Shikyo's Ratings: 3.5 outta 5 PoPcOrNz!
The Gore Rating: 1.5 outta 5 BloODy BaGz!
This is a MUSICAL film.
I had to get that out of my system cuz I only found out 5 hours before entering the cinema. I've been living in ignorance due to my self-isolation from local network TV, along with all the fun movie trailer commercials. Interestingly though, I discovered later on good ole Wiki that: "Warner Bros.'s (decided) not to advertise the film as a musical (and) that led to complaints from some cinema-goers, who felt they had been deliberately misled." Misled? Srsly, does it really matter how a story is delivered?
Anyway, the movie's not just about singing and dancing, there's a large portion of throat-slitting action accompanied by fountains of blood spurting in all directions -- a very weird combination BUT it works for me.
Unfortunately, that means everyone needs to be...
...Which I think is quite strange because I'm sure a lot under-18 teens have ALREADY seen more gruesome anime series than I have. Fret not, the MPAA hasn't gotten its filthy paws on your library books so you can pick one up and use your powers of imagination, or you can embrace the caring and sharing nature of the free internet =3
Alright, I digress. Let's get on with the review.
Sweeney Todd is a (mostly) old British urban legend of a serial killer barber whose victims were baked into meat pies by his partner-in-crime, Mrs. Lovett. That about sums up the entire plot.
The movie is nicely paced, even though there are some scenes where even an idiot can predict what's gonna happen next, but they felt the need to make it DRAG ON before the inevitable bloodbath. I totally blame the long-winded singing for this!
What I enjoyed about this film is the tragic twist at the end. Basically, you're invited to revisit a mid-19th century urban legend serial murder mystery, expecting it to be gruesome and heartless and ending with some sort of judicial justice... but with this movie, you're forced to sympathize with the murderer. Bravo!
* S * P * O * I * L * E * R * S *
Here's where you stop reading
if you haven't seen the film,
and you intend to do so
* A * H * E * A * D *
Artistic Direction:
Excellent camera work, excellent graphics, excellent setup, aaand excellent display of blood =) It carried a convincing theatrical feel, being a musical and all. I also loved the play between light versus dark world -- there's the dream world of happy feelings versus the evil cold harsh reality, and the repetition of the yellow-haired girl to signify innocence versus the dark-haired scheming girl who devised the brilliant plan of baking people-meat pies.
Villany:
Most villains have a tendency to wait a smidgen too long to achieve their FINAL ACT -- you know, this one act that they've been looking forward to committing since the start of their villanous career? -- Sweeney follows this tiring, done too many times before trend. There is no more suspence in doing this again.
Lovey-Dovey Bits:
I don't like going into the strange workings of love because love defies all reason. But a couple questions stand out: Why did Johanna throw her house key down to a boy whom she's never talked to? And why does Judge Turpin ((aka Snape, Snape, Severus Snape)) keeper of a library filled with karmasutra literature from all over the world, seek only the love and company of one particular yellowed hair lady, and later, her daughter? I'm surprised he didn't turn out to be a lecher.
Hmmm come to think of it, I think it's this idea of Turpin taking his ward as his unwilling wife that should require a necessity for parental guidance / mature audience rating, not the bloody display of hacking and slashing >_<
Tragic Moments:
Close to the ending Sweeney Todd ALMOST kills his own daughter without knowing she was in-disguise as a boy. I'm surprised he didn't do it! He had killed everyone else, be they innocent men or accidental witnesses like the batty old lady (who turned out to be his wife thought long dead). The only few he didn't kill included Toby, who was spared by Mrs. Lovett, BUT no one was there to stop him from killing Johanna! Yes, Mrs. Lovett screamed at the exact moment he was about to do it, but don't you think it takes less time to slit a throat than threaten her with death if she ever told anyone? That's incredibly sloppy for a serial killer =
The Ending:
Two words-- Child Killer. That's what Toby becomes as he slits Sweeney Todd's throat, ending the reign of murders. I suppose this needs another parental guidance sticker since some people might find it upsetting that a boy has to become a killer to put an end to the madness. But I'm one of those "The Ends Justify The Means" people, so all I care about is the wonderful irony.
Miscellany Bits:
There's another character from the Harry Potter movies, aside from aforementioned Judge Turpin = Severus Snape. Hint: Look out for a wormy character... he's really not too difficult to spot. And if you think the fake Italian barber pulled off his fake Italian act brilliantly, you'll be interested to know he can also pull off the role of a fake Kazakhstan reporter.
To wrap it all up, if you don't mind musicals and you don't faint at the sight of gushing blood, and most importantly if you're a huge fan of Johnny Depp then this is a must-see movie for you! =)
