Back to Hearn and Lansbury!

Rating: 7/10 (13 January 2008)

It's always difficult to highly rate a movie which has been previously performed as wonderfully as the stage version starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn.
The set, lighting and cinematography were magnificent. The music? As expected from one of the greatest musical writers of our time  Steven Sondheim. But for me the direction was spasmodic, especially in the first part of the story. It felt as if the audience were rushed into the tale itself and certain scenes were too short and 'staged' to maintain momentum.
Best performance came from Jamie Campbell Bower as the love torn sailor  showing enough emotion required for cinema. Timothy Spall did a great job as the slimy Beadle, as did Alan Rickman as the perverted Judge.
It seems that Burton tried to dilute stage expressions to such a degree that they were non-existent, especially from Helena Bonham Carter in the opening scenes. She appeared to be there only for the pay cheque.The boy apprentice, Toby, was also under-directed during his songs, but otherwise did a good job.
Although the film is entertaining and Depp is an acceptable Sweeney, the overall flow is slightly disjointed for newcomers to this tale. It became a film to watch, not to really be absorbed by.