Preview This! Dark Shadows

Opening this week at a theatre near you:

Dark Shadows (2012)

In 1752, playboy Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) breaks the heart of a witch (Eva Green) and, to get back at him, she turns him into a vampire and buries him in a grave. In 1972, his grave is uncovered, and being undead, he returns to his mansion to discover it in ruins, and its current occupants are his descendants, but who aren't quite living up to the Collins name. Dark Shadows websites

What to Watch For: Directed by Tim Burton, fans of the old gothic soap opera TV series (1966-1971) are mad that Burton has turned this into a semi-comedy.

Word on the Street: Four actors from the TV series, including the original Barnabas, Jonathan Frid, make an appearance in the film. Unfortunately, Frid died last April, making this his final film appearance.

My Take: This is the third film based on the TV show. I have hope for this film since it is the team of Burton and Depp, who brought you the brilliant film, Edward Scissorhands (1990), and the very funny film, Ed Wood (1994).

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
A group of British retirees travel to India to move to, what they believe, is a world class resort hotel. When they arrive, they realize that it's not exactly what you would call "World Class," and it's nothing like what they expected. Some of the new residents, though, find joy and enlightenment in their new home. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel website

What to Watch For: The cast is led by Oscar winners Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love 1999), Maggie Smith (California Suite 1978, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 1970), and two time nominated Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton 2007, In the Bedroom 2001).

Word on the Street: While the older cast will be the draw for most of the audience, Dev Patel and newcomer, Tena Desae, as the young hotel manager and his girlfriend, make a great romantic couple.

My Take: I predict this film will do very well at the box office as an alternative to the summer blockbuster films.

The Sound of My Voice (2012)
A couple (Christopher Denham, Nicole Cicius) who are making a documentary film try to infiltrate a secretive cult led by a charismatic woman (Brit Marling) who claims she is from the future, the year 2054. Will the couple accomplish their task or, will they be sucked into the culture of the cult? The Sound of My Voice website

What to Watch For: Brit Marling, who co-wrote the film with Director Zal Batmanglij, also starred/co-wrote last year's highly acclaimed film, Another Earth (2011).

Word on the Street: Marling is much in demand, currently wrapping up a starring role in Robert Redford's next film, The Company You Keep.

My Take: Watching Brit Marling act on the screen is worth the price of admission. She truly is a brilliant actress.

If you can't make it to the theatre this weekend, then stay home and watch movies on CW69:

Saturday
1:00 pm
Taxi (2004) Queen Latifah stars as Belle, who, with her custom-built taxi, is the fastest taxi driver in NYC. She teams up with an undercover cop (Jimmy Fallon) to take down a female gang of bank robbers.

3:00 pm
Daddy Day Care (2003) Eddie Murphy stars in this comedy about two fathers, who, after losing their jobs, have to take their kids out of a pricey day care, and the dads decide that they can run one in their own home.

Sunday
2:00 pm
About Last Night (1986) The classic, romantic film starring Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, who play a couple in a new relationship, a relationship to which they bring much personal baggage - including their disapproving friends (James Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins). Look for a very young Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) in one of her first film roles.