sweeney movie WOW!

[lotiloti]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:17pm

Just seen Sweeney Todd. First impressions. Despite the cut songs,
the film is truly magnificent. It's much darker than the stage version. With most of the humour toned down. But works really well. And it's very gory.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:20pm

I thought Burton said he wasn't showing the final cut until the 29th?

Glad you liked it.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:30pm

Tom,

I thought it was ready on the 21st, so looking forward to seeing this. We have a screening here on the 8th.

[Taka]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:32pm

"with most of the humor toned down"

How about "A Little Priest"? That wasn't toned down, was it?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:35pm

I should have clarified: NOV 29th. He may have finished earlier, but I haven't heard yet.

December 21st is the opening with screenings starting early in Dec.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:38pm

Yes, it's been edited

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:47pm

Yes, but was it the final cut? Last week he said he was still editing.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:50pm

Yes! It was a Press screening.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:01pm

Yay! He finished early! I hope to see it sometime in the next 2 weeks.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 11/25/07 at 8:06pm

well the pictures look amazing and the few audio bootlegs that leaked onto youtube of depp singing epiphany, johanna and my friends are brilliant. I love the interpretation of the role and am super excited for this movie! Im seeing it twice opening day!

[MovieDan82]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:00pm

U.S. Press screenings are supposed to start on the 29th. Are you in the UK by any chance?
Updated On: 11/26/07 at 02:00 PM

[nitsua]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:22pm

I'm glad Burton cut a lot of Sweeney Todd, as most of it doesn't work on film.

The Ballad: It's all exposition. And the smaller parts are used for scene changes. Cut!

A Little Priest: Most of it works because of the audience reaction.

Elixir & God, That's Good!: From reading the screenplay, it seems that Burton only wanted the main characters singing, so the ensemble parts are cut a bit. It's fine with me.

Green Finch: I think it's been trimmed down some. Which is fine, as I never got the song anyway.

I don't like what the screenwriter did with the ending. I think opening it with "No Place Like London" works. At least it works on paper. I don't mind the small line changes, either.

[Taka]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:30pm

I'm just afraid that since I'm looking foward to the movie, it will suck. I dunno, but every movie that I look foward to sucks. I think it's some sort of a jinx.


In spite of the jinx, I must say that I'm excited for the film.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:34pm

They actually cut The Ballad of Sweeney Todd?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:38pm

Those doing comparisons -- are you basing your comments on the fullscale original 1979 Hal Prince Broadway production or the recent minimalistic John Doyle Broadway revival?

Seems alot of people think that John Doyle's staging is a recreation of the original staging. Same with how people thought the concert-style Broadway revival of CHICAGO was a recreation of Bob Fosse's original fullscale 1975 Broadway production (Bob Fosse's original had sets and costumes).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:42pm

Seems alot of people think that John Doyle's staging is a recreation of the original staging.

Why would anybody think that? Were they asleep when they saw it?

[ChiChi]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:45pm

So wait a minute, can someone please clear this up? Did they REALLY cut The Ballad of Sweeney Todd?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:48pm

It's not on the soundtrack, so yes, it seems that they REALLY cut it. Of course they did. I mean, please explain to me how that would work on film without even a hint of being ridiculous.

Updated On: 11/26/07 at 02:48 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:51pm

Yes its cut. The original script had a scenario in which the ballad was sung by a trio of "ghosts" of victims you later saw murdered by Sweeney in his shop. Burton decided, after casting the trio, that it wouldn't work and so he scrapped the idea and the song.

I like the ballad, but it existed largely for transition purposes on stage, which isn't necessary for film.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:53pm

It doesn't have to exist on a visual level to work.

Also, my I throw out there, that I find it ridiculous that so many people are not able to answer questions on this board without being jack asses to the person asking the question.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:53pm

Yeah, exactly; on film it'd be totally superfluous. It's one of my favorite parts of the score, but it'd be hard to make it appear organic on film.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:55pm

Someone who's seen the film in full can answer this, but I think I read somewhere that it IS in there instrumentally; it's just not actually a sung number.

And I was not being a jack-ass to you; I said that the song would come across as ridiculous on film. I didn't call you stupid for wanting it to be there. That would have been being a jack-ass. A differing opinion is not inherently something personal.

Updated On: 11/26/07 at 02:55 PM

[ChiChi]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 2:55pm

Good thing.

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 3:06pm

It is there instrumentally, as is the organ prelude including the whistle blast. It plays over the opening credit which is similar in feel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's opening, except it's done with blood running through drainpipes and the gears of the chair instead of chocolate.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 3:13pm

...except it's done with blood running through drainpipes and the gears of the chair instead of chocolate.

That's f**kin' awesome!