Some say "We've seen it all before", but could it be more a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are copping some flack at the
moment for their recent work, and in particular their new film Dark Shadows. The magic has gone, say
some. The ideas are falling flat, say others. However, the number one criticism
they’re facing is that we’ve seen it all before.
Some have tired of the comic-gothic Burton sensibility, the
extravagant Depp performances and bemoan a lack of invention, a characteristic
which was abundant in their earlier work. That last point carries some weight.
Despite its entertaining premise, there is precious little genuine originality
on show here, particularly in an age when vampire films are ubiquitous and
often parodied. However, the general criticism that Burton and Depp are covering
well-trodden ground can be looked at another way: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it.