I always like Johnny Depp.
10/10
Author: Anita de Acosta Keith (g_keith@sbcglobal.net) from Columbus, Ohio USA
15 April 2014

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I always like Johnny Depp.He can really play the quirky characters, like Edward Scissorhands or Willy Wonka. He was great here as Barnabas Collins. He looked like Michael Jackson when he donned the dark fedora and sunglasses.

Johnny's delivery of Barnabas was hilarious. He carried the jokes well. He looked really gory with blood on his face. He just had to have those meals, though. Angelique would never take no for an answer. She dogged Barnabas mercilessly, and I am glad he got in the final blows for her demise. She was a real tormentor.

I saw the original Dark Shadows TV series, way back in the day. I liked it. I also liked Jonathan Frid as Barnabas. Johnny's lines are funnier, but I think that Frid's lines were of a drier type of humor. I liked Jackie Earle Haley's quiet performance. It was low-keyed and humorous. He must have been the handyman or caretaker of the mansion. He drove the car great.

This is a marked difference of character compared to his disturbed rapist in "Little Children". Of course, he is known from his youth in "Bad News Bears" and "Breaking Away". He is very versatile. The special effects were fabulous. They could be funny, and also scary. Johnny's Barnabas has a way of surprising people. In addition, he is also very thoughtful. He is astute to old times and new times. He even provided the real Alice Cooper for his descendant's party. That was very kind and caring. Barnabas at first thought Alice was female.

It was nice that Barnabas wanted to bring back his family's fortunes from their near demise. He had a positive and determined effort to revive the family treasury and community leadership. Did he get to spend eternity with Josette? Would they live forever? This was at the end. Tim Burton, you are always great. 10/10