Sweeney Todd

(9/10)

Finally, something that LIVED up to its hype this year. As you know I've had my share of letdowns over the past month. Anyway, this was such an excellent movie. Tim Burton has only gotten better with time in my opinion. Sweeney Todd is like no other film I've seen in memory. And of course, credit goes to Stephen Sondheim who created this crazy story back in the seventies. The plot basically comes off as weird at first- Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is a popular barber, but an envious man (Alan Rickman)exhiles him from London and ends up doing harm to his wife and keeping his daughter, Joanna, to his own. 15 yrs later, a very different looking Benjamin returns as Sweeney Todd, who is set on revenge. (Revenge meaning slitting throats and making meatpies of his victims while the townspeople eat them unknowingly)
I really loved this movie and you know why? Cuz I had to pee the WHOLE TIME and I didn't leave for 2 hours because I didn't want to miss anything. From the smallest characters (Sacha Baren Cohen and uh the guy who played the kid who liked Joanna) to the major standouts (No not Johnny...we know he is always awesome regardless) Helena Bonham Carter! She was by far the most delightful to watch, leaving out anyones notion that she was only cast because she is the wife of Timmy Burton. Also, the young guy playing Toby (I just don't feel like looking him up right now sorry) has an amazing voice and I believe this was his first movie! Grim and sweet at the same time? Yeah its possible. But the finale leaves you with a few good twists and a tragedy beyond words. Ick , there is lots of blood but done to the point of artistic and over the top kind of gore therefore I think people with weak tolerance for that could still stomach the movie. Anyway, great performances, a good and emotional story and awesome style make this one of the best movies of the year. Oh yeah and the musics not so bad either. ;)