Fresh from cinema.. ..Dark Shadows

Those of you who are my friends on facebook will know it - I watched a film I was waiting actually some years for on Thursday (the first day it was aired in Germany) in cinema:

DARK SHADOWS (USA, 2012) by Tim Burton

It's 1972 and 200 years after he was burried alive vampire Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is finally freed. He returns to the family manor - and has not only to struggle with the spirit of the time but also with the witch who once turned him into a vampire: Angelique Buchard (Eva Green).

A little distraction in this fight is that the new governess on Collinwood Manor - Victoria (Bella Heathcote)  - looks exactly like Barnabas' fiancée Josette (again Bella Heathcote) - who died 200 years ago..

~ the main cast of the movie ~

If you are a fan of...

... non-sparkling vampires

... wicked witches and other females in amazingly beautiful shoes

... ghosts

... early 70's pop music (awesome soundtrack - just by the way..)

... goth kitsch mixed with 70's pop culture and a good share of humour

 please watch this film!

~ not gone for good: Josette - with Victoria following.. ... ~

I was never able to watch the original TV series - so I can't tell you anything about that. What I can tell you - and what I actually did tell my facebook friends: I am still highly in love with Helena Bonham Carter - who is in fact my number 1 favourite modern actress (together with Sally Hawkins - who unfortunately was not in DARK SHADOWS.. ...*hint - Mr. Burton! - hint*).

Helena Bonham Carter's part in this film was Dr. Julia Hofman who tried to help young David Collins (very impressiv young actor Gulliver McGrath) who since the death of his mother (Josephine Butler) sees her as a ghost. Of course that's not all about Dr. Julia Hofman - but I won't tell you much more besides that you can see in this film how marvellously Helena Bonham Carter plays one (or more..) hangover(s).. She is an amazing and really funny actress..

..That was my little song about her and now I'll behave again.. Promise.

~ Vampire rule #1: keep your teeth well-groomed. ~

One thing about Tim Burton - who is one of my most favourite recent directors) is that he usually picks actors who are great - and I have to confess that just because of him I started to take an interest into Anne Hathaway - who I by now like very much. I did not care for her before - but I hope she won't mind.. (I wonder if she cares at all..) After all it was not that I could not stand her - she simply did not interest me.. But things and minds change..

After saying this - I am afraid that this time Tim Burton and I disagree: I am still not too fond of Chloë Grace Moretz. Maybe it was just her film character - I really was annoyed by her.. Actually I would not mind at all if for the DVD version all her scenes were cut out.. (same goes for a certain overdone and by that boring sex scene..) By now the nicest thing I can say about her in this film is that she looks good in those short dresses we girls used to wear - for she has pretty legs.. Well.. at least Ms. Chloë Grace has in real live apparently a cat and other pets she loves.. (a plus in my book..) So who knows: maybe one day I will adore her and run into every film where she appears in - even if it was just a cameo.. But I really can not see that now..

~ Michelle Pfeiffer looking stunning
- in maybe the first film I ever saw her in wearing macramé (!) earrings.. ~

Speaking of cameos: Tim Burton and I (now - that does sound cool, doesn't it?? ...) not only both adore Vincent Price - we both like also Christopher Lee. And much to my pleasure Christopher Lee since some years now is a steady member of the "Tim Burton ensemble" and by that of course has a little part in DARK SHADOWS..

Some of the newer faces for Tim Burton films are real good picks - and I hope to seem them more regular in those:

What did not work for Chloë Grace Moretz and me worked with Johnny Lee Miller: I was not too much into him - but his part here is that unappealing and convincing that I actually can see a future in our "film-aficionada/actor" relationship.. He was great. 

I was of course very pleased with Michelle Pfeiffer who as always was just great - she has this wonderful though rare talent of mixing comedy with elegance. I just adore her. She is so very self-deprecating - and: well.. Who else could carry a young girl down some stairs that elegantly while wearing high heels??

~ finally we learn what Vampires eat for breakfast: waffles, of course.. ~

I also liked Bella Heathcote. Actually I never saw anything she did before (as far as I remember that is..) - and I was amazed that at least in one scene she resembled Tim Burton's CORPSE BRIDE very much - just that would have made me love her.. And another very private reason: she resembles a person who once was very important to me..

Fans of Johnny Depp will get their money's worth (esp. when they like to see some chest.. yes.. pun intended..) - and so will those who ever asked themselves how Jack Sparrow would act when he was a vampire.. ...

~ Eva Green - I love her and of course her outfits - esp. her heels.. ~

Still my second favourite (after Helena Bonham Carter to whom I can relate more) in this film is Eva Green who did an amazing job - and who has a formidable ability to control her body.. Very visibly in the scenes towards the end of the film when she shows "her real self".. Eva Green is another recent actress I like a lot so you might not be surprised by me raving about her.. 

Have a look:

The film itself is solid - though Tim Burton made better ones. Frankly I was left a little bit disappointed. It's a good film of course and I love this overdone kitsch which makes this film very funny - and so is the "culture clash" of this "18th century gent Barnabas Collins meeting the 1970's" plot.

I also love the soundtrack which has next to Danny Elfman's (who else??) great score some really cleverly picked 70's songs.. (Some of them still stuck in my head though it's two days since I watched this film..) And some of you might be happy to hear that the "ugliest woman I've ever seen" Alice Cooper has an appearance as himself..

And yes: actually a bit of blood will be shed - though done quite tame.. and again: the cast is great.. but still.. Well.. Enjoyable but not really mind-blowing 113 minutes of film.. You might should give it a try yourself..

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours

Irene

What my favourite recent director does..

I just read MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2011) by Ransom Riggs  (- read my review: here.) 

and now I learned that there is actually a film planned - and rumours have it that my favourite recent director is interested to do the adaptation: Tim Burton!! This will be great! 

Of course I am waiting for Tim Burton's new films to be released: 

DARK SHADOWS (2012):

~ working with Johnny Depp for DARK SHADOWS - yay for non-sparkling vampires!~

~ also working on DARK SHADOWS - with Michelle Pfeiffer and Johnny Lee Miller ~

and then there is a film he is not directing but producing:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (2012)

(I am really not very lettered: I didn't know of this side of the 16th president.. knowledge gained at German schools leaves apparently a lot to be desired..)

This film has Rufus Sewell - to whom my heart belonged in the 1990s.. or since the 1990s? - and: look at Erin Wasson's boots!!

And then there is another film Tim Burton is working on - based on a short movie he did back in 1984 by the same title:

This time it'll be in stop-motion - and I am really, really looking forward for this year of Tim Burton films.. 

I loved the original FRANKENWEENIE  - though the death of animals freaks me out.. 

~ reminds you of something / someone?? ~

 - but this version might will be very, very great, too!

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours

Irene

Don't wear a frown cuz it's really okay..

Those who are my friends know that I adore Tim Burton's films - and they also know one of my favourite songs arises from one of his films: THE REMAINS OF THE DAY of Tim Burton's CORPSE BRIDE (2005).

And because I love the song I post it here:

One of the slogans of my life is: "Everything comes to an end." - It gives me hope that every nasty thing that happens won't be endless - and it reminds me that every good thing has to be enjoyed while it is happening.

I don't mean that mourning is wrong. It's just that I think one shouldn't forget to live.

From now on I will - instead of Birthday posts ..well.. maybe now and then there will still be Birthday posts.. - publish "Don't wear a frown posts" - because: I (and maybe you, too?) should think from time to time how precious live is - and that people who left us are still remembered..

So - enjoy your life and celebrate every day!

Here are my "Don't wear a frown" guests of today:

Lionel Barrymore

*April 28, 1878 † November 15, 1954

~ here is Mr. Barrymore smiling at his wife Irene Fenwick [..no ..not Irene Palfy..]~

As you already may know: I adore the Barrymore family.. I might be a bit obsessed.. Of course I love Lionel Barrymore most as Otto Kringelein in GRAND HOTEL (1932) where his performance was heartbreaking - same goes for DINNER AT EIGHT (1933).. The last time I saw him was Saturday when I re-watched THE PERSONAL HISTORY, ADVENTURES, EXPERIENCE & OBSERVATION of DAVID COPPERFIELD THE YOUNGER (1935) where Mr. Barrymore appeared as Dan Peggotty.. and there are so many, many other films with him I love..

Tyrone Power, jr.

*May 5, 1914 †November 15, 1958

~ here is Mr. Power - smiling at you!! - well or at some point above you.. ~

The last film with him in it I watched was THE BLACK SWAN (1942) - and actually I was (like always when I watch that film..) a bit annoyed by the way Maureen O'Hara's part was written - and completely mesmerized by George Sanders' appearance.. (as far as I know was Mr. Sanders "not so good" sword fighting years later one cause for exhausting Tyrone Power so much that his heart failed which led to his death.. which must have been a horrible situation for Mr. Sanders..) I don't know how often I watched it - but it's always the same..

My favourite movie with Tyrone Power, jr. might be WITNESS OF THE PROSECUTION (1957) - where he is more than terrific. He was a great actor in my opinion - sadly he didn't get so much chances to show it.. - and I love THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) - there are many more great films with him - but I try to name just three or less films to each star..

Jean Gabin

*May 17, 1904 †November 15, 1976

~ here he is laughing with Marlene Dietrich ~

I never forget an interview with this French star and a friend of his (well.. okay: I forgot who that friend was..) where this friend said about Jean Gabin: "He is like water - it's never his fault.." and mimicked by lifting his hand how water runs through ones fingers - and an more than middleaged Jean Gabin sitting next to this friend (gosh.. who was he??) smiling waggishly like a little schoolboy.

I know I first came "in touch" with Jean Gabin through my obsession for Marlene Dietrich when I was a teenager - they had a really hot affair. After reading that - and thanks to our ability to receive some french Telly - I watched some of his films - I loved especially PÉPÉ LE MOKO (1937) - a Parisian gangster hiding in Algier.. and I think I saw most of his MAIGRET films in which he played Inspector Maigret and solved some crime cases..

This was that - and I promise that future Don't wear a frown posts won't be that epic.. maybe two or three sentences less will work as good..

Have a great day - and enjoy your live! And if you can't kick - than wiggle your toes - or poke your tounge out at live!!

Yours

Irene

Happy Halloween!

As some of you might know... *ahem* ...I am highly in love with Vincent Price..

I adore Edgar Allan Poe

and I am a fan of Tim Burton.

What could be better than a short film by Tim Burton (who is/was a fan and friend of Mr. Price)

- narrated by the master of macabre, Vincent Price, himself

and containing a quote from Poe's THE RAVEN?

Have a wonderful Halloween!!

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene