| SWEENEY TODD is a movie that I respect more than I actually love, as I can't really see anything wrong with it, yet it didn't blow me away as past Burton films have. One thing's for sure: it ain't got nothing on EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. I'm not really a fan of musicals, but between this, ONCE, and HAIRSPRAY, I find it hard to keep saying that. SWEENEY actually has the best story of the three, yet it's also my least favorite. I can't quite put my finger on why. Perhaps there's just something about musicals that make them work better as cheerful romps than bleak gorefests. While HAIRSPRAY was like an injection of sunshine and rainbows, SWEENEY is the exact opposite. It's excessively dark, gothic, and bloody. That's not to say it doesn't have a sense of humor, however, as it often has a tongue-and-cheek vibe added atop the gruesome proceedings. There's really nothing bad to say about this film. If you think you'll like it, you probably will. It's just a matter of preference. The music is good, the acting is terrific, the style is classic Tim Burton... it's exactly what most viewers will be hoping for. 7 OUT OF 10 |