Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Movie Review by The Gravedigger
12.22.07
Tim Burton's adaptation of the Broadway musical is a lot of fun. After fifteen years barber Benjamin Barker, now going by the name Sweeney Todd, returns to London to get revenge on those who put him in prison. He goes about this by taking up his business back at his old place, which is above Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies store. She recognizes who he is (and is in love with him) and agrees to help him in his diabolical plans. But Sweeney Todd goes really goes over the edge - and starts killing every client that shows up. And since meat is scarce Mrs. Lovett decides to dispose of the bodies in a unique way - she starts to make her pies out of them. What makes the movie disturbing isn't simply the cannibalism aspect or a main character that has no redeeming qualities - it's that this movie is foremost a musical, which is a bit incongrous. It worked for the Broadway play and it really works here, in a much more visible venue. While Sweeney is singing he's slitting someone's throat and blood is spraying everywhere and Burton doesn't spare the gore. I think this is definitely the Christmas movie of 2007 and it has plenty of Holiday colors (well, at least one of them).
Tim Burton's adaptation of the Broadway musical is a lot of fun. After fifteen years barber Benjamin Barker, now going by the name Sweeney Todd, returns to London to get revenge on those who put him in prison. He goes about this by taking up his business back at his old place, which is above Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies store. She recognizes who he is (and is in love with him) and agrees to help him in his diabolical plans. But Sweeney Todd goes really goes over the edge - and starts killing every client that shows up. And since meat is scarce Mrs. Lovett decides to dispose of the bodies in a unique way - she starts to make her pies out of them. What makes the movie disturbing isn't simply the cannibalism aspect or a main character that has no redeeming qualities - it's that this movie is foremost a musical, which is a bit incongrous. It worked for the Broadway play and it really works here, in a much more visible venue. While Sweeney is singing he's slitting someone's throat and blood is spraying everywhere and Burton doesn't spare the gore. I think this is definitely the Christmas movie of 2007 and it has plenty of Holiday colors (well, at least one of them).
