Dark Shadows: The Revival - The Complete Series

Gone Too Soon!
With all due respect to Mr. Pregosin, I'd say that the revival series is definitely worth watching, and some fans, including myself, even prefer it to the original. I couldn't be more thrilled that it's finally being released on DVD!

I was 18 when the 1991 series began, and about 20 minutes into the 2-hour premiere episode, I was hooked. I recorded each episode, cut out every article and review I found in local newspapers, and started reading up on the original series. And when it looked like the 1991 version was near cancellation, I (as well as many others) sent letters to NBC asking for its renewal. Unfortunately, the letter writing campaign was unsuccessful, and the show was laid to rest far too soon.

The early death of the series didn't kill my interest in Dark Shadows however, and I ate up every little morsel of DS:91 memorabilia, such as the Innovation comic books, Jim Pierson's 'Dark Shadows Resurrected' book (which is still available through amazon.com,...

First Time on DVD!
Dark Shadows: The Revial Series, a 1991 12-episode primetime remake of the 1966-1971 classic daytime gothic soap opera of the same name, deserves this full DVD release and I applaude MPI for providing it.

Previously available from MPI on video only, it is a great move to provide it on DVD, as loyal Dark Shadows fans of both shows are eager for the release of all Dark Shadows material on DVD, as well as new fans just discovering the haunting original series or this revival.

I grew up on the original when it was in its first run and cherish it to this day, having snapped up every DVD release. I do not love the remake, but I like it, and believe that others, as one reviewer has already stated, may prefer its handling of the material.

Dark Shadows was created by Dan Curtis who also wrote and produced the revival series. Like the original, Curtis selected a stellar cast to bring his show "back to life" but with 1990 sensibilities.

The original...

WARNING! The image on these DVDs is to be CROPPED!
If you don't like your TV shows cut/edited, you should read further before you buy

[...] the original square 4:3 image will be CROPPED (or matted) to a "fake" widescreen ratio! That means that those buying the DVD set will be seeing LESS image than on the original broadcasts, just like the botched-up first season set of "Kung Fu."

MGM does not deserve our money if they're going to monkey around with a TV show's aspect ratio. This series was NOT shot "widescreen safe": some production personnel on the series have confirmed that the series was shot in 4:3 and was intended ONLY for 4:3 and are NOT happy with MGM's decision to use a cropped widescreen master for the DVD set.

Five stars for the episodes themselves, only one star for this DVD set due to the cropped aspect ratio and lack of extras.

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