Tangled in Subplots (SPOILERS)

Rating: 4/10 (11 May 2012)

I have never been disappointed by a Burton-Depp collaboration before, but because of an inexperienced writer and an uneven script, I found this film to be a definite let-down.
This movie stars Johnny Depp (this is his 8th collaboration with Tim Burton)as Barnabas Collins, a man who was turned into a vampire and locked in a coffin for 196 years by an evil witch named Angelique(Eva Green). Depp and Green are fantastic in their roles, and they definitely do their best with what is given. Unfortunately, their romantic plot line doesn't make much sense; Barnabas knows she killed his fiancée and locked him in a box but he seems far too casual about it. He even has sex with her later on. It is never explained why he is still willing to romantically engage with her, so this plot line seemed a bit convoluted.
In addition to this, there are several subplots that feel rushed. One instance involves Helena Bonham Carter's character having her own love affair with Barnabas. This barely contributes to the main plot but by the end of the film, the screenplay tries to make you think it was important.
Moreover, the character Victoria has a subplot revolving around being able to talk to ghosts. She claims she was driven to the Collins' mansion but her connection to the family is never really explained. Her lack of development is unfortunate because she is the main love interest in the film.
Other subplots involve the son's deadbeat dad issues, his father's unfaithfulness to his wife, and Chloe Mortez's character's werewolf powers (the latter isn't shown until the tail end of the film). Tim Burton can usually handle tonal shifts in comedy and drama, but this film mangles both elements in a knot with several subplots and underdeveloped characters.
I don't however think that Tim Burton is entirely to blame. This film still looks amazing; the sets, the costumes, the effects, and the cinematography are flawless. From the elegance of Barnabas' outfit and cane to the seductive high-contrast nature of Eva Green's clothing, the actors brilliantly shine in a less-than-impressive film.
The visuals are high class as well; the Collins' mansion is brilliantly done with marble fireplaces, wooden statues, and interesting secret passages. In the hands of a more experience writer, the mansion could have easily been elaborated on more. That would have been very impressive.
As it stands though, I was simply disappointing with this film. I place most of the blame on writer Seth-Grahame-Smith, who has very little experience in writing films. Hopefully his next scripted films: "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Beetlejuice 2″ are superior to this let-down.