Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

The first time I watched Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street I was 15 and I didn't like. The thing is that I didn't know it was a musical and I guess that spoiled the movie for me. Despite the fact that I can't stand Depp, I decided to give it another chance. 

The film tells the story of Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), a London barber whose life was destroyed when the powerful Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) fell for Barker's beautiful wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly), and accused and exiled Barker for a crime he did not commit so that he could have her. Fifteen years later, Barker returns to London under the name of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin. In order to get his revenge, he sets up a barber shop and teams up with Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), the owner of a meat pie shop below his shop.

It could have been such an interesting revenge story but unfortunately, it was poorly executed and the result is a mess that doesn't make any sense --Barker has the right to avenge himself, but killing innocent people, and making meat pie with them? Nope, he does not have the right do to that--, that's predictable --I didn't remember the final twist but it didn't come as a surprise as I saw it coming-- and kept me interested only at the beginning, before the whole throat-slicing business.

The characters are pretty bad too as they are bland and uninteresting. And the performances, most of them, don't get any better. Barker/Todd is a tragic character, and you are supposed to feel sorry for him, hope that he gets his revenge. And yet, in part because of the way the character is written, in part because of Johnny Depp who, by the way, looks like Edward Scissorhands and does a pretty terrible job, you never feel sorry for him. Mrs. Lovett is a disgusting woman but at least Helena Bonham Carter gives a decent performance as she finds a nice balance between drama and comedy. Sasha Baron Cohen plays a character that is almost completely irrelevant to the story but it really looks like he's having fun. Alan Rickman easily steals the show as he gives yet another wonderful performance as the corrupt judge. He brings so much charm to the role, that you'll more likely end up rooting for his character than for Depp's.

Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Visually though, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street does not disappoint. Here, Burton created another of his stunning worlds. The cinematography is beautiful, the colours are fantastic, the costumes and makeup are incredible and so are the sets. There's a lot of blood and gore but they work with the story. At last, the songs, although some are too prolonged and they get irritating at times, aren't terrible.

July Expiration Watch: Fun While They Lasted

Still haven't watched the 1950s suburban zombie flick, Fido? What about Peter Bogdanovich's classic 1973 comedy, Paper Moon (reviewed here)? Or the darkly imaginative The City of Lost Children, from the duo who created the brilliant Delicatessen? If not, you better get to it, because those and other recently added titles are about to expire, including one of the better entries in the Star Trek series, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (which arrived only this month, in case you're feeling a sense of deja vu).

The City of Lost Children

You may also want to get cracking on a number of other new-ish titles already earmarked for the big sleep, such as the two ZAZ* comedies, Airplane! and Top Secret!, which redefined big-screen zaniness in the 1980s; Mel Gibson's Braveheart, which helped redefine movie violence in the 1990s; and 1969's Easy Rider, which redefined youth culture, the movie industry, and Jack Nicholson's career, all in one smoke-filled swoop.

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Johnny Depp's Teaser Trailer For ON STRANGER TIDES!

**Update July 30: Just got the official version of the clip! Check it out below...

**Same Day Update: I have been requested by Jerry Bruckheimer's team to remove the video, to which I have complied. Too bad, I enjoyed it immensely!

LOL. I love how he captures an audience! Johnny Depp is truly one of the great actors of his generation. Depp's acting range is unmatched and Captain Jack Sparrow will go down as probably his greatest character.

Disney is right to place him front and center with PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES because much of the previous star power is now gone: Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley will not be returning. Geoffrey Rush is still there though thank the movie gods.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer needs a massive hit too. Lately his stock has fallen somewhat, but still $326 million worldwide is not too shabby for PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME - it is just not Bruckheimer numbers that's all. THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE is languishing too; just $68 million worldwide to date. That one hurts - though I enjoyed it somewhat.

Check out Depp's little rant - all in character!



Director: Rob Marshall
Writer: Ted Elliott
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz

Release: May 20, 2011

There are not many surer bets than a PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN sequel is there?

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Starts Production

Walt Disney Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer Films' PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES has started production in Disney Digital 3D!

I have been waiting for this one for a long time - 3D is perfect for family entertainment and of course Disney is on top of that.

Here is the press release:
BURBANK, Calif. (June 21, 2010) -- Production has commenced on location in Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Los Angeles on Walt Disney Pictures’ and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ sweeping comedy adventure “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), the fourth entry in the blockbuster franchise which has already reaped $2.7 billion in worldwide box office from the previous three films, and the first to be filmed and presented in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic, Academy Award®-nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, newly joined by Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Rob Marshall’s “Nine”), Ian McShane (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin. Also rejoining Johnny Depp and Captain Jack are Academy Award-winner and three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush (“Shine,” “Shakespeare in Love”) and Kevin R. McNally (first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Valkyrie”). The film is slated to open May 20, 2011.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise —this time in Disney Digital 3D™. In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is written by “Pirates” veterans Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and John DeLuca.

Joining Bruckheimer and Marshall for the new voyage is a top-flight group of award-winning behind-the-scenes artists, including director of photography Dariusz Wolski (first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”), production designer John Myhre (two-time Academy Award® winner for Marshall’s “Chicago” and “Memoirs of a Geisha”), costume designer Penny Rose (all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”), visual effects supervisor Charles Gibson, who won an Academy Award for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” Oscar® winner and eight-time nominee special effects supervisor John Frazier (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films,” “Pearl Harbor”) and stunt coordinator George Marshall Ruge, who also devoted his talents to the previous three “Pirates” films as well as Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer’s “National Treasure” franchise. The editors include two Oscar winners, Michael Kahn (“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”) and David Brenner (“Born on the Fourth of July”), as well as Wyatt Smith (Marshall’s “Nine”).

Rob Marshall’s first three films, “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Nine,” have been honored with a total of 23 Academy Award® nominations. For his work on “Chicago,” winner of six Oscars® including Best Picture, Marshall received the Director’s Guild Award, an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe Award® nomination, a BAFTA nomination, The National Board of Review Award and the New York Film Critics Online Award. A six-time Tony Award® nominee and George Abbott Award winner, Marshall’s extensive work on Broadway includes co-director and choreographer of the worldwide award-winning production of “Cabaret” and director/choreographer of the Broadway revival of “Little Me,” along with many others. He also produced, directed and choreographed the NBC television special “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” which earned seven Emmy Awards®, including three for Marshall, and directed and choreographed Disney/ABC’s critically acclaimed movie musical “Annie,” which received 12 Emmy nominations with two wins, including Marshall for Outstanding Choreography; it also won the prestigious Peabody Award.

First in partnership with Don Simpson, and then as the chief of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Bruckheimer has produced an unprecedented string of worldwide smashes, impacting not only the industry, but mass culture as well. Bruckheimer’s films include (producing with Don Simpson) “Top Gun,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Beverly Hills Cop 2,” “American Gigolo,” “Flashdance,” “Bad Boys,” “Dangerous Minds,” “Crimson Tide,” “The Rock,” and (producing solo) “Con Air,” “Armageddon,” “Enemy of the State,” “Gone in 60 Seconds,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Remember the Titans,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Black Hawk Down,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Bad Boys II,” “Veronica Guerin,” “King Arthur,” “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “G-Force,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

On television, Bruckheimer had an unprecedented 10 television series airing in the 2005-6 season, a record in the medium for an individual producer. JBTV’s series have included “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation” and its spinoffs “C.S.I.: Miami,” “C.S.I.: NY” and “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case,” “The Amazing Race” and “Dark Blue.”

Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Television have been honored with 41 Academy Award® nominations, six wins, eight Grammy Award® nominations, five wins, 23 Golden Globe® nominations, four wins, 88 Emmy Award® nominations, 18 wins, 23 People’s Choice nominations, 15 wins, numerous MTV Awards, including one for Best Picture of the Decade for “Beverly Hills Cop” and 20 Teen Choice Awards.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” will film on the islands of Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii, followed by locations and studio work in the United Kingdom and Los Angeles.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Will Be In Native 3D!

Walt Disney Pictures has announced that PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES will in fact be shot in native 3D. Disney Digital 3D to use the Mouse House's vernacular.

Johnny Depp is returning as Captain Jack Sparrow and the new film will be somewhat based on the Tim Powers book "On Stranger Tides." Geoffrey Rush will once again play Barbossa and Ian McShane will suit up as Blackbeard with Penelope Cruz as his daughter. Captain Jack continues his search for the Fountain of Youth.

The Jerry Bruckheimer produced, Rob Marshall directed mega-project is slated for release on May 20, 2011.

I think this is a VERY wise decision from Disney and Bruckheimer's team. While Jerry's last 3D effort, G-FORCE, was a well done conversion; Warner's CLASH OF THE TITANS 3D blunder (despite its massive Box Office) gave the industry a bit of a black eye. It's time to ante up with quality projects and you can push this one to the top of the list now!