Sweeney Todd

[Jennasis]

Went to see it yesterday. Overall...meh...

Johnny Depp was good, but I couldn't help but feel as though I'd seen this character before. He looked so much like Edward Scissorhands ! It was like ES and Capt. jack had a baby! The acting was good...actually thought Helena Bonham Carter was a little better than Depp, but ALL the characters felt so been-there-done-that (even Alan Rickman who I ADORE).

None of the songs were memorable. After Chicago, Dreamgirls and Moulin Rouge, I finished the movie with those songs stuck in my head for days! Not so with Sweeney Todd.

I DID love Sasha Baron Cohen and a annoyingly brief appearance by Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from Buffy).

Over all an ok picture, but certainly not worth the hoopla...and not really sure it's worth the "Oscar buzz" or Golden Globe noms.

Then again, I really loved Transformers, and wasn't totally hating Aliens vs. Predator 2 (which we saw last week). So please, take my critique with a large grain of salt!

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks. We really wanted to see this movie over the Christmas break, but we were all sick the entire time, and never made it!


I am usually a fan of musicals, on stage, at least. I find that they do not always translate well to the big screen, in most cases at least.

Here's a few cases in point:

The Producers
Rent
Hairspray (it was OK on screen, but the live version is amazing!)

I hope this year's version of Mama Mia works out OK!

 

[Crankyshank]

I really enjoyed the movie as did DH who doesn't like musicals and was unfamiliar with the storyline. However, I am getting tired of Johnny Depp trotting out the same character. I wouldn't even go with the Capt Jack comparison - for me it was Sleepy Hollow/From Hell/Edward Scissorhands mesh. He's far too talented and ranged an actor to phone something like that in. I wonder how much of it was Tim Burns' vision though because Helena Bonham Carter also seemed to rehash some of her old characters as well. I don't think Alan Rickman was utilized enough. I wanted him to be a bit more... Alan Rickman evil.

I still enjoyed the movie tremendously.

 

[ms1031]

Now see, we loved Sweeny Todd and are thinking about paying to see it again.

I agree, it's hard not to think of the similarities to other Depp characters during the film, but his signing voice was good enough to keep distracting those thoughts.

I think that each and every actors performances were incredible. Sweeney Todd deserves it's nominations.

 

[suzannen]

Now see, we loved Sweeny Todd and are thinking about paying to see it again.

I agree, it's hard not to think of the similarities to other Depp characters during the film, but his signing voice was good enough to keep distracting those thoughts.

I think that each and every actors performances were incredible. Sweeney Todd deserves it's nominations.

I'm with ms1031, we loved it in my house, too. It was one of the better movies I have seen in a really long time and agree that it deserved all of its nominations thus far.

 

[brasswillow]

I saw it the day after it came out and really liked it. Then I went the next day and saw it again and loved it. I thought the second time was even better because the shock value was gone and I could appreciate the beauty of the story and then way the film was made.

 

[Jennasis]

Saw the preview for Mamma Mia...really somebody needs to put a stop to that.

Johnny Depp's voice was really good considering he's not a singer. Also, kind of a shame that he'll never see the movie...or any of his own movies (by his own admission he refuses to watch himself act so he's never seen any movies he's been in).

I thought the movie was good, but it wasn't ALL THAT.

Thanks to the poster who reminded me of Sleepy Hollow and From Hell. Same character! Sometimes i just have to wonder if somebody killed Tim Burton's puppy as a child or something...

 

[Deb in IA]

Sometimes i just have to wonder if somebody killed Tim Burton's puppy as a child or something...

Yup. I think that is where Frankenweinie came from.

 

[va32h]

Sweeney Todd is not a typical musical score. It's very Brechtian, almost an opera. And like most of Stephen Sondheim's work, the songs make little sense outside the context of the play.

One review, decades ago, commented that the problem with Sondheim was that he never wrote anything "hummable" - you never left the theater humming a tune from the show. I don't necessarily agree...but Sondheim is an acquired taste.

That said, I haven't seen this film and I am not sure I will. Angela Lansbury and George Hearn delivered what I think are the definitive performances as Mrs. Lovett/Sweeney. I don't think I want to see anyone else in those roles!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Sweeney Todd is not a typical musical score. It's very Brechtian, almost an opera. And like most of Stephen Sondheim's work, the songs make little sense outside the context of the play.

One review, decades ago, commented that the problem with Sondheim was that he never wrote anything "hummable" - you never left the theater humming a tune from the show. I don't necessarily agree...but Sondheim is an acquired taste.

That said, I haven't seen this film and I am not sure I will. Angela Lansbury and George Hearn delivered what I think are the definitive performances as Mrs. Lovett/Sweeney. I don't think I want to see anyone else in those roles!

I agree. Sondheim is a very acquired taste. A lot of his stuff is a bit off kilter. Which is why I saw Burton/Depp getting into this a long time ago and I was not surprised when I heard about this movie.

 

[chager]

We really liked it. It was very close to the actual stage play we have on video. (Starring Agatha Cristie) A couple scores were left out, but it still stayed to the stage play!
I agree with the Edward Scissorhands look. That was the first thing we thought of too.
I would recommend the movie! DH says you really need to be fan of the play and the music to really enjoy it.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I'd like to see it, and I LOVE musicals, but I'm worried about the gore. I have a weak stomach (shhh, don't tell DH!). How gory is it?

 

[WDWBarb]

I can't say that I walked out not "humming." In fact, I still catch myself singing, "no one's gonna harm you... not while I'm around...." in the car or "try a little priest" (thankfully while no one is listening!).



It was the best movie I saw in '07 and I had pretty low expectations, I have to say!

 

[nsyncraider17]

It wasn't one of the best movies I've ever seen, but I thought it was pretty good and definitely enjoyed it. I knew the basic story, but I hadn't seen the musical or heard any of the music before. I definitely thought the music was memorable, though... I've been humming "Johanna" all week!

 

[profdsny]

Sweeney Todd is not a typical musical score. It's very Brechtian, almost an opera. And like most of Stephen Sondheim's work, the songs make little sense outside the context of the play.

One review, decades ago, commented that the problem with Sondheim was that he never wrote anything "hummable" - you never left the theater humming a tune from the show. I don't necessarily agree...but Sondheim is an acquired taste.

That said, I haven't seen this film and I am not sure I will. Angela Lansbury and George Hearn delivered what I think are the definitive performances as Mrs. Lovett/Sweeney. I don't think I want to see anyone else in those roles!

You mean you don't immediately break into "Have a little priest" every time you see calzones on a menu?

Yes, the Hearn/Lansbury version is incredible. I'm sort of reluctant to see the film just because of that. Actually, we saw it with Hearn and Patti LaPone at Ravinia a few years ago. Wish I had a copy of that.

 

[Daxx]

He looked so much like Edward Scissorhands ! It was like ES and Capt. jack had a baby!

That's b/c both Edward Scissorhands and Sweeny Todd are Tim Burton movies. Notice that Sweeny Todd and Edward Scissorhands also look similar to the animated Victor (voiced by Depp) from The Corpse Bride which is yet another Burton film. The movie took place in England ... thus the Capt. Jack accent. No surprise there, eh?

 

[Reflection]

Sweeney Todd is not a typical musical score. It's very Brechtian, almost an opera. And like most of Stephen Sondheim's work, the songs make little sense outside the context of the play.

One review, decades ago, commented that the problem with Sondheim was that he never wrote anything "hummable" - you never left the theater humming a tune from the show. I don't necessarily agree...but Sondheim is an acquired taste.

That said, I haven't seen this film and I am not sure I will. Angela Lansbury and George Hearn delivered what I think are the definitive performances as Mrs. Lovett/Sweeney. I don't think I want to see anyone else in those roles!

For me, the definitive performance was Angela Lansbury with Len Cariou as Sweeney. I did see the movie and enjoyed it but definitely preferred the performances of the leads in the Broadway version I saw way back when.

"It's fop.
Finest in the shop.
And we've got shepard's pie peppered with actual sheperd on top."

 

[va32h]

You mean you don't immediately break into "Have a little priest" every time you see calzones on a menu?

Yes, the Hearn/Lansbury version is incredible. I'm sort of reluctant to see the film just because of that. Actually, we saw it with Hearn and Patti LaPone at Ravinia a few years ago. Wish I had a copy of that.

Oh no, I LOVE all things Sondheim and own these ancient artifacts known as original cast recording LPs!

I just remember a critic reviewing one of the shows and accusing Sondheim of being "not hummable". I think he was comparing him to a Rodgers and Hammerstein type musical.

 

[Reflection]

Oh no, I LOVE all things Sondheim and own these ancient artifacts known as original cast recording LPs!

I just remember a critic reviewing one of the shows and accusing Sondheim of being "not hummable". I think he was comparing him to a Rodgers and Hammerstein type musical.

I wonder what show the critic was critiquing. I can think of "hummable" Sondheim songs. Most of the songs from '...Forum' are hummable: Comedy Tonight, anyone?!

 

[va32h]

I wonder what show the critic was critiquing. I can think of "hummable" Sondheim songs. Most of the songs from '...Forum' are hummable: Comedy Tonight, anyone?!

Maybe Sunday in the Park with George? I don't know! I like them all.