When Sweeney Todd hits theaters on December 21, I wonder how many people will be aware that it is an adaptation of a popular musical Read the full post.
Dec 12
2007
11:00 AM ET
The 'Sweeney Todd' trailers: What kind of movie are they trying to sell?
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I saw the screening last night.
Yes, Johnny can sing. Very well.
Yes, helena was, as usual, pale and fond of upward glances and heaving bosom.
Yes, I knew it was a musical.
Yes, I knew the plot.
Yes, I understood he was a demonic killer.
Yes, there was blood, and yuck, and ugh! and oof and covering of eyes.
Yes, it held my interest: Toby is magical, the judge is evil, (peephole= today’s internet peep sites?), the Beedle is vile, and the ending reminded me of a macabre Pieta.
Well done.
Another comment…the column’s writer, Joy Piedmont asks “How would you feel if you showed up for a bloody, horror/comedy and got the following scene instead? You don’t get the following scene “instead.” You get that scene PLUS bloody horror scenes. Trust me. You get LOTS of blood. And cannbialism (unknowing as it may be). And a child preditor. And some child abuse among other things. And while Schindler’s List had someone doing the right thing during a very dark time, this film is about anger, the absolute darkest side of the soul, and the brutal lengths that one will go to find revenge. What’s amazing is that Tim Burton and Stephen Sondheim have the creative genius required to make this darkness look humanly beautiful. This kind of cerebral talent rarely comes out of Hollywood, and for that reason alone, Sweeney Todd should be seen. On a lighter note, lol, Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Borat) almost steals the show.
I didn’t know Moulin Rouge was a musical until I heard the soundtrack and my friends filled me in. And I had seen plenty of commercials, too.
Ok people, I already saw the movie on Tuesday night, and let me preface this by saying, I’m gay, but I loathe & despise musicals. I enjoyed SWEENEY TODD but I will be completely honest in saying I didn’t really get more than I expected. I knew going in, it was a Broadway adaptation, since I vaguely recalled seeing the show back in music class when I was in 6th grade (I’m 29). The movie does come across as typical Tim Burton affair, gothic sets & make-up, old-world costumes, AND yes, blood, BUCKETS of fake blood…but being that its a musical I have to touch on the singing. Thats what worried me the most. Johnny Depp was nearly as nauseating as I had anticipated, but being that this is supposed to be a British film, the accents during the singing do make some of the movie a bit difficult to understand, but is easily followed. I think the movie will be successful, but not nearly as big as DREAMGIRLS last year. The insane amount of blood is a bit ridiculous & over the top. My grade is a B
To Antoinette: At the press screening, we actually took my friend’s 10 yr. old nephew, Liam. I myself was against this idea, but apparently, the kid’s mother had already let him seen HOSTEL & the SAW films. His uncle said it was the 1st time he saw him gasp in regards to the gore, but I was worried that it was a bit much for a child, eventhough I knew the blood was meant to be excessive, as to explain the rage inside Depp’s character. I compared the blood to the last episode of Grey’s Anatomy with the blood GUSHING uncontrollably out of Seth Green’s guest star, to which Liam replied, he had watched it also with his mother. I said, well, you are definitely the youngest guy here, what part did you like BEST about the movie, and he quickly related to the triumph of young Toby at the movie’s close. I mean don’t get me wrong, i wouldn’t recommend this film to any kids, and I was against taking the little man, but he wanted to see it, and I am just glad he didn’t get freaked out.
Sweeney Todd is Sondheim’s masterpiece. I’m most worried that Depp won’t live up to the great musical theatre performers I’ve seen play the part, including the original Sweeney, Len Cariou. I hope I’m not disappointed. Sweeney has been on my top 5 musical list since it opened on Broadway 28 years ago. It’s a cultural wonder.
To those who question to release date: There is one simple reason for releasing the movie this close to Christmas: Oscar.
Sweeney Todd is my all-time favorite musical (yes, I’m morbid, and ironically can’t stand horror movies). I am disappointed by the way they are marketing it, however. It reminds me of when they packaged A Beautiful Mind like a thriller–I loved that movie, too, but felt somewhat cheated because I went in expecting suspense, not a drama. I hope the marketing tricks of Sweeney Todd don’t spoil the movie for too many people expecting something else.
1. The musical was based on a real person. Sweeney Todd was a murderous barber who was born into eighteenth century London, England. Tim Burton is trying to splice together the real events and Stephen Sondhiem’s PG-13 musical.
2. This is how Tim Burton operates or has anyone not seen Beetlejuice?
As I said in a general review I wrote after having seen the film last night – I think it’s hard to sell this movie because, there are so many aspect to it, musical/comedy/horror/drama/silent film. yes, I said silent film. The movie played off in a very classic horror film kind of way with many moments stylized like a silent film. Which I found to be absolutely brilliant. This will definitely be a movie that the audience member will either hate or love. Most, if not all, fans of the original stage show should have little to no problems with it. Most have REALLY loved it, anyway.
As for the musical moments – Burton did these brilliantly. Out of context they may seem like grand musical numbers. But in the film, you barely notice they switch into song. And it’s not because they are blandly performed, it’s just that Burton knew exactly how to direct and film each number.
This film is a musical masterpiece, and dare I say, a modern classic. Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd is one for the books!
Its kinda funny how the Acamedy has YET to create an award honoring the geniuses of the marketing departments & advertising agencies used by Studios….
I have seen the Broadway! commercial for Sweeney Todd while watching Law & Order on USA. How strategic — nab the people watching crime dramas!
“How would you feel if you showed up for a bloody, horror/comedy and got the following scene instead?” Well, if you don’t get the comic undertone of the line “we’ll serve anyone,” which comes just after they sing about serving Shepherd’s Pie with a “sprinkling of actual shepherd on top,” then you need to go back and brush up on dark humor 101…or at least watch the Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man.”
At this point, anyone who doesn’t know that Sweeney Todd is a musical should be slapped upside the head. I mean, seriously…
I will be seeing this movie precisely because it’s by Sondheim. I’m getting pretty sick of all the entertainment journalists and ad people pretending it’s all about Tim Burton, as if Americans are so stupid and have so little exposure that many of us wouldn’t know this movie is based on what’s considered to be a modern theatrical masterpiece. I’ll be in the cinema to see this much-discussed piece of writing, not because the guys who screwed up “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is in charge of it.