“Sweeney Todd” Burton Style

Sweeney Todd: The Movie!
I have no problems telling you just how terrified I am of the Tim Burton movie version of my favorite musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Ugh. Just look at that poster art. Ewwwww. And … Johnny Depp? Helena Bonham Carter? Sacha Baron Cohen?!?!? I guess we will find out just how much they have fucked it up this Christmas.
[via Scott]

“Sweeney Todd” Burton Style

5 thoughts on ““Sweeney Todd” Burton Style

  1. dave s says:

    hey chas.

    ‘sweeney todd’ is my favourite stage musical too, but i feel better about the movie adaptation than you do. burton and depp are terrific, and i think that they just might pull it off. i really like bonham carter too, though the jury’s still out on baron cohen. keep your fingers crossed, and we might end up with an a-okay adaptation here (also, it wouldn’t hurt if you erased all memory of burton’s ‘plant of the apes’ remake — ye gods!).

  2. I do like Johnny Depp … but I have been down on Tim Burton lately. For me, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” left a lot to be desired (plus the aforementioned “Planet of the Apes,” etc.). Main thing I wanna know is can ANY of these actors SING? It’s not like “Sweeney Todd” is close to opera or anything.

  3. franke says:

    I beg to differ – from the link you provided – “Depending on how and where the show is presented, it is sometimes considered an opera. [4” especially with the larger portion of storytelling and dramatic tone being dependent on Sondheim’s lyrics and complex music. Carter as Lovett, I can see, but Depp as Sweeney especially considering the depth his character lacked in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”?????

  4. Chas–Yes, exactly. None of these people has made a musical before (the numbres in Burton’s Willy Wonka — which SUCKED — notwithstanding), and this is not exactly the sort of musical neophytes should cut their teeth on.

    I *do* like the poster, though.

  5. Laura says:

    I really love the play Sweeney Todd but I disagree immensely with your opinion of what the outcome of this movie will be. Sweeney Todd was meant to be called by Burton. It’s horrific, romantic, and musical. It hits all the categories of what Burton’s movies are conducted of and what he does best at. I know Deep will be able to sing but I can’t speak for the other actors. I can definitely see both Carter as Lovett and Deep as Sweeney. I agree that Charlie In The Chocolate Factory wasn’t his best but I believe that the fault goes with it not being “his type” of movie. Oh, I’m sorry but I laugh at how you are using the poster as a way to downgrade the movie. I’m kind of curious if the only reason you don’t like the movie is because you have an idea of what it should be and you fear someone will surpass that creation with their own brilliant master piece. Well, you decision is yours to keep but I could barely stand to leave you opinion be spoken and not speak my part. I have great faith in the result in the movie and I can not wait to see it.

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