Sweeney Todd Feedback- Page 3

[folkyboy]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 5:16pm

i almost came after reading those reports of the movie. i wanna see it SO SO bad! this is my favorite musical of all time. this movie is gonna kick booty

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 5:27pm

Besty, the Academy made oscarwatch.com change the name of their site, they are called awardsdaily.com now.
Interesting comments. Sad that there is no mention of Carter, but I think it is mostly because the audience was composed of Depp fans that were there because of Depp and no one else.
I will definitely miss "Kiss Me," otherwise that looks like a great song list.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 5:40pm

I'm so disappointed that "The Ballad..." isn't in the movie. I understand why it isn't, but that song is so GREAT and addicting! I sure hope it IS in the credits. That would be fitting.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 6:01pm

is there at least an instrumental played of the ballad in the movie at some point??

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 6:04pm

There is a beautifully orchestrated instrumental of it in the second trailer, so I would assume it's in the film at least as background score.

...and I wouldn't jump to conclusions yet about it being cut.

As I have pointed out (now for the third time), the opening and closing credits weren't shown at the screening. It's highly possible that the Ballad will be there for at least one of them.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 6:13pm

*** Regarding Helena Bonham Carter

Some of the comments made in reference to the screening were:

"HBC was wonderful and was such a sympathetic soul. I really felt for her Mrs. Lovett. The scene/song with Toby was so heart-felt and warm."

"And don't worry about Helena Bonham Carter. She's scary, sexy, and frightening all at the same time."

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 6:14pm

Yay!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 7:39pm

Thanks best12bars! You made me feel alot better for awhile at least.

[joniray]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 8:24pm

best12bars, go look at the review on the ATC message board. Lots of info there, including thoughts on Carter. The post there states that the opening credits were shown (but not the closing credits) and that the opening credits used a version of the Ballad "without words." I don't know if that means that it has voices singing "ahhh" or if it means there are no vocals at all, but I imagine it's probably the music used in the second trailer.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 8:32pm

Cool. Thanks!

I'm not sure how far into the "spoilers" I want to read, but I appreciate the info.

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:11pm

There's more info on that Depp site now about the opening. They're saying it has the same feel as the chocolate making opening in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but with blood running down drainpipes etc. They're also saying it's accompanied by music with a loud organ blast that shocks you. So that's a good sign.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:52pm

Organ blast? Not a steam whistle? Ah, well.

To address a point earlier in the thread, West Side Story did just fine with dubbing. Lots and lots of dubbing. :) I actually would have been fine with Depp being dubbed- just make it sound good. Maybe it loses a small edge of authenticity that way, but sometimes the music loses too much if you don't.

Hearing that this is "Burton's Todd"- very much his movie- is profoundly unsurprising but still disappointing for me. Burton is a classic auteur, slapping his signature style on every movie he makes. Which is fine, I guess, when he's working with original scripts or even with pre-existing material that fits his style, like Roald Dahl, but I don't think Sweeney fits that bill. I hope I'm wrong, because otherwise this movie is going to be massively grating.

Despite the profound lack of imagination in Burton's casting, though, I am looking forward to seeing Helena Bonham Carter, since Lovett is a part that requires good acting and big lungs more than a particularly nice singing voice.

Despite how much I'm dreading this...lucky, lucky advance viewers. Updated On: 10/24/07 at 09:52 PM

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 10:14pm

"Organ blast? Not a steam whistle? Ah, well."

Their words. But these are Depp fans, not musical theatre fans who would know such things. My guess is they may just be using the wrong term as they don't care much about differentiating such things. And maybe a little bit of organ music leading into the blast has them assuming it's all from the same source.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 11:33pm

No "Kiss Me"? Awww.

I wish that they would have talked about Jayne's singing. Any news on that? I don't want another Betsy!

Edit: N/m, just read that she and Anthony sounded like "professional singers." Great!

Updated On: 10/24/07 at 11:33 PM

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 11:53pm

"Well, there are still two Ballad Ghosts listed in the movie, including Anthony what's-his-name from "Buffy."

Did their work "hit the cutting room floor?""

Christopher Lee stated that all the ghosts were cut before filming began.

Of course the main reason I'm replying is because you reminded me of my favorite quote from the show Little Britain, which featured Anthony Head:

"And now off to 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister is holding a press conference. Of course, not the real Prime Minister, it's that guy from Buffy."

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 4:02am

I hope now everyone is happy that there will be singing in the new Sweeney Todd Movie. phew! No comments though about anyone being so moved by any of the songs.

I wonder how many real musical fans there were? Not all of us are Gay, some of us are just overly happy sometimes! I will be happy when I finally get to see this Movie. The visuals do look stunning. I just can't wait to add it to my DVD collection.

I'm not so much of a Depp fan as I am a fan of Helena's and Rickman. I am so happy she won the role because she looks both, frazzled and wicked in those pictures. The trailers look nice but it's all the rest that I am waiting to see. Those dream sequences look great already.

I too am not offended by dubbed voices. I wish they did more of that in Chicago. I think after this screening, if it was awful maybe someone would have spoken up? I still want to know more about the audience other than mostly in my age group. BWW should have been representing there! What happened to that ticket?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 9:22am

You do raise a good point that if these are "Depp fans" that aren't familiar with the music or the musical, they commented very little (if at all, even indirectly) on Sondheim's incredible music and lyrics.

At least they didn't say they sucked.

Proving yet again that most people can't tell "good" from "crap." It's all about Johnny Depp, and the story, and Tim Burton, and the gore. The rest is "whatevah."

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 9:50am

I meant Everything Oscar yesterday!
Sorry about the incorrect reference...Carter has moved up to the "predicted five" for supporting actress.

Depp is still listed as "in the running" for best actor.

http://www.everythingoscar.com/supportingactress

[FranzRelax]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 9:54am

I thought it was announced Carter would be considered for leading.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:05am

I didnt hear that. I think it would be silly to put her in the lead category. Lovett is more of a supporting character than Effie, imo.

Anyway, the same site has her in the "in the running" for best actress.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:05am

A few different reviews specifically mentioned "Epiphany", "Not While I'm Around", both "Johanna"s, and "Pretty Women" as being great songs (although not by name, they just referred to the scenes). Also "By The Sea" got props a lot. Seems like people are going for the ballads, which I figured would happen. I think some of the patter Bonham Carter songs will be cult favorites too.

How come people practically pee themselves in admiration when Doyle put instruments in everyone's hands, got rid of the set and changed the entire tone/meaning/context of the show but are freaking out over Burton's apparently relatively faithful adaptation? I bet it'll be great.

[FranzRelax]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:14am

Lovett is the LEAD female character in the musical. I assume she still is in the movie. Heck Angela and Patti even got first billing, before Sweeney! All of Lovett's songs made the cut for the movie, why the hell would they throw her in supporting?

Updated On: 10/25/07 at 10:14 AM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:14am

So, we don't get to hear Laura Michelle Kelly belting "City on Fire"?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:17am

"Lovett is the LEAD female character in the musical. I assume she still is in the movie. All of her songs made the cut, why the hell would they throw her in supporting?"

The same is said about Effie in Dreamgirls. Tony winner as best actress, oscar winner for supporting.

Hollywood is not broadway and doesnt play by the same rules. If they want a better shot, they better go with supporting for Carter, imo.

[FranzRelax]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:23am

I think Lovett is a larger role than Effie. Not much larger though.

The same can also be said about Velma in Chicago. Lead in the Broadway show, but supporting in the movie. I understand your point. I just don't agree with it.

I do swear I read that Helena was going to be considered for leading. I remember it being discussed.

Updated On: 10/25/07 at 10:23 AM