You know what Sweeney Todd doesn't have enough of? Blood!

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2007)

Yet another movie that teams Tim Burton and Johnny Depp together -- with the exception of Helena Bonham Carter who seems to tag along with the team as well. Sweeney Todd is the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about a wrongly convicted barber coming back to London with a vengeance.
First off, being a musical, I had my doubts about the casting. But I was thoroughly impressed with Depp's vocal talent and range. I was less impressed with Carter's however, but she manages. Moving past their vocal limitations, the way they convey the mood of the song and exactly what they're saying is tremendous. It shows they are true actors, not just singers.
My only qualm about the movie was the first half-hour. First was Depp's entrance. It was hard to get past the idea of Jack Sparrow and it sure doesn't help that he uses the same accent and his first scene is on a ship. A black, ghostly one, at that. But after a while, I hardly even noticed it. The other dragger was the non-stop songs. Within the first half-hour, there had to be maybe ten songs with at least three lines of dialogue here or there. It was quite slow. However, once it got to the contest, it picked up pace fast.
Burton's directing style is superb with visuals that resonate long after the movie is over. He directs the actors perfectly in achieving a Gothic Victorian style.
This would be a great movie and one I would want everyone to see if it weren't for all that blood. The first half-hour is tame. But it's all downhill from there. One song consists of throat after throat after throat after throat being slit. But what really grabbed me is that it was so much that the people around me started laughing! This movie is not for the faint of heart. When Tim Burton says I want blood, he gets blood.
Other than that, a delightful, and quite a comical movie about a tragedy. And i cannot get that stupid song out of my head -- "it's priest, have a little priest..." It's bloody wonderful!