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Sweeney Todd - 24/1/2008 8:00:28 PM

viginti_tres

Posts: 5138
Joined: 25/9/2007

Wow, i mean i knew i was into your average movie from the start but this was a little out of left field.

I'm sure you're all aware of the plot, if not IMDb will do a better job than me so on with the review.

It was much more of a musical than i imagined and i am really glad it was as the songs were definately it's strong point. It's strange how much Depp sounds like Robbie Williams sometimes, but maybe it's just me. The whole cast had sensational voices and the jealousy in me hopes that there was a lot of post production to get it that way.

Depp returns to a darker personality after pirates, which suits him and Burton oh so well. No matter what Todd says about London it does look fantastic and the ocean in the fantasy sequence is spectacular , especially in contrast.

I really liked Cohen's role as a bit of light relief in the wake of things to come. My only issue would be the blood, now don't get me wrong, i was a huge fan of the gory musical idea, but the actual effect didnt seem that impressive and from Burton i expected some really artistic shots that sadly werent there. The End obviously had a few more imporant killings and so there was a bit more care there but not enough to make up for the earlier faults. A bit of a wrap up for the sub plot would have been nice too.

However it is an original (despite being an Adaptation) and enjoyable film.

4/5 ( My friend loved it immensely, so it would be fair to say for the burton fanatics this is a five)

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Post #: 1

RE: Sweeney Todd - 24/1/2008 8:43:42 PM

luke

Posts: 4653
From: The Winchester

Great flick. Was really happy with this one. After what I thought was a major dissapointment with Charlie, this is Burton back at the top of his game.

With a great cast all fitting the various parts nicely, set against a very Burton like backdrop, this was a joy to look at. I had no problem with the blood other than it being a little too red. But even though there are no stylistic shots of the blood being shed, the blood in itself is part of the film. With everything else being black, grey and white, the bright red blood set everything off and stood out in every scene. The theme of "bleeding" is very apart of this film. From the bleeding of characters hearts in their stories to the bleeding of their slit throats.

Depp is great in this and although I don't think he'll walk away with the Best Actor oscar, he does do a stand up job under Burton's direction. The rest of cast are all a good watch and look good too. I agree that Cohen's character is a good difference in the film, him being the only character with a streak of humor.

Looks great. (some) Songs are great, and just a good watch.

4/5

Could be higher rating after more viewings.

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Post #: 2

RE: Sweeney Todd - 25/1/2008 12:20:53 AM

Woody Mellor

Posts: 3199
From: a completely different angle

quote:

ORIGINAL: viginti_tres

It was much more of a musical than i imagined....

Yeah, Although the studio marketing will never allow the word to be uttered, Sweeny Todd is not actually a musical. It is a full-fledged Opera.

< Message edited by Woody Mellor -- 25/1/2008 12:21:10 AM >

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Post #: 3

RE: Sweeney Todd - 25/1/2008 12:28:29 AM

g_funk

Posts: 8926
From: An annexed wing of The British Museum

Very cool film...the sets looked like they'd been carved out of shadows and the musical scenes seems to have caused Burton to take more deliberation with his shots, making it one of his more competant efforts. Not as good as some previous Depp/Burton films (Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands) but still up there with the best of them.

**** 4 Stars

Rather surprised when several teenagers got up and left less than ten minutes into the film. I guess no-one told them it was a muscial...and if they'd given it a chance someone might've thought them to be gay.

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Post #: 4

RE: Sweeney Todd - 25/1/2008 12:56:10 PM

viginti_tres

Posts: 5138
Joined: 25/9/2007

Yeah , we had the same thing in our cinema. You could hear the shock when the first song started then by "The worst pies in london" they realised that this wasn't Saw as a period piece and about 10 people departed from the cinema.

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Post #: 5

RE: Sweeney Todd - 25/1/2008 1:05:48 PM

digitalxash

Posts: 8588
From: Oblivion

quote:

ORIGINAL: g_funk

Rather surprised when several teenagers got up and left less than ten minutes into the film. I guess no-one told them it was a muscial...and if they'd given it a chance someone might've thought them to be gay.

I think the marketing on the film has purposely avoided the fact that it is a musical, to stop those sort of morons from not checking out the film. Either way, I'm totally pumped to see this on the weekend. Got La Prem tix and everything.

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Post #: 6

Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 1:54:56 PM

g_funk

Posts: 8926
From: An annexed wing of The British Museum

This is quoted from Wiki...fair to say that these guys called it right.

Theater director Alex Levy argued, "I picture hordes of teenage boys on Christmas break [...] Someone says: 'That new Tim Burton movie promises the most blood; let's go to that.' I picture their faces as Helena Bonham Carter breaks into the song 'The Worst Pies in London'. I see horror in their eyes, because this certainly is not what they were expecting." Michael Halberstam of the Writers' Theatre said, "By de-emphasizing the score to the extent they did in the trailer, it is possible the producers were condescending to us — a tactic which cannot ultimately end in anything but tears."[

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Post #: 7

RE: Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 2:16:59 PM

Pigeon Army

Posts: 2547
From: Prague, November, 1976.

*ahem* I'm 18, male, and a nerd, and I'm definitely not getting up and walking out ten minutes into the film when I see it on Sunday (unless it's to go to the toilet, but that won't be 10 minutes in). Myself and all my friends who are going are under no delusions that this is a musical (though most of us have been involved in at least one musical in our time, so we're probably not your normal teenage male nerds). I'm just worried they're going to dilute Sondheim's amazing score and songs too much - I heard from a friend who saw it yesterday that there's no chorus numbers, so that scares me a little. Still, will have a full review Sunday/Monday.

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Post #: 8

RE: Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 2:40:53 PM

rabymon10

Posts: 9

Yes, that's right... there is no 'chorus' as such. However, I'd just like to point out that 'Pirelli's Miracle Elixir' pretty much stands on its own two legs without a chorus, whereas I feel that it's 'God That's Good' that doesn't so much. That number just kinda falls flat, and with the omission of a chorus in the number, it defeats the purpose of even having it there. Nevertheless, it's not really noticable that there is supposed to be a chorus in those numbers, despite the orchestrations for them still being intact; so maybe you can just yell out 'God that's good!!' every now and again when you hear it coming up :P

I also have to note that another poster has said that Pirelli was generally the only character with a streak of humour... I don't think that's entirely true at least. If you listen to the lyrics carefully, especially in 'Worst Pies in London', 'A Little Priest', and 'By the Sea', you'd see that Mrs. Lovett has quite the humourous side to her too, but it's true that it seems in the film that it's only the lyrics playing that part, not the actual actors themselves which is a bit dissapointing.
In the original staging at least, and to a certain extent the Broadway revival, and other subsequent productions, the main characters to play up the humourous aspects were in fact Mrs. Lovett (she's the MAIN source of humour, in fact), Pirelli (in his constant exaggeration - which you could somewhat see when he rolls his cape, and his play on words during the contest), and Beadle Bamford (musically, as he is a normally played by a countertenor); and to an incredible extent mind you. It is understandable the vision that Tim wanted for this film, and that the humour ever so often embedded in Sweeney Todd may have detracted from that; but I can't help but feel that a lot of character development was lost in translation.

With that said, an alarming amount of the material from the show is kept intact, even though the second act felt quite rushed. What was most amazing for me though was Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations. He has worked with Sondheim from day dot, and he made sure he got the orchestrations that he's always dreamed of doing, and boy does he ever impress. The strings alone are just GLORIOUS.

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Post #: 9

RE: Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 5:30:54 PM

g_funk

Posts: 8926
From: An annexed wing of The British Museum

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pigeon Army

*ahem* I'm 18, male, and a nerd, and I'm definitely not getting up and walking out ten minutes into the film when I see it on Sunday (unless it's to go to the toilet, but that won't be 10 minutes in). Myself and all my friends who are going are under no delusions that this is a musical (though most of us have been involved in at least one musical in our time, so we're probably not your normal teenage male nerds). I'm just worried they're going to dilute Sondheim's amazing score and songs too much - I heard from a friend who saw it yesterday that there's no chorus numbers, so that scares me a little. Still, will have a full review Sunday/Monday.

I certainly don't mean to imply that only teenagers are ignorant of the films genre and will automatically dismiss it upon learning of this fact - I was stating that the people who left during the screening I attended were all teenagers.

On the other hand it was a morning weekday screening during school holidays, so I'm sure that it was mostly teenagers left at the end.

Anywho...enjoy the film.

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Post #: 10

RE: Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 6:14:58 PM

Pigeon Army

Posts: 2547
From: Prague, November, 1976.

quote:

ORIGINAL: g_funk

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pigeon Army

*ahem* I'm 18, male, and a nerd, and I'm definitely not getting up and walking out ten minutes into the film when I see it on Sunday (unless it's to go to the toilet, but that won't be 10 minutes in). Myself and all my friends who are going are under no delusions that this is a musical (though most of us have been involved in at least one musical in our time, so we're probably not your normal teenage male nerds). I'm just worried they're going to dilute Sondheim's amazing score and songs too much - I heard from a friend who saw it yesterday that there's no chorus numbers, so that scares me a little. Still, will have a full review Sunday/Monday.

I certainly don't mean to imply that only teenagers are ignorant of the films genre and will automatically dismiss it upon learning of this fact - I was stating that the people who left during the screening I attended were all teenagers.

On the other hand it was a morning weekday screening during school holidays, so I'm sure that it was mostly teenagers left at the end.

Anywho...enjoy the film.

Don't worry. A lot of teenagers are ignorant when it comes to cinema, and would probably much prefer some sappy chick-flick like How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days or some dumb action movie like The Marine than a finely-crafted film like Sweeney Todd (dependant on gender, of course). I know this - the 17 and 18 year olds (I was 16 - year ahead) in my English class two years ago were like a bunch of rabid dogs when we studied American History X, mainly because they wanted to continuously fastforward/rewind to the scene where Derek stomps that gang member's head on the side of the kerb.

I don't take offense. I'm just pointing out, I'm not one of them.

And at least you guys get weekday morning screenings. I have to go out of my way to get in there Sunday afternoon (I live 15 minutes from the nearest town, and I rely on my parents for transport) so I can see it, because my local cinema seems to refuse to put R16s on in the morning during the school holidays.

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Post #: 11

RE: Sweeny Todd - 25/1/2008 7:54:16 PM

Filth

Posts: 2436

Yeah, I don't understand the mindsets of those dumb-arse teens either.

Anyways, I saw 'Sweeney Todd' today and loved it. Great songs, great stylistic atmosphere and mood, and just a great story. Pretty over the top gore, but it was just part of the very stylised feel of the movie for me. A girl behind me was disgusted by the movie though, I felt like telling her to go outside for a breather.

4/5

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Post #: 12

RE: Sweeny Todd - 26/1/2008 12:26:14 AM

g_funk

Posts: 8926
From: An annexed wing of The British Museum

Harsh set-up, PA. Even though I live is Dullsville, I'm central so there's three mainstream and two arthouse cinemas less than 20 minutes away in any direction, including Luna. I have found memories of going to the seasonal screening of A Clockwork Orange and Bland Runner when I was 14.

I also feel lucky to have a number of students in my classes who have excellant taste in movies.

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Post #: 13

RE: Sweeny Todd - 26/1/2008 2:30:21 AM

keyzer

Posts: 5322
From: The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

i never understand people like that...do they just rock up to the cinema and go..."Wow..i like the pretty colours on that poster...i'll go and see that"? I have a very fond memory of laughing at some fckwits that walked out of the south park movie..what did they expect? Don't people research what they are going to see?

anyway..i loved this. The music and lyrics were superb and i can never get enough of tim burtons imagination. Helena Bonham Carter's fantasy of their perfect life together was a highlight for me...very funny indeed... 4/5

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Post #: 14

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 8:39:38 AM

Big Bada Boomba

Posts: 17188
From: Sunnydale

I wanted to like this, but i found it to be a complete BORE.

I like musicals, but i'm very picky with them, i really wasn't into the music in this, it just wasn't hitting the spot for me at all............the movie started off ok, but by the midway point i was literally trying not to fall asleep. Good ending though, nice and gruesome.

The performances were good too, Johnny was good as usual, but the standout for me was Helena. The movie looked nice as well, but it's Tim Burton, so no surprises there.

Last year everyone raved about Hairspray and i didn't like that one either, i did like Dreamgirls though.........guess i missed the "magic" of this one as well............it was all a bit "meh" really.

2.5/5

oH AND lmfao! @ Giles from Buffy showing up for 5 seconds, wtf, lol.

< Message edited by Big Bada Boomba -- 26/1/2008 8:42:51 AM >

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Post #: 15

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 3:04:54 PM

keyzer

Posts: 5322
From: The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

^what? when did giles show up?

im not a huge fan of film musicals...they have to be a little "different" for me to get into. This and "The Producers" are really the only ones i like. A few of the other ones i've seen have made me cringe by how fcking awful they are.

tim burton must like dressing his lady up like a fcking corpse/witch/freak. He seemed to enjoy showing us in great detail what happened in the end. I was a little shocked which doesn't usually happen for me

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Post #: 16

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 4:38:26 PM

g_funk

Posts: 8926
From: An annexed wing of The British Museum

Giles? When was he in it? Please tell me that he was singing - he's a awesome vocalist (just don't listen to his album. Electronica. Ew.)

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Post #: 17

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 4:53:05 PM

Horus the King

Posts: 2191
From: God created Arrakis to train the faithful

Giles was the first to ask about the barber shop after the bet with Pirelli...

I dislike Musicals generally, and am far from enamored with Burton - but I really enjoyed this and wasn't really bored like I am with most musicals.
Depp really does channel his inner Bowie and the visuals were surperb...it was well worth the ticket price for a change

4 Stars

< Message edited by Horus the King -- 26/1/2008 4:54:01 PM >

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Post #: 18

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 5:36:27 PM

Felice the Piece

Posts: 398
From: Rigel 7, or when on Earth, Melbourne.

Yes, I'm a Burton fan, and no I wasn't disappointed with this film.
Everyone performs and sings finely in this film, the visuals (as expected) are exquisite. The humour is black, the blood plentiful, the violence hilarious.
The music was good, though there were no melodies that made them memorable. I would have loved to have walked out of the cinema singing/humming most of the songs, or wanting to buy the soundtrack. I'd never seen any versions of the opera and found that the lyrics were just said with a few tunes thrown together. And I'm not saying the songs should've sounded melodious and happy - catchy songs can be written darkly etc.
And the songs stretched out the scenes twice as long as they needed to have lasted. If certain things were said, certain things revealed they were done so with one verse, but continued to be repeated. Sure it worked in many scenes, like all the songs to do with Johanna, but in some scenes (like when Toby tells Mrs Lovitt she is safe when he's around) it seems unnecissarily lengthy.

That said, I think this is Tim Burton's best film since Sleepy Hollow but not quite as good. It is dark and sometimes scary, very funny and sometimes shocking. I was laughing out loud at certain deaths and in the major hacking scene at the end my whole row shook as one person (likely one of the women beside or behind me) stamped her feet on the floor in uneasiness throughout the whole scene.

Well worth the cinema ticket, and easily rewatchable. 4 outta 5.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

PS: The "twist" at the end was bleedin' obvious from the beginning. Or did it shock anyone?

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Post #: 19

RE: Sweeney Todd - 26/1/2008 6:02:58 PM

Big Bada Boomba

Posts: 17188
From: Sunnydale

g, how could you not recognise Giles, flop fan!

Felice, yeah i saw the tiwst before it happended, around the time the homeless woman started watching the smoke from the chimeny and was all "it stinks it stinks la la la", my sister picked it right from the moment she appears in the beginning though.

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Post #: 20