Shakespearean Tragedy *big Spoilers*

Rating: 9/10 (22 December 2007)

I went to this movie thinking I knew what to expect, but I was wrong. This is an amazing film, but what really surprised me was how much it is like a Shakespearean tragedy. You have your two main tragic characters: Mr. Todd (Johnny Depp) and Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). They both have the same characteristics of Shakespeare's tragic characters. In the case of Sweeney Todd, he becomes so bent on revenge that nothing else matters to him. He doesn't even acknowledge Mrs. Lovett's infatuation with him. Mrs. Lovett, on the other hand is so in love with Todd she would do anything for him, including lying to the small boy, Toby, who is staying with her and considers her his new mom. This lie is one of the many small, tragic mistakes that are made throughout the movie leading up to the very tragic ending in which Todd mistakes his wife, Lucy (who Mrs. Lovett said was dead because of she is in love with Todd). Lucy was a crazy beggar woman on the streets because the poison she took to kill herself didn't kill her and actually mad her insane. He kills her when she becomes suspicious of what is going on at the barber and pie shops. He then finds out it was the crazy beggar woman who was his wife and gets fuming mad with Mrs. Lovett and throws her in the giant oven in which she makes her meat pies. Toby then sneaks up behind Todd and kills him while he is morning over his wife's body. I know that is a lot to think about which also makes it like a Shakespearean tragedy because in his tragedies there is so much messed up stuff going on and it is all leading up to the very tragic endings. The acting and singing is done very well by Depp and Helena Bohnam Carter and even Ed Sanders who plays Toby. Tim Burton does an excellent job once again with this film. I really hope to see him. Depp, and Bohnam Carter team up once again for another great film. So, if you enjoy Shakespearean tragedies and/or any of Tim Burton's films or even if you don't still give Sweeney Todd a chance. It's worth the risk.