Ok...
So I finally saw the film, and overall... I liked it a lot. As my favorite musical of all time, I thought Tim Burton did a nice job with it. Here are some pros and cons:
Pros:
Johnny Depp - awesome, creepy, brooding. Best moment - the way in which he uses the razor as a knife to stab repeatedly into the judge.
Helena Bonham Carter - ditto. Best moment - the moment in which she realizes that Toby has to die.
Scenic Design - Dark, creepy, dirty, fantastic. Best bits - the huge slanted window looking onto London, and the chair tipping backwards so all the victims fall on their heads - sweet.
Gore/Blood - Very stylized, yet extremely effective and beautiful. The last moment in which Sweeney bleeds out over Lucy - brilliant!
Cons:
Singing - mostly schprectstima, but I think that was obvious from the trailer. Everything was almost whispered. It was a choice, but I missed Sweeney's big baritone.
Believability - because the movie was cast so young (which I liked and was much more believable for the time period,) it seemed odd that the judge wouldn't recognize him! I don't buy it.
Editing songs - most songs included had a verse or two cut out for the sake of not making a 3 hour film.
Cutting Songs - Besides cutting The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, the judges song, the letter, 98% of City on Fire, they also cut out the quartet which is my favorite number in the show, and also establishes the possible consummation of the relationship between Johanna and Antony. Without this encounter, why is he so dead set on marrying her or freeing her from Fog's asylum?
Overall, though, I do recommend the movie. One of the greatest stories ever written, and the best score in musical theatre history!
See y'all on Wed.
Peace.
This blog is intended to help inform students about the "goings on" in the HGHS Theatre Dept., as well as provide a forum for students and community members to comment or open dialogue concerning Theatre Co. rehearsals or productions.
