Deliriously Dull

Rating: 2/10 (1 May 2008)

With a terrible libretto (if you could even call it that), thin uncaring characters, and pedantically predictable art-direction I'm amazed ANYONE could give this celluloid heap any more than a 4.
Though I never saw the original, it seems to me that the best assets of the intent of the story :: dark HUMOR :: were woefully snipped out... Leaving an over-produced, cheesy looking and sounding husk of an idea endlessly wailing for one's attentions.
Just because something is a musical does not mean that nearly every line must be sung. It shouldn't, and this one really shouldn't have. The golden-age of musicals is long dead, and this film put a definitively large and craggy bunch of nails into an aged coffin. I'd challenge anyone to find ONE memorable melody in this paint by numbers production.
I strongly feel that Tim Burton is best when he tries not to be too serious; and though Sondheim may have fans as a semi-witty lyricist (that's what he really is folks - a lyricist); let's be honest here: he's a TERRIBLE composer.
Save your time, your money - and even more-so - your ears.