As I’ve said many of times before I am a Huge Tim Burton fan. I have seen just about everything he has done, and can honestly say have loved them all (maybe with the exception of Planet of the Apes, which was just ok). Over the years Burton has amassed a very stellar resume of work, spanning many different genres of film with the exception of the Musical (not counting Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, which is not purely a musical though it does have musical numbers in it). For his first foray into making a filmed musical Burton turned to one of his all-time favorites: Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award Winning Broadway Musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Now I will be the first to admit I’ve never been a fan of musicals, in fact my first exposure to this particular story was in Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl. But once I heard Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were doing a movie version, it went right on my must see list, even making it into the number two spot on my top 10 of 2007. Well now its spring time, and all those films that were out last fall are making their way on to DVD and with a April 1st street date, Paramount Studios has kindly sent a copy of one of my favorite films of 2007 for an advanced review.
After hard years in exile for a crime he didn’t commit, Benjamin Barker now Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all London, with the help of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims in with a charming smile before casually ending their life with a flick of his razor across their neck. But not one man killed, nor ten thousands men can satisfy Sweeney’s lust for revenge on those who’ve caused his years of pain.
Sounds like a fairly standard revenge plot, but this is not your standard revenge thriller. Set in 1800’s London Tim Burton faithfully recreates the time with all the gothic flair that you would expect from a Burton film. But I will warn you now THIS IS A MUSICAL, about 80% of the movie is done through song, so those of you who do not like musicals will probably not enjoy this movie. With that said anyone else who does not mind will be floored with the performances given here. Who would’ve thought that Johnny Depp could sing? While he is not the boisterous voice that has traditionally played Todd on the stage it totally works for this movie as he doesn’t need to project his voice out to reach the very tops of a packed musical theater, the rest of the cast does a great job handling their material as well, everyone really surprises the viewer with a side of them they never thought they had.
Being released in two versions: a single disc edition and a 2-Disc Special Edition (which we will be reviewing), the 2 disc is stacked with some very nice special features:
• Burton + Depp + Carter = Todd: A behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration of Tim Burton with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, featuring exclusive footage from rehearsals, recording sessions and more!
• Sweeney Todd Press Conference, November 2007
• Sweeney Is Alive: The Real History of the Demon Barber - A look into the real myth that inspired the story of Sweeney Todd.
• Musical Mayhem: Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd
• Sweeney’s London
• The Making of Sweeney Todd
• Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition
• Designs for a Demon Barber
• A Bloody Business
• Moviefone Unscripted with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp
• The Razor’s Refrain - Musical Montage
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
- Rating: 5 out of 5
Presented in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio, Sweeney Todd is your typical Tim Burton film in terms of aesthetics and presentation. Which by no means is a slam on the film, Sweeney Todd is a very bleak almost color-less film with everything having either black or white tones (or different variations of), with the exception of Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Pirelli� character who has the most colorful costume in the film and of course the bright red buckets of blood spilled throughout the film. With that said the DVD does an excellent job of recreating the intended look of the film. There is little to no edge noticeable enhancement in the image and no color bleeding is present.
The Audio is also top notch, receiving an English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Track (with French and Spanish tracks also available). The soundtrack does a great job in recreating the streets of 19th century London. The rear channels come alive with the chatter of passers-by on the streets and the boisterous musical numbers.
- Rating: 5 out of 5
Quite possibly Tim Burton’s finest piece of work, and I highly recommend this film to anyone. Though those without an open mind might not take to kindly to it being a musical, just give it a chance, and I promise it will not disappoint.
- Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Film and Features: 5
Technical Specs: 5
Overall Review: 5
Studio: Dreamworks/Paramount/Warner Bros.
Genre: Musical/Horror/Drama
Aspect: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: 5.1 English Dolby Digital
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