Comments on: Sweeney Todd (2007) Movie Review

By: Marko

Marko — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:50:23 +0000

I thought this movie was terrific. Granted, I had never seen it before in its entirety – but what a great way to be introduced to the plot, music, etc. Tim Burton is predictably effective and Depp’s voice along with Bonham-Carter’s ‘Corpse Bride’ Mrs. Lovett was quite good. The best voice in the whole production was Toby. He will/should go far!

By: camille

camille — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:37:43 +0000

i totally disagree with emilily!
i think it is a great movie! even if it was the first time i actually saw something with sweeney todd, i think it was amazing…
of course on broadway it ,ust have been amazing but i think the movie is really good.
some people say tim burton isnt realistic enough… i think it was thepoint in this movie. we all know perfectly that when a throat gets cuttedthe blood doesnt splash like tht (well this is what i think) . tim burton made a really good job. even if johnny depp isnt used to sing in movies i think he did a great job and he sang in cry baby too and i like his voice. i think it was an amazing movie.

By: emily

emily — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:32:20 +0000

I am a big fan of the musical, having seen it performed onstage in many different locations (including a recording of the Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury broadway performance). Musically, this performance was incredibly disappointing. Burton completely stripped it of its main theme (”Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd / His face was pale and his eye was odd”), one of the most haunting and riveting themes in the Sondheim score. The “Have a Little Priest” piece was so lacking in the exuberance that makes it enchanting in the broadway performances that it fell completely flat. Depp and Bonham-Carter, though they gave it a nice shot, just couldn’t pull the songs off with the energy and passion necessary to make the music work. Depp’s scooping style sounded like a sorry American Idol audition, and, though he’s a talented actor, he just couldn’t infuse his voice with any feeling. It’s like the accent, the singing, and the acting were just too much for him. The only impressive vocals were those of Toby and Anthony, though Joanna’s “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” was enchanting enough.
Visually, of course, the film was very impressive (though I could have done with a little bit less of the white face paint — it looked a little ridiculous at some points), and the acting hit the mark (again, Kudos to the young actor who played Toby). Even the over-the-top gore was tolerable. But musically the film just couldn’t carry its own weight.