Sweeney Todd (2007 Film Soundtrack) (Deluxe Edition)
|
List Price: Our Price: $15.00 You Save: $8.98 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.50 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Sweeney Todd (2007 Film Soundtrack) (Deluxe Edition)
Free Music Review: Beautiful orchestra, with emotional singing to complement.
Hit: 5 Stars
Some people are touchy with their reviews. It seems some listeners have expected Depp and Bonham Carter to "belt out" these tunes as if they were Broadway veterans.
Sondheim mentioned in a pre-release interview (paraphrased from memory): "I prefer great actors who cannot sing, rather than great singers who cannot act."
Sondheim obviously felt he should defend this film's score, due the the minimal nature of the singing. After hearing this score, I believe Sondheim knows what he is doing. Depp and Bonham Carter are amateur singers, but they can hold a tune nicely. In my opinion, the singing from this movie is entirely above par. It's true that Depp and Bonham Carter do not have an explosive range, and someone is always there to argue about quality. From my perspective, Depp and Bonham Carter's singing in this movie is filled with emotion, no matter how 'thin' their range may be. Since this is a movie, and not Broadway, the chosen vocal arrangement is perfect! The voice parts are often set in a minimal range, which allows for a clear, beautiful and emotional release of the lyrics. The characters feel real, and that is not an easy achievement.
In this Tim Burton masterpiece, I do not desire to hear a group of singing divas running circles around such an amazing orchestral score. Such a spectacle is perfect for a Broadway rendition, but not for a film version. Sondheim threw caution to the wind, and I am inspired by the willingness of Sondheim to do something different for the film. If you want Broadway singing, you should also get the recording by the Broadway cast, which is also fascinating.
In conclusion, Depp's handsome voice is ominous when necessary, and Bonham Carter's female vocal is very alive. Due to the cast's professional acting abilities, the singing always projects the proper emotions, whether it be anger or desperation. Sondheim's score is perfection, and the orchestra is amazing. I cannot find any reason for feeling disappointment with this soundtrack. I have seen the movie, and I highly recommend it!
Free Music Review: Well, I loved it!
Hit: 5 Stars
I can completely understand why fans of Hearn and Lansbury's Sweeney and Lovett (and same for fans of LuPone and the like) were inconsolable after hearing these tracks. I think, however, the crucial difference isn't the quality of the music, but the medium it was made for. Burton stripped the Broadway out of this show, and it shows. Does this make the performances and tracks bad? Heck no! Quite the opposite, I argue!
Please, however, see the film first. You will appreciate the soundtrack so much more with the visuals accompanying it. And those completely sold on the stage shows should hopefully at least see why Depp and Carter were best suited for the big screen and not the stage... and there's a reason this movie's been getting stellar reviews and appreciation from Depp, Burton, and Sweeney fans alike! Depp, unlike Hearn, plays an emotionally drained and hollow Sweeney, and his voice, unlike Hearn's, is growling and full of contempt and dispassion. Makes you wonder why Depp was never in a rock band.
Carter replaces the jolly, enthusiastic Lovett with a bitter-sweet cynical Lovett, and her voice is arguably the weakest, but her performance is an interesting if not very different take on the character. Alan Rickman's deep, sensuous voice seems almost too perfect for the lecherous judge Turpin, and I found his duet with Depp, "Pretty Women" to be a particular highlight on this album. The real gems, however, are Sacha Baron Cohen and Sanders as Pirelli and Toby.
To conclude, this isn't the Sweeney Todd you've heard before. It isn't better. It isn't worse. It is what it is, which is a solid and moving soundtrack for a well-cast movie. More proof that Tim Burton is a director who understands how to translate a musical to film without losing its core or its appeal to moviegoers. Also, I would recommend this version over the movie highlights CD if just for the finale alone. It is 10 minutes of an emotionally charged performance that you'll want to remember and hear again if you enjoyed the film!
Free Music Review: Best Musical Ever!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first saw the preview for this movie, despite its rating, I knew I was going to see it. I love Johnny Depp, and wondered if it he could pull it off as a singer...and hell I was right!
This movie really brings out the emotion of Todd's misjudged character, and killer (literally) charm. Johnny Depp, though not perfect in singing, he really pulls it off for his experience. I think he got robbed for Best Actor, he really had to experiment and live with this character. The Final Scene made me cry, with his lost and sad emotion...Johnny Depp was perfectly cast!
Everyone else was wonderful, except that Helena Bonham Carter needed more training (or use someone else's voice like in Phantom of the Opera). I loved how they used new actors for Antony and Joanna, they really brought out the innocent love between them, and great voices! Alan Rickman (a.k.a. Professor Snape) really is a twisted pervert with a capital P!!! He should've been at least nominated for Best Supporting Actor with the massive experience he has at being villans! Oh well, here are some favs!
1. Opening Title (who can't love that???)
2. No Place Like London (great beginning)
3. My Friends (go Johnny!!!)
4. The Contest (gotta love Borat for his guest appearance!)
5. Green Finch and Linnett Bird (so cute and well done!)
6. Joanna (both versions)
7. Epiphany (Mesmerizing violins and Johnny's shining moment!!!)
8. A Little Priest (clever and hilarious)
9. Not While I'm Around (such a cute boy!)
10. Final Scene (depressing...but great close)
The overall soundtrack is wonderful, despite I've heard many songs were cut out (maybe there will be more on special features...). But if you haven't seen the movie, or just need to like a new musical, this is the one to like! Don't listen to it if you haven't seen the movie yet, it will spoil the ending!!! Besides, its always good to be surprised at the performances at the theater... AMAZING!
Free Music Review: Really Fantastic!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I heard Johnny Depp was cast to portray Sweeney Todd I was mortified. Since I first saw the musical as a teenager, I've been fascinated by the show and its main character -- an honest man driven mad by injustice. I was wrong to doubt Depp's talents. I realized this before the movie was released, when I saw the on-line video clip of Depp singing "My Friends." I've seen the movie (twice) and listened to the soundtrack dozens of times. As Sweeney Todd, Depp outdoes himself musically and theatrically. If you're considering buying this soundtrack, be sure to sample Depp's sensual and heartrending performance of, "My Friends." It's just a taste of the great musical numbers this soundtrack holds.
Much has been said of Director Tim Burton's decision to use professional actors, rather than professional singers, for the lead roles. Yet the complex characterizations Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman create in Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett and Judge Turpin, respectively, prove Burton made the right choice. Their acting abilities did much to enrich the musical numbers. Some critics claim Bonham Carter's voice is too soft to play Mrs. Lovett. Yet her sweet, feminine voice provides a suitably shocking contrast to Mrs. Lovett's capacity for evil. It was an especially appropriate move to use believably young actors in some roles--- Jayne Wisener and Jamie Campbell Bower portraying Johanna and the young sailor Anthony --- and Ed Sanders portraying the ragamuffin Tobias. Wisener has a voice like a bell and does "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" beautifully. Sanders's singing is fantastic in all his musical numbers, especially "Not While I'm Around."
The combination of Depp's singing and acting skills and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics make numbers like "Epiphany," "Johanna," and "My Friends" remarkable. Depp's ability to sing and act with such depth of feeling is worthy of an Oscar nomination. I'd love to hear him singing more ballads. This is a great CD to own.
Free Music Review: Depp does Sondheim
Hit: 5 Stars
Sondheim musicals are not particularly easy for singers, not even for professional singers. The complexities and quick paced tongue twisting lyrics presents quite a challenge. That said, I love Sondheim musicals, and the actors who are not professional singers who took up the challenge in Sweeney Todd did an incredible job with it. I've read other reviews, including the "thin voice" comments, and have to wonder if the review authors realize what a job it was to present Sondheim with actors instead of professional singers.
I first saw the movie before listening to the soundtrack and was blown away by it. I'm very hard to impress, both with film and music. My time is always pushed and I rarely go to the theater to see a film, but I would go to this one again if it were still playing here. The music and the performance of it literally made my eyes water with its beauty. The best way to hear it is with the movie, of course. Still, the CD is a beauty by itself.
Johnny Depp stops me from working during his vocal performance in Friends especially and occasionally in other songs. While I thought Helena Bonham Carter did a lovely job with the music in the film, there are times in the CD that her voice could have used a bit more help. Still, she plays the part well and it fits. I knew nothing of Jamie Campbell Bower before the film but his voice is beautiful as Anthony, and Edward Sanders as Tobias is amazing.
I made the mistake of getting the shorter version of the CD and now need to get this extended version. It's a shame musicals don't do better in theater. If you haven't seen it and still have the chance, go, by all means.