SWEENEY TODD

[Patcat]

First, I'm a big fan of the works of Stephen Sondheim, as much if not more than a fan of LOCI. SWEENEY TODD is one of my favorites of Mr. Sondheim's work, and I've seen several theatrical productions of it. I waited for this film with a mixture of dread and anticipation. In many ways, I thought that Tim Burton was the perfect director for this dark, weird and wonderful material. At the same time, I was troubled by the casting of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter.

It was one of the most amazing, disturbing, unforgettable films I've ever seen. It may be a great movie. Did I like it? I don't know.

It's brilliantly acted--there's a particularly great performance by the young man playing Toby, the orphan boy; Sacha Baron Cohen was terrific; and, while no on will ever confuses them for great Broadway singers, Alan Rickman (the Basil Rathbone of our age), Carter, and Depp sang well enough and were excellent in their roles.

But there is a lot of blood. I saw it as a film about alienation and revenge, and the costs of those. It was frequently a difficult film to watch. But it was something to see.

I don't know if I can recommend it to anyone who's not a Depp or Burton or Sondheim fan. But it was something to see.

Patcat

[member727]

It's a musical?

[Patcat]

Yes, a film adaptation of one of the greatest musicals of all, at least in my opinion.

Patcat

[SarahIvy]

patcat said:

I don't know if I can recommend it to anyone who's not a Depp or Burton or Sondheim fan. But it was something to see.

Hmmm, well what with me being a Depp, Burton, Rickman, Carter, and Sondheim fan, let's just say I have somewhat overly high hopes for this film Especially after my imaginary relationships with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were so fatally marred by the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake. Yeesh. I highly suspect this will be the project that gets them both off my Official Shit List and back firmly in my good graces

I'm very happy to read your review, Patcat, it really sounds like just what I'm hoping for it to be. I absolutely cannot wait to see it, most likely just after Christmas.

[member727]

patcat said:

Yes, a film adaptation of one of the greatest musicals of all, at least in my opinion.

Patcat

Ok. I thought it was going to be a new (dramatic) version. I've not seen any of the previous renditions.

[diablodeblanco]

I've seen the previews of this film and read some of the reviews. I think this is a must see for me. I love Johnny Depp. He has portrayed so many interesting characters over the years that this latest one might be his most memorable for me.

[Patcat]

Oh, it's very dramatic. There's nothing musical COMEDY about it.

Again, I want to stress that this film is not like anything I've ever seen. It's a musical, a melodrama, a revenge tragedy, and a horror film. If you can abandon all your expectations, you may have an extraordinary experience.

Patcat

[untitled]

No I definitely would not call it a musical comedy. But with all of Burton's films there is some slight dark humor too it. When I saw the previews for this film, I was quite excited about it but I really had no idea what the original musical was about. I had thought that Burton turned a musical comedy into a horror musical. I actually felt that the blood did not look real. I also read that Burton signed Depp to play the title role before he even knew if he could sing. I very much enjoyed the film and would like to see what Burton would do with a "Sound of Music" remake.