Your thoughts on the Sweeney Todd movie?

What are your thoughts, if you've seen it? You want to know what I think?

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Obviously, these notes aren't completely finished. However, they do lead a good start to what could be.

Sweeney Todd Movie Notes

The introduction sequence seems a little lazy and uninspired. You know what also could have helped? Perhaps adding the lyrics from the actual show in – the tale told by all of the people Sweeney killed sets the mood of the show (“Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd. His skin was pale, his eye was odd”). You know what this introduction reminds me of? The opening to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You know where my initial reaction is going by this stage, don’t you?

We open with Anthony, the sailor who takes Sweeney back to London after he finds him adrift in the ocean. My reaction to this opening scene is that despite the mood is set in the scenery alone, there is hardly any personality in Johnny Depp’s singing; in short, the very start is lackluster. However, we actually begin to see more personality seep in when actual spoken word is used, and when Todd’s tale begins – the tale about his past life. The contrast between the dark and dreary atmosphere of the present, and the vibrant color of the past, is artistically and visually pleasing, and you get to see Burton’s main strength as a visually-interesting director permeate. The singing for Sweeney is a lot more subtle, I’ve noticed. However, this can be easily contributed to the contrasting style between the pantomime acting style of the stage, and the modern cinema style of acting.

Mrs. Lovett’s singing is… a little uninspired. I’m saying this because she has no visible change in character throughout her song, and it’s not as vibrant as the stage counterpart, played by Angela Lansbury. You see, Mrs. Lovett is meant to be slightly over-the-top, so what I’m saying is that Carter can be a little more lively, to say the least. “But wait,” says you, “times are hard, and everybody is living like dogs! Of course the characters are going to be a little drained and dreary!”, but if you’ve seen the actual Broadway show then you’d see that Lovett’s meant to be a little more spastic. Carter’s portrayal has her almost seem like she’s going to spastically… go into a coma. Depp could also be a little angrier when he’s told his wife was raped and died, and that his daughter was adopted by the perpetrator of said rape, Judge Turpin. For fuck’s sake, he has the same stoic expression that makes me think he’s some sort of fucking anime character or something. I know cinema is meant to be more subtle, but how subtle can you be before it gets to be boring to watch? The characters are wooden.

The little changes in the spoken dialogue were actually good in adding to the depth of the story that the show seemed to lack in some respects. For example, the scene where Judge Turpin invites Antony into his house and then has him beat to chase him away from Joanna is more effective than the play, where he’s just yelled at and chased off. Plus it makes “Joanna” more triumphant before the scene ends.

Artistic eye argument – I can see the contrast in artistic style when the mood changes, like in the rape scene in the flashback (as told by Mrs. Lovett) – the colors are washed out, as compared to the happier times earlier on.

Song Argument – My Friends: Carter gave no indication that Mrs. Lovett had a romantic interest in Todd, so guess what? For people who don’t know the play by heart, they will see this coming out of nowhere!
Green Finch and Linnett Bird: Competently done by Joanna
Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir: … meh. Seems phoned in, but well-sung.

Character List - Todd and Lovett: Meh. Todd is much better than Lovett because he’s actually more than one-dimensional. A Little Priest showed Carter’s ineptitude at playing the part, because she hardly EVER cracks a smile. CRACK A FUCKING SMILE, WOMAN. The character is meant to be more upbeat than this!
Antony: Actually, he was probably one of the better actors in this movie. Plus he doesn’t look TOO much like a prettyboy like the Broadway’s production. He’s still handsome, but not overbearingly pretty.
Turpin: Severus Snape was menacing enough, but when he played the villainous judge he made him creepy, dark, and dangerous.
Beetle Bamford: Greasy and grimy, can’t complain.
Toby could be a little more enthusiastic in his introduction, Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir. Again, it seems like a kid’s talent show before Cohen comes and steals the scene.
Pirelli: Sasha Baron Cohen steals the show as the flamboyant Italian mountebank. Why? He adds some of his trademark personality. IMAGINE THAT!

I wish this movie were based off of the other characters instead.

Nitpick: The blood is……. Meh. The effects are slightly obvious, and I’ve seen better in Tom Savini films, like the Friday the 13th series.

Some songs are actually very well-directed, but they’re in a sea of mediocrity; it’s about half and half.

Another complaint is how Depp and Carter are stylized and dressed up in typical Burton "Neato-freako" style while everybody else looks the part ala original intention. You want to know what that is? Dirty English people in the NINETEENTH CENTURY. Impoverished, dirty, nasty. Take the original play for instance. Oh look, they look the part, and they are also dirty, slovenly, and impoverished. Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury LOOKED THE FUCKING PART. Depp and Carter? Not so much.

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Obviously, these notes aren't completely finished. However, they do lead a good start to what could be.

I have heard the original music and when this came out I wanted to see it but have not yet. looking forward to the review.

I saw the movie a while ago. really good atmosphere and visuals, but the lyrics to the songs SUCK.

TODD (Hands bottle back distastefully):
Smells like piss.
MRS. LOVETT:
Smells like — phew!
2ND MAN:
He says it smells like piss.
TODD:
Looks like piss.
MRS. LOVETT:
Wouldn't touch it if I was you, dear!
2ND MAN (7b 3RD MAN):
Wotcher think?
TODD (Nods):
This is piss. Piss with ink.

Didnt see it. A sing-a-long slasher didnt interest me one iota.

Sweeny Todd was (IMO) one of Tim Burton's best movies. I am not a fan of all of Burton's work but I liked the two Batmans and A Nightmare Before Christmas. I think that Sweeny Todd looks great but I also agree with the dude above about the singing slasher movie. I also saw the ending a mile away.