Review of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) by Peter A — 14 Oct 2013

Sweeney Todd looks to be a real work of passion for Tim Burton. The Burton feel is there, but gone are much of his silly macabre quirks. He seemed to really want to make a serious movie, and Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham-Carter helped magnificently.

The two play their characters absolutely straight without deviating much into hilarity (the exception, of course, was when Lovett dreamed of living near the beach). Todd lives only for his vengeance, Lovett is desperate to escape her life.

They convey these themes without resorting to gross melodrama. The film stays relatively straightforward. It's a little slow to start, as it builds up to the horror, but when Todd begins his killing spree, the movie cuts loose on the horror.

It's very enjoyable. This was everything I'd expected Les Miserables to be. I can't quite put my finger on the difference between the two, but it seems like Johnny Depp is a much better singer, at least compared to Russell Crowe.

The singing in Sweeney Todd seemed to go better with the music, a lot better. Les Mis struck this discordant tone with me. I couldn't get into it, but I really liked the music in Todd. It felt like it helped drive the story, while Les Mis has a story only for the music to exist.

I don't know. But I do know Sweeney Todd is a solid movie, perfect for gearing up for Halloween.