Film Bites

Benjamin Barker(Depp) was a normal man. A skilled barber, he had nothing but love for his wife a young daughter. But others had nothing but jealousy for him. Judge Turpin(Rickman) eyed Barker’s wife from afar, intent on making her his wife. Wrongfully arrested by the lackeys of Turpin, Benjamin Barker is stolen away from his wife and child, only to be imprisoned for 15 years.

When he returns, Barker is no more; Sweeney Todd(Depp) is his new name, and revenge is what he wants most. Returning to his previous home, he learns that Judge Turpin tried to wed his wife and steal his daughter. Todd’s wife poisoned herself, but his daughter did not managed to escape the horrors of Turpin and is being raised as his own. Setting up his new barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s(Bonham Carter) store, Todd and Lovett scheme to revive her meat pie business while he figures out how to exact his revenge on Turpin.

Based off of the amazing Broadway musical by the same name, Sweeney Todd is a well-done screen adaptation. Normally, I’m not a fan of musicals that are turned into films. I think something is lost when people are singing on screen. It’s just me. But what this movie lacks in dramatic dialog, it makes up with in spades in amazing cinematography and detailed computer generated images. While the stage performances of Sweeney Todd require a large dose of imagination on the part of the audience, Tim Burton brought everything in one’s imagination to life.

I’ll admit, I enjoyed the movie. It got a little gory at times, but that’s to be expected. I think the biggest pitfall for this film for me was the fact that it is based off a musical. I’ll agree that it was amazing(it’s already received several nominations) but my personal preference is against musicals in movie theatres. If you enjoy these types of films, Todd is one of the best. If you, like me, enjoy Todd on the stage, don’t expect it to be as good.