Johnny Depp’s performance in the musical was excellent. He hit all the right notes, and the way that the movie transitions from dialogue to song is unlike anything I have ever seen before.

I have never liked musicals. I tolerate them, but never go out of my way to see them.

However, when I heard about the newest adaptation of the legend of Sweeney Todd, I began to get excited. Any musical that receives an R rating might not be too bad.

I went and saw it on a whim because it was Sunday; I was hung over, and was not really digging that new “American Gladiators” show.

Probably the best decision I made throughout break.

The dark shots of a dingy London skyline set the tone for the two hour long Tim Burton movie. You are introduced to Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, aka Johnny Depp, aka The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who has just returned from a stint in an Australian hard labor camp.

The jealous Judge Turpin, played by Alan Rickman (“Dogma” and “Harry Potter”) sentenced him just because he wanted Todd’s wife all for himself.

The demon barber decides that he is going to open up his old shop and exact his revenge on the judge by giving him one final close shave. Helena Bonham Carter plays Todd’s partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett, who takes the bodies of Todd’s victims and turns them into meat pies.

Depp’s performance in the musical was excellent. He hit all the right notes, and the way that the movie transitions from dialogue to song is unlike anything I have ever seen before.

Contrary to other musicals where it’s simply talking, then singing, then back to talking again, “Sweeney Todd” transitions back and forth right in the middle of a conversation on numerous occasions.

Tim Burton made a film that appeals to an interesting number of demographics. On one hand, he was able to reach out to the musical buffs and make an incredible film adaptation of Steven Sondheim’s original script.

On the other hand it’s got just enough gore and blood to keep lovers of that stuff in their seats for the whole movie.

It adds to the morbid humor of the film to see a man singing and dancing with huge grin on his face while in the background lays someone gagging and bleeding to death. At least I think that’s funny.

Burton might get an Oscar for this one. If you saw it and hated it, then I am willing to bet that you did not know it was a musical. However, if you saw the film with that in mind, or if you’re reading this and are just now finding out, I think that enhances the pleasure of watching.

This is not your average musical where people are jumping around and laughing at stuff that’s not funny (which is what I think of when I watch musicals). This can be described as Annie being introduced to Jason Voorhees alone in the woods. Add a pair of straight razors and…well you can imagine what would happen.

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