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Sierrah
Guest
I musical about a serial killer just doesn’t interest me. I like
Depp though. 
Depp though. 
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masterjedi747
Guest
Originally I didn’t even give it a second thought, but I’ve recently been hearing some surprisingly positive remarks from people that I generally trust… so I was just wondering what people around here think. Good? Bad? Worth seeing in theaters? Thanks in advance. :rolleyes
movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=sweeneytodd
rottentomatoes.com/m/1183955-sweeney_todd_the_demon_barber_of_fleet_street/
movie-list.com/trailers.php?id=sweeneytodd
rottentomatoes.com/m/1183955-sweeney_todd_the_demon_barber_of_fleet_street/
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masterjedi747
Guest
No one at all? I did intend to focus primarily on the movie, but opinions and comments based on the Broadway production are fine too, I was just looking for a general idea.
(And I realize I misspelled “Sweeney” in the title, but I can’t change that now…)
(And I realize I misspelled “Sweeney” in the title, but I can’t change that now…)
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kage_ar
Guest
I’m looking forward to seeing this next week with my Goddaughter.
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KCT
Guest
What I read is that it’s dark and violent.
Has Steve Greydanus reviewed it? --KCT
Has Steve Greydanus reviewed it? --KCT
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gibbsMed
Guest
Glorification of murder. 
I don’t think that’s something Christians should support.
I don’t think that’s something Christians should support.
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mschrank
Guest
If I want to see people getting their throats slashed, I’d look up the nick berg beheading video.
Really, with all the excessive violence and gore in the world… why do we want to entertain ourselves in this way? I’m not against violence if it has a purpose, I LOVED The 300, but purposeless violence and/or murder just seems distasteful to me. I know the Sweeney Todd story because I lived in the UK for several years, and it’s demonic… they don’t call him the Demon Barber for no reason.
Really, with all the excessive violence and gore in the world… why do we want to entertain ourselves in this way? I’m not against violence if it has a purpose, I LOVED The 300, but purposeless violence and/or murder just seems distasteful to me. I know the Sweeney Todd story because I lived in the UK for several years, and it’s demonic… they don’t call him the Demon Barber for no reason.
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masterjedi747
Guest
Glorification of murder.
But that’s the thing, I’ve heard that (setting the violence aside) it’s
*“very clearly a cautionary tale: One sinful choice can trigger an eventual avalanche of revenge and retribution that destroys everyone involved, even the innocent.”
“The 1979 Broadway version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was one of composer Steven Sondheim’s most beautiful and operatic scores, and debatably his most inventive stage production to date. He uses London’s industrial revolution as the musical’s coal dust-covered foundation. And through a fascinating narrative and scathing lyric, he shapes Sweeney’s gruesome butchery and gangrenous vengeance into a metaphoric statement about the era’s rampant corruption and greed. But even more powerfully, Sondheim uses Sweeney to make a tragic declaration that revenge is an evil that consumes and destroys everything it touches. …That powerful assertion continues to ring out in this film adaptation.”*-- PluggedIn
So I don’t know, mixed feelings I guess, not sure what to really think…
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thann
Guest
I can’t wait to see it. I’ve seen the play, which is incredible. It’s my favorite musical – the score and lyrics are brilliant.
It’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, and many people should not see it. It is, indeed, a cautionary tale – Todd and all of the other evil characters are done in by the end of the show. There’s a lot of moral teaching in it.
Do NOT take a child, and do your homework before seeing it. There’s a lot of blood and gore, and if the movie is like the play’s script, some sexual references, too.
'thann
It’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, and many people should not see it. It is, indeed, a cautionary tale – Todd and all of the other evil characters are done in by the end of the show. There’s a lot of moral teaching in it.
Do NOT take a child, and do your homework before seeing it. There’s a lot of blood and gore, and if the movie is like the play’s script, some sexual references, too.
'thann
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The_Truthinator
Guest
The movie is much worse graphically than the musical and theatrical productions.
It’s supposed to be gruesome to the point that many of the staff had to take “fresh air breaks” during filming. What’s more, I heard that Burton (whom I love without end) really mixed the message a bit and obscured the original’s statement about the dangers of revenge. Instead, it glorifies revenge to an extent and suggests a true sense of satisfaction derived from it…
As much as I love Burton, I’m definitely not seeing it. I don’t have the stomach, for one… and the obscure moral message is enough to convince me it’s not worth my money.
It’s supposed to be gruesome to the point that many of the staff had to take “fresh air breaks” during filming. What’s more, I heard that Burton (whom I love without end) really mixed the message a bit and obscured the original’s statement about the dangers of revenge. Instead, it glorifies revenge to an extent and suggests a true sense of satisfaction derived from it…
As much as I love Burton, I’m definitely not seeing it. I don’t have the stomach, for one… and the obscure moral message is enough to convince me it’s not worth my money.
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Conservative
Guest
Ordinarily, I’d be interested in something done by the lead actor - whose name is escaping me now (isn’t that awful? I’m having a senior moment here.) But I’d decided years ago not to see “Sweeney” - just not liking the title of the work itself. And now - opening on Christmas Day? Halloween, maybe - but on Christmas Day? What an insult to Christians.:nope:
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thann
Guest
It opened yesterday, not on Christmas.
The lead actor (I’m sure your senior moment has passed! LOL!) is Johnny Depp. I love most of his work, too.
My son saw it last night and loved it. He said it is, indeed, gorier than a stage production. Stage productions, though, cannot possibly be that gorey because of the logistics of the blood on the stage/actors/scenery/costumes.
Anyway, I plan to see it next weekend. It’s certainly not for everyone. And I’ll see for myself if it strays from the cautionary tale aspect of the original script.
'thann
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masterjedi747
Guest
For what it’s worth, I heard from someone that it was originally planned to be released around Halloween, but then something happened and for whatever reason the opening was forced back to around Christmas. (Of course it would be nice if I could find documentation of that fact online somewhere, but I’m not having much luck at the moment…)
But you’re right, I did something of a double-take (mild shock + disbelieving laugher) when the trailer got to the whole “This Christmas… Never forget. Never forgive.” line.
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Conservative
Guest
Thanks for the corrections (LOL) Now that the senior moment has passed, guess it’s time to get my ears checked!
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Jaypeeto4
Guest
Sweeney Todd
was originally a Broadway musical back around 1979.
The movie is simply the Broadway show on Film.
I was a Theatre major in college back in 1979, and I had a copy of the script of Sweeney Todd.
The “demon barber of Fleet Street,” Mr. Todd,
is a man filled with revenge. He runs a barbershop where he
“shaves the faces of gentlemen, who never, thereafter,
were heard of again.”
The reason they are never heard of again is that he
slits their throats while shaving them. He then chops up
their bodies and gives them to his female friend, to serve
as hot meat pies to the guests of her Inn.
For these reasons, I did not then, and do not now,
like the story of Sweeney Todd and I definitely do not recommend taking children to see this movie. It is not fitting subject matter for kids, it is morbid and sick.
God bless,
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
was originally a Broadway musical back around 1979.
The movie is simply the Broadway show on Film.
I was a Theatre major in college back in 1979, and I had a copy of the script of Sweeney Todd.
The “demon barber of Fleet Street,” Mr. Todd,
is a man filled with revenge. He runs a barbershop where he
“shaves the faces of gentlemen, who never, thereafter,
were heard of again.”
The reason they are never heard of again is that he
slits their throats while shaving them. He then chops up
their bodies and gives them to his female friend, to serve
as hot meat pies to the guests of her Inn.
For these reasons, I did not then, and do not now,
like the story of Sweeney Todd and I definitely do not recommend taking children to see this movie. It is not fitting subject matter for kids, it is morbid and sick.
God bless,
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
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CelticSword
Guest
What probably happened was that the studio execs smelled a few Oscar nominations and then pushed the movie back into the more traditional “Oscar season” to keep it fresh in the minds of the Academy voters.
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child_of_God85
Guest
I saw this movie today ( I know, really great movie to see on Christmas), and i did like it. The acting was top notch (please let Johnny Deep win an award for this), the sets and costumes were incredible, and yes, even the singing was great. Buuut, it has to be the bloodiest movie I’ve ever seen. So it’s not a movie to take children to.
I totaly disagree with whoever said it glorifies revenge. It’s the complete opposite. I won’t give anything away, but it definately shows that revenge is not good.
I totaly disagree with whoever said it glorifies revenge. It’s the complete opposite. I won’t give anything away, but it definately shows that revenge is not good.
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child_of_God85
Guest
I’ll probably get the title totally wrong, but he was in a movie called 60 minutes or something like that. Probably the most notmal Ive ever seen him.
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Auntie_A
Guest
The stage version of Sweeney Todd was written in the style of the Grand Guignol. That means it is like a large, shocking puppet opera-melodrama. I dislike most horror plays and movies-they seem baseless and immature but I loved Sweeney Todd when I first heard it and then saw it back in the '70’s.
When I was 24, my friend played me the score and narrated the story and I was sucked into a different time and space for two hours. At the end of listening, I was weeping for the characters and I was ecstatic about this theatrical and musical creation. It was my first Sondheim musical that I really understood right from the start while listening to the recording! Then my friend took me to see the Hal Prince production with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. The production had a unity, style, and depth that you don’t see much onstage. Of course, at intermission I remember three older women were crying in the lobby because it scared them so. They were very upset because they were expecting an afternoon of musical comedy, perhaps something like “South Pacific” (a very good musical, by the way). The whistles, screeches, and music were scarier than Hitchcock’s “Psycho” music and gave me a very real inclusion into Sweeney’s desperate world. It is probably one of the best moments of entertainment that I have ever experienced.
I have not seen the movie yet. I fear that Depp and Bonham-Carter will be lightweights with this material. I think that the medium of film and celebrity-worship will distort this story for many people and that it may illuminate only the sensational parts. I expect Tim Burton to lack a moral depth and grandiosity for this opera-musical. There is a powerful moral to this dark tale.
But I will probably go to a bargain matinee and will prepare to be disappointed. If I enjoy it, I will be surprised.
I will not be taking any children with me. Or sensitive older ladies. Teens should probably have a well-developed frontal lobe and moral compass before watching this.
I might post another response after seeing the movie…Oh, and yes, I also loved “Jersey Girl”'s play within a play. It was the best part of the film and reminded me of some little girls in my life who have survived some pretty strong traumas and expect their dramas to be equal to their own experiences.
When I was 24, my friend played me the score and narrated the story and I was sucked into a different time and space for two hours. At the end of listening, I was weeping for the characters and I was ecstatic about this theatrical and musical creation. It was my first Sondheim musical that I really understood right from the start while listening to the recording! Then my friend took me to see the Hal Prince production with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. The production had a unity, style, and depth that you don’t see much onstage. Of course, at intermission I remember three older women were crying in the lobby because it scared them so. They were very upset because they were expecting an afternoon of musical comedy, perhaps something like “South Pacific” (a very good musical, by the way). The whistles, screeches, and music were scarier than Hitchcock’s “Psycho” music and gave me a very real inclusion into Sweeney’s desperate world. It is probably one of the best moments of entertainment that I have ever experienced.
I have not seen the movie yet. I fear that Depp and Bonham-Carter will be lightweights with this material. I think that the medium of film and celebrity-worship will distort this story for many people and that it may illuminate only the sensational parts. I expect Tim Burton to lack a moral depth and grandiosity for this opera-musical. There is a powerful moral to this dark tale.
But I will probably go to a bargain matinee and will prepare to be disappointed. If I enjoy it, I will be surprised.
I will not be taking any children with me. Or sensitive older ladies. Teens should probably have a well-developed frontal lobe and moral compass before watching this.
I might post another response after seeing the movie…Oh, and yes, I also loved “Jersey Girl”'s play within a play. It was the best part of the film and reminded me of some little girls in my life who have survived some pretty strong traumas and expect their dramas to be equal to their own experiences.
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