Good, but not perfect adaptation of the classic musical

Rating: 7/10 (22 December 2007)

Alright, I went to see the movie adaptation of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' and thought it was amazing, but being a fan of the original Broadway stage versions I do have some complaints. The bloods levels were necessary is some parts, but some just ruined the moments. During the song 'Johanna' which is one of my favorite songs in the show, Sweeney will be slitting some throats. The thing that makes the stage version better for that song is that the blood isn't a distraction. You only see like a red line go across their throat, then down the chute they go. When the movie had blood flying everywhere in a real sort of way it was extremely hard to concentrate on the song. Another part was that they cut out some of the songs and lyrics to cut down the 3 hour musical into a 2 hour movie, another disappointment for a guy who loves the play like me. Now of course the big thing is how Depp was able to portray Sweeney and SING! Alright, shut up Depp fan-girls. He is not some sort of miracle singer. He's an alright singer, but a much better actor. His voice has menace, though pirate fans may have to hold back a snicker at the fact that when he says certain lyrics he sounds like Captain Jack Sparrow live on Broadway. I think in a movie musical he was well cast as the tormented barber who has lost everything near and dear to him, except his precious razors. Helena Bonham Carter did well as the sociopath Mrs. Lovett whose good idea is to turn Sweeney's victims into pies for her own profit. Sacha Baron Cohen who did well last year in his surprisingly critically well received 'BORAT' comes back to the big screen with a marvelous portray of the flamboyant street barber Signor Adolfo Pirelli, and I myself wouldn't have wanted to cast anyone else, the character seems like him. Finally Alan Rickman provided a truly menacing portrayal of Judge Turpin; Sweeney's nemesis and reason why he wants revenge. All and all the 1982 Broadway performance (On DVD) starring George Hearn and Angela Lansbury will always be my favorite musical version of this tale of revenge. Aside from me finding some parts a bit too violent I will give it a high rating. I give Burton's Sweeney a 10/10 instead of a 9/10 just because Sweeney Todd is my 2nd favorite musical, and the scenery, costumes, and atmosphere of the movie was brilliant.