Dark Shadows (2012)

★★★

Directed by TIM BURTON

Starring JOHNNY DEPP, MICHELLE PFEIFFER and EVA GREEN

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS

After coming home from watching Dark Shadows last night, I began thinking about my review. Still laughing and little dazed I tried to focus on some key points: style, plot, characters. The more I thought about it, the less I liked the film, for its cracks were starting to show. But then it got me thinking, should we take it so seriously?

The premisse is quite simple: Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) broke Angelique Bouchard's heart (Eva Green) by falling in love with Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote). Angelique is a revengeful witch, so she curses Barnabas with immortality, turing him into a vampire and burying him in a coffin. Until 196 years later a group of workers finds the coffin and opens it, unleashing an exasperated and thirsty Barnabas who finally escapes leaving no witnesses behind. He finds himself in the 70s, his family's impoverished and disgraced, and Angelique ruling the town his family once built. And so he takes it upon himself to rebuild his family and give it back its former glory and power, whilst falling in love with Victoria Winters, a young governess - if that term still applies - that strongly resembles Josette.

Though initially somewhat fast-paced (regrettably hinting us that Barnabas's past won't be up for much discussion), Dark Shadows manages to stay focus for a little while, when introducing Victoria and the Collins family. It is when Barnabas is released that things get out of hand: the vampire takes the stage, and everything else just fades in the background. Not that he isn't compelling, but for a film that ends with such a dramatic and gothically romantic reencounter between the two lovers, it sure neglects the object of his affection for nearly the whole time. Instead it turns to Angelique, who is still madly in love with Barnabas, and is constantly trying to win his affection, in between loathing his family and keeping her position has the city's most powerful woman. Again, not that she isn't interesting, quite the contrary, but isn't it strange that she doesn't really interact with Victoria? Memory may fail, but I can't recall a single scene between the two. 

Prometheus (2012)

★★½

Directed by RIDLEY SCOTT

Starring NOOMI RAPACE, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, and CHARLIZE THERON

Before anything, I must say I've never been a fan of the Alien franchise. Those disgusting beings making weird noises just don't appeal to me, I'm sorry. But with Prometheus I thought it would be different. It had to be. Just look at the Introducing David 8 video: it looks stylish, clever, out of the ordinary. Because I am repelled by spoilers, I went in thinking the (no use in denying) Alien prequel would resemble a more dynamic Moon. If only I had seen the trailer, I would've spared the disappointment.

While I was dazed by how gorgeous the prologue looked (that much I'll give it, aesthetically it is grand), my friend who is not fooled by such tricks turns to me and says so that must be how the human race was created. A couple of minutes later, so they must be searching for a cure or something. Point being, just a few minutes in and the plot was already drawn in our minds. And we could continue pointing out all the remarks until predicable became an understatement. Moreover, it's not only the fact that one could easily foresee what was coming, but also how every bad thing that happened was too obviously caused by a stupid mistake from one of characters, like let's go back by ourselves and not notice we're lost until it's too late, or the classic that looks dangerous, let's touch it. 

Fortunately though, David was there and he was powered by Michael Fassbender, who created something truly amazing to behold. David wasn't as creepy as I'd hope him to be, but still it was quite fascinating: from the robotic but moderate way he moved, to his ice cold voice and blank expression, David was entirely believable - which is the best compliment one can give. Also, that Peter O'Toole obsession is priceless. There wasn't much to Charlize Theron's character, but she did very well with the little she was (at least apparently) given. She's tough, and stunning, and smart, yet conflicted. The others looked like the standard type of characters you'd expect from this kind of film. Except for Janek, who kept making ridiculous mistakes that sadly were the only way to get the story going.