fotizo φωτίζω

Spoiler Alert - meaning you may find the content here unappealing, either as a matter of point of view or worse, taste; or over-zealous, or in practical - although none of which reflects the true meaning of “spoiler alert”.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - 8/10

There are tons of moments in Sweeney Todd that made me loathed my vivid memories of sessions of movies that I shouldn’t have peeked when I was small. Person burning inside an oven staring right at you hoping that you can help, him (release her in Sweeney Todd’s case); infamous savory place which gets its meat from the the most local, fresh and, definitely, organic source - the barber upstairs.

First of all, the inconvenient truth is that the story ain’t new. This barber, Sweeney Todd, happens to be a “historical” example of serial killer from the 19th Century that had been involved into numerous murders worldwide, in melodramas and movies. Somehow we grew tired of melodramas during the early days of TV when they had nothing to show but melodramas.

Now the producers are running out of movie idea thus remember this i-think-market-will-like-it story and put it on movie screen, again (1936), again (1970), again (1973), again (1998), and again (2007). I do not expect a crappy re-made of some old perfect movies and I do not expect a crappy ending (in today’s standard) that it seems most of the movies of that time were entitled to. Overall, I do not expect a crap out of my $1o.25. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp didn’t fail me this time - though nothing more.

To put it simply, it has terrific directing, acting, lyrics/music and character choices but a poor story.

The directing is definitely Tim Burton’s style, delivering laughters from scenes that laughter is least expected. But people who are too emotionally occupied with the blood are probably going to miss all those good moments when Johnny Depp was totally indulged in his love with his… blade when he was singing and slitting people’s throats indifferently, repeatedly, and amusingly.

[Cough]

The character choice for the commoners are great. They look exactly like the people you would kill without regret in Grand Theft Auto III. They look great and you don’t know who they are. I felt nothing with the death of each of them but their deaths helped with the image building of Mr. Todd so they worked.

Lyrics/Music - Good. I can’t understand 40% of the beautiful British accent. But I think the remaining is good, by good faith.

Story - need some work. But who cares, it is a visual film.

[Cough]

It will write again when I have recovered… from whatever the sickness it may be.