9. [ SWEENEY TODD ]

CHRYSS RATING ● ● ● ● ●
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GENRE Musical Thriller
LANGUAGE English
DIRECTOR Tim Burton SCREENPLAY/PRODUCER John Logan-PRODUCERS Walter Parkes, ------------------------------Laurie MacDonald--------D.O.P Dariusz Wolski---------------------MUSIC & LYRICS Stephen Sondheim
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CASTS Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener, Laura Michelle Kelly.

RECOMMENDED SITE http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/
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Watch this on 30 Jan 2008 with Stella, Tiffanny & Hun. I was so excited looking forward to it, as i've been waiting for it to get on screen since i checked it out on TGV's Coming Soon Movies site. I've put lots of expectation, 1st- it is a musical, while i'm totally a musical-lover! 2nd, Johnny Depp, specially thanks to Mr.HK of introducing such a great actor for me, i've always love his performance after watching Pirates of The Carribean and some other films else. Johnny Depp, you rocks man! he can act perfectly in every various casts in every films he came to. Besides, a compliment for Jamie Campbell Bower as well. Although he's more to extreme beauty (whr some may gives positif comments while some giving negatives one), but he looks entirely charming inside!

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When the film starts, at the moment of its montage, or introduction, where all the main credits being introduced, the graphic is kind'f amazing. the first tht came into mymind was, "woww, i was like sitting on the seat at Genting Highlands's 3D theatre!" besides, the overall feeling of the opening piece was like those in games: Resident Evil? hahaa, anyway, it's a fresh things to have though.

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Then, it started. basically the scenes are more to grey & black, which uses more to darker colours, perhaps to bring out the devil n cool feel. the costumes, the casts, the hairstyles, were all look filthy and kindf evil. hahaa, but anyway, good job! for the costume & make up designers! it enhanced the film more.

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When Todd (Johnny Depp) and Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower) started to sing, i was like "yuhoo~ it is a musical! love it!" then overall it's followed by musical type of flow: speak a little, sing a paragraph, speak, then sing again. i was wondering, how come this film has been rated as "thriller" movie in TGV site. Until it reaches the point, where the "thriller" elements slowly revealed. For me, perhaps the storyline doesnt seems to be so special n interesting, but anyhow, it overall brought it up nicely. The film uses more to British accent English, sounds comfortable anyway. Besides, i've learnt a few words and phrases fromt he film as well, such as: "before the week is out", "....isn't material", etc.

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Let me share a little brief story here: Sweeney Todd, is actually a story of revenge and how it consumes a vengeful person. Todd was previously a great barber named "Benjamin Barker", until the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) takes a fancy to his beautiful wife (Laura Michelle Kelly) and daughter (Jayne Wisener), and throws him in prison for a crime that he did not commit. After 15years of false imprisonment, he returned to London and started his revenge by renaming himself as "Sweeney Todd". And this is the moment where the second part of the film title revealed: "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". He vows to kill the Judge Turpin and his henchman, Beadle Bamford (Timothy Spall). On his journey, he meets his partner-in-crime, Mrs.Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who owns a pie shop. In order to make his plan of murdering the Judge n the Henchman a successful n perfect one, he applies his razor on unlucky customers in his shop, kills them through their throats cruelly, and shuttles the bodies down to Mrs.Lovett in turning the flesh into delicious n hot selling meat pies.

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Overall, the musical part is being brought so well. although it has violent scenes where Todd keep killing by cutting throats, however it seems alright for me, as the killing tactic is almost the same, thus lower down the horror grade. (i guess, if the film really mean to be a horror thriller film, i supposed they woun use the similar way of killing! of course they will design various shocking killing ways to frighten the audience though!) Another thing shud i mention here is that, throughout the film, there's humor elements which can realy make u laugh. for example, along the storyline, there's someone who actually cool down the atmosphere and brings laughters, the Italian rival barber-Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen).

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How Todd get to kill the Judge Turpin & the Henceman? will he finally reunion with his wife-Lucy and his daughter-Johanna? Watch it ur own, then u'll know how was it going.

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* I didnt actually find it horrible perhaps it's far from reality for me, or maybe i concentrate too much on the musical itself. But i'm sure for those barbers outhere, or whoever have the chance to get close with the "razor" will have phorbia side effects perhaps! Besides, for those who doesnt like musicals perhaps u may find this film boring like hell, jzlike myfrens do. Anyway, wishing u happy watching =)

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Just like how i walked out from the cinema, this rhythm keeps playing on my mind n throat: "Johanna...Johanna....I'll steal you...Johanna..." hahaa. Cheers~

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Chrystina.NG