Sweeney Todd: The Movie Musical

[Moveindyfan7]

Another great Broadway musical turned into a film. "Sweeney Todd" was just revived on Broadway this past season, and is now looking forward to hitting the big screen in 2007. Johnny Depp has truly come a long way from his days on 21 Jump Street. He has truly carved a career that is really extraordinary. Now we will really see another side of this amazing actor, this time singing in a musical. Movie Musicals have made a huge comeback in recent years and I have been excited about everyone of them. This film should turn out to be another hit, considering Johnny is again teaming up with Tim Burton for this film. I have so much respect for him, and I am always pleased with his creative choices. Thankfully he has recently been getting the recognition that he deserves. From Oscar nods, to his most recent Favorite Male Movie Star nomination for the upcoming People's Choice Awards. Be sure to cast your votes @ www.pcavote.com I got to vote the day the nominations came out because I work with the People's Choice Community.

[Tagia_Romero]

You know what, I'd really dig seeing this one. I've always had a thing for the Sweeny Todd story, and it being turned into a musical by Tim Burton starring his man muse Johnny Depp, that's more of a reason to be intrigued.

[AaronisMe]

It's a great cast so far. Depp, Carter, Cohen. And Tim Burton's humor is very close to Sondheim's.

[yoyoyah]

This better be good - the musical has got to be my favourite. High hopes for this one

[Tyler_Durden_208]

I can't be the only one who thinks Burton needs to take a vacation and that has no interest in this whatsoever.

[yorrick brown]

The trailer opens with the usual studio logos, but quickly transforms the Warner Bros. logo into the streets of London. There is some great eerie music in the beginning, as the narrator explains that a barber named Benjamin Barker (Depp) had everything he could ever want (wife, kids, etc.) until some corrupt government officials arrest him and “take everything he’s ever loved.” Barker returns to London to find wife and kid dead, changes his name to Sweeney Todd, and decides to use his profession to exact revenge on those that wronged him.



Alan Rickman plays the government official responsible for Barker’s incarceration, but apparently he does not recognize him as Sweeney Todd. He is shown sitting in Sweeney Todd’s terrifying attic barbershop, which puts him in a very compromised position. There’s no telling whether or not this is early or late in the film, nor what will happen to his character as a result.

http://www.collider.com/entertainment/news/article.asp/aid/5457/tcid/1

When the trailer really gets going, there is an awesome shot of Todd’s ghost ship appearing through the fog, perhaps signaling an escape from bondage. It looks amazing, and there is a driving violin progression which really amps up the energy of the movie.



It’s also really great how the early portions of the trailer (the Benjamin Barker portions) are bright and colorful, while the Sweeney Todd portions are evident of the darkest times in London. It’s a great contrast and really sets the mood of the movie.



Depp looks awesome playing the manic Sweeney Todd, an extreme version of Edmond Dantes who is bent on revenge no matter what the cost. His blade gleams against the dark scenery, and he makes some very profound slices and dices later in the trailer. Rickman is playing his usual slimy bad guy, and Helena Bonham Carter is doing another drugged out tramp role. Sasha Baron Cohen even makes a quick appearance in the trailer, dressed in a sharp blue tunic with a pink cape that stands out from the gray and black tone of the rest of the trailer.



There really isn’t much in terms of the film’s music (it is a musical), but expect some great musical numbers, and it looks like it is done in Burton’s signature macabre style. Depp does sing a few notes, vowing vengeance for his dead wife and child.



It looks like there will be a focus on humor as well. At the end of the trailer, Sweeney Todd exclaims “At last, my arm is complete again!” to which Carter’s character replies “That’s all very well, but what’re going to do about him?” referring to a body in a box.



Though there’s been some talk of the movie being pushed to a PG-13 for marketability, there seems to be no sign of it in the trailer. The trailer is dark, gritty, and even shows some pretty sickly kills. I would say that the blood will flow. At one very cool moment, Rickman says “And may the lord have mercy on your soul,” followed by an emphatic blade slice, resulting in a splatter of CGI blood across the screen. In terms of actual kills, it’s hard to say which characters are axed as a result of these particular kills (I have not seen the musical), but one is dropped headfirst through a trap door, another stuffed inside a box (their arm dangles from an opening).



The trailer itself has a 2:23 run time, which is enough to get a great idea of what the story will offer. The trailer I saw is obviously not a final cut, as it ends with what looks like some unfinished CGI of 19th century England, so I don’t even know if this will be the trailer the general public sees.



Either way, I just thought I’d let you know. Keep up the great work and have a good one.

[Bourne101]

Can't wait for this one. Depp + Burton = classic!

[dreamcurls]

oh hells yeah!
i can't wait for this either
there's also an official site, kinda. it don't have much on it though. you can sign up for e-mail updates. i hope they put a trailer up on ther very soon!!!
click here (http://sweeneytoddmovie.com) to view the site.
:D

[dreamcurls]

:cool:

[TeeRay]

I don't know about this one. Burton's last two films were weak (particuraly Corpse Bride).

I'll probably end up seeing it anyway, but i'm not pumped for it.

[BadCoverVersion]

I hope Depp's ridiculous Bride Of Frankenstein barnet is a wig that will be taken off at some point during the film...as a bald Sweeney Todd is much more menacing...and well, just 'proper' for want of a better description.

Ray Winstone wore a rather camp hairpiece for the BBC production but it at least appeared to fit the time period...and when it came off he looked pretty terrifying.

http://www.copperlily.com/AboutRayWinstone/Images/sweeneytodd1.jpg

I'm not holding out much hope for this as Burton has made a couple of clunkers of late, most notably POTA and Wonka, however I did really like Big Fish.

I just find Burton's obsession with gothic imagery, costume, make-up a bit irritating...he finally gets a chance to really lay it on thick (seeing as we're talking 18th Century London here) and I've seen it all before and I'm bored already...hey-ho.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by TeeRay
I don't know about this one. Burton's last two films were weak (particuraly Corpse Bride).

I'll probably end up seeing it anyway, but i'm not pumped for it.


I in actuality loved Corpse Bride, but I do think his last great live action film was Sleepy Hollow, after seeing Charlie and the Chocolate factory I have very little interest in this. I think he needs a kick up the ass as he used to be great now hes just overrated.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Tagia_Romero
You know what, I'd really dig seeing this one. I've always had a thing for the Sweeny Todd story, and it being turned into a musical by Tim Burton starring his man muse Johnny Depp, that's more of a reason to be intrigued.

Tim Burton did not turn it into a musical, Stephen Sondheim, it debuted on Broadway in 1979.

[Bourne101]

There is no way (IMO), that Tim Burton is overrated. Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were loved by critics and the general public, and it showed with 83% and 84% fresh ratings, respectively, on RT.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Bourne101
There is no way (IMO), that Tim Burton is overrated. Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were loved by critics and the general public, and it showed with 83% and 84% fresh ratings, respectively, on RT.

I don't know what they were thinking Charlie and the Chocolate factory, was horrible the songs were shit and aside from the squirrel's bit was perhaps the most pointless remake ever!

I don't actually know anyone who actually liked it.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by Bourne101
There is no way (IMO), that Tim Burton is overrated. Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were loved by critics and the general public, and it showed with 83% and 84% fresh ratings, respectively, on RT.

Well that there is good enough reason to call the man overrated...since Charlie & The Chocolate Factory is a heap of crap.

Planet Of The Apes was dire also. Mars Attacks is mediocre at best. He's had quite a few obvious misses amongst his hits.

I quite like him...but I don't consider his name to be a stamp of quality on a film.

[Elgyn]

The play is AWESOME (and I usually hate musicals). I highly recommend getting a VHS copy of the stage production before seeing Burton`s version.

Can`t wait for this!

[Cronos]

II'm really looking forward to this, aside from Planet Of The Apes i've never been disappointed with his films, i thought Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a lot of fun.

[Bourne101]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
overrated...since Charlie & The Chocolate Factory is a heap of crap.

Yeah, but that's your opinion, and you are in the minority.

[Bourne101]

Originally posted by Bourne101
Yeah, but that's your opinion, and you are in the minority. I thought Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was excellent.

[Bourne101]

.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Bourne101
Yeah, but that's your opinion, and you are in the minority.

The minority where? I don't know anyone who liked it, and it's better for her to have an opinion than have to rely on reviewers and the misguided public opinions, instead of forming her own.

Sweeney Todd was a shit musical but its very well received and got great revues. I think bastardizing a good horror story and making it a musical with shit songs is a really crap idea, Evil Dead the musical is a good recent example. Also Sweeney Todd was an Ugly man with no hair who hung out with prostitutes, he did not have a fucking pinstriped suit and the bride of Frankenstein's hair.

I liked Tim Burton until he stopped making good films, and started making remakes thats were inferior to the original.

His Charlie and the chocolate factory was devoid of all the English Eccentricity's that made it great and was we were left with was a a stupidly suited Depp gurning around horrific kids in between shit songs, even the umpa lumpas were cgi'd and crappy.

As for his take on Planet of the apes, bah!

I love depp and I love the majority of Burton's films and yes have seen all, as well as owning all but 2 of them, but he's off the boil and does no longer deserves the ball licking hes getting here.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by Bourne101
Yeah, but that's your opinion, and you are in the minority.

Must people insist on constantly throwing out the “well that’s just your opinion” defence? OF COURSE ITS MY OPINION, every thought or feeling we have is effectively a fucking opinion. I think it, I wrote it, I just typed it. If the best argument you can come up with is that a bunch of faceless reviewers liked it so therefore I’m automatically wrong then you seriously need to work on your debating skills.

Every conversation ends with a cop-out “that’s your opinion”, like opinions count for nothing these days…unless they suit your argument of course, thus we must recognise the opinion of JimBob from Shitsville, Tx…some toothless moron with an I.Q of 12 who managed to wiggle his mouse on a barometer thingy down at the Imdb. Or some brown-nosing hack reviewer desperately trying to get his two-bit quote above Depp’s noggin on the DVD box. These people ALL have opinions…and they really liked Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Give them a peanut.

IN MY OPINION Charlie & The Chocolate Factory was a wholeheartedly disappointing affair. The bitter edge of the original was lost in favour of a saccharine sweet centre and that saddened me. Every child’s demise was met with a tacky pop ditty performed by the most irritating dwarf in the world. Only Highmore’s performance topped that of it’s predecessor and Johnny Depp might as well have phoned it in. I didn’t get the ridiculous veneers and Little Lord Fauntleroy bob either…they only served to make Wonka look like a bit of a twat.

Anyway, I hope Sweeney Todd surprises me…as IN MY OPINION it don’t look right clever. Although since everybody on here is eagerly anticipating release day and I am ‘in the minority’ I might as well just go and slit my throat eh.

[Psychocandy]

I'm a Tim Burton fan. Loved pretty much everything he did from Edward Scissorhands up until and including Sleepy Hollow (with the exception of Mars Attacks which was just ok). Pre-Edward Scissorhands I loved Beetlejuice but as the years have rolled on i've grown to dislike his first Batman movie enormously (Batman Returns was much better). Post Sleepy Hollow the guy has lost his mojo in the most spectacular way in my opinion (although I did glean some enjoyment from Big Fish). Charlie And The Chocolate Factory was mediocre bordering on embarassing. It has a few choice moments where it is fleetingly entertaining. But these are few and far between. I really wanted to like it. Same goes for The Corpse Bride. Visually it was absolutely stunning. But for some reason as the end credits rolled I felt unmoved. I've never seen Planet Of The Apes and probably never will. The original was an intrinsic part of my childhood and i'm not interested in a half cocked remake. I think it's possible that Sweeney Todd may see a return to form for Burton. Visually it looks absolutely sumptuous and certainly the images i've seen thus far suggest a throwback to his earlier visual style. I have my fingers crossed.

[john_rambo]

I must be a freak cause I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory AND Planet of the Apes... dont hurt me... this movie is gonna be sick tho

[Elgyn]

Sweeney Todd was a shit musical but its very well received and got great revues. .

WHOA!!!! Really? I can`t stand musicals but I love "Sweeney Todd"!

As for Burton`s "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" remake, I thought it was completely unneccesary and was completely lacking the depth of the origianl (movie, i mean). Plus I`m sorry, I really like Johnny Depp but he was ALL WRONG for Wonka. Crispin Glover or Jim Carrey would`ve been much better. And the songs were AWFUL (except for the one for Veruca Salt). Still, there were a few good moments here and there.

[Monotreme]

Well I just happen to like the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory re-make, and I also thought that Corpse Bride was a beautiful and mesmerizing film and criminally underrated. So I haven't at all lost any faith in Burton - quite the contrary; Big Fish is my favourite movie of his and that was recent work. But this, this just looks so... pitch-perfect. Can anything go wrong with it, I ask? It's Burton directing a MUSICAL about a murderous barber with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. I ask for no more than this. PLEASE don't disappoint me, Tim (although I doubt that will happen)!