Type in any movie or show to find where you can watch it, or type a person's name.

User Reviews for: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

CinemaSerf
/10  2 years ago
The triumvirate of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter returns for this entertaining adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical adaptation of the deathly vengeful antics of the eponymous London barber and his pie making accomplice. For my money, it features one of the best songs from Sondheim's repertoire - "Not While I'm Around" which neatly brings me to the starring role, for me at any rate - the young Edward Sanders who plays "Toby" strongly and charmingly. Jamie Campbell Bower also delivers well amongst a supporting cast of solid British stage talent - a rather menacing Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall amongst them. It is dark and gritty, and stays fairly faithful to the theatrical performance that impresses not just with it's solid performances (perhaps not so much with Johnny Depp who comes across as eerily uncomfortable) but with the super costume and make-up effects, the lighting and, of course, a score that marries cleverly the threatening with the frequent (very black) humour. HBC is probably at her best here, I have rarely seen her more effective in a role and she can certainly hold the attention, if not so much perfect pitch, whilst having fun converting customers into pasties. Like the stage play, it has highs and lows but on the whole it progresses entertainingly enough to a conclusion that I didn't like so much - I always like a good baddie, and these two were certainly of the most creative. Ketchup anyone?
Like  -  Dislike  -  0
Please use spoiler tags:[spoiler] text [/spoiler]
Bradym03
9/10  4 years ago
"There was a barber and his wife, and she was beautiful. A foolish barber and his wife. She was his reason and his life, and she was beautiful. And she was virtuous. And he was..."

The last great movie from Tim Burton.

Sure, Frankenweenie and Big Eyes were fine, but I honestly felt his heart and soul went into this movie than his recent ones.

The bloodiest musical ever staged and I loved it.

'Sweeney Todd' is a fantastic dark tale of bloody revenge with bottled up sorrow. There's something incredibly spectral about the atmosphere throughout the movie that uniquely blends shadows and darkness to create traumatic events. However, the movie isn't shy away of dark humor.

With it being a musical, the songs are all equally brilliant. My favorites are between "My friends" and "Pretty women". In "My Friends", Depp not only sings, but express so much emotion through his eyes and face. There's sadness, pain, hatred, and a dirty plan sparkling in the barbers eyes, which was marvelously portrayed by Johnny Depp. I don't understand why people criticize Depp's singing, it's so beautiful.

Helen Bonham Carter is spectacular as the ghostly, but still gorgeous looking Mrs. Lovett. I love how even in her fantasies during the musical segment "By the Sea", Sweeney is still uninterested in her, because she never sees him smile, so even in her fantasies he's still rejecting her. It's pretty sad to be honest.

Sacha Baron Cohen, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall were all excellent in their meaty roles. I find it interesting that a lot of the main characters in the movie are horrible people. I mean there are some decent folks in the story, but evil overshadows them.

The production and costume design are freaking superb and stood at to me the most. It adds so much to the environment and the overall tone of the movie. The score gives a major Phantom of the Opera vibe and I freaking love it.

Overall rating: Coming to think of it, Burton just made the best adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide. Sweeney Todd wants to kill and Benjamin Barker wants to see his family.
Like  -  Dislike  -  0
Please use spoiler tags:[spoiler] text [/spoiler]
Back to Top