Quite entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2012)

I plan to buy this movie when it's released for DVD/Blu-Ray. It is certainly not a landmark of modern film making but it's entertaining. My better half and I enjoyed it in the theater and look forward to watching it again in the comfort of home. The small group of movie goers in the theater with us all had positive comments as we were leaving.
This iteration of Dark Shadows does not strictly stick to the story lines and characters of the original soap opera. I feel it does pay homage respectfully.
It is basically a comedy but is not a blatant 'leave your brain at home' comedy. Though it contains some overt humor and physical comedy, it also has more subtle humor that may not hit you right away.
It is not a 'jump out of your seat' or 'gross out' horror flick either. It has the pacing and physical appearance of a classic Hammer atmospheric horror movie.
While I don't believe it's destined for making a gazillion dollars in it's theater run, I feel like it has a promising long-term future with a loyal cult of fans. This movie isn't for everyone. You've got to discard any preconception of what you think it will or should be like. Then immerse yourself in the fantasy, suspending disbelief like you would with any film dealing with the supernatural. Finally, listen and watch carefully so you don't miss the subtleties.
Depp was the perfect choice for playing Barnabas. At times, it seemed like he was playing it like a stage role - just a bit over-the-top dramatically. He never breaks character by acknowledging the humor in his misunderstanding contemporary references in the dialog. His reactions range from oblivious to mildly perplexed, lending credibility to the performance.
Gone with the Wind it isn't, but it is a low key entertaining romp.