The original Dark Shadowswas a gothic soap opera which aired from 1966 to 1971. The focus was on the Collins family, and like all soap operas, each program was full of melodrama. Unlike most programs of its time, though, Dark Shadows dared to go where most did not – into the world of magic, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and other creatures that go bump in the night.
In the original, Barnabas Collins was turned into a vampire by Angelique Bouchard, a powerful witch who had been the handmaiden of Barnabas’s love Josette du Pres. Upon declaring his love for Josette, Angelique cast a spell on her to fall in love with and marry Barnabas’ uncle. Afterwhich, Angelique manipulated Barnabas into marrying her. When he discovered that she was a witch, he tries to kill her and in the process she turns him into a vampire.
The above is far cleaner and simpler than the story presented in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows that was released today.
Last night I went to a sneak preview of The Raven, and I am absolutely grateful that I didn’t pay for it. I was b-o-r-e-d. It’s not that it wasn’t full of action. It’s not that it didn’t have violence. It’s not that it didn’t have a case of fantastic actors. But none of it clicked. Poe was both comedic and melancholy, Investigator Fields (police representative) was both insightful and idiotic, and the Killer was both elaborately imaginative and unbelievably…believable.
Quick plot recap:
Someone is going around Baltimore killing people in ways inspired by Poe’s tales of the grotesque. Poe, newly back in Baltimore right as the killings begin, is the first suspect. Particularly given that at least one of the victims have a direct connection to the author. Thankfully, the detective on the case, Investigator Fields, is smart enough to realize that Poe is merely the inspiration for the murders and not the designer. Thus begins the hunt for the killer.
This week’s film review is of James McTeigue’s The Raven starring John Cusack, opening nationally April 27th. Courtesy of some friends, I’ll be attending a sneak preview tonight at the Regal Theater at Stonecrest. Haven’t been to this theater since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 because AMC started their $5 films, but it’s a good theater overall so it should be a fun evening.
Between the movie marathon I completed, a UX Design webinar I sat in on, and a banner I saw on the side of the road supporting Amendment One, I have just a few thoughts to share.
Unlike prior Friday’s, today I will not be reviewing a new release. The options this week are not as ideal as prior or upcoming weeks, so I will resume my “$5 Movie Review” series next week. This doesn’t mean that there is nothing to write about.
Lockout is both exactly the kind of action movie you like (violence, humor, a cool hero facing immense odds) and the kind of action movie you want it to be (there’s a “no gun” policy for a reason).
Unfortunately I missed the first few moments of the film due to a miscommunication on the start time, but otherwise the film goes like this: Snow (our hero) is blamed for the death of his government spook friend, as well as being accused of selling US secrets. For this, he’ll get 30 years in suspended animation on M.S. One, the maximum security prison in space. Meanwhile, the president’s daughter, Emilie, is on her way to M.S. One on a humanitarian mission to find out if the prisoners are being treated well, aren’t suffering any ill-effects (this is the prototype station afterall), and if the rumors are true that they are being experimented on to see how humans react to deep space conditions – this, by the way, is the excuse to both have a prison in space and why the daughter is here. In fact, the same deep space exploration company that is financing M.S. One also financed the president’s campaign, so clearly the daughter has dirty hands too – or so it’s implied.
In the summer of 1999 I had graduated from high school and was sleeping on my best friend’s mom’s pull out sofa. I spent my days working at my Dad’s store and my evenings with my friends. The original American Pie was about four friends who wanted to lose their virginity before the end of their senior year because that’s what high school boys think about. Some of them, anyway. But despite the shallowness of their goal, what we got to see was four boys learn about themselves, find love, and learn a bit about themselves. I think this is why the American Pie series has done so well. In spite of the repetitious sex jokes and masturbation interruptions (buy a door lock!), it is a film series with heart.
The last month has flown by and yet, seemed much MUCH longer. A month ago I told you about the job leads I’d found, the slight traveling I’d done, and a few movies I’d seen. Since then, I’ve applied to more jobs, gone on 1 trip and seen a few movies.
