Product ReviewsSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (DVD, 2008)

Sweeney Todd - Amazing!

Like many DVD buyers, I saw the movie in the theater first. Watching the film on Christmas Eve with my wife, I was immediately intrigued by the combination of gorgeous, downbeat tunes, vintage color cinematography and the acting talents of Johnny Depp, Helen Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman. I knew at once that I would buy the DVD when it came out and watch it more than once. I did and I have.

Now I'm told that this was not as good as the Broadway production but I don't care. I love the slight imperfections of Depp and Carter, as they add character to their songs. The actor's playing the young man and Joanna are both perfectly cast and add strength to the ensemble and as for singing, they certainly have polish. If you haven't heard the music from this movie/musical/almost opera, you'll be pleasantly surprised IF you enjoy music in minor keys with a decidedly sad edge (sometimes harshly misanthropic!), you'll enjoy this. Pieces like "Joanna" and "Pretty Women" are both ironic and toe-tappingly good. Each piece is both beautiful and tragic, as the personality of the vengefully obsesses Sweeney Todd haunts each song with the tragic twistedness of his plots to kill the man who wronged him, and many others beside. "We All Deserve to DIe" he sings, the bad because their bad, the good because they're better off dead rather than dealing with the evil in the world.

As for the cinematography, that for me is the most fascinating. It is definitely a Tim Burton film. This shows in the coloring of everything as if there were the famous London coal-smoke in the air, lending everything a muted coloring. Helen Bonham Carter, as Mrs. Lovett, is gorgeous but haunts the mind with the dark circles around her eyes. She reminds me of a living version of the fractured and living doll who is the Jack Skellington love interest in "Nightmare Before Christmas."

I should warn you about something you've probably already been warned. There is lots of brief but horrific scenes of throats being cut by the Demon Barber. I'm not a fan of gory movies by any means. However, these were an integral part of the story, and done with the haunting music to accompany them, I was strangely fascinated.

Finally, as much as I loved this film, let me tell you my wife's reaction that fateful Christmas Eve. "That was the strangest movie I've ever seen!" She liked it, but would not watch it again. As for me, I'll be watching it over and over. Plus, I purchased the soundtrack CD, and both my daughter and I have been listening to the music in our iPods.Read full review...

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

I wasn't sure I was going to like this movie when I first watched it. I'm not that into musicals but I love Tim Burton's movies and since I love horror movies, I decided to take a chance. I'm glad I did because this is truly an awesome movie.

It tells the story of a man named Benjamin Barker (played by Johnny Depp). He was a barber with a lovely wife and baby daughter who lived in London. The jealous Judge Turpin (played by Alan Rickman) arrests Barker and sends him away to a prison far away and attempts to garner Mrs. Barker's affection. Some 15 years (give or take a few years) later, Barker returns to London a changed man, donning the name of Sweeney Todd and has only one thing on his mind: revenge.

He takes the room above Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop (Mrs. Lovett being played by Helena Bonham Carter), famous for the worst pies in London. Mrs. Lovett knows who Todd is from the past and has always had a soft spot for him. Todd winds up killing a man who threatened to reveal who he once was and Mrs. Lovett comes up with an idea for getting rid of the body. She is desperate for meat to fit in her meat pies... the answer: put the murdered man into her meat pies. The pies turn out to be a big seller.

To make a long story short, Todd uses his skills as a barber to entice Judge Turpin into his shop so he could take his revenge for falsely imprisoning him for so many years.

Highlighted by a wonderful score and some rather nicely written songs and a tale of young romance in the background. It is rather bloody but as I understand it, that is how the original stage play was. The only negative comments I could make are that I don't feel Helena Bonham Carter wasn't the best singer to cast as Mrs. Lovett and the romance between Johanna and Anthony felt like a secondary story that was thrown in as an after thought.

All in all this is a great movie.Read full review...

Be still my heart these people can sing!

Ok...if you don't love musicals or at least like them, this one in particluar is worth seeing. Not only because of the music but the all the famous actors/actresses in it. AND THEY ALL CAN SING!!! I know most of the world already knew that before Johnny Depp became and actor he was in a band. No entirely sure what position. But I had almost forgot that he was in the movie "Crybaby"! Anyone remember that? I haven't seen that movie in years...BUT this movie and him singing really puts the icing on the cake. You've Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall,(Hahahah! Those 3 back together again! They star in the Potter movies) and course the ultimate overactor Sacha Baron Cohen. The storyline, the songs, the acting, the characters, our favorite actors together made this film the oscar winner it is. If you haven't seen it...its a must. I have to admit I'm not really fond of musicals myself but I fell in love with it the 1st time and can't stop because its that's good.Read full review...

I Believe

"Weezers" comment in "Steel Magnolias" fits here "too twisted for color tv" Had we known this was a musical we would not have bothered..kinda wished we had checked the reviews first the word musical would have been enough to keep us from buying this film..from what we could tell before we turned off the film in disgust was they went cheap on hair and makeup as well as wardrobe..Johnny Depp what were you thinking? One kinda expects Helen Bonham Carter to film something like this, but not you!! If gore and musicals are not your cup of tea steer clear and if you don't want your little ones growing up deranged buy them a different movie this one is not appropriate!! 1 out of 5 bars only coz I can't go lower then 1!!Read full review...

Good Musical buy

I thought it was a great film and very suprised with some the actors and how well they performed. Depp is obviously a grat acto in many roles and in this film he does astronamically well. I honestly didnt know that he could see so well, but he nailed it. I recommend this movie to any Depp fan or a person who just likes to be suprised with alittle bloodshed to go around. This was a great clip and I would give it a strong 4 out of 5 stars. I see it as a "must buy."Read full review...

A movie that is straight out beautiful

I got this video because I saw my sister watch it, I sat down one day and watched it as well, It was amazing! It's not like most musicals where it gets straight out boring and sometimes even annoying, It has enough music to keep you very engaged and you really start to emphasize with the feeling, With Jhonny Depp in this, He is just amazing at his part. He really gets you involved and you can feel his emotion deeply. The story line of this dvd is amazing, For those who like a lot of action as well, this has a sweet blend of it, along with a tragic love story, you understand what is going on throughout the whole thing, some parts you figure for yourself. I would recommend this to anyone.Read full review...

Perfect condition and such a good movie!

Product came early and in perfect condition! Never bought anything that good of a condition used. I love this movie so much!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

Not as good as other Johnny Depp movies.

I love Johnny Depp, but this movie was sort of a disappointment for me. I guess part of the reason that I didn't like it was because it was a musical. During some of the singing scenes, I thought the movie seemed to drag on to the point where I pushed the fast-forward button. My husband did not like it either (and he is a Depp fan also). The idea of people eating flesh from other people who were murdered is beyond gruesome and I do not think such things are good for people to watch in movies. The story line was unique, though, and it had some really shocking scenes with interesting visuals and scenery. Johnny Depp's singing voice was surprisingly nice, however, I would not want to watch the movie again.Read full review...

Loved it

Normally whaen i get movies with out the case they have small scraches that dont affect the playback but im ecstaticed that this one had nothing i cant wait to watch it i love sweeney todd

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mochizuki

Opera movie ! Singing !!

It was like the movie; THE GENETIC OPERA, which, by the way, was done a little better !! Not one of this actors better films ! 😕 Alice in Wonderland was better, also.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale