To say that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is unique would be an understatement. It is more than unique. It is something so different and out of this world, that I am going to find a hell of a hard time reviewing it because there aren’t many things to compare it to, save for the musical and the television movies produced and the “various English language works starting in the mid-19th century” which they were all based upon. It would also be difficult to review simply because it’s so damn different. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Almost alien. So to do this review, I will take a similar approach as our good friend Zero Punctuation over at The Escapist Magazine. Indulge me if you will, and read this review with a pomp English accent and quickly as though you’re hyped up on crack and steroids.

Right. Picture High School Musical. Replace Zac Efron with Edward Scissorhands with the homicidal tendencies of Freddy Krueger. Then take away Vanessa Hudgens and in her place, put in the Corpse Bride. Change whoever the bad guy is to Hans Gruber and set it all in the twisted world of Tim Burton and you practically have Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This latest invention from long time collaborators Tim Burton and Johnny Depp is a beautifully crafted and wonderfully acted (and sung) musical that maintains the quirkiness of Tim Burton and never has a dull moment. Johnny Depp stars as the lead, Benjamin Barker, a man who has been sent away to Hard Labour in Australia on a false charge for fifteen years and returns as Sweeney Todd, hoping to be reunited with his family. Instead, he finds his wife Lucy had poisoned herself after being raped by the corrupt Judge Turpin, the man who sent Todd away. He also finds hat his daughter Johanna had been adopted and raised by Judge Turpin. In a quest of revenge against Judge Turpin, an angered Todd reopens his Barber shop, hoping to give the Judge the closest shave he will ever know.

Being a musical, the most important thing is the music, which is simply superb in this film. Every note hangs in the air, keeping you in your seat, with every change in sound drawing you in deeper and deeper. The music remains consistent throughout, maintaining uniformity so none of the songs seem out of place. Much of the plot is moved along through the songs that are sung, and they are not just there for the sake of making it a musical. And as such, the actors have done a fantastic job of moving the plot along. Depp is perfect for his role as Sweeney Todd, utilising the eccentricity he had gained while starring as Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean Series. His singing is no less than perfect, striking every note with a tinging that that reverberates through out your body. The same can be said about Helena Bonham Carter, her high voice matching perfectly with Depp’s baritone voice. Their duet My Friends is one that must be heard and is probably my favourite song in the whole movie. Alan Rickman seems to have spent too much time as Professor Snape in Harry Potter, as his performance seems to carry heavily into this film, not that Im complaining much mind you, his performance in this is no less stunning than that of the other actors. A person I would have seen much more of would have been that of Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony Hope, the sailor who brings Todd back to London and is in love with Johanna, his voice and singing beyond superb. An amazing thing in this film is the make up. Not many people in the world are capable of making Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter look hideous. Also, the special effects are beautiful, looking realistic, without making it over the top. The blood actually sprays like blood.

Janson Says: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is an absolutely splendid film musical, whose stars appear they have been singing all their lives. Johnny Depp’s performance is phenomenal, and makes it clearly why he won the Godlen Globe. The songs are great which bring this classic tale to life, and the duets are simply the best and are the ones to look out for.

Tags: corpse bride, corrupt judge, dull moment, edward scissorhands, english accent, escapist magazine, hans gruber, hard labour, homicidal tendencies, johnny depp, johnny depp stars, latest invention, sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street, tim burton, twisted world, vanessa hudgens, wife lucy, zac efron, zero punctuation
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