Sweeney Todd?

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Jun 16, 2004
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Since were already discussing 3:10 to Yuma in another thread, I thought I'd broach this movie as well: Sweeney Todd-Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Anyone see it? It's a Victorian slasher musical, if you can accept that. For me, I couldn't. BUT, 6 inch long razors wielded by Johnny Depp had a certain charm to it (Me being a blade junkie). I guess I should have known better though, I haven't really found a Tim Burton movie I can dig yet. Anyone put this one into perspective?
 
you have to have an open mind. I thought it was rather good. The violence made it, but the plot was good as well. Im not too fond of all the singing.
 
As I write this, my wife is in the other room watching Sweeney Todd and, unfortunately, the singing is wafting my way. I like to think I have an open mind, but I can tell from here that this one is not for me.
 
I just finished watching it myself this very minute and must say I enjoyed it. But then I also own and enjoy the Broadway version with Angela Landsbury as Mrs. Lovett and George Hearn as Sweeney Todd and I have, somewhere, the script for the stage version, which I have read once or twice...

To put it into perspective for you , Yinyang, would I be wrong to presume that you don't know that it was written by Hugh Wheeler with music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim and has won several Tony Awards for it's numerous stage productions both on and off Broadway?

While I was disappointed that "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" (see youtube clip below) was not included in the movie soundtrack, I still thought that Tim Burton did a decent job of translating this to the big screen, and he certainly put his personal stamp on a script that was right up his ally.

I'm not one for long windy posts, so on that note, I'm done...

Oh and here is the opening scene from the stage version with "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd"...

[youtube]0ncvaAIeEDA[/youtube]

PS If anyone cares to look for it, I posted youtube links to the entire play a long time ago in the old "Why do you guys keep posting in this thread?" thread in W&C...
 
We first saw the stage production with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury perhaps 30 years ago, when Showtime was still occasionally airing Broadway musicals. That was the original cast and production, and it was "flavored" quite a bit different than the Burton film.

The Broadway production featured a minimalist set and an "industrial" look that was supposed to echo the industrial revolution. Sound effects included the shriek of factory whistles. Despite the rather dark subject matter, there was a lot of comic relief as well.

Burton decided to go for a sort of dark Victorian set, which put me in mind of Dickens. Much less humor, lots more gore. Also took out the "theme" musical piece..."Attend the Tale of Sweeny Todd..."
We liked 'em both, and Depp did a fine job. The Broadway version was better....

Hehe- Markkser, we must have been writing at the same time, and on the same wavelength....
 
We liked 'em both, and Depp did a fine job. The Broadway version was better....

Hehe- Markkser, we must have been writing at the same time, and on the same wavelength....

;)Great minds stink alike, I mean "think" alike...;)
 
I tried to like it, I really did. Somehow it just wasn't something I could get into. Yes, I was aware of it's history, my brother gave me a quick rundown of it before I watched it. Maybe a little of that comic relief mwerner spoke of would have helped.
 
i liked it quite a bit (i'm a diehard tim burton fan though), and my wife is pretty much obsessed with it....but yeah i usually dont like musicals but this had something that made it enjoyable to me. :)
 
Went to the cinema with a girl and ended up in Sweeney Todd as a sort of compromise between her and my taste in movies ;)
I liked Sweeney's little friends and the over-the-top-violence he dishes out with them. Although I am not into musical adaptions, I found this one enjoyable!
 
I love Tim Burton films.. so i watched it...
It was his style.. which is why i enjoyed it... J.D. did very well...
 
For some reason it reminded me of Titus - the Shakespeare play filmed staring Anthony Hopkins.....I'm not sure why though..
 
I enjoyed it myself. Saw it after a guy at work told me he sang to his knives. Love that part.
 
Absolutely loved this movie. I am a big-time Tim Burton fan though.

The signing was a little much, but to me with the story line it was worth watching.

If you have not found a Tim Burton movie you like, you probably never will. This is his style and always will be.

Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...
 
Loved it. We need more horror musicals. Kind of a cross between Oliver and Little Shop of Horrors. Great comedy horror musical. Songs of 'Suddenly Seymour' pale however next to songs about 'Pussycat On Toast (but you only get 6 or 7 at the most).' :)

Gets my nomination for best DVD release of the year beyond a doubt. The sound track is available at Amazon.com for those others wishing a copy.
 
yea, I liked it, it was a speck to long and I found myself singing instead of talking all evening afterwards, but good!
paul
 
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