Popcorn, Soda, and Goobers - Movie and DVD Reviews and Film Commentary

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (imdb | dvd)

Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd is the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s famed musical thriller. The story deals with revenge of a barber who takes on a corrupt judge and his henchman. Burton’s affinity for darkness lends itself well to this tragic tale of vengeance.

The film translates the musical quite well, keeping most of the original music while adapting certain songs and cutting out others. Sondheim’s amazing score is mostly in tact, and while the actors are clearly not singers, the songs come across well, and I’d have to say I enjoyed Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. The rest of the cast holds up well also - notably Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford and Alan Rickman as the (dis)honorable Judge Turpin. Acting and singing doesn’t seem easy, but everything here is pretty well done.

Burton’s visuals are very dark here, and needless to say, everything looks a bit bleak. Carefully crafted blood spurts and dream fantasies seem to be Burton’s forte in this flick. Note the grisly horror of Sweeney’s kills, and I particularly loved the strange visuals during Mrs. Lovett’s “By the Sea.” Despite the darkness, Burton also manages to keep the comedic elements from the musical. Sweeney Todd spans many dimensions; while the film is gory and tragic, it also is quite funny and romantic.

In the end, there’s no man like Burton to capture the horror and the fun of Sweeney Todd. The film is a well-made adaptation of a fantastic musical that is sure to please fans and newbies alike. If you’ve never seen or heard the musical before, go in prepared for some truly amazing music (and be prepared for some blood splatter) and I think you’ll find yourself laughing, cringing, and truly enjoying the show.

4 bottles of Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir out of 5