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Product Description: Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller "Sweeney Todd." Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge not only for that cruel punishment but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who "shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again." Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett Sweeney's amorous accomplice who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman who portrays the evil Judge Turpin who sends Sweeney to prison and Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli.System Requirements:Running Time: 116 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR/PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER Rating: R UPC: 097363500643 Manufacturer No: 350064Amazon.com: After years of rumors, it turns out that Tim Burton was the perfect visionary to film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Stephen Sondheim's Broadway masterpiece, and the result is a macabre and moving musical movie as enthralling as anything Burton has ever done. The show's mix of gothic horror, Grand Guignol, very dark humor, and witty and beautiful music never was the stuff of traditional musical comedy, but it's a powerful work, and perhaps the richest of the late 20th century. In the movie, Burton's frequent collaborator, Johnny Depp, plays Todd, a wronged man whose lust for revenge drives him to murder (an 19th-century legend who has been traced to a real-life barber). Helena Bonham Carter, another Burton mainstay, is Mrs. Lovett, the barber's partner-in-unspeakable-crime. It's no surprise that Depp is an excellent choice to convey Todd's brooding intensity and volcanic rage, but he can also sing a score that is so challenging it has often played in opera houses (though not with the same style as the Broadway original, Len Cariou, and he occasionally lapses into pop style). Bonham Carter is small of voice and lacks the humor of the original Broadway Lovett, Angela Lansbury, but she sings on pitch, in rhythm, and in character at the same time, which is no small feat for a Sondheim show. Aficionados will regret the loss of certain musical passages--"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is just an instrumental overture and the chorus is gone altogether, among others--but the reassuring presence of orchestrator Jonathan Tunick and conductor Paul Gemignani ensures that the music feels right and sounds great. And the film's depiction of a Victorian London hellhole--with cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and costumes by Colleen Atwood--also looks and feels right. The excellent cast is filled out by Alan Rickman as the villainous Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall as his seedy Beadle, Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) as a rival barber, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young lover Anthony, Jayne Wisener as his object of affection, and Ed Sanders as the young Toby. For fans of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp who don't think they like musicals, Sweeney Todd should be a revelation (though not for the squeamish, as the gore is intense and completely appropriate). For fans of Broadway and Sondheim, it's hard to imagine getting a better adaptation than this. The fact that there's no newly composed Oscar-bait song sung by a Josh Groban-type over the end credits only makes it better. --David Horiuchi
Customer Reviews:
- Musical Mayhem And Gore: Stephen Sondheim's wonderful "Sweeney Todd" gets a superbly creepy and gory treatment from Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. My knowledge of musicals goes only as far as "My Fair Lady," "Camelot," and "The Sound Of Music," so I will review this particular musical as a fan of Depp, Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, among others in the production. First of all, Burton sets a dark and gloomy tone for the story as it opens on Todd's return to London. He has been away for fifteen years in a prison for a crime he did not commit. When he arrives on the streets, revenge is in his heart. We also meet a young sailor named Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower), who will play a key role later in the story. Todd returns to his barber shop where his family is no more. He learns from one Mrs. Lovett (Bonham Carter), that his wife has committed suicide and his daughter is being held captive at the home of Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), who is the source of all of Todd's turmoil. This sets into motion a brilliant story of revenge, internal struggle, and all-out violence. Todd and Lovett conspire to get revenge not on the judge alone, but any and every person of high importance. From vicar to royal, no one is safe.
The brilliance of this story is built not on just the music and atmosphere, but on the performances of the actors as well. Depp is sinister as the wronged Todd. Bonham Carter plays the longing romantic in love with Todd perfectly. Rickman and Timothy Spall (Beadle) outdo themselves with their characters. Young Ed Sanders plays the highly loyal and overprotective Toby and, in my opinion, delivers one of the best performances in the film. Sacha Baron Cohen (yep, Borat) surprised me with his portrayal of Pirelli, a devious con man out to blackmail Todd. Also of note is a brief cameo from Anthony Head.
There is plenty of blood in this film. Lots of it. Tons of it. Although not as garish as modern zombie films, when the blood flows, it sprays walls, faces, and just about anything within reach. If you cannot handle gore, you may not want to watch this. What's bizarre is that in all of this film, only the bright red color of the blood stands apart from the gloominess of the rest of the story.
I highly recommend this film to fans of Depp, Bonham Carter, Burton or Rickman. Even if you've never watched a musical, sit through this one long enough and you'll see that it really is a wonderful, macabre tale. - I love this movie: This is a great movie, gory, violent, not meant for kids, but a blast to watch. The entire cast has outdone themselves.
- A truly great film: I thought this film was just great. I love Johnny Depp, and this movie is a wonderful display for his brooding artistic side. I have never seen the musical, so I have nothing to compare it to ... that being said, I thought it was great all around.
Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen are good, but Jamie Campbell Bower and Ed Sanders are remarkable young talents.
I recommend this film for a different movie-going expereince and especially for fans of Tim Burton (of course!). - Please Hollywood, enough with the loud soundtracks!!!: Again, Hollywood insists on blowing out our eardrums with overly loud, intrusive scores. Yes, I know this is a musical but one should be able to make out at least some of the lyrics over the music.
I really wanted to like this movie as I truly enjoy Depp's, Carter's, Rickman's and Burton's past works but... it was so boring!!! I couldn't stand to watch the whole thing... shut it off about halfway through. What an annoying waste of my time. - Darkly delightful: The atmosphere is typically Burton, applied to a deserving work. Depp sings well enough, better than expected, and brings sypmpathy to the monster. Well done and enjoyable.
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