Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:20pm

CATS - where have you been, we've known that Toby was going to be a child since John Logan's first screenplay for Sam Mendes four years ago and have talked about it at length!

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:26pm

What qualifies a movie for a 15 or 18 rating?

[bwayfascination]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:27pm

It seems odd to me that you'd want to make this movie really gory. The audience who would want to see a musical - especially something as complex as Sweeney - would walk out of a gory movie. And the audience who would want to see a gory movie - the teenage boy crowd - would be totally bored by all the singing and the complicated storyline.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:30pm

Well thats why a movie of SWEENEY TODD is a HUGE gamble...and why they needed the biggest movie star in the country right now to be the head of it - whether he sings or not.

[MovieDan82]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:32pm

Why are a lot of people on Broadway and movie message boards all of a sudden learning that the musical contains… blood?

And has a R-rating ever stopped anyone from seeing a movie? My local theatre hasn’t carded anyone since 1976.

[pab]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:33pm

"It seems odd to me that you'd want to make this movie really gory. The audience who would want to see a musical - especially something as complex as Sweeney - would walk out of a gory movie. And the audience who would want to see a gory movie - the teenage boy crowd - would be totally bored by all the singing and the complicated storyline."

Sweeney Todd is what it is. They need to be true to the story.

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:42pm

that is incorrect. I AM the audience for Sweeney Todd, and I also love gorefests. that's a bit of a generalization.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:47pm

This isn't Hello, Dolly! or Mame.

(...although I wouldn't have minded seeing a few throats slashed in that movie.)

Actually... it's MAMED!

I hope Burton sticks to his guns. It should at least be as gorified as Sleepy Hollow, which earned an R rating.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:04pm

Well, if we get to see the knife slash and then a shot of the blood flying, that will do. I expect this to be bloody. As for having a child in the Movie with gore, try the Exorcist.

I think we need to see how gruesome this act is. Murder is murder. It is a mess and we should not tone it down too much to glamorize it. Besides it's fake. An R will keep away the screamish or faint of heart who would probably be offended by the concept as it is.

I don't like a bloody scene but in something like this, I expect it. I do think it is an R rated Movie and should be. Teens can see it with an Adult. They will find one to see this Movie if it is real to the part. They will make fun of the singing but a few will become interested in the Theater, realizing it isn't always boring Opera's or silly Musicals.

[me2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 5:15pm

If it's THAT bloody, I think I'll end up passing. I get squeamish easily.
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[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:07pm

I agree that the images of Toby are necessary and should not be cut, but I also agree that if they want to cut it down, they could certainly do so, the only important killings to show are Pirelli, the Judge, The Beggar Woman, and perhaps however they decide to finish off Lovett in the film... But I'm not against the gore at all.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:14pm

Well, if they go the route of the original, Lovett gets thrown in the oven, so no gore there.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:15pm

yeah I know, but Burton may have taken certain liberties with her death.

by the way wonderfulwizard, I just watched the clip of the man in moon is a woman with Bea Arthur saying that quote in your signature... it was hilarious! Updated On: 8/24/07 at 06:15 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:18pm

It's not blood - it's rubies. Precious rubies.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:27pm

This is from the BBFC website. Give you an idea...unlike the MPAA we actually have a form of licence and classification underwritten by Parliamentary legislation...

*****
Violence
Violence has always been a feature of entertainment for children and adults. We address the degree and nature of violence through our classification system.

In making decisions our concerns, especially at the lower categories, include

portrayal of violence as a normal solution to problems
heroes who inflict pain and injury
callousness towards victims
encouraging aggressive attitudes
taking pleasure in pain or humiliation
Works which glorify, glamorise or sexualise violence will receive a more restrictive classification and may even be cut.

The BBFC has a strict policy on rape and sexual violence. With portrayals of sexual violence (which might e.g. eroticise or endorse sexual assault) the Board may require cuts at any classification level. This is more likely with DVD or video than film because DVD and video scenes can be replayed repeatedly.

Any association of sex with non-consensual restraint, pain or humiliation may be cut.
*****


My view is that Burton should be allowed to make the film he wants and damn the studio. I bet there is more violence in your average mega budget blockbuster. And I cant imagine its something comparable to the pseudo pornographic "Hostel" films.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:34pm

I say bring on the blood! This is about serial killers and cannabilism. It was originally intended to Grand Guignol and I hope Burton keeps it that way.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:35pm

I have to agree, gory as possible. I'm not usually one for too much gore, but it's Sweeney Todd! What would you expect?

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 7:55pm

"I hope Burton sticks to his guns. It should at least be as gorified as Sleepy Hollow, which earned an R rating."

Tim Burton likes spurting as much blood on Johnny as possible... lol. I'd be surprised if he de-gorified this movie... He certainly has had no problem with it in other pictures.

[FranzRelax]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 8:56pm

I've said it before, and I will say it again. I am so thrilled Toby is finally going to be played by an actual young boy. While Mano was great in the revival - it was obvious that Toby was a grown man.

I am wondering though, were Toby's singing parts in the movie transposed up for Ed Sanders? I doubt his voice was fully changed when they recorded the score. Anyone know?

Also, with Toby being played by a child - I think it will make the ending even more chilling and terrifying.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 9:00pm

^ I totally agree!

[jam_man]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 9:05pm

"It's not blood - it's rubies. Precious rubies."

BSoBW2, I'm watching the Lansbury-Hearn DVD on my computer at the moment, and when I read that, it was EXACTLY when that lyric came up on the DVD! Weird...

[sabrelady]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 12:06pm

I kinda agree that there is a bit of a disconnect between singing dancing and the butchery esp in a film. The stage version tends to always be abit stylized which is often more effective. A once removed distance. ( I love the line about not using real limbs etc visions of prop men stealing from medical schools popped into my mind) TOTALY agree there are so many ways to cheat the camera on this but Burton tends to glory in that kind of specific reality. And I still stand by my predicition that songs not in the film will be onDVD or as extras on the CD.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 1:04pm

Must be blood

Must be fresh





And they should fire any crew member who feels he needs a fresh air break. What did they think they were working on, Mary Poppins?

[arykahmarye]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 1:06pm

In last week's Entertainment Weekly, they had their fall movie preview guide, including a page on Sweeney Todd, and in there Tim Burton expressed that the movie was receiving an R rating.

And the picture of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter looked very spooky.

[geaj]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 1:40pm

Yet again it's all about profit over artistry. This is not a film for 15 year-olds anyway, why butcher it for them. I'd love to see a realistic portrayal.