King

This happens every time we watch The Wizard of Oz at my sister's house.

(Illustration Friday: August 8, 2014)

For all of you who want to sing along and practice the speech in front of your own mirror (it works for Comet), here's the real thing.... Enjoy! 

(YouTube video: http://youtu.be/Ak3J5DayiCk © MGM)

Golden

Hi everyone,

I just finished this one recently... Tyrone made his way to the top, of course. He's a climber.

(Illustration Friday: July 25, 2014)

This illustration was partly inspired by another piece of golden artwork that I have on my living room wall, which is made completely of fabric by local artist Jamie Langhoff. 

Check out her website, Seeing in Fabric, to see more of her amazing work. 

Best, 

Robin Williams

When I read the news about Robin Williams on Monday, I had two reactions: First, this must be wrong. Second, this must be about a different Robin Williams. By morning, reality had sunken in, and it seemed fitting that I woke to a gray, stormy day of unrelenting, steady rain. The world was upset. 

I've been trying to come up with an explanation and figure out what could have been done to prevent what happened. But I'm giving up this pointless pursuit. Everyone can speculate, but no one will ever know what led him to the darkest of moments. Really, it doesn't matter now. As his wife said, the focus should instead be on "the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions." If anything good can come of this, it will be constructive conversations about the seriousness of depression and ways to address it.

Somehow, it's more shocking when something like this happens to a comedian–someone whose job it is to make you laugh–because you have nothing but happy memories with that person. I clicked on a 2-minute Robin Williams tribute that a fan had created and posted on YouTube Monday night. It was a montage of film and TV show scenes, stand-up bits, talk show moments, and other special appearances that made me realized the constant presence this crazy genius had in my life. 

Like most people around my age, I first knew Robin Williams as Mork, the alien from Ork, who showed up on "Happy Days" and graduated to "Mork and Mindy." (I was hooked by age 4!) In the '80s and '90s, I always looked forward to watching the Comic Relief fundraising events for the homeless that he co-hosted with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal. When Christopher Reeve (my first love) died in 2004, Robin Williams helped me feel better by sharing fond memories of his close friend. Having Robin Williams around was comforting and whenever he showed up anywhere, I smiled, anticipating the laughter soon to come.  

I admit, sometimes, my brain freezes in the middle of watching Robin Williams in his element–on a roll of over-the-top quips combined with invented and dead-on impersonations and boundless improvisation, in no particular order. His comedy is simultaneously exhilarating, exhausting, hilarious, and unlike anyone else's (past, present, and future). The other day, someone likened his comedic talents to turning on a fire hose. It's true, Robin Williams could spew jokes at you at that strength and speed, all the while, making it seem effortless. 

Seeing how insane he could be on his own only made me appreciate him more as an actor. His movies showcase impressive versatility. I love watching him in dramatic roles, like Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, and Good Will Hunting (his Oscar-winning performance); it's as though we are specially invited to see a quieter side of him that's not usually caught on camera. I love his cameo appearances in The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen and the Night at the Museum series, the adventure he takes us on in Jumanji, and the animated genie he brings to life in Aladdin. His acting is solid and special. No matter the character, Robin Williams is present, and you never know when that energy of his will burst out and shine. His heart was too big to play it any other way.

Although I didn't studiously follow his career, Robin Williams has always reliably been there, like an old buddy or extended family member. My memories of him are of fleeting moments, jumbled into one big, chaotic ball of affection. Among them, one scene from The Birdcage (another great movie) keeps popping in my head. For those who haven't seen it yet, Robin Williams plays a gay cabaret owner, and Nathan Lane is his drag queen partner in life. Robin Williams is actually the quiet one in this relationship, and the main thing I remember about this movie is how much I love his restrained performance. This scene captures a glimpse of what made Robin Williams amazing. 

(YouTube video: http://youtu.be/55Pnw-tEVek © United Artists Pictures) 

How lucky we are that this great man shared so much of his talent, brilliance, and generosity with us. Wouldn't the world be a happier place if we all carried in our pockets just a tiny bit of his joyful spirit? Let's try.

So long, old friend. I miss you and thank you for visiting our planet. 

Contraption

An enthusiastic helper, Tyrone adds some flair to Simon's latest contraption. While their project in the garage remains a mystery, this collaboration is bound for glory.

(Illustration Friday: June 6, 2014)

Peace

Hi everyone,

Lately, most of the news is bad out there, so this week's Illustration Friday topic, peace, instantly made me  think of John Lennon's iconic song, "Give Peace a Chance." But I'm more familiar with Sean Lennon's 1991 version, which was produced by Lenny Kravitz and performed by a slew of musicians from varied genres. The video, below, was on MTV a lot at the time, and I was excited that the song was back and updated for a new generation.

©Virgin/EMI

Sadly, this song–now nearly 25 years old–is still pretty accurate, but it's a good one! All together now...

(Illustration Friday: August 1, 2014)

Best,

Summer, Take 2

Hi everyone,

The steamy summer days have me drawing at a snail's pace, but the Kitties have been enjoying the sunshine!

(Illustration Friday: June 20, 2014)

This drawing is an update from last year's summer snapshot:



Since then, Tyrone has joined our family, though I'm not sure he likes the heat as much as the rest of us. He's a winter guy.

Happy summer, everyone!

Best,

Mask

It's impossible to get 10 cats to agree on one mask and who will wear it, so they all brought their own ideas. 

(Illustration Friday: June 13, 2014)

• B.J. is still attached to his Lone Ranger costume. (Wouldn't you be?) 

• Always a class act, The Mother Kitty is ready for her next costume ball. 

• Lily showed up in full Scream costume and scared everyone. I complained, so she picked a medical mask instead and gave us a lecture on germs. 

• I tried to explain to Norman and Mini that what they were wearing were not masks but helmets, but they can't hear me (and I'm letting it slide because they look awesome). 

• Comet and Ashes are all about the theatre after watching the Tonys with me. 

• As always, Tyrone is ready to play ball. 

• And, well, Simon, Gordon, and I are in the middle of a Breaking Bad marathon right now, so these are the masks they wanted to wear. Don't ask me where or how they got the prop they're sitting on. (Disclaimer: We do not endorse this behavior, though it does make great television.)

Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp Film #45–The Lone Ranger (2013)

[What is Johnny Kitties? See Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp for all the details.]

First things first....

Happy birthday, Johnny!!!

Participating in a tribute to friend Don Rickles
at New York's Apollo Theatre May 6, 2014

Okay, on to this month's Johnny Kitties....

We're just gonna give you a big, expansive experience, which is what I wanted when I was a kid–to go to a summer movie that really enthralled me, excited me, and moved me–and that's what The Lone Ranger does. 

– Johnny Depp

Who is the Lone Ranger?

Reduced to a tourist attraction in 1933, outcast Comanche Indian Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the tale of the Lone Ranger in an adventure that began more than 30 years earlier. When lawyer John Reid (Armie Hammer) returns home in 1869 to Colby, Texas, he accompanies the Texas Rangers on a hunt for bandit Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner). Headed by John's big brother Dan (James Badge Dale), the Rangers are ambushed by the outlaw and his gang, and John Reid is left for dead.

When Tonto discovers the massacre, his task of burying the rangers is interrupted by the arrival of a white horse. White horses are considered by the Comanche to be "spirit animals," ones that are able to cross the realms of the living and the dead. Reluctantly, Tonto gives in to the horse's choice of John Reid as sole survivor.

Despite Tonto's bad first impression of John on their train ride into town, he teams up with him to bring Dan's murderer to justice. (However, Tonto also has a history with Butch Cavendish and is fixed on his own revenge.) On their quest, he advises John Reid to mask his identity and, together, they build the legend of the Lone Ranger. Their mission, however, leads them to a bigger problem–a power play to steal Native American territories in the name of progress through the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Why?
Even though I was never a big fan of The Lone Ranger, which reached the height of its popularity on radio and TV before my time, I was very excited when I heard that Johnny signed on for this movie. Of course, he would play Tonto, I thought. Of course, he would make Tonto the cool one, erasing the sidekick reputation he's been stuck with all this time. This Lone Ranger would be different.

The day The Lone Ranger came out was a day I scheduled a massage after work. I hadn't intended to see the movie on its opening day, but I was feeling amazing after my massage! So, I decided to head to the theater on my way home.

I was so relaxed and eager to see The Lone Ranger, yet about one-forth of the way through, I realized I had been studying it for flaws. Weeks before the movie was released, I'd seen (without looking for them) nothing but negative headlines noting how this summer blockbuster is a sprawling hot mess with Johnny Depp in the middle of it as an insulting Native American caricature. I only skimmed a few of these reviews, and it is clear to me that some of them were written by people who hadn't bothered to see the movie. (How is that allowed?) Thanks to them, I watched the movie with questions swirling in my head: Is it too long? Does this story make sense? Does Johnny look too goofy? Is Johnny acting too goofy? So for the next 90 minutes, I was angry about the whole experience, and all the benefits of my massage disappeared. Thanks, critics.

Kirby Sattler's painting (above left) inspired Tonto's look.

Shortly before the movie came out, photos of Johnny in full costume began circulating, and all I heard about his Tonto was that he had a bird on his head. Yes, that is odd–especially at first glance when looking at it out of context. Johnny received mixed reviews from Native American groups, some saying that his portrayal of Tonto is disrespectful and unrealistic and others saying that it is perfectly respectful and very realistic. To me, that seems like the normal reaction Johnny usually gets about everything he does. I was not concerned.

As usual, Johnny has his reasons behind his take on the character he's playing. Tonto's look was inspired by a painting by Kirby Sattler called "I Am Crow." When Johnny first saw it, he thought the bird in the painting was actually on the man's head rather than flying behind him. In the movie, the bird on Tonto's head has significance that is explained. To Tonto, the bird isn't dead at all, and after a while, you forget that he has a bird on his head because he's Tonto, a lost Comanche warrior on a mission to avenge the death of his family and regain the respect of his tribe. So what if he's got a bird on his head? He probably has post-traumatic stress disorder too!

The idea of bringing The Lone Ranger back to the big screen had been swirling around for years with various scripts and, this time around, producers were disappointed to hear that Johnny intended to portray Tonto instead of the Lone Ranger. (I cannot imagine that!) It was only when Johnny shared a photo of himself in full Tonto regalia, bird and all, that everyone was convinced it would work.

There are moments in this movie where Tonto is being silly, but 1)  this is a Disney movie for the summer crowd, and 2) as I've said before, Johnny always goes for the laugh, even in his most serious movies. I can safely say Johnny took the role of Tonto very seriously. His integrity and work ethic aside, he has his own Native American ancestry to honor. Even since he was a kid, he had rooted for Tonto and felt that he could pay him due respect through this movie. "Since cinema has been around, Native Americans have been treated very poorly by Hollywood," he says. "What I wanted to do was play Tonto not as the sidekick–like 'go fetch a soda for me, boy!'–but as a warrior with integrity and dignity. It's my small sliver of a contribution to try to right the wrongs of the past."

With LaDonna Harris during the formal adoption ceremony

While filming, Johnny did his usual exhaustive research and spent a good amount of time with members of the Comanche Nation. In a traditional ceremony, Comanche activist LaDonna Harris even adopted him as a son into the Nation, giving him the name Shape Shifter. "Johnny is reprising the historic role of Tonto, and it seemed like a natural fit to officially welcome him into our Comanche family," she says. "Welcoming Johnny into the family in the traditional way was so fitting. He's a very thoughtful human being, and throughout his life and career, he has exhibited traits that are aligned with the values and worldview that indigenous peoples share." If Johnny's got the Comanche Nation's approval, I think Tonto must be all right.

If at first you're in a bad mood, try, try again.

Three weeks later, having taken the day off from work for my birthday, I walked down the street to see The Lone Ranger again, this time without any negative feedback in my head. It's a good thing I took the day off because at the theater near me, the movie was only showing at 10:30 a.m., daily. This time, instead of a crowded theater, I only shared the place with one guy and his son. That's fine with me!

Since seeing this movie the first time, I had heard a few positive reviews. One came from a legitimate film critic who said other critics just aren't getting what The Lone Ranger is supposed to be. The others came from moviegoers, including my 10-year-old nephew, who loved it–no questions asked.

The Lone Ranger is a great movie! I've determined that all those naysayers had ridiculous expectations because it was coming from "The Team that Brought You Pirates of the Caribbean" and because the budget expanded a bit during production. They didn't have to see the movie because they had already envisioned it to be Pirates of the Caribbean, western style. "The Lone Ranger deals with more gravitas," director Gore Verbinski explains. "You're talking about the plight of the Native American. It's called The Lone Ranger because six of the seven rangers are killed, including his own brother. The characters are borne out of tragic events, and you don't want to be cavalier about that."

While The Lone Ranger may be considered a little long by some, aren't all Gore Verbinski movies around the same length since he packs so much story and action into his films? I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as the story makes sense. Looking at it with my 10-year-old nephew in mind, I thought some of the scenes were pretty violent. However, the movie accurately depicts what happened to Native Americans at the time, just in case that's not covered in school.

From the devastating mass murder of tribes protesting the takeover of their land to a little romance and precisely choreographed comic action sequences, this movie offers a little of everything.  Also, on the big screen, the scenery is gorgeous. "We made a big Western the old-fashioned way. You have to go there," Gore Verbinski says. They filmed in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and California. I really enjoyed the action sequences here too, especially when paired with the Lone Ranger's classic theme music, Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture. How can that not be a crowd-pleaser? I loved The Lone Ranger the second time around.

All we needed is a fresh perspective.

One of the best things about this movie is that Tonto spins the tale. "No one had heard The Lone Ranger story from Tonto's perspective." Gore Verbinski says. "We kept all the archetypes–the white hat, the silver bullet, the white horse, but we created them through the thread of Tonto. This is the origin story, and it was Tonto that created the Lone Ranger. That's what made this project interesting to me." In this version, the Lone Ranger, wonderfully played by Armie Hammer, starts out as square, innocent, and naive and Tonto loosens him up. It's a buddy movie with an extremely odd couple. "A lot of the humor is situational and based off the difference in world view or difference in opinion and how a situation should be handled," Armie Hammer says. "There's a lot of rub in the relationship: How do they live together? How do they stay buddies and work together? What's their process? This is all about two guys who are on the same path but who have come from two very different worlds."

To prepare for their roles, Johnny and Armie Hammer enrolled in Old West boot camp. Armie Hammer learned to dismount at full gallop, and Johnny perfected bareback riding. While Johnny was promoting the movie, he told everyone about a scary accident he had while filming. While shooting a scene, riding full gallop, his makeshift saddle slid sideways and he slid along with it. He figured he had two options: 1) hang on and ride it out while trying to avoid getting hit by any hooves, or 2) drop. He opted for the latter. The horse jumped over him, barely avoiding landing on him! (Thank you, horse!) Johnny got up and walked away with minor bruises (and all the angels surrounding him flew off for a drink).

My favorite character in The Lone Ranger is a horse, but not Johnny's (though Johnny and his fans everywhere are eternally grateful to his horse). In this movie, Silver made me laugh the most! From arguing with Tonto to rescuing the Lone Ranger from the oddest of situations, Silver may be the brains in this group. What an actor!

This cast offers plenty of other colorful characters. Aside from the eccentricities of Tonto and lovable dopey innocence of the Lone Ranger, super villain Butch Cavendish is a great contrast to proper business magnate Lantham Cole (Tom Wilkinson). Despite serving as the story's necessary love interest, Ruth Wilson brings strength and conviction to her character Rebecca, John Reid's widowed sister-in-law, and her son Will, played by Mason Cook, shares her fiery spirit. I was most excited to see Helena Bonham Carter in this movie, the first with Johnny that isn't directed by Tim Burton. In those days, probably no one ran a saloon quite like her character Red Harrington with her ivory fire-armed leg.

This may be an unusual summer movie, but I think that's a good thing. With a little bit of everything for people of all ages, The Lone Ranger is quite a ride. I'd just advise not taking the train.

The Kitties are in on it.
This movie is full of long how'd-they-do-that action sequences, and one of my favorites is the big finish when everything is revealed and all the pieces of the tale Tonto weaves come together. While big explosions in movies don't typically excite me, the build up to this one was pretty well done.

Here, you'll find Tonto and the Lone Ranger (B.J.) standing on the edge as they, having pulled off their plan, watch as transcontinental railway hit a snag. The bridge is out, and cars full of silver plunge to the depths below along with the ultimate bad guy (Norman), who shall remain nameless in case you haven't seen the movie yet. What are you waiting for?

What's happens now?

Can you believe it? We've nearly caught up with Johnny, having celebrated all the movies listed in his filmography so far, except for his latest, Transcendence! What are the odds of completing the bulk of the Johnny Kitties series on Johnny's birthday, just as we started it on his birthday four years ago? Gordon doesn't care; he's gone off to take a well-deserved nap. (I can't blame him: had I considered the enormity of this task, I might have talked myself out of it.) But what fun it's been! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. Johnny Kitties will resume once Transcendence is released on DVD in late July. Look for its tribute soon on a 9th thereafter.

Although Johnny Kitties is changing its monthly schedule to one that offers a more sporadic treat from here on out, don't worry: Johnny has quite a few upcoming movies lined up for us. Here's a glimpse of current projects that Johnny Kitties will be celebrating:

• Transcendence (2014). In this sci-fi thriller, out now, research scientist Will Caster (Johnny) uploads his consciousness online and tests the boundaries of artificial intelligence. Look forward to a new Johnny Kitties tribute to Transcendence later this summer! 

• For No Good Reason (2014). For this inspiring documentary, Johnny pays a visit to and spotlights his friend Ralph Steadman, the British artist best known for his collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson. 

• Lucky Them (2013). Toni Collette stars as a music journalist on the hunt for Matthew Smith (Johnny), her long-lost ex-boyfriend. Although this movie was completed last year and set to be released at the end of May this year, I'm still not sure where or when to see this one. 

• Tusk (2014). A rumor is floating around that Johnny has an uncredited role in this Kevin Smith film about another hunt for a missing person. Maybe Johnny's character is missing in this movie too. 

• London Fields (2014). Amber Heard stars as a clairvoyant living with premonitions about her impending murder. Johnny plays some sort of cameo role here, but I haven't looked into it because I want to be surprised.   

• Into The Woods (2014). Based on Stephen Sondheim's Broadway show of the same name and directed by Rob Marshall (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), this story is set in a fairy tale world and involves the Baker and his Wife, who discover they are childless because of a curse cast on them by a vengeful witch. As they set out to find her and lift the curse, their journey intertwines several story lines from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, and Johnny plays the Wolf. Look for this one on Christmas Day!

• Mordecai (2015). Directed by David Koepp (Secret Window), this film follows art dealer Charles Mordecai (Johnny) as he hunts for a missing painting that's linked to a lost bank account full of Nazi gold. 

• Black Mass (2015). Filming now in Boston, this movie tells the true story of crime boss Whitey Bulger (Johnny) and the ties between the Irish Mob and FBI as they try to take down the city's Italian Mafia.  

• Through the Looking Glass (2016). Based on Lewis Carroll's novel but not directed by Tim Burton, Johnny will reprise his role as the Mad Hatter in this sequel to Alice in Wonderland. 

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2016). Jack will return! Do you really need to know the plot? 

Johnny has also been working for years on a still-untitled documentary about his friend and guitar hero Kieth Richards. Someday, he'll finish and hopefully share it with us.

For now, thanks to everyone for following this series! 

Johnny Kitties will return later this summer to celebrate Transcendence! 

Copyright credits: All images from The Lone Ranger © Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films; "I Am Crow" painting © Kirby Sattler; photo of Johnny with LaDonna Harris © AP; illustrations © Melissa Connolly

Temptation

Kitties can't help it.

(Illustration Friday: May 30, 2014)

Universe

If you look up at night, you might see them.

(Illustration Friday: May 23, 2014)

Retro

When I was younger, I spent lots of time in the corner of our living room that had the radio and music equipment. Peering into the speakers, I saw the lights shining on the singers and band that I was hearing through Dad's giant headphones. I'm a little disappointed that when I look in there now, all I see are the shiny metal pieces that make up the insides of speakers.

Here, borrowing Dad's big blue headphones, Comet is rummaging through all of my favorite records. It's one of the best ways to make time fly.

(Illustration Friday: May 15, 2014)

Humans of New York

Hi everyone,

It's been hard for me to get into another book since finishing Quiet. Spring weather has snapped me out of the winter doldrums and set my brain on overdrive. Unable to sit still to read for any length of time lately, I picked up Humans of New York by Brian Stanton, a book of photographs that my friend Anastasia gave me for Christmas.

This beautiful book celebrates Mr. Stanton's fantastic and hugely popular blog of the same name. For years, he's been exploring one of the world's greatest cities and taking amazing portraits, catching moments in the everyday lives of New Yorkers. This book reminds me of the unparalleled diversity you'll find in New York, which is home to people of all ages, nationalities, and personalities. While other cities may share similarities, you see things on the streets of New York that you won't find anywhere else. Better yet, native New Yorkers typically pay the unusual no mind; after a quick glance and shrug, they just go on their way.

Luckily, Mr. Stanton is on the job with his keen eye, sharing what he finds with the rest of us. He brilliantly captures the energy of the city through the eyes of its inhabitants. Each photo is typically paired with a short caption about his encounter – a sliver of a story that effortlessly prompts the viewer to imagine the life beyond the image. Who needs fashion models when the people next door are so ordinarily beautiful and intriguing? From a book that took me only a couple of hours to flip through, I heard hundreds of emotional tales from all walks of life.

This book celebrates human connection and the variety that life has to offer with all its wonderful eccentricities. Pick up Humans of New York to be inspired with every turn of the page. You may never look at passersby the same way again.

Best,

Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp Film #44–Dark Shadows (2012)

[What is Johnny Kitties? See Johnny Kitties: Celebrating Johnny Depp for all the details.]

We've talked about it for many years, but this was the first project that I ever remember Johnny saying he'd wanted to play this ever since he was a little boy. It was one of those things where the show had a lot of impact on us. Johnny, Michelle (Pfeiffer), and I were there at the time it came out, and we just recall it being a very strong, interesting property. Tim Burton on bringing Dark Shadows to the big screen

Curses!

From Liverpool, the Collins family emigrated to Maine and built their new life in the fishing business during the 1700s. The family's good fortune takes a tragic turn when Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) ends his brief affair with servant girl Angelique (Eva Green), who hones her witchcraft to exact revenge. Following the untimely death of his parents, Barnabas Collins inherits and keeps the family business afloat. But seeing his true love Josette (Bella Heathcote) fall off a cliff to her death proves too much to bear. Though he falls after her and crashes into the rocks below, Barnabas survives because Angelique turned him into a vampire on the way down. After transforming him into this monster so that he can suffer eternally, she decides to lock him in a coffin and bury him, giving him a quiet, compact place to think about how he's wronged her. The lesson here is don't upset the help.

Nearly 200 years later, a construction crew discovers Barnabas's coffin. He frees himself from the box and finds that the world has changed. The town of Collinsport is no longer headed by his family but by Angelique, whose influence has reached nearly all corners. It's 1972. The Collins family home is in disarray and occupied by only a few remaining distant relatives, a psychiatrist, and a nanny. Always devoted to family, Barnabas commits to adapting to this new era, rebuilding the business, restoring the tarnished family name, and dealing with Angelique once and for all. Dark Shadows is Tim Burton's comic tribute to the 1960s soap opera, celebrating the generations of weirdos that comprise the Collins family history.

This has got to be better than Twilight.

Talking it out with Tim Burton

I'd never heard of Dark Shadows, the soap opera, but the idea of it was intriguing! I was excited to see this movie, primarily because I knew that Dark Shadows was a show that Johnny and Tim Burton both watched as kids. I'm sure it took a bit longer, but it seemed to me that Johnny suggest they make a movie together based on Dark Shadows and about five minutes later, it was done and previews for it were showing up everywhere. (In reality, Johnny first brought up the idea to his director on the set of Sweeney Todd, and it took some time before all the right people got involved and everything clicked into action.)

When I saw my first Dark Shadows preview on TV and discovered that Tim Burton decided to make it a comedy, I was a little disappointed. If anybody could make a scary vampire movie that I could stand to watch without having nightmares, it's him and Johnny. The previews seemed goofy, and my vision for the project was shattered! The original show was a drama, and its loyal fans were angry about the change, but I still had faith. I had nothing to compare it to, and  they had their reasons for sticking a 18th century vampire in the 1970s. "Barnabas extols the virtues of family and rejects people who are insincere and selfish. We wanted to pit this selfless family-first hero against the Me Decade," Producer Graham King says. For Tim Burton, the '70s were the most awkward time in his life and seemed the perfect decade to plant a vampire. "The '70s were weird then, and they're weird now," he says. And how could you not use these two elements to make a comedy? Whatever happened, I was sure Dark Shadows would be a unique experience.

What's to love?

This movie is funny! Capturing the spirit of the original soap opera's campy melodrama, everyone teeters on the edge of really bad acting in this movie, and I love it! "It's a tricky tone, and we all recognize that," Tim Burton says. "When we talked about Dark Shadows, part of the appeal was the weird nature of all the elements that went into it. It was very serious, but it was on in the afternoon, on a daily basis. There were certain reasons why we loved the show, but  you couldn't necessarily adopt to a film. It was the weirdest challenge to get the acting tone and the soap opera nature of the tone. That's a weird thing to go for in a Hollywood movie." For Johnny Kitties, I ended up watching Dark Shadows twice on DVD before figuring out what I wanted to draw as tribute. By that time, their overdramatic conversations were cracking me up! In fact, the more I watched, the more moments I caught that tie the story together, and the more I laughed. My advice to you is to watch Dark Shadows more than once. Give it a chance and it will grow on you.

The stars are out. The exciting cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer as the current matriarch of the family Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Chloe Grace Moretz as her teenage daughter Carolyn, and Jonny Lee Miller as her slimy brother-in-law Roger. Some familiar faces, like Christopher Lee and Helena Bonham Carter, are in this movie too. "I don't know how flattered Helena was to be offered the role of an aging alcoholic psychiatrist, but somebody's got to do it," Tim Burton jokes. Newcomers Gulliver McGrath as Roger's son David and Bella Heathcote as both Barnabas's long-lost love Josette and the nanny Victoria, are impressive, but my favorite casting surprise is Eva Green as Angelique. Best known as a Bond Girl, Eva Green always dreamed about working with Tim Burton and dropped another project to take the role in Dark Shadows. Good choice! She's fantastic as a disgruntled witch seeking revenge! (Diehard fans of the Dark Shadows soap opera will find the original Barnabas Collins, Jonathan Frid, who makes a cameo and his final film appearance in the party crowd.)

It's a Tim Burton movie! Based on its previews, I worried that Dark Shadows would be just too silly, but I was pleasantly surprised that it has a healthy balance of comedy and drama. It looks and feels like a Tim Burton movie all the way through. Yes, there are a few too many "I'm-an-out-of-place vampire-stuck-in-the-'70s" moments in this movie, but it also has its creepy moments with a Gothic backdrop and special effects that only Tim Burton could imagine:

• Johnny's vampire look incorporated Nosferatu's creepy fingernails! "In every film I've been lucky enough to do with Tim, there's always some form of torture," Johnny says. "The nails were Tim's idea." (If you want to see a good vampire, rent that classic. Nosferatu may be silent, but it will still scare you!)                                 

• The ethereal ghosts in this movie reminded me of the beautiful undead characters Tim Burton created for The Corpse Bride.

• My favorite touch is that Angelique's bewitching beauty literally starts to crack under pressure. Seeing her skin turn to eggshells as she gets more stressed brings new meaning to age wrinkles. 

• The Gothic family mansion is the perfect setting for the over-the-top, questionable family members who live there. (When I first saw the mansion's grand staircase and window, I knew–for better or worse–I had to include it in the Johnny Kitties tribute.)

It's a family affair. While Dark Shadows was not well received by critics, as a fan, I love that I can instantly tell that this film is a distinctive Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration. In fact, Dark Shadows marks their eighth movie together since they met more than 20 years ago. "I feel as though he's my brother," Johnny says of the director. "It's a weird understanding, this kind of shorthand we have. I truly understand him, I think, just as well as anybody can. He certainly knows me as well as anybody can." I can pinpoint jokes in the movie that they must have come up with themselves, from the closet stash of macrame to the Alice Cooper cameo. "None of us get their jokes," Helena Bonham Carter says. "But they get their jokes, and they're laughing, so whatever." (This may be my favorite quote ever.)

Also, this is the first time I read the opening credits of a movie and recognized nearly everyone, cast and crew, from previous projects. Are these all signs that I 1) know too much about Johnny Depp and Tim Burton and 2) watch too many movies? "A film family is a family, and it's a beautifully dysfunctional family," Tim Burton says. "It's kind of positive on one hand, but everyone has their issues, too." In any case, it's clear that this family effort was a labor of love!

Cat fight!
I think the end of this movie is my favorite part. That's when Angelique is fully exposed as the witch she is, and she and Barnabas battle it out.

Here, Angelique (Ashes) is literally cracking up, but she's still poised for a fight. Elizabeth (The Mother Kitty) is prepared to defend her home, but the home may be turning against her since Angelique  awakened it in her special way. (Notice the snake banister ready to attack and the portraits laughing at the chaos.) But even Elizabeth's daughter Carolyn (Lily), whom Angelique cursed into a werewolf, is coming down from her room to help save the family. I added Josette (Mini) to this scene just because I liked the ghosts in this movie. Who's to say she wasn't there watching?

Don't you want to know how this turns out? Rent the movie to find out.

What else was going on?
I'm not sure when Johnny sleeps, as he seems busy all the time, everywhere. Here are a few other things he put on his schedule around this time:

• Play with my friends! Johnny started showing up for his friends' (e.g., Patti Smith, Bill Carter, Aerosmith, Marilyn Manson) concerts, special events, and album recordings to play a little guitar on the side. The most exciting one for me was his appearance at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards, where he picked up some golden popcorn (just for being awesome all these years) and played with The Black Keys (because he and they are awesome). 
    
• Revisit 21 Jump Street. I was torn when I heard that Jonah Hill was making a movie based on 21 Jump Street, but I had to see it because I heard that Johnny and other members of the original TV show cast  might make cameo appearances. The previews made me laugh out loud, so I was excited by the time the movie was released.....Oh, it's good. You have to see it for yourself. 

• Stop in on Family Guy. Johnny showed up in cartoon form as Edward Scissorhands in a Family Guy episode called "Lois Comes Out of Her Shell." It's a very quick cameo that's a bit underwhelming after all the media attention his forthcoming appearance received. I actually think the best part of this episode is Stewie's evil pet turtle. 

• Meet a Beatle! Johnny and Paul McCartney are friends!!! Can you believe it? Well, actually, yes, I can. Of course that would happen. In 2012, Paul McCartney asked Johnny and Natalie Portman to star in his video for "My Valentine," during which they present the song through sign language and Johnny plays guitar. Paul McCartney directed the video and released three versions because he's an overachiever: one features Natalie Portman only, one features Johnny only, and one has both Johnny and Natalie together. In 2013, Johnny also showed up (with a zillion other celebrities) in another cool Paul McCartney video, for "Queenie Eye." And, earlier this year, when Paul McCartney won a Grammy for "Cut Me Some Slack," the song he wrote with Dave Grohl, Kris Novoselic, and Pat Smear, he said, "I blame Johnny Depp because he had given me this little cigar box guitar that I was wildly excited to play!" Johnny and Paul McCartney are friends!!! 

• Read and write. If you're a Johnny fan, you know that he loves to read. He reads about everything and always has four of five books open at the same time. So, hearing that he was starting a publishing imprint with his friend author/historian Douglas Brinkley wasn't surprising but nevertheless ridiculously exciting! The imprint shares the name of Johnny's production company, Infinitum Nihil, and is part of HarperCollins Publishers. "I pledge on behalf of Infinitum Nihil, that we will do our best to deliver publications worthy of peoples' time, of peoples' concern, publications that might ordinarily never have breached the parapet," Johnny said in a statement. "For this dream realized, we would like to salute HarperCollins for their faith in us and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship together." The first book release was Woody Guthrie's long-lost and only novel House of Earth. Coming in 2015 will be The Unravelled Tales of Bob Dylan. So, add these to your library queue or go support your local bookstore, and start reading. 

What's Next?
Johnny gives Tonto some flair and reigns in The Lone Ranger! 

Copyright credits: All images from Dark Shadows © Warner Bros. Pictures; photo with Tim Burton © unknown; photo with The Black Keys © Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic; photo with Paul McCartney © unknown; Johnny Kitties illustration: Melissa Connolly. 

Vanity

Even when on the most important of missions, all kitties remember to take time out to look good.

(Illustration Friday: April 25, 2014)