A good movie, not Burton's best though

Rating: 7/10 (11 May 2012)

I tried to waste no time at all and watched the movie last night - opening night in Germany. I was so excited to see a Tim Burton movie about vampires starring Johnny Depp - all the right ingredients to make a great film. Well - compared to most films out there, this is a masterpiece, as any Tim Burton movie is. But compared to Tim Burton's other movies, this one is only - well, let's say mediocre. Why? Well, Depp is awesome, no doubt about that. In fact, all the actors do a great job (Michelle Pfeiffer looks a bit like Kim Basinger in 8 Mile, doesn't she; and HB Carter is brilliant). But somehow there's is just a little too much stuff in this movie. Vampires, witches, werewolves, ... The usual and much-loved Burton antagonism of dark and shady and colorful and campy disappears behind all the action that is going on. Had I not seen and loved Sweeney Todd, Sleepy Hollow, and - of course - Edward, I would certainly review this one differently, but - as I said - comparing "Dark Shadows" with what I love Burton for, it's only okay. Watch it anyway. Alice Cooper's in it.