Sweeney Todd
Johnny Depp (in an Oscar-nominated role) reteams with director Tim Burton for this adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a man who becomes a deranged murderer seeking revenge after being falsely imprisoned. To add to the macabre nature of his crimes, he enlists the help of his lover, Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who disposes of the victims by baking them into meat pies -- sought after by all of London.
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I didn't see the play, so I watched this with fresh anticipation for a Tim Burton twist on a famous story. I wasn't let down. It has all the Burton blood, gore, and horror you've come to love and at the same time has a bit of tenderness. What can be better than Johnny Depp acting? Depp singing and showing his mastery of the art of performing. One feels his madness and rage and yet we all know the tragedy of vengefulness. The supporting cast was an added plus. This film is just terrifying and terrific!- GreenVixen
I was shocked by how much i actually liked this movie. Really cute & charming, even if singing serial killers aren't your cup of tea. Ending was beyond stupid, however.
- No1
Please know two things prior to seeing Sweeney Todd. First, this is a cinematic adaptation of the 1979 musical of the same name, so, there is very little dialogue that is not sung. Second, there is a lot of squirting blood. And, by a lot, I mean a lot.
With that said, it is a fabulous adaptation. I did not think that Burton and Depp would pull it off. And Burton has embedded his own visual style into the story and it works. What makes Todd interesting is the juxtaposition of the beautiful music and songs with the horror of what is occurring on screen. In the same manner, Burton uses a grey palette and the actors wear heavy makeup with deep circles under the eyes. There is very little color, so when Sacha Baron Cohens character appears, all in royal blue, the contrast is striking. Indeed, there is a song where the characters are taken out of London and placed by the sea. Their clothes change appropriately, but the deadness of their makeup never does. The movie does not wrap up Johannas story, but I am not sure if anyone else noticed that. It bugged me a little bit because I had seen this musical performed by a talented group at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach this year. The amount of blood was startling. But what do you expect from Burton? I remember watching The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and thinking, how many ways can a man be decapitated? I was already of fan of the musical and I think that it worked extremely well on the big screen. The biggest surprise for me was that Johnny Depp could sing!
- Chuck Bryan
I was hesitant upon seeing this since musicals usually are not my cup of tea. The art direction of this film was fantastic. The sets and costumes are all stunning. Visually this film is a masterpiece. The plot is a little weak perhaps because so much had to be condensed to fit the musical onto the screen. The acting is good I felt. Johnny Depp is fantastic as Sweeney. I usually hate Helen Bonham Carter's roles, but she did a good job here. The short scenes by Sacha Baren Cohen are really good as well. Alan Rickman, once again, plays a delightful villain. My only complaints are that at times the storyline becomes very slowly paced and some scenes just drag on. I also wasn't very fond of the music. All of the songs seemed very similar to me. There were no stand outs.
- Tony
Excellent adaptation of the Sondheim musical by Burton + his gang of regulars. Fantastic from top to bottom. Excellent cast, set design, cinematography, + music. (Remember, it is a near-operatic musical.) At turns dark, comic, tragic, and graphic. Well worth a gander, and then some.
- Jack Bunny
I have very mixed feelings about this movie. I am a huge fan of the various Broadway versions of this work, most especially the songs and music. But Tim Burton has de-emphasized the songs in his film, and chosen actors who have very weak voices. So musically, the film is a thin, pale shadow of the original. However, Burton is very faithful to the spirit and story of Sweeney Todd, and many of the images are quite haunting.
- Pat X
You can easily tell that this film came from a combination of the minds of Burton and Sondheim. The dark and mysterious styling is exactly what you would expect from Tim Burton except here it's given a more gruesome story than we are used to seeing. Along with Burton come his incredible go-to cast of Depp and Carter who are both just as fabulous as ever. The music has its strange quirks that give Sondheim away, so if you don't like him then this won't change your mind. It took me almost an hour to really get into the story (it wasn't bad, I just didn't care until then), but once I did, I could have seen it a second time right after the first viewing.
- Mastermindobu
You almost HAVE be a Tim Burton and or Johnny Depp fan to truly enjoy and appreciate this movie. Almost disturbingly dark, which says a lot as all of Burton's films are. This one by far is his darkest films ever. As you begin the film there is nothing but moody blackness setting the tone for the story that will unravel. Depp is OUTSTANDING as the "Demon Barber" who's blood lust for revenge for the wrong done to him and his family leads him though the film. Although he seems almost sane in the beginning of this film it seems after his first kill his insanity quickly takes hold. Carter is a joy to watch (dare I say that in a film like this?). She plays a failing pie maker who soon finds herself not only helping Sweeney in his plot for revenge but also disposing of the bodies in her now most popular meat pies. The music is great, in fact I think that if this WASN'T a musical it would not be half successful as it has become. The music portrays more of the feeling though out the film as your senses are overwhelmed with the sites before you. Is this a horror? No, I don't think I would classify it as that. Its very graphic, like a horror film but scary? No. I would say the BEST word to describe this film as a whole would be Gothic. This is almost as Gothic as it gets. Hopeless, dark, demented, and in most points of this film...depressing. I wouldn't recommend this film to just anyone. Only people who LIKE Burton films, who don't mind LOTS of blood and gore. If you don't mind a movie that is depressing and dark. I absolutely loved this film to know end. I think it was VERY well done. The usage of black white and red its spectacular. Go get this one...and if your like me...add it to your personal collection.
- *~*Sullivans*~*
Nothing really wrong with the movie. The acting and singing was good. I just don't think people should make musical horror. Not my cup of tea, but with the good acting I did give it two starts instead of one.
- Hellnight138
Johnny Depp, as usual gives an excellently intimidating performance. Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd," while seemingly perfect for the director, is a slow and awkward musical. Many of the numbers aren't memorable (and you have to rate a musical off of it's catchy-ness) and the actors just aren't singers --- and it shows. The sound is horrible too...
- TroyJ15
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are together again and this time they are taking on the popular Broadway musical of the same name. Depp plays the deranged barber who is out for revenge against those who took away his family. Mrs. Burton a.k.a. Helena Bonham Carter plays the barber's new love interest. On his way to his path of revenge they concoct a twisted money making venture. The movie is well designed and the singing is entertaining from all involved. Burton definitely doesn't hold back on some of the close shaves. The blood does flow in this one. "At last! My arm is complete again!"
- Cleve1212
I was very surprised to discover that this dark and stylized stage-to-screen production is perhaps Tim Burton's best movie to date. It's a strong and self-assured production that never wanders into fancy. Rather, the horrror is wickedly entertaining, an elegant slasher that, while still a musical, retains the elements of horror that fans of the genre will adore. I continue to be impressed by the range of Depp's acting ability and am convinced he is the perfect muse for Tim Burton's twisted imagination. Audiences can expect a thrilling, scary and occasionally funny experience more than worthy of their time. For a movie I was reluctant to watch, I am surprised to admit this is likely one I will eventually own; four solid stars.
- Creeper
The acting in this movie is topnotch. Story is a simple revenge movie with little tension or twist. A horror musical is too comical for me to really enjoy. Not too many serial killers break out in song as their slashing someones throat. Too campy for my taste.
- frgodbeyjr
Fantastic film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim stage play. However, Helena Bonham Carter is close to being terrible. Her voice has no strength or power, it actually sounds kind of weedy. Johnny Depp, however, is a pretty good singer. He and Alan Rickman sing a good version of the song Pretty Girls together. I enjoyed this much more than I expected to, and if not for Helena Bonham Carter's singing, it would be a 5 star film.
- psq 667824
I've always wanted an Edward Scissorhands 2, and I think this is about as close as I'm going to get to seeing that. Depp plays a vindictive man on a rampage to avenge his wife's wrongful death. Bonham Carter plays his partner in crime, a meat pie maker with an odd, yet hilarious choice of pie ingredients. It's just the perfect storm, is what it is. You put Tim Burton as director, you get Depp and Bonham Carter, and you stick them in that gothic London we're all very familiar with - and then you ask them to sing. I couldn't ask for more out of a movie. It's deliciously bloody, at times quite funny, the songs are great, and I am fulfilled. You will be too after you watch Sweeney have his vengeance.
- MCWHAMMER
Yes guys, this is a musical, but it's still a Tim Burton movie about a murderous barber too. Very dark and bloody. I'm not normally a fan of musicals, but I enjoyed this film.
- GS Chicago
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton... one of the most perfect marriages in filmdom. In their sixth, that's right SIXTH collaboration, Depp and Burton present the gruesome story of a murderous barber intent on revenge. This movie is dark and bloody and brooding... and a complete success. In my mind, Johnny Depp can do no wrong, and he truly stretches himself in this and proves once again the dedication that he gives to his art. The music is excellent. The singing is good, but certainly not the highlight of the movie... and Helena Bonham-Carter's huge forehead was a slight distraction, but despite these minor flaws the movie is excellent. Young kids who may idolize Depp because of his flamboyant Capt. Jack Sparrow, should wait several years before seeing this one... the spurting blood will definitely leave an impression. Still, I applaud Burton for taking a chance on this and making this a movie for adults!! 4 stars and a haircut!!!
- Freakin Meow
Sweeney Todd comes together in such an odd way. In a sense its a very odd film in Tim Burtons catalogue, in another it fits perfectly. It has the signature beautiful gothic sets, costumes and cinematography that characterizes so much of Burtons work. At one level it seems to have a somewhat campy, Hollywood musical flavor, but even for those who are not very interested in the musical genre it never becomes very distracting. Almost the entire movie is told through music, unlike many stage musical adaptations. Aside from the visual beauty of the piece there are some very strong performances from actors who do not usually (or ever) appear in musicals. Deep, Carter, Rickman and Cohen all give great performances and are surprisingly strong singers. But what stands out most is the violence and tragedy of the film. It adapts very well from the stage, but Burton takes advantage of the film medium in turning up the violence and gore of the story. It never goes too far beyond good taste, and adds a great deal to the beauty of the piece (as odd as that may sound). Sweeney Todd is not a mind-blowing film, but it ranks among Burtons best and is a beautiful film that deserves all of the attention it has received.
- Dlukenelson