There's a Hole in the World

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2007)

Greetings again from the darkness. Upfront admission ... I am a huge Tim Burton fan. I think he is a film genius. Unlike many, however, I don't believe this is his best work. Still, it is incredibly creative and stylish. It's just missing something.
For a musical, the lead voices are mediocre at best. Rickman is barely passable. Young Ed Sanders who plays Toby had far and away the most impressive voice, while newcomer Jayne Wisener (Johanna) has such a high pitch that it made me wish for her parakeet to chirp instead. Depp and Bonham Carter are OK, but one expects stronger vocals for a Stephen Sondheim production.
Be prepared for an overdose of spurting blood, but there is enough comic distraction to offset. Sacha Baron Cohen has a funny bit as a con man/ competing barber and Timothy Spall is just so funny looking that you can't help but chuckle whenever his ugly mug hits the screen.
Still not sure what was missing here, but I felt it falls short of greatness despite the amazing visual feast of Bonham Carter's dream. Of course it goes without saying that the great Sondheim songs are pure brilliance. His talent is so unique when compared to most Broadway production numbers.