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Hey LanDroid, glad to hear someone else here is excited about this film.
LanDroid wrote:
OK now I see no one will be singing.
Oh no, they’re definitely singing, LanDroid. Everyone does their own vocals, though I’m sure there has to be some touching up. Personally, I think Depp’s voice is a little too pretty to sing Sweeney well, but we’ll see. Also, be aware that though the material is the same as the stage production, there’s been talk that Burton’s totally recreated the direction. It’s not supposed to be a stage to screen production—actually that’s what excites me about the film the most.
Alas, I don’t think I’m going to get to see it Christmas day as I originally thought that I would. I think my people are bailing out on me—bastards.
Oh right, here’ s a clip that talks about the actors’ singing.
So I wasn't too far off the mark with what the story is about.
You weren't off the mark at all. Also, in looking back at your post, I forgot to mention that I didn't know Sweeney Todd was referenced in Jersey Girl. That's a film that I should probably rent. Both for the Sondheim nod and because I actually am a Jersey Girl--well raised in Jersey anyway.
Then you are not too far from me in PA! Jersey Girl was actually better than I had expected. In the movie, Ben Affleck's daughter wants to go see Cats but he takes her to see Sweeney Todd instead. Then for her school talent show she wants to do a song from the musical. She did "God That's Good" and since she went to a catholic school they thought it was a religious song so the audiences faces afterwards were pretty funny.
Heh, actually I live in PA now. Philly, actually. Where in PA are you?
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She did "God That's Good" and since she went to a catholic school they thought it was a religious song so the audiences faces afterwards were pretty funny.
That sounds like a pretty comical premise, especially if you know the show. I’d imagine parents’ faces at any school, Catholic or not, would be pretty horrified if a student sang “God That’s Good” for a talent show. And, looking up the movie, I see that Liv Tyler is in it, who is one of my favorites when she picks the right films.
Heh, actually I live in PA now. Philly, actually. Where in PA are you?
I am in a northern suburb of Philly - about an hour from the city give or take depending on traffic.
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That sounds like a pretty comical premise, especially if you know the show. I’d imagine parents’ faces at any school, Catholic or not, would be pretty horrified if a student sang “God That’s Good” for a talent show. And, looking up the movie, I see that Liv Tyler is in it, who is one of my favorites when she picks the right films.
Liv Tyler was really good. I had stayed away from it at first because I am not much of a JLo / Ben Affleck fan, but I caught it on HBO one night and was pleasantly surprised. It's a little saccharine, so not for every taste, but I enjoyed it.
Oh right, I forgot to mention, I got to see Sweeney Todd on Christmas, as I had originally hoped. It was meh. I was impressed with the overall production. But I was disappointed with both Depp and Carter’s performances. Which, I guess, could say a lot for Burton’s direction. But I think it probably says more for Sondheim and Wheeler’s work. One of the better movie-musicals I’ve seen, but nothing compared to watching a good stage version.
I wish I had paid attention to this thread before I spent $18 on two tickets to this movie. My wife and I didn't know we were walking into a musical. The posters and banners we saw didn't elude to it being a musical. I feel like there was some false advertisement involved.
We walked out after the first 45 minutes. And people were walking out the whole time we were there. Musicals are painful to watch for us. I'm willing to accept the criticism that we lack sophistication and culture. Just please don't ever subject me to something so incredibly unpleasant as watching a pirate sing for 2 hours. I do recognize that this is probably considered a very high-quality musical, but personaly, I am not into them.
You know, Chris, I thought the same thing when I saw the advertising posters. All the film clips I saw included singing, but I don’t think the visual advertisements mentioned anything about it being a musical. As for the story, he’s not a singing pirate, he’s a singing barber—the manically murderous type.
I don’t think enjoying or not enjoying musicals has anything necessarily to do with sophistication, or at least how I use the term. I know sophisticated people who don’t like musicals, and I know unsophisticated people (no not me) who like musicals very much. I don’t know why some people like musicals and some don’t. I know I can be very forgiving towards musicals in ways that I wouldn’t be towards other forms of entertainment. Perhaps, it has something to do with being exposed to the medium as a child. Though I say that despite the fact that the vast majority of my exposure to musicals has been, pleasurably, self-inflicted. I think for those that are already skeptical towards musicals, it’s probably best to acclimate them to stage musicals, where one more readily suspends disbelief, than to filmed musicals. I think those who don’t particularly like the form can grow to appreciate stage musicals. And here I’m reminded of Richard Gere in Pretty Woman (heh, who would ever think I’d make such a reference) when he talks about opera: You either like it or you don’t. If you don’t, you may grow to appreciate it, but it will never become part of your soul. Opera I appreciate, certain musical theater is part of my soul.
But going back to lack of sophistication or culture with regard to musicals, I would only name those who don’t ever give any musicals a chance as such. You sat through 45 minutes—nearly half the film—and decided that it wasn’t your cup of tea (as Eliza Doolittle would say—heh, that’s a musical reference). At least you gave it the chance.
Though, in Sondheim’s defense, he is a solid composer and an astounding lyricist, and this is some of his best lyrical work. Out of curiosity, did you make it to the song “Have a Little Priest,” about the different types of pies one could make from murdered humans? I ask because it’s usually a popular favorite from the show.
Oh right, one more thing, I think, for the most part, if two adults walk out of a film, you’ll likely be reimbursed with very little hassle from management. You could very well be honest and say you didn’t realize it was a musical. Or you could be safe and just say that people wouldn’t stop talking which, these days, is usually true.
I should have stopped at the ticket counter on the way out and asked for a refund, but my wife and I were too caught up in eavesdropping on this mother and daugther that also walked out and were mumbling similar negative things about the movie as they made their escape.
Hmm! Personally I quite enjoyed Sweeney Todd. I felt obligated to go, not only because I like Burton and Depp, but also because that is the name of the hairdressing place I frequent. I knew the name of my hairdressers was from a musical, so I did deduce that the movie was likely to be one as well. I can see how you would be very surprised when people started singing if you weren't expecting it, though.
I think it's a bit unfair to completely write off the film, however. It's received very good reviews, and I think it was a good translation of a musical to film. I'm not much into musicals, either, but I do love my dark humour. Also, I feel to be allowed to truly judge things, you need to finish them. Due to this I have agonized my way through some horrible books! I really think Sweeney started slow and pretty, but if you didn't stay, you didn't catch the full meat of it. (Was that a pun? Uh oh, I can't tell... but if it was, I didn't mean it!)
Being a musical, I found it was a little predictable. You know how musicals go, you can always guess certain events will happen. Much like the "We've seen your breasts and now you must die" horror movie rule. But beyond that, I found it pretty enjoyable.
I would agree Burton isn't quite as fun as he used to be. I found The Corpse Bride to be a big snooze. I find Burton to be more about visuals and sweet fairytale type stories rather than depth or plot twists. More "sit back and watch" films rather than "sit back and think" films.
…that is the name of the hairdressing place I frequent. I knew the name of my hairdressers was from a musical, so I did deduce that the movie was likely to be one as well
Theo, do you know for sure they named the business after the musical, or could it have been after the urban myth? Just curious. I didn’t realize Sondheim had a following up in Canada.
As for the movie, did you think it was as comical as the stage version? I think I remember it being much funnier when I saw it in the theater, but I’m not sure.
I didn't see the stage version. The reason I am certain they named their shop after the musical, and the reason I knew it was a musical, is because they had a large poster from the musical in their waiting area. Just to inform the uninformed (like me!). They've since replaced it with a poster for the movie, though, which is a shame.
I didn’t realize Sondheim had a following up in Canada.
Anyway...
irishrosem, I waited and waited for this one as well. In the end, I thought the movie was a delightful, and bloody, hoot! I find that Johnny Depp usually satisfies me as an actor, and I think Tim Burton did a good moody turn on this one. And he didn't let the atmosphere dominate, at least not compared to other films (like the Corpse Bride) where the atmosphere is almost a character itself! And I heard he made his wife, Helena Bonham Carter, audition along with a whole whack of other actors -- took 2 weeks for him to cast the part. (Of course, Burton probably can't work with anyone else now, he's done so much with those two!)
Oops. Loricat, my comment wasn’t directed at Canada, it was directed at Sondheim. He doesn’t tend to draw much popular attention, as far as I know, outside the U.S.—hell, he rarely draws it inside the U.S. I know because of the flirtation between the West End and Broadway, there are some British fans. But I’m not aware of many Sondheim shows that get international tours, which is, I assume, how one wins international fans.
I never saw Corpse Bride, but I do think Burton kept what tends to be sometimes overbearing direction in check. Perhaps the largest Burtonesque piece would have been the construction of the barber chair, but I thought that fit quite well. The film demonstration of how the chair worked almost nods to the presence of the chair on the stage as a piece of theatrical magic.
I agree, Theo, it is a shame they replaced the theatrical poster with the film poster. Ah well, you should voice your complaint.
