| Posted by: APzombie at March 12, 2008, 4:34 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | I disliked it for one reason. It was soooo predictable. From the moment i heard Burton was doing Sweeny Todd. I knew what it would look like, who he would cast and what the tone was. This is the same film he would have made years and years ago. I understand people love a style from directors they can come to expect and so do i, i just don't like it when its the same beat. This predictability made it neither exiting or interesting for me. **/**** | | Static Link |
| Posted by: therealjohng at March 9, 2008, 11:59 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | The only things good Burton has done in my opinion have been Ed Wood and Corpse Bride. I can't stand his movies at all. I've never really cared for the characters in his movies because he never cares about them. His movies are all about visuals. Having said that, I really, really dug this film a lot. Especially the last 15 minutes. 8/10. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Cottonmouth at February 26, 2008, 11:57 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | The acting is great, the production is beautiful, and the story is well-executed. The singing is actually better than you'd expect; I just didn't think the songs were well written. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: bigred760 at February 25, 2008, 9:18 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Really enjoyed it; Depp and Carter deliver great acting and singing performances, Burton offers some dark and gothic sets and settings, and the story and characters were interesting, including what happens to everyone and everything at the end. 8/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: PreySlayDisplay at February 23, 2008, 2:41 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | I was finally able to see this in my town at a $2 theater. The main theater for some reason never played it, which I'll never understand why. But anways, Tim Burton's rendition of this deliciously morbid and murderous play is totally awesome. Musicals aren't usually my thing, but this one flowed so naturally that it almost didn't even seem like a musical. I found it hypnotic and immersive. And I'm sure I don't need to tell you how awesome the performances were. 5/5 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: X-Nightcrawler at February 21, 2008, 11:40 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Found it to be godawful. I can't even enjoy the 'cool' visuals because it's the same fucking thing Burton's been spitting for years, and it's this dull, bleak atmosphere that makes the movie so boring. The script is terribly written, with predictable twists and untied loose ends. An entire cast of unlikable, uninteresting characters (seriously, not one likable guy?). Overdramatic music, awful songs and terrible singing by Depp (god knows I like him, but a singer he ain't). The violence is overthetop and disgusting, and I guess I can't blame the acting for being bland and lifeless, because I'm pretty sure that was on purpose. 3/10. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: other_echoes at February 21, 2008, 6:36 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | I actually quite liked this film. The musical numbers weren't all that bad, and Depp's singing voice is a bit Bowie-esque, hah. About the bloodshed... it's not something I mind, and my stomach's quite strong when it comes to these things lol, but I couldn't eat anything for a while after walking out of the cinema | | Static Link |
| Posted by: ilovemovies at February 21, 2008, 5:03 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | I didn't like it at all. The production design and overall look of the movie is great, though that's hardly surprising since Tim Burton movies always look great. Helen Bonham Carter is probably the best thing about the movie giving a pretty good performance. But the movie kinda sucks. It starts off okay but once the bloodshed starts happening that is where the movie goes downhill. As a revenge movie there is surprisingly lack of visceral satisfaction. As a musical the movie is pretty forgettable since none of the tunes are particularly memorable. The movie (as well as the main character) is suppose to be dark and tragic instead it's just dreary, silly and quite frankly extremely dumb. Johnny Depp gives a surprisingly lackluster and rather dull and one note performance. But he does sing somewhat impressively. I REALLY disliked the movie in the end. A LOT. 4/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: bigred760 at February 15, 2008, 4:16 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Monotreme Thanks I posted this story in the General Movie Talk forum, but it's also appropriate here, so I'll post it again: I saw the movie again yesterday with a bunch of friends, and pretty much off the bat this retard sitting next to me taps me on the shoulder and innocently asks: "Did you know this was a musical? Because I thought it would be an action movie..." So I rolled me eyes and groaned that of course I knew it was a musical, everybody did. So at the end of the film, the guy turns to me again and tells me "You know, when I saw it was a musical I thought it would be gay, but I have to tell ya - the movie is really poetic, it's like Shakespeare, it's very deep!" And I was totally surprised! This reminds me of when movies are not in English and people ask me if I knew that there would be subtitles. I hate crap like that. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: DaMovieMan at February 15, 2008, 2:22 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | oh. my. GOD. That guy really is a retard if he's comparing this film to one of the greatest minds of literature. Even if Todd was a perfect 10/10 it shouldn't be uttered in the same breath as Shakespeare. Ouff shit like that pisses me off!!! Monotreme, from one reviewer to another, your review was excellent even though i agree with about 5 % of it. I'm honestly stunned at the love for this film. In the words of Daniel Plainview, "Tim Burton is not a genius, I've got news for you people" | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Shockwave at February 15, 2008, 12:26 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Monotreme Thanks I posted this story in the General Movie Talk forum, but it's also appropriate here, so I'll post it again: I saw the movie again yesterday with a bunch of friends, and pretty much off the bat this retard sitting next to me taps me on the shoulder and innocently asks: "Did you know this was a musical? Because I thought it would be an action movie..." So I rolled me eyes and groaned that of course I knew it was a musical, everybody did. So at the end of the film, the guy turns to me again and tells me "You know, when I saw it was a musical I thought it would be gay, but I have to tell ya - the movie is really poetic, it's like Shakespeare, it's very deep!" And I was totally surprised! One in a million. Thats one in a million. It was disgusting how many people ive heard walking out after seeing this, wondering why the hell they "had to do so much singing!?" | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Monotreme at February 15, 2008, 11:52 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Shockwave Great review MONTREME. Thanks I posted this story in the General Movie Talk forum, but it's also appropriate here, so I'll post it again: I saw the movie again yesterday with a bunch of friends, and pretty much off the bat this retard sitting next to me taps me on the shoulder and innocently asks: "Did you know this was a musical? Because I thought it would be an action movie..." So I rolled me eyes and groaned that of course I knew it was a musical, everybody did. So at the end of the film, the guy turns to me again and tells me "You know, when I saw it was a musical I thought it would be gay, but I have to tell ya - the movie is really poetic, it's like Shakespeare, it's very deep!" And I was totally surprised! | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Monotreme at February 14, 2008, 12:17 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | (Tim Burton, 2007) Going to the movies is almost always a gamble. Good reviews, award nominations, and impressive casts or creative teams aren't always enough. Eventually it all boils down to personal preference and taste. A viewer can be totally alienated by a critically acclaimed, award-winning opus, while at the same time fall in love with a ridiculed, derided critical bomb. But every once in a while, a film comes along that can simply do no wrong. Dangerous as it occasionally is, going in to Sweeney Todd I pretty much knew I would love it. Between it being a R-rated, serious musical, one of my favourite genres; starring two of my favourite actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter; and directed by my all-time favourite director Tim Burton, I was pretty certain that I would find more than enough in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to enjoy. And was I glad to not be disappointed. The film is one of the greatest recent examples of a perfect marriage of cinematic creative team and source mate... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Monotreme at February 14, 2008, 12:14 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | (Tim Burton, 2007) Going to the movies is almost always a gamble. Good reviews, award nominations, and impressive casts or creative teams aren't always enough. Eventually it all boils down to personal preference and taste. A viewer can be totally alienated by a critically acclaimed, award-winning opus, while at the same time fall in love with a ridiculed, derided critical bomb. But every once in a while, a film comes along that can simply do no wrong. Dangerous as it occasionally is, going in to Sweeney Todd I pretty much knew I would love it. Between it being a R-rated, serious musical, one of my favourite genres; starring two of my favourite actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter; and directed by my all-time favourite director Tim Burton, I was pretty certain that I would find more than enough in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to enjoy. And was I glad to not be disappointed. The film is one of the greatest recent examples of a perfect marriage of cinematic creative team and source mate... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: pg13myass at February 8, 2008, 4:40 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | So it's been announced by Dreamworks that Sweeney Todd will see an official DVD release in the date of April 1, 2008. That was quick! So far, the details are that a standard DVD and a HD-DVD release are confirmed. No word yet on a 2-disc or Blu-Ray version. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: BadCoverVersion at February 6, 2008, 5:22 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | My anticipation for this one was low bordering on non-existent...but I enjoyed it overall and thought the majority of the performances and set pieces were very good. The film captured the mood of foggy Victorian London town perfectly, and every character looked an absolute treat...from the yellow haired harpies of the insane asylum to the fey fop on the street. I hated the first 15 minutes or so, mainly because I could not 'connect' with the plodding music...it just seemed like a endless slew of repetitive rhyme for a short while, with no real structure...and little by way of an actual fully-formed SONG! I also seriously disliked the CGI heavy opening credits. I found the performances of the supporting players were the real highlight. Sacha Baron Cohen was a dapper delight, as was a sniveling Timothy Spall (as per usual) and the small boy playing Pirelli's assistant had a great voice and an even greater presence. A couple of the songs were stand-out...the ditty about Pirelli's Miracle Elixer and the song in ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: john_rambo at February 6, 2008, 5:14 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | 10/10 WHAT A GREAT FREAKING MOVIE! too bad i had to resort to watching it on my computer... (cause my theatre kept advertising it then decided to not ever show it)... but ya... good acting... good singing... good everything... johnny depp is much cooler than i am. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: crodger at February 3, 2008, 7:47 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | 15 minutes in I thought it was losing its way...but the film recovered on the back of Depp and Carter (even though the subplot was important i did't really care for the two young characters.) The film really was great. 8/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Monotreme at February 2, 2008, 10:36 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Yeah, I'm sure people will flock to barber school after seeing a barber depicted as a crazed, demonized murderer. Besides, that shaving stuff makes me nervous, it's just so easy to cut someone...! Seriously, though, this film was everything I thought it would be; majestically epic, it plays out more like a tragic opera than a Broadway musical. Great performances, great music, beautiful visuals and cinematography, and altogether extremely Burtonesque and a perfect match of source material and a director. 9/10. Full review next week...! | | Static Link |
| Posted by: chasingbanky at February 2, 2008, 12:21 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | The thing that I'm disappointed about with this film is the lack of increase in the barber school attendants this semester. I thought after Johnny Depp made piracy cool again, that this movie was going to be his chance to make being a barber the new thing... Guess another Oscar nod will just have to do this time. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: TeawithBlood at February 2, 2008, 12:00 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Elgyn I agree with you there. The play was the same way - you never find out what happened with Johanna and the sailer. But for the movie, I really think Burton should`ve thrown in a scene to wrap up the Johanna/salier (I can`t remember his name) story arc. Yea that was only thing that really annoyed me about the musical. I was hoping for some closure with Burton but I guess because they weren't the main focus they just got left behind in the mists of time. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Shockwave at February 1, 2008, 2:56 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Elgyn I agree with you there. The play was the same way - you never find out what happened with Johanna and the sailer. But for the movie, I really think Burton should`ve thrown in a scene to wrap up the Johanna/salier (I can`t remember his name) story arc. I also agree. I actualy waited until the credits were over because i was so sure they would show more. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Elgyn at February 1, 2008, 9:42 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by TeawithBlood The only thing I wish had happened was that Johanna found out the whole deal. I agree with you there. The play was the same way - you never find out what happened with Johanna and the sailer. But for the movie, I really think Burton should`ve thrown in a scene to wrap up the Johanna/salier (I can`t remember his name) story arc. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: TeawithBlood at February 1, 2008, 9:35 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by HedwigX Yup- and beautifully illustrated by the line "'Don't I know you?'... she said..."- his ultimate realisation that he's become such a monster not even his own wife recognizes him, and also caused his inability to recognize her. My friends agreed with me on this, but also applied it to Johanna- the only respect in which I would give him a break at this point is in the fact that he hasn't seen her since she was a fucking baby. Eesh. Give the guy some credit. But yeah, 10/10 here- extremely early contender for the film of the year. Yes its at that moment that Sweeney Todd realizes the monster that he has become and it is there that we're suppose to feel sympathy for him. He couldn't see her face clearly because of the dark and thought it was just another person that could get in the way of his plans. And at this point the wife was loopy and it had been 15 years so its not that hard to believe that she didn't recognize him right away. They have both changed significant... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Briare Rabbit at February 1, 2008, 5:56 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Fair enough. I'm a rude son of a bitch. Minor spoilers for There Will Be Blood As for Plainview, I don't find him monstrous at all. In fact, I found that his own practicality consumed him. The turning point being when he chooses to go out to the burning well after saving HW, knowing full well theres little to be done but I think he was doing it all because he truly did care about his son. HW is his only companion throughout the first two thirds of the movie he just seems unable to cope with what has happened after HW loses his hearing. I refer to the scene near the end of HW's childhood sequences when Plainview takes him to the restaurant for something to eat. Plainview is clearly distressed about his son's health, maybe he just wants them to enjoy something together. Greed, evil, these are words that are far too hyperbolic to fully encapsulate the character of Plainview. Plainview is perhaps the most human character, and I mean truly human character that we received on film in sometime. There are scenes whe... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: DaMovieMan at February 1, 2008, 2:41 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Briare Rabbit I never called you stupid and idiotic. I said your ideas were stupid and idiotic, there is a key difference. I see you refusing to accept the fact that Todd can be viewed as a complex character, and yes of course I base my ideas on theories about the character. Thus is the point of film criticism. You can turn your arguement any which way. Johnny Depp's peformance is one of his best. His facial expressions are key in this film. You study the characters body language and his face. Todd dispenses a sense of justice that he feels those that support the judge deserve. In Plainview, the delivery of the film's dialogue and the basic actions of the character are all that are needed to make a conclusion. Of course Day-Lewis' performance is superior, its beside the point. Todd may not be viewed as especially sympathetic but he is tragic. I found the entire thing to be rather depressing, a piece full of villains. However, I didn't find Todd to be especially evil, just misguide... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Briare Rabbit at February 1, 2008, 1:06 am | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by DaMovieMan *sigh* It's all in the preformance and the dialogue my friend. Reducing Plainview to an angry oil man would be stupid because his multi-layered preformance and certain lines show you that there's something much more deeper in him than that. Anton Chigurh pretty much IS just a shadowy hitman with a good shot, we don't know much else about him but for the fact that he likes to play with fate and keeps his promises. However, Bardem's preformance is awesome because he allows for debate and theories concerning his character, making people ask questions. I'm sorry to break it to you but Depp's preformance and the bad script/lyrics makes his character no more than a one dimensional madman seeking revenge. What is so complex about this character? He had a happy life and was supposedly a good man then a judge imprisoned him and after X amount of years he starts despise the whole of London (!?) because of one man and pretty much loses his mind and starts killing people when all h... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: DaMovieMan at January 31, 2008, 6:15 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | I still believe we were meant to sympathize with him at the moment he realizes the kind of monster he's become because we're meant to believe that his long absence from society has made him like this, and his long absence from society wasn't his fault. On top of all that, that one scene where he looks like the happy-go-lucky family man i'm sure we're meant to believe that he was a good man and loved everybody and then the evils of society personified in one mean judge rained down upon him and he turned berzerk. Everyone knows that he got what was coming to him and that's because he transformed to Sweeney Todd. This man was also Benjamin Barker who we're meant to think was a good man and when he himself realizes this at the very end, right before he gets his throat slashed (which i also think he knew was gonna happen btw) i believe it called for us to sympathize and pity him a little. Hence the final shot of him reunited with this wife in death, a little awww moment there from Burton, not 'yess he's finally d... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: HedwigX at January 31, 2008, 5:55 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Shockwave In the end, Todd didnt DESERVE to be reunited with his wife. He had become a killing monster, and got exactly what was coming to him. He robbed himself of happiness because of his own bile and hate for humanity. I think it was only then, looking at her dead body, that he realized how far low he had sunk. Yup- and beautifully illustrated by the line "'Don't I know you?'... she said..."- his ultimate realisation that he's become such a monster not even his own wife recognizes him, and also caused his inability to recognize her. My friends agreed with me on this, but also applied it to Johanna- the only respect in which I would give him a break at this point is in the fact that he hasn't seen her since she was a fucking baby. Eesh. Give the guy some credit. But yeah, 10/10 here- extremely early contender for the film of the year. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Shockwave at January 31, 2008, 5:17 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Exactly. Being the main character does not auto-earn my sympathy. He had become a monster. Thats one of the reasons i liked the movie. We were watching a villian. This wasnt some anti-hero. He was murdering people at a crazy rate for no other reason then he hates humanity. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Elgyn at January 31, 2008, 5:04 pm | | Topic: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Forum: JoBlo | | Quote: Originally Posted by Shockwave In the end, Todd didnt DESERVE to be reunited with his wife. He had become a killing monster, and got exactly what was coming to him. He robbed himself of happiness because of his own bile and hate for humanity. I think it was only then, looking at her dead body, that he realized how far low he had sunk. In the end, Todd was no better then those he hunted. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Read what Shockwave wrote again, folks. This is the WHOLE POINT OF THE MOVIE. Sweeney is NOT supposed to be sympathetic. He`s out for revenge, yes.......but that alone does not make him a 'good guy'. In fact, the ONLY characters who weren`t repugnant human beings were Toby, Joanna, and the sailer kid. | | Static Link |
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