Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

I’ve been a big fan of Tim Burton’s movies ever since I saw Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands as a kid, since then I’ve followed his movies. Sweeney Todd is a tragically underrated gem and is in my opinion one of his best movies. It’s based off of a play and is why this is a musical, but this isn’t your typical musical, it’s a horror movie with occasional dark humor. Visually you could draw some comparisons to another Tim Burton classic Sleepy Hollow, it’s definitely got the gothic style Tim is known for. The performances by the whole cast are incredible, but then again you have a murderers row of talent on this film.I saw this movie in theater and have owned it on DVD, on 4K it like incredible, better than ever. If you like the movies of Tim Burton and you haven’t seen this then you definitely need to watch this movie, if you’ve seen it and wonder if the 4k version is worth owning then I’m happy to say it definitely is, it’s a perfect restoration that makes it look like it was filled with current technology.

This is one of the most perfect films I've ever seen. Unfortunate it had to compete with other great films this year like "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood," but I think this is the far greater achievement. The fact that it's a musical may have thrown some audiences, but now on DVD, I hope people will have the chance to really appreciate and enjoy it.Here's a couple of things to consider as background to this film:Movie musicals died a long time ago when audiences tired of them. The height were Rodgers & Hammerstein extravaganzas like Oklahoma! (50th Anniversary Edition) and The King and I (50th Anniversary Edition). Modern audiences thought the whole conceit of characters breaking into song to be just plain hokey. But some films tried a more sophisticated approach: High Society (1956) was a remake of the witty The Philadelphia Story (1940) with original songs written for the film by Cole Porter. It's a great movie because the songs were added in small, intimate ways, consistent with the dialogue. There are no giant dance or production numbers. Sophisticated leads Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Celeste Holm were allowed to easily slide from speaking to singing, the transitions were cool and realistic, and the music genuinely reflected the characters and situations.Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd has taken this approach and refined it further. Other reviewers have given you the story and detail, so I'll skip all that. But a real gift of this film has been Burton's ability, with Sondheim's approval and contribution, to change what was a stagebound spectacle into an intimate film with real, relatable characters. The music seems to slide in as a complement to the action and the visuals. Yeah, people start singing, but the entire drama is personal. There is great subtlety in the relationship of Todd and Mrs. Lovett, and this film focuses on that intimacy, while most musicals pull the viewer *out* of the drama. You see this in the way Burton shot the film: in the old days, songs and production numbers were shot to give an audience the feel of the same scene onstage - showy and unrealistic. More recently, directors unfamiliar with musicals used angles very at odds with the action. A good example is Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You. In this film, he often shot musical sequences with a different technique than the spoken scenes, but it comes across as out of synch. It's a hard thing to nail, shooting people singing. But Burton pulled it off, and brilliantly: in Sweeney Tood, songs are shot as though characters are simply having a discussion with each other.Really, everything about this film is perfect: the script, and shortened version of songs work ideally for film; the visuals, with Oscar-winning art direction by Dante Ferretti, are breathtaking; cinematography by Dariusz Wolski is quick, exciting, fresh; editing -- especially the hilarious "Worst Pies in London" -- by Chris Lebenzon is dazzling. The orchestrations are also something unprecedented: this is one of the most beautiful scores ever, but Burton and Sondheim went a step further, beefing up the orchestra from around 35 players in the stage version, to something like 70. The result is an incredible richness and depth, a sound that's so big and so effective, especially against the intimacy of the story and the voices. Orchestrator Jonathan Tunick and conductor Paul Gemignani have created one of the best musical soundtracks in the history of film.And then of course, is the cast.Edward Sanders is unbelievable as the boy Toby; he's the right age for the part, and his voice is clear and strong. He's got the right accent and look, and despite playing a tough street kid, his scenes of tenderness with Mrs. Lovett are heartbreaking and convincing. Burton is often portrayed as a gothic/artsy director, but I think people overlook his brilliance at drawing poignancy in the most unlikely places. His selection and direction of this great young actor remind us of that.Jamie Bower and Jane Wisener are ideal as the young lovers: Bower is literally wide-eyed with yearning and wonder, and Wisener is beautiful, innocent and lovely. Again, Burton sketches the story by selecting these exquisitely perfect unknown actors.And then you have Depp and Bonham Carter. These are two artists at the height of their powers and they are both extraordinary. Depp is an amazing actor, for all the reasons others enumerate here. He is so gifted: he shows us Todd's hard, vengeful crust for most of the story, but softens and nearly seduces Judge Turpin under the razor. Then, near the end, where he realizes what he's done to the beggar woman and who she is, his madness disappears for a flash, and Depp reveals the man Todd once was, his sudden, tragic realization of what he's done, and then, in a flash, it's gone. Few actors have his ability to show such a range of subtle colors and textures. Like the visuals of this film, the first impression is one of grayness and gloom, but on second and subsequent viewings, the amazing amount of detail and subtlety really reveal themselves.And finally, Bonham Carter. I think the play's hardcore stage fans have unfairly compared her to Lansbury and others. This is an entirely different performance. Bonham Carter finds the subtle, absurd, dry British humor in this character, as well as her very real and touching sadness. She plays it like a drawing room drama, not a music hall belter. And that is the truer and more realistic approach for the modern musical.Two other great actresses also tried this to different reaction: Audrey Hepburn sang in her own voice in Breakfast at Tiffany's (Special Aniversary Collector's Edition) and audiences were entranced with her lovely but imperfect sound. However, Hollywood would not allow her own voice for My Fair Lady, and she was dubbed over. Similarly, Ava Gardner sang her own songs in Show Boat but again she was dubbed. If you listen to the reissued soundtrack to Show Boat: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1951 Film), you get the original outtakes sung by Ava Gardner, and you know what? They are far better, more authentic and richer than the dubbed versions. It was a mistake not to use Gardner or Hepburn's own voices, and those films seem dated because of it. In Sweeney Todd, Burton was wise enough to have all the actors use their own voices, and Bonham Carter's interpretation in particular is lovely and personal -- and like everything else about this film, appropriately perfect.I'm guessing that in DVD many more people will be struck by how great an achievement this film really is. At least, I hope they will be. Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd may be one of those films that did only moderate box office in original release, but will, upon future screenings, be recognized for the landmark achievement it is in the history of film. Every actor, every shot, every edit, nuance, costume and moment -- is perfection.

I’m not into musical movies, but this was a good balance for me and shocking to see! Really good movie and glad I saw it

Most of Tim Burton's movies are a lot of fun to watch and amazing to look at. However, a lot of the times the narratives tend to be less than compelling and even though they were amazing to look at, everything else fades from memory quite quickly. Notably exceptions being "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Ed Wood". Now comes, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" which is the most delicious work (pun intended) Burton has delivered in his twenty plus year as a director.To me "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" plays out like an evil version of one of those Disney animated musical from the early nineties. Those movies seemed to be composed of two young lovers from different worlds who have to go to impossible ends to be with each other, and the girl often has a overbearing yet loving father, and there is always a villain to make sure the girl and boy are kept apart. In this story the villain interferes with the girls life when she is a mere infant.As the movie opens "Sweeney Todd(played flawlessly by Johnny Depp), formerly Benjamin Barker is returning to London after fifteen years of exile after being brought up on a false charge. The audience quickly learns that Benjamin Barker had a wife named Lucy who he was madly in love with, but so was the unscrupulous Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who has Barker sent away so he can take the wife as his own. After many rejections by the woman, the Judge takes Mrs. Barker by force, driving her mad. And to make things even better for the family the Judge Turpin adopts Barker's daughter Johanna to raise as his own, and imprison her as she blossoms into womanhood with the intent of marrying her.Shortly after returning to London Todd returns to his home, which is above a shopped own by Helena Boham-Carter-Burton's Mrs. Lovett, who happens to sell the worst meat pies in London. Mrs. Lovett realizes right away that Sweeney Todd is really Benjamin Barker and takes an immediate liking to him. In the meantime Todd's imprisoned daughter, Johanna, spies a sailor (the same sailor who delivers Todd to London) and the two fall instantly in love.Now in most Disney animated movies the action is centered on the young lovers while the adults are put in the background. Most of the action here is on Sweeney Todd, a moping monster whose only purpose in life is to have revenge for the wrongs done to him.This movie is interesting in many ways, namely the relationship between Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett. It's obviously she will do anything to win his affection. However, he is indifferent to her unless she is able to help him get his revenge. There are several scenes in which Todd speaks to Mrs. Lovett as if she is just a distraction. Despite his bitter rage and nastiness Mrs. Lovett still dreams of moving to the sea and getting married to Mr. Todd. One of the best scenes in the movie is when it seems as if Todd is about to open up to Mrs. Lovett and then a clue about how to get his revenge on the judge comes his way, and she is instantly forgotten.Judge Turpin has to be the nastiest villain in all of Tim Burton's movies. And these are villains that include the Joker, the Penguin, blood thirsty Martians, and the boogie man. This guy not only destroys a family on the whim of his own lust, he intends to marry the daughter. The fact that the daughter falls for the young sailor puts her in a terrible situation.And there this is Mrs. Lovett. Here is a character with the morals of a half starved alley cat. She thinks murder is inexcusable unless it is justified (A character tries to bribe Sweeney Todd) or if it can be to her benefit (Using the bodies of victims to boost her pie selling business). Part of the greatness of her role is how nonchalantly she reacts to the murders of several people as long as she stands to gain by them.As great as the story is I can honestly stay Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter can both hold their own as singers. Alan Rickman, great actor, but not so much. The atmosphere of the sets also contribute to the melancholy feel of this movies. Tim Burton has made violent, bloody movies before but they always tended to have an upbeat tone. As I said, it reminded me if an evil Disney movie. After seeing "Beauty and the Beast" I left the theater humming the songs. After this one I walked out feeling like I just had attended a funeral. Still, this is an elegant movie and Burton's best work.Final note...the blu ray quality is very good, but not great.

This movie plays well!

Il più bel film di Johnny Depp, che dimostra ancora una volta di essere un'attore incredibile. Il blu-ray si vede benissimo, ed è arrivato in condizioni perfette, consigliato per chi ama questo grande attore.

nice bluray, decent xtras

One of Burton's masterpieces, I was rather thriller to watch it on my new plasma screen over the holidays.The quality was as expected, ASTOUNDING!

I have watched many of Tim Burton films and many of Johnny's Depp's film as well as the films where these two worked together. Needless to say I loved most of them. That's why I was so happy when I found out that the two would be doing a film together yet again to make the musical Sweeney Todd. I already knew the gist of the story, that it was about a murderous Barber who kills his customers and then with the help of his neighbor Mrs Lovett makes them into pies. Of course as I watched the movie I found the story had much more depth to it.The story starts with Sweeney's return to London with a young Sailor Boy who rescued him from the ocean. To Anthony he tells him about a Barber and his Wife. Really it is Sweeney's past as Benjamin Barker, and how because a corrupt Judge lusted after his wife, sent the Barber away for 15 years on a false charge so he could have the wife. Sweeney returns to be ruinited with his wife and child Johanna now a young girl, but after meeting his old neighbor Mrs Lovett and learns of their fates, a thirst revenge becomes an all consuming obession. Sweeney Todd is not a happy story but a greek tradgedy with a moral of revenge. And it's clear to see even before the furious, unpredictable Epiphany "They all deserve to die!" and the humourous yet dark Little Preist "It's man devouring man, my dear! Then who are we to deny here?" that this is a story that is not going to have a happy ending.Burton does not sugarcoat the film as other's might have done. Neck's are cut with blood squirting everywhere, head's are bludgeoned and body's beaten and without spoiling anything the ending is the most violent of all. Another is that Burton, Depp and Carter haven't glorified the story. we sympathise with Sweeney and the injustice done to him past and present and also with Mrs Lovett and her unrequited love for Sweeney, but by the bittersweet Not While I'm Around you can't ignore the evilness that the duo do.The film does have it's light and funny scenes. Despite the characters and subplot been shortened for the movie Burton does focus on the love plot between the Sailor Anthony and Sweeney's daughter Johanna. As well as the humourous comments made in the film there is the hilarious song By the Sea where the film is suddenly changed from it's dark, dreary colours to a sudden, and shocking vividness of Mrs Lovett's fantasy. From Sweeney's laughable yet strangely cute bathing suit to his hirious expressions during the song, all done wonderfully by Depp, it's a funny change from the dark mood the film has throughout. However this is a story about the Demon Barber and it is his story which is the main one, so song's such as 'Kiss Me' sung by Anthony and Johanna which was in the play is excluded giving a much darker interpretation to the two characters. Even the delerious yet funny song By the Sea has a darker edge to it as despite the funny visuals Mr's Lovett's desperateness can be seen.The actor's and actresses in the film played their part's wonderfully. Depp while may have cast doubts on others when chosen to the play the part, especially as he'd never sung before, proved in my eyes to be a perfect choice for Sweeney. With his pale face, dark hair with white streak and seductive yet creepy voice, his singing while may not be as professionial as previous Sweeney's is great to listen to none the less and his acting as the insane, revenge hungry Barber is superb. His furious snarles in Epiphany and calming crooning in My Friends are just one of the main examples where he shines in the film. He really out does himself and even put's his own interpretation on the character making Sweeney more brooding, subverted, and angrier. His expressions particuarly the eyes in the film are one's to watch as they show so much. Nothing is as powerful as watching his eyes go from been so sorrowful to suddenly rapid and crazed in a second. Despite Depp been my favourite actor I was not biased and went into this film with an open mind, when it was over I left loving Depp even more. To me he is Sweeney Todd.Carter while may have a voice considered too weak or at least not strong enough to sing Mrs Lovett's parts does well enough and what she lacks in her singing she certainly makes up for with her acting as Mrs Lovett. She gives a much deeper interpreation to the amoral Baker, not seen in other Lovett's before. From her evident lust for Sweeney in My Friends as she tries to gain his attention "I'm your friend too Mr Todd", to her devotedness for him in Poor Thing "There was a Barber and his Wife, and he was beautiful" to her sadness and tears after Not While I'm Around, Carter presents Mrs Lovett in a way that you can;t help but feel for her and even like her despite her evil deeds with Sweeney.Alan Rickman and Timmothy Spall are wonderful as the villains really making you hate them, and Sacha Baron Cohen while has a small part in the film is priceless as Pirelli the 'King of the Babers, the Barber of Kings' and the scenes that he are in steal the show. Even Jayne Wisener and Jamie Campbell Bower play and sing their parents well. Special mention should go out to Edward Sanders who plays the innocent Toby who works for Pirelli and Laura Michelle Kelly who plays the crazed Beggar Woman. Probably the two best singers in the whole movie they both play their parts wonderfully, especially Kelly who's Beggar Woman is a joy to watch and only makes me wish she'd had more scenes.One of Burton, Depp and Carter's best it is a fantastic film which is enjoyable and fun to watch yet at the same time tragic and left me thinking about the story and film after seeing it. Scenes such as the ending (one of the most haunting i've seen) or the tragic and at the same time guiltily funny Johanna Reprise are memorable. Despite some songs having to be cut out (The Ballad which is one I was sad to see cut I feel was neccasary) are done wonderfully and are catchy. I couldn't get the Final Scene, My Friends or Johanna out of my head for quite a while. Even if you don't like the songs or are not a fan of musicals I urge you to still give the film a try as it is (to me) a great film which should not be missed and does justice to the Sweeney Todd play

Devo dire un grazie enorme a questo film perché a otto anni mi ha fatto capire la magia ma, soprattutto, oscurità emanata dall'estetica burtoniana, che qui è quasi al suo meglio!