Sunday, November 7, 2010

Movie Review - Sweeney Todd

Image from Netflix
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2007 R 116 minutes

NETFLIX SAYS - Johnny Depp reteams with director Tim Burton for this big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, earning an Oscar nod as vengeful Sweeney Todd, who becomes a deranged murderer after being falsely imprisoned by a sinister judge (Alan Rickman). To cover his tracks, Todd enlists the help of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who disposes of the victims by baking them into tasty meat pies that become the toast of London.




IAN C SAYS - Burton and Depp have made more movies together than Laurel and Hardy, and like the classic comedy duo they stick to the same formula with every new venture. In Burton and Depp's case, the formula is 'Dark and Moody'.

A dark and moody Depp returns to a rather dark and moody looking London Town which suits Burton's set design perfectly. Depp's Todd happens across the dark and moody Mrs Lovett played by HBC, wearing the same hair and crazy look that she brought to Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies. The movie almost seemed like a dark and moody Harry Potter reunion at times with HBC, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall all involved.

I got the sensation that this entire movie was shot on a sound stage infront of a 'green screen' since the visual depth was missing in some of the scenes, especially the outdoor scenes. This may have been deliberate to simulate a Broadway Stage feeling, but it didn't work well for me.

Overall a great musical revenge movie, with lots of throat slashing and increasingly animated blood spurts. The lack of color makes the blood look redder and adds to the dark and moody feel of the movie. A nice twist at the end for those that don't know how the story turns out.

3 stars out of 5

No comments :

Most viewed pages (last 30 days)

Slap the Penguin, more than just a satirical news blog

.