Sweeney Todd Movie Review Thread- Page 8

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:57pm

There also is song called "Beggar Woman's Lullaby" at that point during the show. Some productions have it, some don't.

Mrs. Lovett wouldn't have screamed and freaked (which also didn't happen in the film) prompting Sweeney to run down to the bakehouse and thus not kill Johanna.

Uhh...she definitely screamed and freaked out when the Judge grabbed her skirt. Her face was terrifying (and terrified) when they cut to her. That's what prompted Sweeney to tell Johanna to forget his face and run down to the bakehouse. Maybe you were watching a different film.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 7:58pm

And that's how it is in the stage show, too. She doesn't scream about the beggar woman, she screams because the judge isn't quite dead yet. Then right before Sweeney gets down there she realizes the beggar woman is dead. It happened just like that in the movie, besides that Mrs. Lovett's line was cut a bit.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 8:47pm

The film was great. I missed 'kiss me' and 'the ballad of sweeney todd'. I didn't like that some of the songs were cut short. I loved the acting of every one but didn't like how HBC sung the songs. Her acting was great tho :)
Updated On: 12/21/07 at 08:47 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 8:54pm

I saw it this afternoon, and I really liked it. I didn't LOVE it, but I really liked it. Maybe it's because I didn't know what to expect. But, I will def. see this again.

I thought Johnny was BRILLIANT in this role. Helen was amazing as well in the acting department, but I just wish her singing had a little more "oomph" to it. Not "Lupone Oomph" but a little more than she gave. But, her acting totally made up for it.

I think my favorite character was Toby. I really liked how he was an actual kid instead of mentally challenged adult. Also, I am glad he didn't go psycho at the end. In "Not While I'm Around," he told Ms. Lovett that he would protect her and he did in a way. He got revenge on her murderer. He fulfilled his promise. If he would have went psychotic, I think it would have kind of ruined the meaning behind it.

And OMG, the blood. When the beedle hit that ground . . . **shiver**. At the end, my sister went "Why didn't they show what happens to Johanna and Antony?" I said because they didn't show it in the actual show. She said jokingly, "I am going to write a letter." hahaha. My sister is not a fan of musicals at all, but she really liked it. She kept telling me that she hated me because I didn't tell her about Lucy at the end. She actually CRIED when Sweeney discovers he killed his wife and his blood runs on her face after Toby kills him. She kept going, "That is sooooo sad."

And yes, "By The Sea" was freakin' amazing.

Overall . . . 8.5/10

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 8:55pm

Oh . . . and I would like to add that I NEVER cared for Antony or Johanna in the show itself, so I am not hurt at all that they were hardly in it. I always thought they slowed down the show. But, that's just me

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 9:31pm

just got home from seeing it.

The acting made up for the lack of singing talent in most cases, except whoever played Joanna was horrid.....she cannto sing, and she cannot act.

The set and art design was fabulous.
Way, WAY too much blood (but then that is Tim Burton and Johnny Depp). Everytime anything happened involving blood, Steve winced.....he's not into blood.

His comment...."well, that was a dark little story, wasn't it?"

But I did like it, and will buy it.

NOT impressed with Jayne Wisener, her singing voice was horrid.

VERY impressed with Ed Sanders, the kid can act, sing.....loved him.

Impressed with Jamie Campbell Bowers voice, but that's it. He did not look like a sailor, but rather a young drag queen out of drag.

Johnny Depp is an amazing actor, gave me the creeps....truly his acting was amazing.

Sacha Baron Cohen was also very good, loved his role. Helena, Alan and Timothy were good.

Again, not the best singing, but it didn't seem to matter as the acting was amazing.

I did not like the part about "how about a little muff, Dearie" or any of the other illussions about the mother having to prostitue herself being missing. If it hadn't been so bloody, I could see leaving that out, but they certanly could have included it.

We had some "know-it-alls" behind us, and you could tell that their high school probably did it and they just went on and on before it, and a bit into it, until I turned around and said 'Shut Up.'

I will probably go see it again.

There was a couple who brought what appeared to be a 5-7 year old child. MOST inappropriate for that age group, due to the blood, and the graphic nature of the killings

Updated On: 12/21/07 at 09:31 PM

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 9:41pm

I think reducing Anthony and Johanna to the naunces of the "Johanna" theme was a great move, they're never as resonant as that one tune makes them out to be.

I also enjoyed the use of the "Ballad" as an orchestral theme, without lyrics. Oftentimes the shots of the city and the people of London made the point as well as the lyrics did.

It was also fun seeing it with a movie audience that seemed unfamiliar with the stage show -- there were some fun audible gasps when Sweeney moved in on Johanna, as well as when they realized The Beggar Woman was his wife. Being so familiar with the show, it's easy to take those revelations for granted.

And how great hearing that score performed by a giant orchestra and in full high tech sound!

[Broadway Bound2]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 9:50pm

I went to see this today and I was really pleased with the overall performance and direction of this film. Johnny Depp commanded the screen the way someone portrayin Sweeney Todd should and his voice was surprisingly great.
Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett was also magnificient and really worked well once again with Johnny Depp on the screen.
As for Alan Rickman in the role role of Judge Turpin he was once again convincing as the evil character. His voice in the song he sang with Johnny Depp was surprisingly good.
The highlights of the show was both Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony and Ed Sanders who played Toby. Both of these young actors voices were tremendous. The young Sanders is most surely going to be a star very soon.
The ending scene right before the credits rolled was also staged very well, although the ending did happen quickly.
The one disappointment in the show was that the townspeople did not sing the Title Song. I give the show a solid 9/10.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:03pm

I'm in the process of typing of a longer review, but I thought I would stop here and throw in my two cents.

I saw the film earlier today (the first showing at the theatre so I didn't have to worry about huge and troublesome crowds!)


What Tim Burton did is very admirable - to take a thrilling show onstage and to bring its spirit onscreen, with barely losing any of its sentiment - is amazing work. I have found a new respect for this man, and can only hope he tries his hand at other musicals (nothing too light, though!)

Johnny Depp embodied the essence of Sweeney Todd perfectly. His eyes are the most menancing mix of sorrow and hatred, brewing away and contemplating his vengeance. Not since Edward Scissorhands have I been so taken with his acting - he is so incredibly deep and warped in every sense. His pale skin, the dark darting eyes that hold back the diabolical mix of turbulance... the life has been sucked out of Sweeney and the devil has come to reside inside his soul. Johnny captures that spirit and it is wondrous to behold. I was also impressed with Helena Bonham-Carter as Mrs. Lovett, especially during the final moments of the film, and during "By The Sea" (Sweeney's reaction throughout was hysterical). But it was her "Worst Pies In London" that won my respect - her little nuances, ticks of the head, bashing a roach or two with the pin... the timing was just exquisite. Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall are the dynamic duo of evil. Spall played Beadle with a convincing slime that one just can't help but loathe him. Rickman is as Turpin, I believe this has much to do with his voice. It is perfection for this part, such a dark and horrid character...

"A Little Priest" was my favorite number, as it has always been my favorite in the show. However, I did miss the snatches of dialogue, such as "General with or without his privates". The changes in orchestration were a bit off-putting, as "then who are we to deny in here" came off much happier than I thought it should have been. "Johanna" (the second half) despite as what I called "the murdering spree" was another favorite. "By The Sea", aforementioned, worked brilliantly as a fantastical daydream. "Not While I'm Around" sung by the adorable Ed Sanders as Toby, brought tears to my eyes. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs to grace musical theatre, and was brilliantly realised onscreen. I must also give a special mention to Sascha and his high note. What a marvellous Pirelli! If they ever needed a replacement for Mary Sunshine in Chicago, they've found their man.

Updated On: 12/21/07 at 10:03 PM

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:19pm

Saw it this afternoon. I won't go into a long review but did want to mention few things. I'll get the negatives out of the way first.


I thought a lot of the dialogue was garbled and mumbled. Particularly with the accents, I worry that people not familiar with the dialogue will be able to follow everything.

I think the songs that worked best were the ones that required the least staging, like My Friends and Not While I'm Around. I wasn't thrilled with the staging for A Little Priest, God That's Good or Worst Pies.

I think everyone was perfectly suited to their role. I think each actor's singing was perfectly suited to the film.

Toby was fabulous. The scenes surrounding the clips of Not While I'm Around that we've previously seen and discussed here vindicate, I feel, his performance in that clip, and their choice to use a child in the role. That whole song, including his performance of it, is nothing less than stunning from beginning to end.

Carter's "thin" voice is completely appropriate to her interpretation of the role. I thought she was terrific.

The look of the film really was stunning.

The amount of blood and gore really is over the top. I think this will be a double edged sword for the film. People will talk about it and it will draw people based on that talk and the curiosity factor. But I do think it makes it slightly less of a movie than it could have been. And I do mean only slightly.

Overall I thought it was really well done and a good technical representation of the story. It just didn't grab me or grip me or scare me.

I'll see it again because I may just have been too excited just to be seeing it and too distracted noticing all the specifics to really relax and lose myself in it. Plus there were only twenty other people in the house. Maybe a full house will make a difference.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:31pm

What I liked:

-the singing was surprisingly good overall. A bit disappointed with "Green Finch" but then again, they were going for a very youthful sound, which I think was acheived.

-Tim Burton's use of windows to help separate all the characters from reality. Characters are constantly looking out at the real world, but are seldom part of it. Also...seeing both Sweeney and Joanna looking out the windows in the same basic pose......

-Toby was AMAZING! Loved having him be a little boy. And to me he DID go crazy at the end. If you notice, after he emerges from the cellar, he's now pale and has the dark circles under his eyes, just like Sweeney and Lovett. If he's not "crazy" he's at least no longer an innocent.

-Similarly, when during the Pretty Women reprise, Sweeney no longer looks quite so pale. He's "coming alive" with the fufillment of his mission to kill the Judge.

-"Worst Pies in London" was fantastic. Loved all the bugs and stomping and rolling and camera cuts.

-Pirelli was a hoot! I was afraid of it being overly cartoonish, but it was great, especially Toby being afraid of the razor when holding the strop!


What I didn't like:

-the lack of relationship between Anthony and Joanna. I felt that instead of portraying young love, it was a desperate relationship. Joanna would have gone with ANYONE to get out of that house. I would have liked them to at least have one conversation before he rescued her from Fogg's.

-Sweeney not having any contact with the Beggar Woman before she shows up in his shop. He only gets to reject her once, which makes it more of a mistake when he kills her.....he didn't have as many chances to recognize her.

-I would have liked a chorus in 'Pirelli" and "God that's Good". I kept adding the parts in my head!

Things that just made me think:

-The beadle seems like a different character than he is in the show. Without "Parlor Songs"' he's just dark and evil. "Parlor Songs" adds a bit o humanity to him. Not good or bad...just different.

-This Sweeney does show some mercy by letting Joanna go rather than her escaping.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 10:37pm

Why is Sweeney seen as such a lauditory character? He uses his fists to get his way! Naughty naughty!

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:14pm

-Pirelli was a hoot! I was afraid of it being overly cartoonish, but it was great, especially Toby being afraid of the razor when holding the strop!

He wasn't just afraid of the razor -- notice the bandages and blood on his hands? The razor was cutting him every time Pirelli was sharpening it.

That Italian flag...

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:16pm

Pirelli was the only character to get somewhat of an entrance applause when I saw it, probably because of "Borat." He was great! I missed the Irish accent though (when he reveals himself).

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:26pm

Cruel, I don't think anyone is calling Sweeney a "laudatory" character. He is an anti-hero. Someone who you root for even though he is doing wrong, for vengeance. And there is a difference between a fictional character and someone who might do these things in real life such as a, oh, I don't know...CHARLES MANSON?

Wendy, you have some really great observations regading the windows and the look of Sweeney and Toby.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:33pm

Ooh..i'd forgotten the Italian Flag...that was great too!

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:33pm

Just got back.

It was everything I wanted it to be, and BETTER.

Depp was MARVELOUS. As was everyone else.

The audience CHEERED for the opening credits. It was WONDERFUL.

[BNN]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:40pm

I own both DVDs of Sweeney Todd productions, every recording, and saw the revival three times so I didn't expect much from the movie. Needless to say when the credits were rolling I was stunned and completely immobile. Even when I knew certain events were coming, the exceeding different and unique ways they happened, for lack of a better word, were incredible. I was in shock for at least the last ten minutes of the movie.

My only complaints would be the lack of any chorus (I too kept singing the parts in my head) and Anthony in general. I really disliked every moment he was onscreen. Otherwise, the movie went above and beyond any expectation I could have ever had.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:42pm

-the lack of relationship between Anthony and Joanna. I felt that instead of portraying young love, it was a desperate relationship. Joanna would have gone with ANYONE to get out of that house. I would have liked them to at least have one conversation before he rescued her from Fogg's.

I agree with this, but I think you could make the argument that even in the stage show, Johanna would have gone with the first person who tried to rescue her. It makes for kind of an interesting dynamic, and I think that in addition to so little real interaction, the movie makes their fate as lovers even more ambiguous with that added bit of dialogue in their last scene. I sort of like that they might be too damaged or just not know each other well enough for happily ever after. That said, I missed "Kiss Me" (and Johanna's part in the "Johanna" quartet) more than I thought I would. It would have been nice to have those few minutes of interaction to explore their chemistry or lack thereof (whatever the case may have been).

I was so impressed with the film -- not only was it a pleasure to watch, but certain parts have stayed with me throughout the day, and I'm sometimes reminded of how stunning some scenes are. Johnny and Helena give great performances, and I can't really imagine a solider supporting cast.

[artsamore]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:44pm

All Right...let me prepare myself to be hated and banned. It seems that many here have bought into loving this film...but as this is a review thread I will put my love of Sondheim and seeing theater on the big screen aside and actually review the movie. In agreement with "Jimmy B" and "actormcfamous" I did not like the movie at all!!

What Blew:

-The Score!!! We all raved about how great it was being done, but it was TOO well done. It was an incredibly lush Broadway(forget that....operatic)orchestration that didn't fit the subtle acting and (lack of quality)singing on screen. There were moments when it was distracting how "grand" the score was compared to the voices

-Helena Bonham Carter was TERRIBLE! No I am not asking for Angela, Patti or Judy or any other diva but her performance was way too under played and under sung. There was NO acting behind the singing and if I didn't know the show I wouldn't know if she was insane or just clueless

-Poor, Poor Johnny - After listening to the clips I thought he was going to be great, rock voice and all, but he gave Sweeney a one note performance that made me not care about him at all. George Hearn showed me a tortured man who became fatally consumed by his rage and need for revenge, Johnny gave me a nut case who needed to be stopped by someone, anyone! He didn't break my heart... I didn't care about him and that shouldn't be.

Tim Burton -I finally realized what I don't like about him. He will give you great visuals, stunning costumes, great make up and wonderful close ups but he can not give you real human emotions. It is almost like watching a cartoon with all of the color and no substance

What Didn't Blow:

-Uhhhhh......hmmmmm.......Again those Burton costumes, make up and close ups....and "By the Sea" was actually funny.

Overall: 2 out of 4 stars(not terrible but not too far from it)

[James885]

Posted: 12/21/07 at 11:55pm

Well i just got back from a showing with my girlfriend. By the most unfortunate coincidence, we ended up in a theatre full of the most vocal and obnoxious Johnny Depp fan girls and boys I've ever seen. When he sang for the first time, there was a chorus of giggles and laughs that filled the theatre. Some girl in the back actually said quite loudly something to the effect of "OH MY GOD, HE CAN SING!!!". They got better as the movie went on, but it was really annoying at first.

Anyways, about the actual movie: I really liked it but wow, they weren't kidding when they said it was bloody, were they? The blood was just flowing everywhere. The Judge's death was particularly gruesome because he just didn't slit the throat like the rest of them, he tore at it again and again. One thing I did love was how the bodies went head first down the chute. It just added even more to the brutality. Mrs. Lovett's moment was also pretty graphic. I wasn't expecting to actually see her roast alive in the oven. It does have a few weak spots, but all in all I think it's an excellent adaptation of the Sondhiem-Wheeler musical.

First off:

Johnny Depp - what a truly menacing and creepy Sweeney. What more can I say? By far his best work in a long time.

Helena Bonham Carter - as I expected, her light breathy singing completly suited her take on Mrs. Lovett. She acted the heck out of the role and I was taken in with her. Her delivery of some of her lines got some laughs from the audience. One thing I loved about her take on the role was that for the first time, I got the sense that Mrs. Lovett deeply cared about Toby. The look on her face after she locks him in the bakehouse was just great cause you could see the grief she was feeling. On the DVD, it always seemed to me that she was using him as more of an expendable tool that could be disposed of when the time was right.

Ed Sanders - loved his Toby. Not While I'm Around convinced me that it was right to use a child for the role. I almost felt sorry for Toby during the song because I knew what was coming next.

Production design - awesome! Visually the movie was a treat. From the opening credits to the dreary and drabby London to the flashback sequences, there was always something to catch your eye. Loved the bugs during Worst Pies. One thing I especially liked was the By The Sea sequence. It was so funny seeing Depp in the stiped suit and Carter in her blue suit with the glasses. I thought that Sweeney's blank-stare look was perfect for that song.

Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall - outstanding performances both. Both were deliciously evil enough. I definatly wasn't expecting the brutal beating that the Beadle gave Anthony!

Sacha Baron Cohen was great as well. The Contest was well done, and he sounded convincing with his two accents. His falsetto note and the Italian flag got laughs in the theatre.

Jamie Campbell Bower and Jayne Wisener were ok, but they're really not the focus of the movie anyway and I didn't miss Kiss Me or Ah, Miss at all. I did feel that the movie slowed down a little bit after Epiphany when Anthony starts to sing again, and it was a little strange where, after Anthony gets thrown out and beaten over the head several times with a cane, he then gets up and resumes to sing Johanna. I am glad that they finally gave Anthony a backbone when it came to dealing with Fogg. I hated the way he always got cold feet and couldn't shoot in the stage show.

Overall, this is a mighty fine adaptation of a great musical. I didn't miss most of the cut numbers, except for the chorus parts during God, That's Good. I think it was a good decision to cut the ballad; it works fine as underscore is more of a theatrical device anyway. The only cut song I would like to have seen was the Judge's Johanna. The character of the Judge was pretty well developed in the film, but I think the addition of his song would have added even more development and would have made the audience really abhorr him.

My other little gripe was that there were times where the music seemed way too loud. I don't know whether it was just the theatre where we saw it, but some moments the orchestral Grand Guignol music blasted through the speakers.

My girfriend who hated Rent, and only slightly liked Dreamgirls loved this movie, and we'll probably see it again next weekend. She also admitted when we were walking out that the sight of Johnny Depp drenched in blood turned her on (go figure).

Updated On: 12/22/07 at 11:55 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 12:01am

Artsamore, I agree with your assessment of Bonham Carter, it was as if she was the understudy going on for the first time. She had the great support of the technical team, but alas, just did not have the chops to pull it off vocally at all.

I also agree with your opinion of Depp, although I liked him more than you did. It reminded me of Jack Nicholson's performance in The Shining. He was crazy from the get-go and didn't have anywhere to go. Pretty one note, although he did that one note very well.

I don't think it is fair to criticize the score for being "too good". Bring the singers up to the talent of the musicians.

[rocker05]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 12:15am

Sweeney Todd was amazing! This is the best movie adaptation of a musical I have ever seen. Tim Burton is truly a visionary. I went to the 7pm showing at the Ziegfeld and I had chills the minute the opening credits started until the thrilling conclusion thanks to the fantastic soundsystem. The audience was also applauding after every number making it a truly great experience. They couldn't have chosen a better cast for this movie. Johnny Depp deserves every award for his fantastic portrayal of Sweeney Todd. His singing was raw and filled with emotion. HBC was amazing as well, and she really made me feel for the character of Mrs.Lovett. It was a much different take on the character, and it was brilliantly executed. Even though I knew the show and I knew the ending was quite grim, the way it was done was very disturbing, yet gratifying. Everyone in the theater cheered when the Judge was murdered and you can't blame them, he definitely had it coming!Poor Mrs.Lovett, her death was quite a scene. I think Sweeney's murder was brilliantly done, and it was very emotional. That final shot of him gushing blood all over Lucy was very heartbreaking. Overall, an amazing movie and there's no place better than the Ziegfeld to see this brilliant work of art. Sweeney Todd was definitely worth the wait!

[artsamore]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 12:19am

Sueleen Gay....thanks for the comments.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the film's score on its own but in conjunction with the singers they had in the film it felt out of place. I agree with you...use performances that can match the grandness of the score or tone the score down. Otherwise you get the unbalance this film had.

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/22/07 at 12:31am

Sacha Baron Cohen was great as well. The Contest was well done, and he sounded convincing with his two accents.

It's funny you say that. When I got home from the movie last night, I was thinking, "I wish Pirelli had an Irish accent, but he had a fantastic, believable lower-class English accent."

And then I remembered that Sacha Baron Cohen is English. Not that he has that exact accent...but I still felt dumb. In my defense, it was really late, I couldn't really think straight.