Movie Review: "Sweeney Todd"

[livingdeb]

Bleh. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is not my kind of movie. Even with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman.

First it's a musical. Musicals can be good, but the music has to be really good. Or interesting. It was okay, but melodramatic. I'm kind of a sucker for melodrama, but really, this was too much.

Second, roaches in the kitchen.

Third, loads of violence. And worse, bad morals. For example, it's okay to kill people because who hasn't done something bad enough to deserve being killed?

Fourth, not my kind of ending.

Fifth, too much suspense. People need to get on with what they're doing so that things don't get all complicated.

Yes, yes, good acting. Fine singing. Beautiful Tim Burton sets and costumes (except for all the blood). Alan Rickman. (Who reminds me why I must improve my posture.) Just not my kind of good movie.

My favorite thing about the movie is knowing that the main character in the sci-fi book Jumper loved this show and watched it several times. That character has a background that makes this story much more relevant and interesting to him than to people like me who have had a nice easy life. So I now have an excellent excuse to re-read that very fine book.

Comments

Funny...

[kevin-hogan.livejournal.com]

How I came away with just the opposite impression. IMHO, Tim Burton did well with his use of colour, but overdid the gore. As for the acting and singing - well, the acting was unremarkable - and the singing? Unbelievably weak. It was amazing how they could take a song that would ring throughout a packed house and turn it into the musical equivalent of a wet paper towel. Sweeney Todd is your classic tragic hero - and he needs MUCH more passion than the almost effeminate Depp could ever provide. I came away thinking "I've seen much better productions in community theatre..."

Good to hear how the show appeared to others, though.

Re: Funny...

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Interesting. So if Todd was played more passionately, then I might have liked him better, and then liked the whole story better. Okay, if I ever notice it being performed around here, I may try it again.