Dark Shadows - Twisted Fun and Depp Magic

Two hundred years after being shackled inside a coffin that's buried underground, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is inadvertently cut loose and set free. The year is 1972 on a balmy October night, and the reluctant vampire is consumed by two decades of thirst. After feasting on the hapless construction workers, Barnabas  finds his way to Collinwood, a palatial home he saw rise from the earth when as a little boy, his adventurous family began a new prosperous life from dank and urine-stenched Liverpool to a bright and flourishing town in Maine.

A WITCH'S CURSE

Their halcyon existence allowed them to build the town of Collinsport which has since thrived in the fishing industry that the Collins jumpstarted. But a vengeful, albeit spurned witch Angelique (Eva Green) wrecked havoc on Barnabas' family, murdering his parents and casting a spell on the beautiful Jossette (Bella Heathcote), Barnabas' object of desire, to jump off a cliff. Jossette, in Angelique's eyes, took young Barnabas' affections from her thus she deserved to die. Moreover, she cursed the handsome young man to become a vampire.

But present day Collinsport has changed since Barnabas' "detention". The terrain (he's never seen a concrete road before) has changed and he is continually hounded by Mephistopheles (the devil) decked in gigantic yellow light (the "M" in McDonald's stores). Moreover, Collinwood is in a state of disrepair, rambling into destitution. The Collins have likewise lost their fortunes. Only four of them have survived: Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer), the matriarch; her belligerent daughter Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz); Roger (Jonny Lee Miller), Elizabeth's incorrigible brother and his son David (Gulliver McGrath) who everyone perceives as looney (he thinks his dead mother still intermittently communicates with him). Then there's psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) who has overstayed her doctor's visit for the last 3 years! She attends to David's mental health.

After convincing Elizabeth that he indeed was the "living" incarnation of their ancestor, Barnabas gave his word that he would never harm any member of this family. Furthermore, he would rebuild Collinwood's past glories. In fact, he unearthed a room brimming with jewelries and gold; riches that have eluded the clan for two centuries!

CONDITIONAL LOVE

Unfortunately, Barnabas' ambitious plans couldn't go unimpeded, could it? Angelique, the witch, has taken over the dominion of the fishing town (calling her fish processing company as Angelbay). And she would not allow the resurgence of the Collins! Unless Barnabas accedes to a romantic ever after with her. After all these years, Angelique is still madly in love with "that man with handsome features". But her malevolent nature won't allow him romantic happiness outside her embrace! "I'd rather see him suffer or die..." Angie promised!

One day, a beautiful young woman named Victoria offers her services as a nanny! She has come a long way and seems content to be part of the family. But her uncanny likeness to the downfallen Jossette isn't lost in Barnabas. And the reluctant vampire once again falls in love. Surely, Angelique won't have any of these!

What becomes of the Collins? Will Barnabas be able to rebuild the family fortunes from dire straits? Why is the overstaying doctor transfusing blood on Barnabas who's desperate enough to try the former's experiments (he was told that this could restore his humanity)? Who is Victoria? Will Collinsport embrace the family that built the town? Will they ever find the beast attacking locals to their death? Finally, what is a vampire's place in a new age where "little women" (Karen Carpenter) sing "Top of the World" in small boxes (television)?

Johnny Depp once again creates another delightfully preternatural character in the lovesick Barnabas Collins.  His circumscribed delivery is key to making his character enthralling, which should be a formidable thespic hurdle considering Barnabas thrives on innocent beings for their blood. But it is easy to fawn over someone who's utterly devoted to his family, and more so, with a girl who so enamored him! When he tells Angie off, "How dare you put your cursed lips on mine!" I couldn't help but giggle! Giggle - and I am not 16! When the Collins invites heavy metal legend Alice Cooper to perform for their soiree, Barnabas quips, "I've never seen such an ugly woman!" (He thought with a name like Alice, the rocker couldn't be a man!) :)

Aside from Depp, the cast is as hopelessly engaging. Michelle Pfeiffer deliciously commits to the feisty matriarch who would protect her family against usurpers. She returns to the spotlight in grand fashion! So does Eva Green as the vengeful Angelique who is so malevolently bloodcurdling as she is sexy! Helena Bonham Carter promises another character envisaged like a predetermined anti-hero for a calculated sequel - and this we cannot wait!

There are blatantly weak links in the plot, most of them figure as spoilers so I am not going to get into them, but this involves character development that somehow unravels at the latter part of the film: Carolyn, for example, turns into something else and I thought there was only "one monster in the family". Roger Collins, on the other hand, evolves into a cad just when the family has found their riches. Why leave when luxury is all you're after - and your family has obviously found a huge stash. Even Dr. Hoffman's character is superficially glazed over. Her extended stay does not make sense even as a comedic strain. Having enumerated just a few of these narrative lapses, "Dark Shadows" is nevertheless entertaining.

UNEASY HYBRID

Horror and comedy aren't an easy hybrid simply because fear and laughter don't congeal comfortably beside each other like hands in glove. You don't shriek with fear then laugh in the same breath! It isn't physiologic! Gaiety is in fact the anti-thesis of anxiety and discomposure. But Director Tim Burton succeeds where others failed, thanks to a brilliant cast, a resplendent cinematography, an understated humor and a brisk narrative that never lingers unnecessarily. On IMAX, the film embraces extensively, thus the audience becomes part of Barnabas' journey to restore his broken family!

BATMAN RETURNS

During the screening, a heart-pounding, nail-biting "complete" sequence of the next "Dark Knight" sequel was shown, involving Bane, Batman's next cinematic nemesis (wasn't he notorious for being the guy who "killed" Batman?) It involved an action-packed sequence set in mid-air where a plane gets hijacked. Every second felt urgent and by the time this particular sequence ended, people started clapping! Yes, this wasn't a trailer, but a full-15-minute portion of the incoming summer flick. If they wanted to hook their viewers, they sure succeeded! Now where do I buy the ticket? :)    

Elizabeth and family.

Dr. Hoffman (Carter, right) wants to look young forever so she transfuses a vampire's blood in her.

Barnabas tries convincing Elizabeth that he is the real deal.

Angelique was the Collins' maid in 1752. She fell in love with a playful Barnabas.

Angelique crashes the Collins' party.

Johnny Depp takes on another quirky character.

Michelle Pfeiffer - Catwoman is back sans costume!

Eva Green is malevolent!

Bella Heathcote as Victoria has a dark past that might be unraveled further in a sequel.

Jonny Lee Miller plays the spineless Roger Collins.

Jonny Lee Miller - Angelina Jolie sure knew how to pick boyfriends back then! :)

21 Jump Street - Guilty Pleasure

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) were never friends back in high school. While the former was a bullied nerd, the latter was the popular jock. A few years later, they both find each other as rookies of the police force. What's worse, they become partners, bicycling around parks for the occasional petty crime. But one day, they unravel a drug deal and successfully capture the culprit. Unfortunately, Jenko wasn't able to completely read the suspect's Miranda Rights (he couldn't get past "You have the right to remain silent..."), forcing the station to let go of dealer.

As a consequence, the bumbling duo is sent to Jump Street to work as undercover cops. This program was a "recycled" program in the 80's that has been revived by the station to satisfy directives from higher ups. They have to uncover the insidious drug-dealing operation within the campus to prevent the widespread peddling of HFS, a new synthetic narcotic, and they have to turn in the people behind this operation. They are in fact sent back to high school, an experience that scarred Schmidt who was traumatized by several high school memories, like getting laughed at after gathering the nerve to ask the most popular girl out for the prom. Jenko, meanwhile, is pleased. He had his glory days in high school - and this would be easy. Or is it?

Running on flimsy and predictable plot, the mismatched partners have to work on chemistry and turn to enthusiasm to make the story more believable. After all, hunky Channing Tatum would never pass for a high school "kid" (he is 32). Once we suspend disbelief that the students were absolutely clueless and that something was amiss, then it's a walk in the park where its entertainment quotient is concerned. This unforeseeable happening couldn't be farther from the concept of the late 80's original TV show (which wasn't exactly labelled under "comedy"). Hilarity ensues when Schmidt and Jenko had to switch identities: Tatum is assigned to the nerdy/techie posse, and the burdensome Chemistry class (one of their directives say that they "cannot be expelled"); Hill, on the other hand, gets to deal with the popular girl Molly (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend - popular jock Eric (Dave Franco). Then they discover Eric's ruse. How will they catch the supplier of Eric's products? Will they ever come close? How can a former "dork" summon the good grace of the most popular guy in school?

WONDERFUL SURPRISE

There is a wonderful surprise sometime before the conclusion as some "unfamiliar" faces "return" to pay homage to the series that brought them fame in the 80's. Except for two of its original cast, everyone else returns for a few seconds. Even Dustin Nguyen (who couldn't personally make the shoot - he has a great career in Vietnam these days) is shown on a TV screen.

Peppered with good natured scenes that aren't as irreverent as the latest installment of Schlossberg and Hurwitz's "American Pie: Reunion", Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller's "21 Jump Street" coasts on their actor's cinematic charm, humor and easy camaraderie more than narrative heft. But that's not so bad. I don't mind this bit of an easy time at the cinema. Not when the baddie is as good looking as pint-sized Dave Franco. Yum!

Ice Cube plays Captain Dickson, Jump Street's boss.

Miss Griggs harbors a crush on a student!

Dave Franco, James' younger brother, plays popular jock Eric who peddles a synthetic drug and a lot of sexy charm.

Jonah Hill flaunts his amazing weight loss and "new" persona.

Channing Tatum appears in one hit flick after the next. With 7 projects in different state of production, Tatum  is one of Hollywood's busiest. He will appear next in Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike" where he revisits a not-so-savory past, i.e. the role of a stripper. In the story, Tatum will play guide to a new protege, the gorgeous Alex Pettyfer ("I Am Number Four", "Beastly"). The film also stars Matthew McConaughey and Matt Bomer.

Dave Franco appears next in Louis Letterier's "Now You See Me" with  Mark Ruffalo,  Woody Harrelson,  Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Michael Caine and Jesse Eisenberg.

Dave Franco also appears as a zombie in Jonathan Levine's ("50/50") "Warm Bodies". The film is set for release in 2013.

Dave Franco

Johnny Depp played Officer Tom Hanson in 1987's "21 Jump Street" TV series that popularly ran  for 3 years.

Don't you just love the fly-away hair?

Cast of the original TV series. Three of them do cameos.

Alice in Weirdsville!

Children grow up. And even fairy tale characters grow up too. Like Peter Pan, like Little Red Riding Hood, and like Alice of Wonderland! So Tim Burton follows the relatively vapid Alice 13 years after her "Wonderland" adventures. She is emotionally scarred from her beloved father's death! And we are witnessing a dour and seemingly lost Alice with her head up in the clouds! How can anyone who has experienced Wonderland grow up so introverted and circumspect, we wonder! We do know that she will be going back to Wonderland, right?

We were really excited with the cinematic possibilities that director Tim Burton could create!

It is unfortunate then that I found "Alice in Wonderland" tepid and lackluster!

The Alice of my childhood was a spritely girl, and Wonderland was magical! The characters were fun and whimsical. However, Tim Burton's updated characters were downright weird. It wasn't a magical land but a circusful of freaks! Try "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant"!

Sure Helena Bonham-Carter was adorably nasty as the Red Queen, but even the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) turned out ghostly and uninteresting! Surely, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter is amazing like anything he does, but the rest of the film is relatively unimpressive! Not all that bad, but floating between a weekend movie-going and a stay-home Saturday!

Ho-hum!

Mia Wasikowska is Alice! Or is she?

The fantastic Johnny Depp!

Alice with Tweedledum & Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen!

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

There is no one like director Terry Gilliam. He lives in a dark brooding world of fantasy, and he takes these seemingly mundane fairy tale characters then demystify them into beings that populate a complex world! This is the modern world of Dr. Parnassus – the head of a travelling theatre, plying their trade in the backways of grimy London.

In the confines of their gypsy-cart lies the fantastical “Imaginarium” – a mystifying world where your fondest fantasies come alive! But the 1,000 years old “doctor” (the brilliant Christopher Plummer) is disgruntled and regretful of his bet with the devil. In exchange for his “mortality”, he trades his very own daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) when she turns 16. But the restless devil offers another bet – give him 5 souls before Valentina’s birthday and he will grant her freedom.

Meanwhile, the traveling troupe rescues a dying man, hanging on a bridge. He turns out to be a charity-maker, Tony (Heath Ledger). Is he sent by the heavens as an answer to the bind they’re facing?

Heath Ledger is memorable as Tony – a man with a sketchy past. When he walks inside the “imaginarium”, he transforms into different personas – Colin Farrell, Jude Law and Johnny Depp! These change of physical attributes is the perfect metaphor for the multilayered character that underlies the mysterious Tony! Plummer, Farrell, Law, Depp, Cole, Verne Troyer (the midget Percy) turn out to be a powerful ensemble. I would have to mention Andrew Garfield – Anton (who’s in love with Valentina) – as the one to watch! I’ve seen him in “Silence for Lambs” (Robert Redford) and the British indie “Boy A”.

Enjoy the ride inside the Imaginarium!

Children and internal organs don't mix!

"I used to be a twink too," quips Johnny Depp.

"I don't brood," says Jude law.

Promising Andrew Garfield joins a stellar cast. He won the role over hundreds.

Andrew Garfield in "Boy A".