The Sweeney Todd experience

I went to see Sweeney Todd Christmas night with my friends. It was, by far, the best movie-theater experience I've had in years, and I'm not saying that because I scammed my friend Alex into buying me a cherry coke and stole Josiah's popcorn.

The music made me giddy, and the blood-letting made me light-headed. I loved Helena Bonham Carter's hair and her clothes. I loved the dreary sets, and once again remarked on Tim Burton's obsession with bleached-out blond hair on his damsels in distress.

There were mixed reactions from my group of friends. My friend Alex loved it and wants to see it again. My friend Josiah thought it was sad and moving, and my friend Jason utterly hated it. I'm surprised he didn't leave the theater in the middle of the movie and wait outside for us, chain-smoking through his contempt.

I also don't think Dreamworks and Warner Bros. did a good job of marketing to its intended audience. Not all people are going to like all movies, and the "this is a slasher/horror flick" marketing brought in a lot of people who were unsatisfied with their experience. Out of the 50 or so people who were in the theater with us that night, at least 10-15 walked out within the first 30 minutes. That's not a good thing.

So, if you love musicals and murders (in films) go see Sweeney Todd. If you don't like musicals or aren't willing to try new things, don't bother.

Picture of Sweeney Todd stolen from Thompson on Hollywood. Picture of Depp and Carter from FilmPeek.net.