Just got back from the Maldives again.....heaven will try to get round to r/r/c
Just got back from the Maldives again.....heaven will try to get round to r/r/c
Member since:21.07.2005
Reviews:210
Members who trust:70
Every now and then a film comes along that I just have to go and watch as soon as it is released and this film was one. I already have a passion for Johnny Depp and my favourite film was Pirates of the Caribbean which anyone could guess for my love of Disney but anyway back to the review in hand...Sweeney Todd.
The film is directed by Tim Burton and I have to admit that this did slightly put me off as I am not all that keen on some of the films he has directed including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I hated the clear distinction in colours that were used for grim situations and the bright colours for more positive situations and I had a feeling that this film would be of a similar nature and from the very beginning of the film it was undeniable that comparisons would be made to Depp's character in other films and Burton's directing.
Sweeney Todd is based on Stephen Sondheim's stage show and is the first stage show that Tim Burton has adapted onto the big screen.
For those of you that have seen Edward Scissorhands you will see that Johnny
Depp appears to have a very similar appearance in this film with his distinct unruly dark hair with a prominent white stripe to the right. London and indeed the film is shot in grey colours with barely any colour thrown in at all apart from the shocking red blood you see from time to time and the very colourful character of Pirelli played by Sacha Baron Cohen.
Sweeney Todd is a passionate story about a man who has lost everything to one man's greed Judge Turpin. Benjamin Barker is the man who had it all a beautiful wife, beautiful baby daughter, a thriving business and a comfortable home and he lost it all to Judge Turpin who had to have Benjamin's wife Lucy for himself and punished him for a crime that never existed shipping him off to Australia indefinately.
15 years later is where the story begins with Todd AKA Benjamin Barker arriving back into London after being rescued by a Sailor Anthony from the cruel seas who allows him to travel with them. Barker seeks his revenge and after 15 years he has dreamed of returning to his wife and daughter and resuming the lifestyle he once had.
Anthony knows nothing of Todd's dark secret and hopes that he will once again meet up with Todd once they go their separate ways in London to which Todd insists if he needs to find him then he will meet again.
Todd decides to find his bearings once more in the familiar location of Fleet Street where he once had his barbers premises and this is where he meets Mrs Nellie Lovett who tell the story of what has happened in his absence, she hides her infatuation for Todd hoping that she can get closer to him in time and she discovers he is infact Benjamin Barker.
As Todd plans his revenge on Judge Turpin he is faced with many challenges which include Adolfo Pirelli which in my opinion offers some humour and colour to such a bland, serious film but I just couldn't get the image of Borat out of my head throughout his performance despite his great accents!
Will Todd get his revenge? Will Lovett get Todd as her man? You will need to watch the film as one thing is for sure I am not giving away the true story from this film.
The film certainly combines our most violent impulses with our most tender impulses and Todd and Lovett appear to be the most ghastly looking with their pale lifeless skin tones drowned in black reatens to expose who Todd really is and ruin Todd's plans of revenge and this is when the true story of Sweeney Todd:Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes into play and we get an insight as to how Todd plans to get his revenge with his new partner in crime Mrs Nellie Lovett.eye make up and their dull, colourless clothes you can really sense the lifestyle that they are living.
The partnership of Depp and Bonham-Carter provide a great entertaining film and considering that they are not trained singers they provide a great musical performance both as a solo performance and together. The songs in the film tell snippets of the story which are vital in ensuring that you are familiar with what is going on in the film, miss a song and you miss part of the story.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this film and was unsure if I would enjoy a musical film of this style but I was pleasantly suprised and even if I closed my eyes and listened to Johnny Depp speak as Sweeney Todd and is sounded very much like Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean as soon as he began to sing all this was erased from my memory and he had developed a simply unique character towards the very end.
I like the underlying tale of true love and devotion and how revenge can turn you into someone you never imagined that you could be.
The film focuses on the cut throat action provided by Todd and the fact that the bodies are disposed of in Mrs Lovett's pies is almost hidden away and rarely gets focused on for the shameful act that it actually is.
I would defintely say that this enjoyment of this film is heightened by the music and singing of all of the cast members. Not everyone will like this film but it is definately worth catching on DVD when it comes out.
Sweeney Todd/Benjamin Barker - Johnny Depp Mrs Nellie Lovett - Helena Bonham Carter Judge Turpin - Alan Rickman Beadle Bamford - Timothy Spall Adolfo Pirelli - Sacha Baron Cohen
Also published under the same name on dooyoo.
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Production Year: 1992 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, David Bowie, Def Leppard, Extreme, Elton John, Bob Geldof
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Thanks for letting me know you've updated this. Re-rated for you.
Soho_Black 12.02.2008 20:57
I see you've posted this as a DVD review, but you've not mentioned the DVD features. Are there any extras? If so, what are they and are they any good? If you add to this, or if you change it to be posted as a "Film Only" review, which can be done by accessing "edit review" above the review and changing the drop down menu under the "Which format are you reviewing?" question at the bottom, please let me know and I'll re-rate.
Advantages: Excellent performances from a non-singing cast, and oodles of black humour Disadvantages: Not a lot - perhaps the urchin gets a little too much screen time...
Feb 12th, 2008
very helpful by (100%):
