of Dark Shadows do appear at the party, sadly Jonathan Frid (the original Barnabas) died shortly after. What was funny was that we do have a gig of Alice Cooper in his clothes from the seventies. I liked that part a lot. I also liked the performance of Eva Green (Angelique Bouchard) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard) wasn't that bad neither.

Still it's not my favorite Tim Burton flick but I enjoyed it as a starter of a horror night. Oh yeah, Christopher Lee makes a small appearance.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 4/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 1/5

Fans of the original TV series are mixed on this modern telling of the story. This is a review of the film on its own with a nod, not a true remake, of the cult show that has a fervent following.

There is, as in most Tim Burton films, a mix of wonderful images and creative characterizations along with some incoherent inconsistencies of plot. The look of the film is pop culture Goth and is appealing with appalling sort of violent visuals that releases some bloody bits along with dark humor.

Johnny Depp's eloquent performance carries the film from its frustrating narrative and the displaced character's confrontation with modern culture delivers the most fun. Most of the other players seem to be there for support rather than substance and the film does suffer a bit from this shallow scenario.

In the end it is a movie that is part premiere Burton and part filler with some inclusions that are flat and less than farcical. The Alice Cooper bits for one, and lack of substantive script support from the family and friends that really don't have much to do in the Collins mansion. Taken as a whole it is less satisfying, but some of the artistic renderings and ghoulish gimmicks are worth the trip back to a time when a midday soap could capture the imagination of a generation with a completely original counter (culture) program.

Barnabas Collins is a vampire cursed by a witch who is love and, unfortunately for him, Barnabas does not return her love. He is left in a casket for more than a century and when released, he finds that he has landed in the year 1972. Johnny Depp can play almost any role that is thrown his way. A pirate, a hatter, and a vampire. The latter is shown here and it is interesting and amusing to see him play a vampire from the 1700s. Tim Burton's macabre and creepy humor comes out throughout, with Johnny Depp definitely helping with that. It is also considerably dark and while trying to maintain the comedy over the course of almost two hours, the movie has its ups and down. The sexual content is a bit much as well and would have been perfectly fine without it. However, I enjoyed it because you develop feelings for the characters and it certainly does grab you and make you want to learn how it all turns out. "Dark Shadows" is also a perfect Halloween movie.

This is an entertaining film. It did however have some problems, for example in some scenes you felt just lost in weirdness, Johnny Depp plays a quirky, weird vampire who is turned into this creature because of an evil curse on him, he does play a quite funny role and i think he is a very good actor as a whole but although you're sometimes laughing and enjoying yourself a lot, sometimes you feel a bit trapped by it in a way.

The idea of ghosts being real is a whole stupid part of this film and it wasn't brilliantly done, definitely not one of Burton's best films, but it's entertaining.

6/10

Any time Tim Burton and Johnny Depp work together on a movie it's usually a recipe for entertainment. Dark Shadows is their latest collaboration in a long list of titles. Starting with Edward Scissorhands, and including titles such as Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland. Dark Shadows does not disappoint. It's a great dark comedy with several unexpected laughs and twists.

In Dark Shadows, Johnny Depp's character, Barnabas Collins, is a man from the mid-1700s. Barnabas comes from a wealthy fishing family that built their town named Collinsport. He is unfortunate enough to scorn a woman named Angelique; who just so happens to be a witch. Angelique kills his parents and true love after he refuses her. She then curses Barnabas; turning him into a vampire. Rallying the townspeople against him she has him chained in a coffin and buried alive. In 1972, nearly two hundred years later, he is accidentally unearthed by some unlucky construction workers. A series of mishaps and conflicts ensue as Barnabas tries to regain the Collins' family business, and restore their home. The entire family is still being plagued by Angelique after all these years; leaving the audience speculating as to what could happen next. Anything can happen when you take a trip in the twisted mind of Tim Burton.

The characters were well casted. Johnny Depp, as always, is very believable as Barnabas Collins. His quirky personality shows a wide range of emotions that truly brought Barnabas to life or death. There is a wide range of experienced supporting actors; including Michelle Pfeiffer. Her character, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, is the current head of the Collins' family. She is a strong woman with a dry; sarcastic wit. The cast was further enriched by Helena Bonham Carter as the hilarious drunken psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman, and Jackie Earle Haley, the Collins' confused, always intoxicated servant, Willie Loomis. As far as villains go, Eva Green was an excellent choice to portray Angelique Bouchard. Her facial expressions and mannerisms alone were worthy of any evil witch. The chemistry between the cast is undeniable, and adds to the charm and believability of the characters.

However, Dark Shadows is a comedy, and although there were several laugh out loud moments; it still left a little lacking in that department. The plot came across a little rushed in parts. More time was spent than necessary explaining things that were not key to the outcome, and not enough clarification on things that were. The ending was definitely more abrupt than expected. Mr. Burton could have gone into more detail with the final scene.

Overall, if you enjoyed Tim Burton's work on his previous films, Dark Shadows is a worthy addition to his collection, and deserves at least one viewing. It's entertaining and comedic with a great cast. The concept is different and not overplayed; as many films seem to be these days. Dark Shadows would make a great choice to watch when you are having a bad day. It's definitely better to watch with a friend, so you have someone to share in the madness and laughter.

Despite the scathing criticism that the movie received, I went ahead and watched it. I'm a lifelong Depp fan, and there's nothing like Burton's amazing style... what's the worst that could happen?

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was a little queer, a little weird, a little spooky... and it was funny. It made me laugh, and it made me laugh again - which is common for Burton-Depp movies - they have a tang and feel to them that just works for me. So, I was expecting great things, and they delivered, magnificently. I haven't seen the Soap Opera, nor do I intend to - the movie said it all for me, and more. It was witty and quirky, and made me think about things I had thought about before, but in a different way, from another direction. I didn't find it over-the-top, or corny, though as another reviewer said, in parts, you could almost feel the mechanics behind the movements of some of the actors.

Overall, I found it well-written and directed for a movie based on a television show. It gave enough to explain what was happening and why, without leaving the watcher with the urge to watch the program for more information and explanation. I think it was well-casted - the children were cute and believable, and the 70's culture-shock that you got from some characters was exactly what I expected it'd be like. I wasn't disappointed, and though I wouldn't call it Depp or Burton's best work - I can say that I'd watch it again with enthusiasm.