So - what with several hiccups eventually trashing the plan to cinema it up yesterday - I finally saw Sweeney Todd today. I like how I say 'finally' when it's not actually on general release here until the 25^th. But GOD I have been waiting long enough.

Anyway. I do not have any reactions that could be considered spoilery (for a given definition of spoilery, anyway, considering this musical has been around for nearly thirty years), so no LJ-cuts shall you see here. I just want to say, basically:

*___*

Okay, blah blah, Helena Bonham Carter's voice is Dodgy-with-a-capital-D, pacing problems, THEY CUT 'THE BALLAD OF SWEENEY TODD' D: D:, everything that's already been mentioned by people on my flist, etc. And no, I've never seen a stage version, and yes, I will punch you in the face if you think that that makes my enjoyment of the film any less valid. If I had any problem with it (aside from the fact that HBC really annoys me, for no rational reason), it was that at times it didn't seem to know what it wanted to be, stylistically - Srs Brooding Gothicness vs. Wackily Surreal Stylized Adventures. Does that make sense? Probably not. What I mean is that... there were a lot of bits that were unashamedly, unabashedly, over-the-top theatrical, but also many that were, you know, not. And depending on the approach, either on its own would have worked wonderfully with the material, but not both in the same context. The flipping back and forth between the two was jarring enough that it kept yanking me out of the film.

THAT SAID.

I loved it. I loved it, and Johnny Depp has the best Oh my God, what is this and why is it touching me expressions on the planet. Entire cinema: *was cracking the fuck up at 'By the Sea'*

ETA:

unravels: There was some obvious discomfort at the opening when people started singing, but I think they got used to it.
unravels: and once there was sort of gratuitous blood flinging they were all "AAAAH" and there was a huge collective gasp when Johanna was in the chair.
copinggoggles: hee. Yeah, we had like the edge-of-seat, pin-drop silence
copinggoggles: Although I almost ruined it by laughing out loud when Todd was like, up close and bloodstained and CRAZY-EYED, "Forget my face."
unravels: Yeah... like that's going to happen.
copinggoggles: all I could think was
copinggoggles: THAT KID'S GONNA FUCKIN REMEMBER ME FOREVER
unravels: hahahahahaha
unravels: i didn't think of that... but I will NOW
copinggoggles: BUT I DID NOT SAY 'FUCKIN'.
unravels: THAT WAS A LIE