Sweeney Todd Review
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:50 pm
OK, I'm probably the only nerd who saw this movie, but I'm a Musical Theater geek, so here goes!
I'm a fan of the show, so hearing Sondheim's haunting music with the gorgeous orchestra was a thrill.
I was disappointed that the chorus was basically removed. In the stage production, the chorus tells a lot of the story. I understand thematically why Tim Burton chose to make this choice for film, but it was a shame not to hear that music. There was also quite a bit of solo work by the Beggar Woman that was cut due to this reduction.
I thought that Johnny Depp was a great choice for Sweeney Todd. He really captured the role. His singing was not great, but not bad, either. It would have been better if he had stronger vocals, but his acting made up for it. I was actually quite impressed.
Alan Rickman was AMAZING as the Judge! He was so delightfully evil. My favorite song in the whole show was "Pretty Women". Depp and Rickman played so well off of one another. It was amazing acting chemistry.
Helena Botham Carter did not impress me as Mrs. Lovett. I just didn't care for her voice. I would have liked to have seen someone who had more teeth to their voice do the role. (Like me! LOL) Bernadette Peters would have been an amazing choice. I will give Carter acting props, though. She did the best she could with the wispy voice she had, and her chemistry with Depp was great. Overall, however, I think she was the weak link in the show.
"Sweeney Todd" is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of blood...very "Tim Burton-ish". I was impressed with how true to the story Burton kept the movie script, though, and I bought the CD as a Christmas present to myself.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie, and will, no doubt, buy the DVD when it becomes available.
However, Angela Landsbury will always be the true Mrs. Lovett.
;)
I'm a fan of the show, so hearing Sondheim's haunting music with the gorgeous orchestra was a thrill.
I was disappointed that the chorus was basically removed. In the stage production, the chorus tells a lot of the story. I understand thematically why Tim Burton chose to make this choice for film, but it was a shame not to hear that music. There was also quite a bit of solo work by the Beggar Woman that was cut due to this reduction.
I thought that Johnny Depp was a great choice for Sweeney Todd. He really captured the role. His singing was not great, but not bad, either. It would have been better if he had stronger vocals, but his acting made up for it. I was actually quite impressed.
Alan Rickman was AMAZING as the Judge! He was so delightfully evil. My favorite song in the whole show was "Pretty Women". Depp and Rickman played so well off of one another. It was amazing acting chemistry.
Helena Botham Carter did not impress me as Mrs. Lovett. I just didn't care for her voice. I would have liked to have seen someone who had more teeth to their voice do the role. (Like me! LOL) Bernadette Peters would have been an amazing choice. I will give Carter acting props, though. She did the best she could with the wispy voice she had, and her chemistry with Depp was great. Overall, however, I think she was the weak link in the show.
"Sweeney Todd" is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of blood...very "Tim Burton-ish". I was impressed with how true to the story Burton kept the movie script, though, and I bought the CD as a Christmas present to myself.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie, and will, no doubt, buy the DVD when it becomes available.
However, Angela Landsbury will always be the true Mrs. Lovett.
;)