Subject: Sweeney Todd with JD & HBC - stunning
Content: This movie was incredible. For one thing I have never heard Johnny Depp sing before, and he was quite impressive. The songs and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, who was a classic composer of his generation. Sondheim's songs in this movie have epic resonance and a really dark Gothic feel. The lyrics are darkly sardonic and satirical, mainly making fun of the rich and politicians. When Johnny Depp sings his parts of the score, his voice reminds me of a cockney singer of the sixties - Anthony Newley, whose records my mum was always playing as I grew up. (I hope JD doesn't hate me for saying that, because actually his voice doesn't wobble like Newley's sometimes used to, it's mainly the depth and cockney accent of it.) In terms of blood and gore - if you love lots of blood, you will love this movie. It is no respecter of age or beauty, anyone is in line for the chop if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Helena Bonham-Carter is just as brilliant in her supporting role as Johnny Depp is as the wicked Sweeney Todd. There is also a child actor (sorry I am too lazy to look up his name) who is an impressive actor, whose persona was hard as nails, except for his devotion to Helena's character. The ending of the film shocked me so much I could hardly speak after witnessing it. I won't give too much away by saying any more than that. How they did it without wasting one of the main players for real, I will never know... such is the magic of movie making. Highly recommended if you love gore and extreme violence, with some impressive singing thrown in. Please add to this thread especially if you have seen it, and have time to give more names of the cast, they all deserve a mention....
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