Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd"
courtesy of Warner Home Video
“Not As Bloody Good As I Remembered”

Some movies you see in the theater and love, and then when you watch them on DVD they are as good as you remembered or better Such is not the case with “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” When I watched it on DVD recently it was much bloodier than I remembered and the performances were not as crisp and winning. Still it did have some good things going for it.

Actor Johnny Depp and Director Tim Burton are a winning combination. They joined their talents in "Edward Scissorhands," "Ed Wood," "Sleepy Hollow," "The Corpse Bride" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; but never have they tackled a project as risky as the screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway success "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Still the talented pair has managed to pull it off. This musical movie is bloody (overly bloody) and gory and glorious.

Depp plays Benjamin Barker, a pleasant barber who is devoted to his wife (Laura Michelle Kelly) and his infant daughter. An evil judge (Alan Rickman) casts a covetous eye on Barker's wife and decides she will be his. He has Barker arrested on a trumped up charge and sent to prison. Fifteen years later Barker escapes and returns to London as Sweeney Todd.

Learning that his wife is dead, Todd swears revenge. He is joined in his nefarious plans by Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), a widow who operates the meat pie shop located beneath his barber shop. Todd slices open throats and then drops the bodies into the cellar. There they are gathered by Mrs. Lovett and ground up for meat in her pies. Waste not, want not.

All of this convoluted plot is told through the melodious sounds of Stephen Sondheim's songs. Some just advance the plot while others weave a spell and spirit all their own. Depp's voice is perfectly suited for the score and Bonham Carter also has an enjoyable voice. The only problem is that Sondheim’s songs are talky to the extreme and the words in this movie are not always understandable.

Depp dives into his role with gusto and makes Sweeney another standout in a long line of standout performances. Though not as charismatic as Depp, Bonham Carter adds a devilish glee to the proceedings. Rickman is an important contributor as the judge, and Sacha Baron Cohen has a noticeable cameo as a rival barber.

Not to be overlooked is Ed Sanders as Toby, the young boy Mrs. Lovett takes on as an assistant. His role is integral to the plot and his acting and singing talent are important to the movie. The same can be said of Timothy Spall, who is the judge's nefarious accomplice.

If you aren't put off by all the blood flowing then you can have a good time watching Johnny Depp act and sing in a truly unique film. It’s bloody and bold but it didn’t bowl me over on DVD like it did in the movie theater.

When I watched the TV series “Greek” on television I was put off with its sexual content. After all it was airing on the ABC Family Channel. I could just envision children of all ages tuning in and being exposed to sexual leering and double entendres flying.

But now “Greek: The First Season” has been released on DVD and it is much easier just to relax and enjoy it. I especially was impressed by the lead performance of Spencer Grammer (Kelsey’s daughter) as the sorority snob who is the focus of the action.

The scene is a college campus where trh3ew partying is almost full time and no one really has to study. It is just as fictional now as it was in my day when “Animal House” made the same claims.

There is another DVD in the “Baby Einstein” series. This one is titled “Baby’s First Sounds: Discoveries For Little Ears.” On the DVD we are introduced to the basic sounds our babies first hear and the soothing sounds that are also there.

We get music in the mix with selections from Mozart and Schubert. That adds to the fun and pleasure of the DVD. You can watch with your baby and learn techniques to improve his/her listening abilities.

Music is also the key to enjoying the DVD “Johnny and the Sprites.” This collection of adventures from the “Disney Playhouse” series of the same name is sure to involve your youngsters and keep them happy for hours.

The scene is “Grotto’s Grove,” an enchanted place where the sprites live. There are songs and adventures that your kids will love. So bring home “Johnny and the Sprites” for hours of good entertainment for your kids. 

On “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo: The Complete First Season” you get thirteen, twenty two minute episodes. That is over four hours of entertainment featuring the junior sized versions of Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred. And the good thing is your kids will enjoy every single minute of it.

The “Scooby-Doo” franchise is one of the most popular around. It appeals to adults and kids because of its great humor and clever writing. And this DVD is no exception to the rule.

Finally there is “Steep” which traces the extreme sport of snow skiing over the course of a few years. This documentary shows the pioneers of the sport and the champions of today. It is breath-taking and beautiful to see the expertise with which these skiers perform, plus you get the beauty of nature serving as a backdrop to the athletic activities.

So for a look at an extreme sport and the professionals who charted the course, pick up the DVD of “Steep.” It is a wild ride but an enjoyable one.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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