Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Deluxe - Complete Edition
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Free Music Notes for Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Deluxe - Complete Edition
Free Music Review: "Sweeney " comes up short.
Hit: 3 Stars
Here it is in a nutshell, long time "Sweeney" fan,loved the play and soundtrack,very excited for Burton version on film, liked the movie but felt it came up short in singing (Mrs Lovett), the rest of the film is fine but never quite hits the mark. Free Music Review: A Tunick and His Sweeney
Hit: 2 Stars
Sweeney Todd finally made it onto the silver screen, and as I can definitely say that the movie was a splendid, incredible achievement, I cannot say that for the soundtrack alone. The movie of course was a movie, not a stage show and that is why the movie succeeded so much. The absence of the chorus still makes me wonder what they were thinking, but the movie is incredible, nonetheless. But enough about the movie, this is supposed to be about the soundtrack. I guess I'm just in a positive mood today, which means I'd love to be reviewing the movie and not the soundtrack.
There are many problems here, but let's start out with what is great: Tunicks new orchestrations of the beautiful score are reason enough to buy this CD. It is beautiful, sprawling, epic, grand, and just about everything that the stage production was, and more. Ed Sanders as Toby was phenomenal, even if he was playing a role that was intended for an adult - we'll get to that in a minute. "By The Sea" is worth the price of admission. What Burton, Carter, and Sanders do in that scene is beautiful. It's why we watch movies. Hmmm. I think that's about it.
I want to get back to what I was saying about Tunick's orchestrations. They were so incredibly enormous and beautiful, but the chorus was gone. I mean there, but not. And with that, the city of London. Where was the city? There was no living, breathing, heaving, evil, convoluted city that has been so apparent in all of the most acclaimed productions. The orchestrations are so amazing that you would expect they would pull out all the stops with a phenomenal chorus, but when the chorus is to sing the words, "God That's Good" the orchestra suddenly becomes wimpy, thin and irresolute. Where was the chorus? They just sit there eating? Can't they at least hollar the demands for more pies? No? Well, that's just awful! I find it interesting that even the orchestra dies at this part (as well as the chorus parts in "Pirellis' Miracle Elixir"), almost as though Tunick is saying to Burton (who approved of this cut), if there is no chorus, the orchestra will cease in that moment in remembrance of them, for without the chorus, the song dies. And indeed it did. These two scenes are two of the most deviously joyful scenes in the film and all because of the energy of the city. Remove this, and these scenes become (or became) mush.
Several deletions of certain songs (The Brechtian "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," the lulling "Ah, Miss," the exquisite "Kiss Me," and the psychotic "City on Fire") are sadly missed, but it's understandable why these songs were cut. This, however, may be a blessing in disguise, for I wouldn't want to hear Jayne Wisener or Jamie Campbell Bower stumble through or overact another Sondheim aria. Wisener does not have the capable coloratura to sing the part of Johanna, and Bower does not have the lyric voice needed for Antony, and his emoting is severe. It detracts from the story so much that you don't mind not hearing much more of him.
As for Sanders' touching performance as Toby and a near perfect interpretation of "Not While I'm Around," I was floored. This is a kid singing a Sondheim song better than many adults do! My only issue is that Toby is supposed to be a man-child, a man who has never really matured socially or mentally, someone stuck in the mindset of a child. It adds so much color to an already interesting character, so I'm not sure why they chose to cast a child. I am, however, so excited that his performance of his aria was better than anyone else's in the movie. He had a better voice than any of them as well!
Depp and Carter: It would have been magnificent if they had the pipes for this kind of music. It really would have. They are both beautiful and act beautifully. It's just that the original cast had Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury. They really defined these songs so much that when anyone else sings them, they will be compared. These two had magnificent voices. There was gusto, and a certain kind of quality I like to call "RHUMPH!" that makes these songs cling to your skin until they seep into your veins and become a part of you. Depp and Carter sounded like they were singing at a mimimalist's rock concert. You just need real singers to sing these parts. With the production value of this CD we've been given a Beautiful Gothic Mansion sitting by the sea at night-time with the waves crashing against the bank. But there is no lightning. And from this CD, I was really hoping for lightning.
Free Music Review: Better than your average soundtrack
Hit: 4 Stars
I thoroughly enjoy this soundtrack for two reasons. First, it goes beyond just the songs and includes dialogue before and after the songs take place so that it's almost as if you have the entire movie recorded. Second, the book that it comes with is superb. Not only does it have accurate lyrics, but it has tons of awesome pictures.
It's a soundtrack with the feel of Moulin Rouge and Chicago. The actors weren't professional musical artists, but they do an amazing job.
Free Music Review: Fantastic but be prepared...
Hit: 5 Stars
This movie is totally true to the original Broadway show, so I don't understand all the complaints about it being so dark, or the singing not being as good as say "South Pacific"! I saw this show on Broadway many years ago and I have the original Broadway Production DVD starring Angela Landsbury. The critics who made fun of Bonham-Carter apparently never heard Angela (who I adore) sing those very same lyrics. Depp sings surprisingly well, and holds the mood of the original show. Yes, the movie is macabre, dark, gory and bloody.... BUT SO WAS THE ORIGINAL SHOW ON BROADWAY. The movie IS so totally true to the show! The only difference is that the movie was able to add so much more with the changing scenery, etc. Don't eat lunch before seeing the movie... and maybe not for several hours afterward either. But if you love Depp, you'll love this.Free Music Review: Sweeney Todd-- Excellent
Hit: 5 Stars
If you've seen the movie, and you loved it, as i did, this soundtrack is excellent for you. Its just enough to tide you over until the movie comes out on dvd.... as we all know we can't afford to keep going to the movies.