[what_the_heck013]

So... the movie came out about 2 or 3 weeks ago... I've seen it twice in that timespan. As always, Burton, is a visual genius. Film is a visual medium... it's photography... moving pictures. Many people forget that. Burton's films are always beautiful. His use of color in this film was superb. I love the switching between color, b&w, and sepia... of course, i thought the "2nd act" especially "God, that's Good" could have used more color. Favorite scene: "By the Sea". Gorgeous. Depp at his finest.

The acting was also wonderful. Alan Rickman will go down in history as my favorite Judge Turpin. His added scene with Anthony was just dazzling. "You've been gandering at my ward! You've been gandering!". And his singing voice just fit the character so well.

I really liked Helena Bonham Carter's portrayl of Mrs. Lovett. Considering what she's done in the past, she could have done more with the role, BUT I feel that she mixed the goofy/creepiness of Lansbury with the "sexiness" of LuPone.

Many people say that Depp underplayed Sweeney. Uhmmmm... yes, he did. It's a MOVIE. You don't have to play to that half dead woman in the back row of the balcony. OF COURSE he threw away my favorite line: "I'll come again when you have judge on the menu". Most actors overdo that line. Depp lost it. Of course, I think Depp's best acting is when he has no lines at all (Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon). He is such an expressive actor that he needs no lines. I remember several times where I found myself cracking up at his facial expressions... especially "By the Sea"... COMIC GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for the cuts... The one that hurt the most was A Little Priest. They cut all the funny lines... "With or without his privates", "Then blow on it". And thats a major problem with this film. I've always seen Sweeney as a dark comedy. A LOT of the comedy in this film was lost.

Uhmmm... How do you have a song called "God, that's Good" when you cut out: (a) the line(s) of the song where those words are spoken, (b) the religious aspect of that song (I'll get to that in a sec). I can't believe they cut the chorus from this. It worked for "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" and it was acceptable (once you hear Burton's BS excuse) for the ballads... its just doesnt work for this song.

Judge's "Johanna"-everyone cuts this. This is another thread in itelf. Same with "Parlor Songs". I feel that the parlor songs are important to the theme, but ill save that for another day.

Yeah... uhmmm... I don't think the audience really cared when the Beggar Woman died. Why? Uhmmm... because they only saw her in two scenes. Yes, I know it would have been a give away if they had to show her face, but theatre audiences of Sweeney develop, as with any character, a relationship with Lucy/Beggar Woman. That hardly exists in the film. Also I was sad that one of my favorites of all of Sondheim's music was cut, "City on Fire"... yes, the Beggar Woman sings it, but I love the lunatics' chorus. Oh... and whoever played the Beggar Woman was not enough of a belter.

The religious aspect... This is just something I've noticed over the years. Sondheim and Wheeler develop this throughout the show. e.g. "He served a dark and a vengeful god". It's furthered in the fact that Sweeney's chair is traditionally lowered from above. And in the song "GOD, that's Good". The consumers of the pies are essentially praying to this "god". By cutting the chorus' singing and by having Sweeney build the chair, this this removed from the film... I dunno. Just something I've picked up on.

Sweeney building his own chair, though, does fit in very well with Burton's concept of the film being like an old Boris Karloff/Lon Chaney film. The scene in the film sort of reminds me of Frankenstein creating his monster.

The thing that bugs me the most... TOBY'S LINE AT THE END IS CUT!! Therefore, he has NO justification for killing Sweeney and the end is super awkward.

Okay, that's all for now. I'll fill in more as I think of it.

[Matthew]

Jaymie and I pretty much feel the same on this topic.

[what_the_heck013]

This is something I just thought of... another "good" about the film. Burton was able to capture the mood of each scene so clearly through the images. And one thing that can be done in film (that Burton succeedes at) is being able to so vividly recreate the grimy and gross London, that "hole in the world like a great black pit". It's sooooooo much harder to do this onstage as well as Burton did on film.

[musical_maven]

[Not Dead Yet]

[Don't Tell Mama]

I agree with your review; particularly with your sentiments on "A Little Priest". It seemed that all the humour, the joy of being devious, was just sucked out of that song. Depp's expressions are wonderful in "By The Sea". The same with "The Worst Pies In London".

[Starlitsinger88]

I was just so sad because they cut my three favorite songs. I understand why that cut "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd", it just didn't fit with the way they were telling the story... but "Kiss Me"?!?! I was so angry. I felt there was no development with Johanna's character because of the lack of this song. She sang about some birds and then all the men worshiped her. It was kind of lame. And, as you mentioned, everyone cuts it, but I just so adore the Judge's "Johanna". It's so so lovely.

I didn't expect it to be good, so I came out happy. But, really... Kiss me? Why?

[Mistress]

I have to agree abiut Little Priest...it was TOO straightfaced, not enough of them relishing their cleverness and what not...and Tooby's fate was a little ambigous...A Sweeney Virgin seeing the movie for the first time wouldn't know that Toby was supposed to be insane. Having the boy seeing the Patty Cake song would have made the scene so much creepier, I think...and too much of the beggar woman's oart was cut and the actress shoukld have belted more, as was mentioned previously.

[Salome]

Everyone doesnt cut the Judge's mea culpa. .. the film was only the 2nd production to cut it next to the broadway original..its been in every other major production.

and btw..you though Lupone's drag queen locvett was sexy?????? ugh

[what_the_heck013]

[Mistress]

I don't know about Lupone...she isn't "sexy" per say, but her Lovett definitely has a strong sexuality about her.

Personally I wouldn't sleep with either Lupone or Mano (dodges flame throwers) but I might give Benjamin Eakely a try (His physical attractiveness actually worked for the Beadle...I think it worked well, at least, but each to his own opinion). But I suppose if I were given Lupone's Lovett to sleep with or Lansbury's, I'd go for Lupone's (dodges more flame throwers) but Given even more choice, I'd go for Judy Kaye. For a woman near 60, her Lovett was both Sexy and Sexual.

[Salome]

but my lesbian side would easily sleep with Lansbury in Dorian Gray or Gaslight.

LuPone wasnt even sexual she seemedl ike a drag queen vamping it up. i hated her lovett.

but i'd sleep with george hearn's sweeeny or Marc Jacoby's Turpin.

[Mistress]

[Salome]

not any turpin but marc jacoby and of course Alan Rickman.

[Mistress]

[Salome]

Marc jacoby is hot!! and as TRurpin he was incredibly suave.

[Mistress]

Alright, I'll take your word for it (I haven't seen him perform, but I have the revival cast recording, so I know what he sounds like, at least).

[Kragey]

I'll sleep with any Lovett except Lansbury, but that's just because I'm a whore.

[Mistress]

[Kragey]

[Mistress]

*Puts knife away* Itr's okay, hun, *pats head* each to our own preference