Simple review for those who are and are not familiar with the Musical

Rating: 1/10 (5 November 2018)

For those who are not familiar with the musical this movie is based on and wrote bad reviews of the story, get a clue. Listen to the musical. It is one of Stephen Sondheim's most brilliant works. This musical is like Gilbert and Sullivan brought into the present. If you are unfamiliar with Gilbert and Sullivan, get another clue and find a production of one of their brilliant musicals.
For those who are familiar with the musical Sweeney Todd, this is a movie is a disaster. There is very little in this movie to commend itself. A number of musical pieces are left out, some of the songs pivotal to the story. One of the Sondheim signatures is the imbroglio; counterpoint blending of two, three or four or more singers. These were left out and it leaves me to wonder if the producers thought that more than two would might be too much for the audience. If this was the case, then they should never had made the film in the first place.
The singing talent of the crew is pathetic. Burton likes to use Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter in many of his films, as he did in this one. This was a time when he should have found other talent. I know Johnny Depp can sing, but his performance and singing was vapid and the direction of him was a travesty. Helen Bonham Carter's performance was also vapid and she can't sing to save her life. A poor choice since singing is a prerequisite for this movie. The only bright spot in this film and cast was Sacha Baron Cohen and his song was cut in half. Not enough to justify the movie. Alan Rickman is good with a nice baritone voice, but leaving out Judge Turpin's Mea Culpa really lessens the overall performance.
After watching this film, it makes me wonder why Tim Burton made it. It lacks any of Tim Burton's genius. It makes me wonder if he did this by choice or was, somehow, made to do this. If he did it by choice, then the overwhelming question that rises in my mind is, why?