How do I cut thy throat, let me count the ways

Rating: Null/10 (5 February 2008)

Make no mistake about it. This movie is about cutting throats, in an entirely literal sense, in a most sordid, graphic depiction (endlessly repeating coda of razor-throat-blood). Any way you can image a throat cut, Tim Burton gives it to you. It's a little bit like how they show you the maximum number of ways you can shoot in gun in "Shoot 'em up" (2007).
There is a much bigger chance of people flocking to see this movie being Tim Burton fans than Stephen Sondheim fans. It is disappointing on both scores. In the case of Burton, partly to blame is perhaps the huge publicity this movie has received. Knowing quite well the main plot (as I am sure many in the audience do), I find the story unfolding in pretty much the same way I anticipated, lacking the little twists and sparkles that have become expected from Burton. As to the music of Sondheim, who is best known for "A little night music" (which I had the good fortune to see Jean Simmons perform on stage) and "Into the wood", the problem is in the cast being first-rate actors but not very much by way of singers.
If there is one thing that stands out in this movie, it's the black humour, some of which actually requires the audience to pay attention to catch. For example, landlady Mrs Lovett suggests that Sweeney Todd should perhaps kill the young sailor who volunteers to rescue his daughter, then almost in the same breath sighs how her motherly love instinct can be fulfilled if the rescued daughter is brought under her care.
To say that this movie is disappointing in some ways is nowhere near to saying that it is a complete write-off. In addition to the typical Burton Gothic cinematography, there is one brilliant sequence of complete contrast in ethereal landscape and images  Mrs Lovett's fantasy of a life of matrimonial bliss with Todd. The twist at the end, even if many can see it coming, is still to the movie makers' credit as it does contribute to enhancing the complexity of the characters.
Burton's regulars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter deliver as they are supposed to in the eccentric characters they portray. Sacha Baron Cohen who will be remembered by many as "Borat" since 2006 is such fun to watch in this movie that you hope there would be more of him. Alan Rickman plays the standard villain with his usual dependability. Depp won the Golden Globe Best Actor (comedy and mucical) award by looking grim, tragic and psychopathic. No doubt Depp is a deserving actor but I'm not sure if this is his most deserving performance.