Some months ago, Justin told us about the upcoming release of Sweeney Todd. Well, I finally watched it.
I found the show brilliantly scored, with voices that didn’t quite live up to the sweeping soundtrack, but sung with honesty. Many touching moments, with macabre humor.
I found, though, that once Todd launches his campaign of homicide, I lost interest, and just got alternately bored, grossed out, and found the plot pretty predictable. I knew who the old lady was within moments of seeing her, and also knew she was doomed from the start. Perhaps I’ve just seen too many movies… but although I really enjoyed the music, I just wasn’t swept away by the movie.
What about you?
Good, not great.
I LOVE the musical.. and I don’t really like Musicals.
The movie lacked the power that the final moments need.. the strength of the voices. The score is written for powerful voices to be sweeping the end of the show.. and without them it deflates a little.
ALSO.. the movie lacked my favorite piece of music.. the narration music.. The Demon barber of fleet….. street. It, again was needed. It does get predictable.. and Johanna’s plight is never truly as dangerous as it would otherwise be.. You never get that sense of peril.
Still.. in the plus column, the film is Beautiful. The design is amazing, the music is still top-notch.. it is genuinely funny, and really dark, which I like.
Burton’s best? Sorry, no. Ed Wood, Big Fish, BeetleJuice, nightmare Before Christmas.. all better. Maybe his fifth best, nestled somewhere between Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands, and Batman Returns. Certainly better than Batman and Mars Attacks.
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