offbalance | Then who are we to deny it in here?

I saw Sweeny Todd last night and absolutely loved it. Granted, I've never seen the show, so I went in with no preconceived notions. I thought Depp was amazing, Bonham Carter did a credible job, Alan Rickman was amazing as always, and the supporting cast was strong. Mostly, I completely loved the music. So, naturally, I've added the Angela Landsbury version that's available on dvd to my Netflix queue. After that I'll decide which soundtrack I want - I kind of liked the Depp/Carter version of "A Little Priest," probably because Depp really sold it (that, and the song was amazing). He may not have the greatest voice (a decently good one, certainly), but he was so invested in the part that he was able to really sell the songs. I would have to say that it's one of the very best of Sondheim's musicals that I've encountered. The music is just phenomenal, and the lyrics are really sharp, dark, and funny. Great book, too.

Otherwise, today is kind of eh. Not really one for the history books. Last night I bought a new bottle of this contact solution I really like (it's the best one I've ever encountered), because I thought I'd lost the one I bought previously. Turns out, it was in a purse I'd looked in, but had tucked itself into a corner I missed. Blah! At least I'm set for when I run out.

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I saw Sweeney Todd the day after Christmas. Since then I've bought the soundtrack and seen it again. It's crack, I tell you. So good!

Oh, I believe it. I would watch it again. We will have to talk about this in depth over pizza tomorrow, but I loved what Burton did, particularly with color and design.

The contrast of the grays with the bright red blood? GENIUS. When it comes out on DVD, we'll watch that with Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow for comparison sake. (Johanna, Kim, and Katrina (respectively)... all pale blonds with huuuge eyes and bosoms!) I'll go on and on tomorrow, I'm sure.

That sounds like a plan, especially since I have yet to see Edward Scissorhands. I kept meaning to, but I somehow never got to it. If anything, Sweeny Todd is proof of how much Burton loves to fetishize big-eyed blondes. He was married to one for the longest time before he got mixed up with Helena Bonham Carter...

All pale brunettes with their hair dyed a weird, unnatural shade of blonde, actually. Burton's definitely got a type, doesn't he?

I really need to see that. I'm sad that they took out Ballad of Sweeney Todd, though - I understand the reasoning, but I still love that damn song!

No, I understand. My sister and I had problems with some of what was left out of Chicago, too.

I'm annoyed that "Ballad" was left out, mostly because Anthony Stewart Head was going to be one of the balladeers. AAAH! I just hope they include the scenes on the dvd.

Oooh, yes. One of the advantages of modern technology!

You know, the announcement that he was going to be in this film was the reason I first heard about it and I was SO looking forward to seeing him, then he was there for about 10 seconds after the "shave-off" with Pirelli. Made me sad.

It was Mr. Steven Sondheim himself.

I do not know if Ballad was left initially and thus will be a DVD extra or something, but I do know--via myspace interviews with Burton, Bonham-Carter, Depp, and Sondheim--that it was Sondheim who did most if not all of the cutting of the music for the movie, giving it his blessing, so to speak.

Oh, yep, I know that. And like I said, I completely understand the reasoning behind it, as I've seen it explained (Burton and Sondheim wanted to darken the whole thing up, which I totally agree with).

I just love that song!

Yeah, my Dad was totally bummed out, too. He was fully expecting that Ballad would at least play with the credits or something and was very disappointed when it didn't.

I thought it was great, too.

It's coming to Chicago soon, in on stage theater. I plan to see that. We've decided in my family that we need to see at least one theatrical production a year.

I just like for responses to things to line up properly, that's all.

My father LOVES this show. He was first introduced to it by watching the Tony awards one year. Christine Baranski played Mrs. Lovett and she and the gentleman playing Sweeney were performing Have a Little Priest.
When we joined Netflix Dad added both the Angela Lansbury production AND--this is important for you, Shaz, trust me--the Patti LuPone and Neil Patrick Harris in-concert version to our que. NOBODY plays Mrs. Lovett better than Patti LuPone, nobody. She just gets her. She owns that role. And NPH as Toby? *swoon* I saw the DVD of Sweeney in concert (not as boring as it might sound, I assure you) just before How I Met Your Mother premiered on CBS and seeing NPH in Sweeney is what made me want to catch him in HIMYM. I have not regretted it. I love him as Barney.

So, for Christmas we gave Dad the 2005 revival cast recording of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and took him out for dinner and to see the film the day after Christmas. I enjoyed Johnny as Sweeney. Not the best I'd ever seen, but he did much better than I'd expected. Helena was... okay. I think I'm just of the mind that Mrs. Lovett should always be a bit of a belter and Helena doesn't have that in her. At all. She's also too young and pretty. But then, the cast was all on the young side.

If you're looking for a good soundtrack/cast recording, I'd suggest going with either the original Brodway cast (though I'm not a big fan of Lansbury as Lovett, the original Sweeney was AWESOME), the 2005 revival cast (LuPone rocks, not sure I love Michael Cerveris as Sweeney), or the Sweeney Todd in Concert (Patti LuPone, Neil Patrick Harris, and... well, if he's not the original Sweeney, he comes damn close. That guy's awesome).
I know I'm suggesting the full show to you instead of just the film music, but the full show is entirely worth it.

As much as I liked the (gory! gory!) movie, I have to say that, damn, nearly every other recording of A Little Priest sells it SO MUCH MORE.

re: Depp and Carter's singing...

even though they aren't trained vocalists i really felt their voices matched their characters so well. Todd and Lovett were not beautiful characters. great stuff!

yeah...i could go see it again.

Then who are we to deny it in here?

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Anthony Stewart Head

You are aware who did the cutting of the music, correct?

Re: You are aware who did the cutting of the music, correct?

Re: You are aware who did the cutting of the music, correct?

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I'm really not trying to spam your journal with comments, Shaz, promise

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