Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd...
Most folks who know me know that I'm more than passing familiar with the story of Sweeney Todd, from the original folk song through the Broadway musical. So it should come as no surprise that I've seen this latest version of the tale: the movie starring Johnny Depp et al.

This is absolutely not a film for children, nor the faint of heart. It's extremely violent and shows vengeance taken to extremes, along with other depravities. In fact, my major objection to the film is that it emphasizes the gore and violence out of proportion. I'm reminded of the similarly over-done "Total Recall" and "Passion of the Christ". Violence is part of the story, true, but no need to paint the camera lens red with fake blood.

I don't care for Depp as an actor. Something about him, something I can't put words to, makes my hackles rise. This colors every film of his that I've seen, from Edward Scissorhands to Sweeney Todd. There are half a dozen other actors who would've played the role better, in my not-so-humble. Other than the lead, I have no quarrel with the rest of the casting. Alan Rickman is wonderful as the wicked Judge Turpin, and Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford is suitably sly and obsequious. Helena Bonham Carter does justice to Mrs. Lovett, though in my mind, that role will always belong to Angela Lansbury.

Sidebar: I've read several other reviews of the show, and am somewhat dismayed to see that the reviewers completely missed the fact that Sweeney was an escaped felon. Most refer to him as having been released after fifteen years.

Adapting a musical into a movie is difficult to do well. In Sweeney Todd, it could've been done much better. I would've preferred to see the film run for ten more minutes and get more of the songs in. In particular, cutting part of "A Little Priest" was a real crime. Likewise for the opening number / finale.

So - I'm not sorry I saw it, but I was disappointed in it.