Movie DVD Store (UK) - Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2 Disc) [2007]
![Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2 Disc) [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dAILiRq1L._SL160_.jpg)
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List Price: £22.99
Our Price: £7.38
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Johnny Depp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall
Directed By: Tim Burton
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Binding: DVD
EAN: 7321902211756
Format: Box set
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 2
Release Date: 2008-05-19
Running Time: 111
Studio: Warner Home Video
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Editorial Reviews:
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After years of rumours, it turns out that Tim Burton was the perfect visionary to film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Stephen Sondheim's Broadway masterpiece, and the result is a macabre and moving musical movie as enthralling as anything Burton has ever done. The show's mix of gothic horror, Grand Guignol, very dark humor, and witty and beautiful music never was the stuff of traditional musical comedy, but it's a powerful work, and perhaps the richest of the late 20th century. In the movie, Burton's frequent collaborator, Johnny Depp, plays Todd, a wronged man whose lust for revenge drives him to murder (an 19th-century legend who has been traced to a real-life barber). Helena Bonham Carter, another Burton mainstay, is Mrs. Lovett, the barber's partner-in-unspeakable-crime. It's no surprise that Depp is an excellent choice to convey Todd's brooding intensity and volcanic rage, but he can also sing a score that is so challenging it has often played in opera houses (though not with the same style as the Broadway original, Len Cariou, and he occasionally lapses into pop style). Bonham Carter is small of voice and lacks the humour of the original Broadway Lovett, Angela Lansbury, but she sings on pitch, in rhythm, and in character at the same time, which is no small feat for a Sondheim show. Aficionados will regret the loss of certain musical passages--"The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is just an instrumental overture and the chorus is gone altogether, among others, but the reassuring presence of orchestrator Jonathan Tunick and conductor Paul Gemignani ensures that the music feels right and sounds great. And the film's depiction of a Victorian London hellhole, with cinematography by Dariusz Wolski and costumes by Colleen Atwood, also looks and feels right. The excellent cast is filled out by Alan Rickman as the villainous Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall as his seedy Beadle, Sacha Baron Cohen as a rival barber, Jamie Campbell Bower as the young lover Anthony, Jayne Wisener as his object of affection, and Ed Sanders as the young Toby. For fans of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp who don't think they like musicals, Sweeney Todd should be a revelation (though not for the squeamish, as the gore is intense and completely appropriate). For fans of Broadway and Sondheim, it's hard to imagine getting a better adaptation than this. The fact that there's no newly composed Oscar-bait song sung by a Josh Groban-type over the end credits only makes it better. --David Horiuchi
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Film of 2008??
Comment: Tim Burton's fascination with the gothic and macabre is well-suited for his adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, producing a musical that combines both fountains of blood and gore and moments of great comedy. Central to the success of this film is his understanding that this is a musical which works as well in an intimate studio setting as it does in a large theatre.
Burton creates a claustrophobic London, all dark alleys and dirty sewers. The locations are unpleasant and the dark gloomy colours of the film help to create the drab and threatening atmosphere of the city in which power has been abused and corrupted. The only bright splashes of the film come in the dreams and memories of its two main protagonists.
Johnny Depp is a memorable Todd. His face expressive of pain and of his desire for revenge. His singing voice is impressive, reminiscent of Bowie, the London accent prevalent. Bonham Carter is funny and amusing, her performance reflects her maturity as an actress whilst Alan Rickman turns in another villain, a performance which he obviously enjoys.
This is a certainly one of the more impressive revenge films to have been produced recently, the strong acting of its leads making it much more a study in character than many musicals and the vibrancy and energy of Sondheim's score creating dense musical textures which Burton explores with expertise.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sweeney Todd
Comment: As a fan of Tim Burtons films I had high hopes for 'Sweeney Todd' and from the distinctive opening credits I knew I was on familiar Burton ground and in for a treat. The direction, make-up, costumes and sets are wonderfully atmospheric and give that dark feel to the film straight away. To be honest I found the musical aspect of this film got on my nerves by the end, but the acting and actual story itself was so good that I enjoyed the film immensely anyway. Depp is as great as ever and Sasha Baron Cohen was surprisingly good. This film isn't overly long and although the murders were quite gruesome at times, it didn't feel excessive or gratuitous, they were almost tongue in cheek in some ways. Alan Rickman plays an excellent 'baddie' again and all the supporting cast performed well. This is typical Burton fare (dark humour, distinctive styling and quirky music) and made for some great viewing. Well worth a look and I'd give this 3 1/2 stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: As a Sondheim fan I was really looking forward to this movie but it was a real disappointment. His brilliant score was poorly served in the hands of actors who cannot sing. Depp and Bonham-Carter looked bored to tears most of the time. And what happened to the humour? Sunk without trace. The only redeeming feature in the film for me was the villainous Alan Rickman. I guess I'm in a minority on this one but if you enjoyed the theatrical version, then leave the film alone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Really like this
Comment: Based on Amazons review rating system; 1=hate it, 2=dont like it 3=ok, 4=like it, 5=loved it.
I award a 5. I do really like this movie..
This was the first film i saw of 2008 and i have to say i was impressed! I had never ever dared watch a horror, type musical.. For some reason this movie just didnt seem to be all about murders. Its a dark, depressing movie with a great twist at the end. The singing was OK. I loved My friends, Johnny depp hit some fantastic notes in that song!
Overall very very good. My second favourite movie of 2008!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Bleedin Marvellous!
Comment: This has rapidly become one of my favourite films of all time! Bloody Brilliant!
Johnny Depp and Helena Bohnam Carter are fantastic, I was wary of their singing to begin with, but soon you forget and are immersed in the story and I couldn't imagine anyone else in their roles.
The visual effects are amazing, I love the use of dark, dingy colours followed by the vibrant splash of scarlet blood splattered everywhere! If you are a bit scared of blood I would watch out, as it is quite graphic! It does have an 18 certificate for a reason!!
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