I usually agree with everything you write but I couldn't disagree more on this one. Enough blood, guts and gore to last me ten lifetimes - a total slasher movie. I could not find one shred of redeeming social value in watching people get sliced, died, chopped and dropped. I cannot believe that so many people (critics) are so willing to overlook so much blood. The ONLY scenes I enjoyed were the fantasy scenes of the picnic and the boardwalk. I love everything else of Sondheim's but I must confess that I have never liked this story anyway. I've been anxious see the film only to see if it would finally make me a believer. Afraid not.

I saw the original Broadway musical with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn and was mesmorized. "Sweeney Todd" preceded "Phantom of the Opera" by several years, but was staged in a most contemporary style. I recall seeing Angela (or a stunt double) walk across moving bridge/truss platforms that crisscrossed high over the stage floor. For its time it was really innovative staging.

I like the majority of Tim Burton's films and found this one to be no exception--though I have to concur that I feel it was not necessary to show each and every throat cutting so graphically. Some, yes for impact and to captivate younger audiences, but was it really necessary to show all victims in extreme detail? Ditto about those victims bodies falling and making impact with the basement floor. Everytime I see earlier horror films and Hitchcock's "Psycho" I am reminded that often times leaving some grotesque details to a viewer's imagination can be much more frightening than showing all. Burton likely did it so it would appease younger 20 & 30 yr-old audiences who are used to overt screen violence and to some degree already desensitized to it.

To be honest I feel that both leads seemed a little young for their roles, but on the other hand, they certainly help ensure boxoffice success. Carter, though overall good, lacked a lot of the quirky, sweet, humor that Lansbury brought to Mrs. Lovett's character on stage--but she did have a hint of it.

In an ideal world, for us purists, the movie could have sneaked in the vocal version of "Attend The Tale of Sweeney Todd" over the closing credits so it could have been included on the new soundtrack recording. Most audience members don't sit through credits anyway, but for us afficianados it would have been the icing on the cake. Too bad Burton didn't have a crack at the film musical version of "Phantom of the Opera." That could have only helped that movie.

It's like squeezing art to see how much money comes out of it.

As a professional musican and actor, I can't resist a comment. I've seen the film 3 times - love it more each time. I'm a huge Sondheim fan/expert. NO film is going to satisfy theater goers if they are expecting a film to be exactly the same as the stage. Name a musical from Broadway made into film that satisfys like the original. It's not fair to expect it. I went to Sweeney Todd to see what Burton would do and he did well. I love Tolkien and have read the Ring series 9 times but I went to the films with reasonable expectations. As a result, I enjoyed them immensely. As a singer, it took me a bit to adjust to the voices in Sweeny but the acting and film construction are so suberb, I can easily forgive that. Really, film and stage are two different medias and one should never expect them to deliver the same.

I too missed the chorus pieces and a couple of other songs, but I understand Burton's design and am sure it was timing and audience attraction that compelled such decisions. As it is, and this is tragic, I think the film will be panned by the public. Burton is an aquired taste as it is and folks will hear that it's a musical and walk away. Too bad for them. This is academy material and I'd like to see more musicals hit the screen. Finally, a hearty thanks to Sondheim for having the courage and taking the risk to let his most ground breaking work be handled by someone else. Sweeney Todd is not for everyone even as theater but this film does it proud. By the way, other comments have criticized the story. Stories are art and you're entitled not to like them. However, this story is riveting, funny, hard, romantic beyond belief, and in my opinion the best kind of material for stage and screen.

I must ask is there anything that Johnny Deep can't do? The man is phenomenal and also the lady helen something, she is quite sensational herself. I must say out of all the actors that are not British, Jonny deep does have a pretty good British accent, am guesisng all that rehearsals for pirates of the Carribean paid off. Anyway saw the movie and in my opinion was a masterpiece, I cant believe he did not take singing lessons? What! His voice sounded amazing. Go see the movie.

He spoiled the show,
With blood and gore.

Mr. Burton should know,
That "less is more"!