Tim Burton

Bringing back a 1960s TV series about a vampire sounds like a perfect job for director Tim Burton, who became a modern master of cinematic goth with movies like Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Sleepy Hollow. But even with star and frequent collaborator Johnny Depp, the film adaptation of Dark Shadows fails to live up to Burton's previous work. Sadly, it feels more like a lazy, scattered project from someone trying to imitate Burton's style.

Depp stars as Barnabus Collins, a man who is turned into a vampire in the late 1700s by Angelique (Eva Green), a witch whose heart he has broken. After his loved ones are killed by Angelique, Barnabus is buried for 200 years until he's accidentally dug up. Back in his mansion in the 1970s, he gets acquainted with the existing Collins clan (including Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Grace Moretz), and sets about building a relationship with them, reinvigorating the family business, and going head-to-head with Angelique — who's been thriving for centuries. There's certainly a lot going on in, but none of it is compelling enough to make a satisfying movie.

To find out what else I thought of the movie, just keep reading.

I didn't have huge expectations for Dark Shadows, the film adaptation of the '60s drama series about a vampire, but I can still say that the trailer for the film is so not what I was expecting. Sure, the preview is painted in dreamy gray tones, as we've come to know from Tim Burton, and Johnny Depp is once again covering up his beautiful face with pale white makeup. But beyond that, there are a lot more jokes than I had anticipated, plus disco music and an all-around cartoonish vibe.

The film follows Barnabas Collins (Depp), a guy who is turned into a bloodsucker by an evil witch (Eva Green) and emerges hundreds of years later in the '70s. Comedy ensues as he rejoins his new family members, is puzzled by the TV set, and clashes with a young Chloe Moretz on the meaning of the term "stoned." There's really no better word for this preview than "wacky," but suffice it to say that it succeeded in catching my attention.

The movie opens May 11, but check out the preview when you read more

If you're a Tim Burton fan, I have got great news for you. The Frankenweenie trailer has officially come to life! After the young budding scientist Victor's beloved dog passes away, he brings good old Sparky back to life, and mayhem ensues. Re-imagined from his 1984 live-action short, this stop-motion flick oozes all things creepy, artistic, and utterly Tim Burton.

I love that just like the original short, all of Frankenweenie is in black and white — only perpetuating the freaky retro vibe. And along with other big names like Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and Martin Landau, I was so happy to see that Winona Ryder lends her voice for the film, as she's a staple of a couple of my fave Tim Burton films from the past. Check out Frankenweenie's creepy goodness, after the jump.

• Lisa Edelstein has decided not to come back for House's next season — Zap2It
• Watch the first trailer for The Adventures of Tintin — Moviefone
• Tim Burton is no longer going to direct Angelina Jolie in Maleficent — /Film
• Micahel J. Fox will guest star on Curb Your Enthusiasm — TV Squad
• Kiefer Sutherland and Kate Bosworth have been cast in romance Fairytale of New York — Coming Soon
• Seth MacFarlane is going to reboot The Flinstones — Pajiba
• Decorating ideas to steal from Midnight in Paris — CasaSugar

Photo courtesy of Fox

The only thing surprising about the news that Tim Burton's next project may be an adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is that it hasn't come up before. Burton's interest in directing the film is dependent on the script, while actor Josh Brolin is already on board. Brolin wants to produce and star, presumably as titular character Quasimodo, the bell ringer who falls in love with the gypsy Esmeralda in Victor Hugo's classic novel.