Tim Burton & Johnny Depp Team For 'Sweeney Todd'

[Drizzle]

True, but they didn't add in the stuff about Judge Turpin until the musical.

 

[DACrowe]

Actually the legend (some argue is true, though likely it isn't) came from Penny Dreadfuls in the 19th century where Sweeney was the antagonist to some young hero that needed to be saved or was saving his lady love. It was Christopher Bond who in 1973 re-envisioned the story to be a psychological melodrama that had you root for the serial killer and turn it into a story of revenge, tragedy and the consequences of living in the past.

Sondheim loved it and thought it'd be great as a musical because the musical would give it an epic/operatic grandiose quality that a small drama does not. Sweeney's motivations and thoughts seem sweeping and heartbreaking with music as opposed to just pure insanity without. It also allowed him to make a horror musical, something Sondheim wanted to do and try and scare or at least disturb the audience with music (the Ballad of Sweeney Todd and the random screeches of a whistle were these tricks, all removed from the movie) and he infused it with a crap ton of dark comedy (any scene with Mrs. Lovett and many without).

So while it has worked without music, its musical form is the most captivating and the definitive form people think of when they hear "Sweeney todd." It has graphed an iconography and character to the name and myth stronger than centuries and gurgional theater, penny dreadfuls, horror movies and regular plays.

Also, to say Sondheim's music is bad makes you look a few body parts short of a meat pie, so you might want to avoid that in the future.

 

[Harry Goblin]

Never knew about what you said in about half of that, very interesting.

 

[Drizzle]

2 Disc Cover Art! Sorry for the small size.

 

[Nirvana]

Marking April 1st onto my mind...

 

[Spider-Fan]

2 Disc Cover Art! Sorry for the small size.

I love the art on the 2-Disc Glad that the better artwork is on the edition I am buying (I like this cover better than the 1-Disc).

 

[Eagle_23]

Ok, so w/ Toshiba officially declaring their defeat. Does that mean movies like Sweeney will be coming to Blu-Ray? Like before it wasn't going to at least not in the US because I think it was Paramount, had distribution rights and they were sided w/ HD DVD. But now can Paramount void their contract w/ HD DVD and make Blu Ray movies?

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/853/853390p1.html
oh ya, here's a link w/ some info on the upcoming release but no info on my question, so.... Love the SE cover art though...

 

[Nirvana]

That pic with all the bloody razors, is that the slip cover for the two-disc version?

 

[DACrowe]

Well the art for the two disc is awesome and I'm glad it's not just that boring close up poster image (which I'm guessing is the one disc image). With that said, I hope that it comes to Blu-ray within the next six months. If so, I can wait, but if not I will have to buy it on DVD, even though I know it would look AMAZING in blu-ray. Why does Paramount have to be so damn stubborn? Universal has already begun changing over to blu-ray but Paramount/Dreamworks just is quiet as a mouse in the corner. When Toshiba throws in the towel, it's over. Now give us Sweeney Todd on a HD platform that actually will be used after May!

 

[Drizzle]

That pic with all the bloody razors, is that the slip cover for the two-disc version?

It seems to be the back of the two-disc edition.

 

[PWN3R]

WANT

 

[Apollo]

I guess there isn't going to be an extended cut after all... Or deleted scenes..

 

[The Guard]

It started out as a musical long before it was a movie, so you fail.

Bigtime. Before SWEENEY TODD became a movie,it was a Broadway musical. There have also been numerous non musical adaptions of the story.

Before that, it was made into like three different operas.

Before that, it was a story in the crime magazines.

And before that, it was an urban legend.

 

[Bubonic]

No extended or deleted scenes?
Hmm, perfect as it was though.

 

[StrainedEyes]

No extended or deleted scenes?
Hmm, perfect as it was though.

Did anyone say that there were deleted scenes?

 

[Drizzle]

The only one I know of is Christopher Lee and company singing "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd". But I'm not sure if that was filmed. I think it was just recorded.

 

[DACrowe]

It was never filmed. I mean it'd be a nice bonus to hear that track, but not every (not most) film needs an extended cut.

 

[Nirvana]

It seems to be the back of the two-disc edition.

No no, I'm talking about this

Seems like a slip cover.

 

[Bastila]

I like the back cover with all the razors its cool.

 

[JP]

How long do I have to wait for a blu ray release?

 

[Drizzle]

No no, I'm talking about this

Seems like a slip cover.

Oh. Yeah, it does seem like a slipcover.

How long do I have to wait for a blu ray release?

Probably not long at all. Since HD-DVD is practically dead, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up scrapping the "Sweeney Todd" HD-DVD and concentrate on converting it to Blu-ray. If I were to bet on it, I'd say it'll be released on Blu-ray before the end of the year.

 

[Fran]

I can't wait to pick this up. Loved it in theaters

 

[Catman]

You know...this is like the THIRD Burton movie to win a production design Oscar. The first was Batman then Sleepy Hollow and now this. And all were made in London.

 

[bullets]

That is one of the best things about Burtin's films. He is good with choosing a setting that compliments his style.

 

[DACrowe]

Well at least this little masterpiece picked up one Oscar.