Sweeney or Hairpray — Page 2

That's comical. First of all, Helena's voice was SO altered using all types of sound equipment. You can hear at the end of all of her musical phrases. Secondly, I thought Brittany Snow sounded fantastic in Hairspray. To say that Hairspray could have benefited from better voices is ridiculous. I don't even love the movie that much and thought that the music was one of the things that didn't need fixing. Sweeney on the other hand had a poor, as far as singers go, Lovett, Johanna, Anthony, Pirelli, and Lucy. It sounds terrible. The orchestrations are wonderful as is the acting, but as a musical it blows. And the only reason it's in that category for the Globes is that its supposed to be a musical. The category is Best Comedy or Musical. Tim Burton's Sweeney is certainly not a comedy, and if we are judging on which is the better movie musical, Hairspray's musical qualities win out.

"Helena's voice was SO altered using all types of sound equipment."

You can actually hear a few of her faults, so either the sound editors missed a few things, or they didn't modify her all that much. Now Brittany and Amanda on the other hand. You can't listen to Brittany's part from "The New Girl In Town" and tell me her voice wasn't dramatically altered. And same with Amanda in Hairspray. Listen to what little singing she did, and tell me that it was not edited more than Helenas.

"To say that Hairspray could have benefited from better voices is ridiculous. "

Well not really. Tim Burtons theme did not need amazing singers. Tim Burton didn't try to make a "Big, Flashy, Musical". He took a story, and used the music in it. He never meant for it to be so "musical", if you will. Hairspray on the other hand appeals to families, and was supposed to be "Big and Flashy". The difference between Hairspray and Sweeney Todd was that one was meant to be a full blown splashy musical, while the other used the elements of the music provided.

"Sweeney on the other hand had a poor, as far as singers go, Lovett, Johanna, Anthony, Pirelli, and Lucy. "

Lucy? Are you kidding me? Lucy was played by Laura Michelle Kelly. I'm sure I don't have to tell you anything about her theatre credits. She sounded great, and anyone who know's the show, would know that she isn't supposed to sound good. Personally, I thought Johnny Depp and Jamie sounded great. I've even grown to like Sascha, but that will take some more time.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Hairspray, and Sweeney, it's just when it comes to the films singers themselves, I feel Sweeney's fit with it's overall theme, better than Hairsprays.

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Updated On: 12/31/07 at 04:27 PM

Hairspray was a joyous adaptation that entirely deserved to be embraced by audiences as it was. Sweeney, though, is a motion picture for the ages! It is one of the all-time great musical-film adaptations in film history.

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Exactly, Actr. I very much enjoyed Hairspray, but I am still haunted by Sweeney. I think it's a great film adaptation of a brilliant musical. Tim Burton really pulled it off. Of the four nominees I've seen in the Musical or Comedy category (I haven't seen Charlie Wilson's War), my vote would go hands-down to Sweeney. And Across the Universe shouldn't even be there. I even liked Enchanted more than that movie.

~Steven

HAIRSPRAY.

Sweeney was ruined.

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SWEENEY hands down. But HAIRSPRAY was "cute."

And in no way was SWEENEY "ruined," DickonDefysGravity.

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I loved Hairspray, and I am sure that I will enjoy it for years to come (nothing like a fun movie to take care of the blues!) However, I must agree with many that Sweeney should win, hands down. It's the best musical of the last 2 decades. It will be discussed and studied for a very long time.

You know, in the "Best Movie Musical Award", I said Hairspray beat Sweeney just a little bit, mostly because I just felt the story of Hairspray was more enjoyable and had more purpose to it.

But I must say.. I'm rethinking my opinion because, mostly because I'm still very haunted by Sweeney, and I still find myself thinking about it on a very regular basis. So obviously it did something right story wise.

But yeah, I've definitely been of the opinion all along that ACTING wise, Sweeney pwned Hairspray :) Not that the Hairspray cast was bad at all- in fact they were all very good I thought- but Johnny and Helena are brilliant, as are Alan Rickman, Ed Sanders, and pretty much everyone else involved with Sweeney. It was truly a cast of brilliant actors who sang, and I SO much prefer that- at least for that kind of story- than a cast of singers who act. And besides, I didn't feel the singing was bas at all :) I love Johnny's voice- quite a lot actually (it's obviously not trained, but he's got beautiful tone and great pitch). And Helena sang just fine. Sure she's not a fabulous singer, but she did a really good job with what she had.

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Hairspray was a fun musical comedy, but Sweeney Todd is a sad, dark masterpiece.

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There was an interview in one of the trades out here where Tim Burton says he told Johnny and Helena to deliberately not sound like theatre singing. I'm not saying that she could have sounded like that if she wanted to, but it sounds like there was a directorial choice as well.

how is this even up for discussion? "hairspray" was a really fun movie that i enjoyed alot and had great catchy songs, but "Sweeney" was a masterpiece! One of the greatest, if not THE greatest movie musical in the last two decades.

Sweeney deserves it. all the way. team sweeney!

Sweeney is a better film and better adaptation.

I think Todd will easily take the Globe.

Both, I feel, are superb movie musicals, and leagues above what we've been given for several years. They were well cast, cleverly amended, and both found their own energy and scope apart from the source material. The reworking of the musical numbers was coherent and engaging to watch. Todd is the slightly better piece, but Hairspray is still one of the most effortlessly joyous movies I've seen in years.

Updated On: 1/1/08 at 06:32 PM