Game On! Grassroots

Palin’s call to Texas voters

Audio from the Glenn Beck show

  I have to tell you my feelings regarding the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration of Dark Shadows has run from one end of the spectrum to the other. When I first heard they were doing the movie I could not contain my enthusiasm. Having grown up on the ABC Gothic Soap Opera starring Joan Bennett and Jonathan Frid I was quite excited to see the return to the big screen of the Dark Shadows franchise. Those of us who grew up on the original series  remember the two 1970’s motion pictures, House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. So it goes without saying there was excitement.

Then came the first pictures of Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. Old school fans suddenly became quite afraid a joke was being made of our beloved franchise. Dark Shadows is no laughing matter. We are not talking glittery vampires here, this is Barnabas Collins we are talking about folks. But we were not losing hope, we were not giving in to paranoia. I mean Depp had said he was a huge fan after all. So all was good — that is until the trailer. I can’t speak for anyone else. But when I laid eyes on the trailer I cursed Burton, Depp, everyone involved in making this travesty of a movie.

There was no way in Hell I was going to go see it! I told everyone that. “Piss on Johnny Depp”, I said. Then after its release I watched an interview with Johnny Depp. He made good points. Not the least of which was pointing out how after having been entombed for nearly 200 years and gaining freedom in of all times 1972 what the sheer culture shock would be like. I had to admit the thought of the possibilities was funny as all get out.  So I began to soften on my “Ain’t gonna see it” position. Needless to say as I am writing on the movie I did make it to my local theater to see Dark Shadows, and with a minimum of spoiler information I did want to let folks know what I thought.

No, this was not the movie I would have done. But you know what, this movie was far better than the critics gave it credit for being. (That should be no surprise to anyone) Were there scenes the movie could have done without? Yes. But isn’t that true of just about every movie? Did they make some fairly drastic changes from the original? Yes. Again though, don’t they always? Was Depp channeling Frid as Barnabas? No, but there were lines throughout the movie where the way he said things you could see and hear Frid saying them. Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows is plain and simple a guilty pleasure. If a person goes in DEMANDING the original, I advise them to go home, save their money and watch the old series on DVD. But if you are open to an interesting and quirky re-telling well by all means what are you waiting for? Get to the theater!

US Needs to “move on”

You know, they are right… we do need to “move on”. My suggestion would be “moving on” to ending ALL foreign aid to Pakistan for the entire term of this man’s imprisonment. I am quite sure we can find good use for that money here at home.