Friday Movie Revew - Sweeney Todd

Thank you Zoolatry for the great graphic!

Sometimes a kitty reviewer desires a fresher, more current movie to review. This was the case for me this week. For quite awhile now, I have seen the trailers for "Sweeney Todd" on the television, and I found myself intrigued. I know my mommy has been to see this movie twice . . . without me, mind you. She told me that kitties weren't allowed in movie theatres. I thought about that, and then came up with a plan.

Disguised as a Russian foreign exchange student named Igor Kittenovsky, I easily gained entrance to the theatre! After ordering myself a popcorn to play with and a Dr Pepper to sip, I settled in the plush seat to watch the show.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: John Logan (screenplay)

Stephen Sondheim (musical)

Kitties, this movie is not for the squeamish. And if you don't have a dark sense of humor, you probably shouldn't watch it. That being said . . . . I LOVED IT.

As with other Tim Burton movies, "Sweeney Todd" has a wonderful use of color and great use of cinematography that sets the mood and underscores the plot. From the opening sequence in which the overture is played to a backdrop of credits and bloody, grimy London sewers (with rats!) to our introduction to Mrs. Lovett and her pie shop to the final denouement in the bake house, Burton's use of color and camera angle enhances the experience until a kitty just has to chirp in happiness. And this is without even taking into account the great acting and singing!

Johnny Depp fills the title role with panache. As usual, he has taken a quirky anti-hero and made it into something that my mommy will drool over for days. Helena Bonham Carter (another one of my mommy's favorites) plays Mrs. Lovett, and manages to make her both practical and romantic . . . even as she is chopping up Todd's victims into meat pies in the basement. Both Depp and Carter did their own singing, and might I say that they did wonderful jobs.

I am sure you kitties are all aware that this film is an adaptation of Sondheim's original musical, directed by Harold Prince. What you might not know is that Angela Lansbury is the original Mrs. Lovett! You can look here to see that in 1982 there was a television production of the musical, and it is available to view on DVD. I plan to put this on mommy's Netflix queue.

Not only was this an original Broadway production, it is actually based on a true story. For those kitties with inquiring minds, you can read all about the real Sweeney Todd here.

As you may have guessed, "Sweeney Todd" gets two paws up . . . for those kitties with a more macabre sense of humor and a strong stomach.

I hope you enjoyed my review, kitties! I am off to take a nap after my thrilling theatre adventure. Purrs!