Rated R for graphic bloody violence.
Directed by Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow, Batman…)
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman
Sweeney Todd a.k.a Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) returns to London after being sent away by Judge Turpin (Akan Rickman) for a crime he didn't commit only to find his wife is dead and his daughter is the ward of the evil Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). Sweeney opens a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Shop, where she sells “the worst pies in London.” Todd uses his barber shop to brutally kill the who’s who of the city, the more he kills, the more “meat” Mrs. Lovett has for her pies.
Sweeney Todd is a musical with Johnny Depp that is directed by Tim Burton. I don’t like musicals, Johnny Depp or Tim Burton. Sure I’m in the minority, but (as far as I’m concerned) Burton killed Batman and can only make one style of movie. Whether it’s Bettlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas or Edward Scissorhands the characters, scenery and story all blur into one long disturbing film.
Here’s what I did like, visually, Sweeney Todd is pretty cool and Johnny Depp did impress the heck out of me. Watching the DVD extras, I learned that this was his first time singing! I may think he is the strangest man (next to Burton) on the planet, but I have to admit, he is pretty amazing.
In the end, the dark scenery, dark characters and dark story were just too much for me and unless you are a big fan of musicals, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton…skip it.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, there is way too much violence.
Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
