[Don Solosan]

Saw an advance screening today. I can't say I know the material well, only having seen a video of the stage show back in the 80s (I think it was). And I didn't really expect much of it. While I thought Depp's voice was fine, the songs didn't really grab me. The production is gorgeous however.

[Greg_M]

Johnny Depp Rocks!

Saw "Sweeney Todd" last night - Depp was great, probably win an Oscar this year (for this and the last few years work) The film was well done and not too bloody. This is really a horror film with singing and the laughs are few, it's very dark and serious and it works very well. Depp is not a singer but he pulls off the songs very well, Helena BC is also good but subdued compared to past actresses take on Mrs. Lovette. The support cast was also top notch. Tim Burton has done a great job - He'll probably get an Oscar nom too.

I Can't see this being a hugh hit especially since the ending is a downer, but it was made on a budget and should recoup, just can't see this being a blockbuster.

[Shawn.F]

Saw this on Thursday night. I enjoyed it quite a bit. One of the better films that Burton has made since 'Ed Wood'.

[Patrick Sun]

I didn't much care for "Sweeney Todd", the singing was average (Depp was out of his depth on the singing, especially when the kid outsung him quite easily), and the story wasn't all that interesting to me. Now, it does pick up steam in the 3rd act, but overall, not a film I'll revisit in the future.

I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.

[Robert Crawford]

This thread is now the Official Review Thread for "Official SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET". Please post all HTF member reviews in this thread.

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Crawdaddy

[Mike Williams]

I thought Sweeney Todd was GREAT! I thought Johnny Depp's style (due to lack of a singing voice) worked well for the character who's very internalized anyway. I did think it was interesting that the kid was the best singer in the movie, but I thought everyone did a fantastic job. I absolutely loved it!!!

[Jan H]

Wow. A great musical is given a great film adaptation. My hopes weren't high going in, as Tim Burton, with few exceptions, has never quite seemed to match his visual genius with a commitment to coherent storytelling. I also knew that Depp and Carter wouldn't be able to sing their roles with anything like the technical command that singing Sondheim on stage would demand.

But somehow, they both own their roles. Depp's voice is serviceable, and I mean that in the best possible way. His singing serves the story well. It's like some brooding goth-emo rock star's interpretation of the role, and as such, I felt I didn't miss the Wagnerian belting of the Broadway Sweeney. For film, it's perfectly suited. Carter fares less well, if only in the inevitable comparison to the unrivaled Angela Lansbury. Yet her frail, reedy voice suits her damaged, emotionally bereft reading of Mrs. Lovett. Rickman and Spalls do well, also.

Tim Burton is on fire in this film, and while the play is Sondheim's, the film is unmistakably Burton's. It his very best film, besting even Ed Wood. His visual ambition has finally met the right story.

Expect multiple Oscar nominations for this, which is on a very short list of the best films of the year, and an even shorter list of the best film adaptions of a Broadway musical ever.

[todbnla]

The wife made me go see this has I suspect most of the other men in the showing I was at were "persuaded" to go see it too?
The men to woman ratio was like 4/1 and I kind of knew what the film was going to be like. The showing we went to was early in the day (4pm) but it was pretty packed, I would say 65% fill ratio and I was amazed to see how many people (apx 9) got up and left around 3/4's of the film, what were they expecting another pirates-disney-esque film?
I though some of the blood flow shots were overkill but my wife, who is an r.n. loved it all. I rate the movie an 8/10.

[Shad R]

1/10

I did not like this movie at all. I almost walked out, but stayed with it. The last 10 minutes or so did grab my attention, but too little, too late. They didn't really "sing" considering it was a musical. Very monotone. The cinematography is terrible, and the movie is not very well shot. The blood spurting was way overdone, and everyone seemed to just be phoning it in. Not an entertaining movie at all.

[WadeM]

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