Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)

How can you go wrong with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp? Answer: You can't.

First and foremost, you must understand that Sweeney Todd is a musical. Many people don't make this realization before they sit down to watch the film. If you're among them, don't feel bad-you're not alone. However, bear in mind this is a film adaptation of Steven Sondhiem's musical and the vast majority of the movie is pure song.

That being said, while I'm not particularly a fan of musicals, I am a fan of Burton and Deep, Burton, and Depp (in that order). We get the classic gloom and melancholy playfulness we love from Tim Burton, and Depp makes Sweeney Todd his own with emotional glares, terse dialogue, and a stylistically eerie appearance.

And while it was obvious none of the actors were professional singers, I didn't find Depp's singing nearly as distracting as I thought I would. Be aware, though, at times the music itself grates on the nerves.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise Sweeney Todd offered was the scene-stealing acting and singing of Sacha Baron Cohen. Of Borat fame, the nearly-unrecognizable Cohen dazzles with multiple accents, mesmerizing body movement, and probably the best singing existent within the film.

Burton, as usual, gives us wonderfully morose scenery and costumes. Never a slave to convention, a musical would have been the last endeavor I would have expected him to undertake, but I'm glad he did. It goes a long way to solidifying his versatility, and the fact he did it his own way with tremendous risk in casting only reestablishes my faith in his artistry.

Be aware, however, that had anyone else directed Sweeney Todd, I probably wouldn't have bothered to watch it. If you're a fan of Burton/Depp collaboration or musicals, I think you'll be pleased. If you don't particularly enjoy either, I'd make a point to avoid Sweeney Todd.

~Scott William Foley, author of Dr. Nekros: Phantasms and Chicanery (Volume I, Episode II)

This was a fantastic movie and Johnny Depp was awesome as Benjamin Barker. The only shame was that they cut the main song out of the movie - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street!! As a fan of the musical I am now also a fan of the movie!!

I was quite surprised when I arrived at this website to review SWEENEY TODD and saw how many wonderful reviews have been garnered by the film. Hence, the title above.

The movie has been out for several months so much of Mr. Burton's distinctive style was expected. However, little was found to recommend it other than some of the performances of the supporting cast (bravo Misters Rickman and Cohen). The overall product did not work for me. As a rule, I'm a huge fan of musicals--and, of course, Mr. Strondheim--but the action seemed largely contrived and one dimensional which made it difficult for me to care or relate to much of the storyline. I'm usually a huge Johnny Depp fan--and I think he did about everything with the role that could be done--but his performance could not salvage the movie. I felt Helena Bonham Carter, a superb actress, was miscast.

The premise and dark theme of the production has never tempted me to see it on the stage. This is not to say that I avoid any musical not possessing the MARY POPPINS "fluff factor". However, at the risk of appearing anachronistic, I just didn't perceive much entertainment value--any more than I would Manson's life being put to music.

A wonderful modern opera. Is there anything Johnny Depp can't do? He is unforgettable.

First of all, I'd like to give the actors an A for Effort, as we see how, even though they are NOT singers, they trained in ways they could for the movie. I usually don't mind movie soundtracks, but unless I'm watching this particular movie, I'm not going to listen to the soundtrack.

I'm not familiar with the Broadway version, but I did feel that this film was lacking in the humor department. Sacha Baron Cohen was comic relief early on in the film, along with Mrs. Lovett's dream, and later, Mrs. Lovett's ending (the sequence of events leading up to it probably had something to do with it). I love black comedy, I kept feeling like there should be some macabre humor mixed in, but it just wasn't happening.

The film was too dark. I don't mean dark as in thematic elements - as I enjoy "darker" fiction written by classic authors (Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Federico Garcia Lorca, etc.) - but the lighting was too dark. This is probably so we can focus on JUST HOW MUCH BLOOD is spilled, which was too bright, and took me out of the story thinking of what fake blood they used... in other words, it was distracting. Hell, I can't even identify with those who complain of too much blood - it was so fake-looking, people SHOULD be complaining about ruining good fabrics with orange paint. I think the film would've been just fine had they left the colors as they were.

However. I enjoyed the film. Not because it's particularly memorable, or astounding, or even because I empathize so greatly with Barker/Todd (though the transition of happy, loving father to vengeful, hateful sadist is a tragic, and plausible, one). I like this movie because I take it with a grain of salt. Sweeney Todd at the beach, or his awkwardness in kissing Mrs. Lovett, were great moments. I could laugh at the hodge-podge character Pirelli was (mixture of Spanish, Italian and French it seemed like), and the irony of Todd/Lovett's demise. I could also shake my head at how gullible Mrs. Lovett's customers were, that NOBODY (except for Toby) ever caught on that it was dear neighbor Henry for dinner tonight.

The bottom-line: Rent this movie, be sure you're loaded up on soda and popcorn. Do NOT take this movie seriously, and remember kids - it's just paint.