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Created Jan 26, 2008 03:15PM PST • Edited May 02, 2021 03:02AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   There will be blood, indeed. And singing, don’t forget the singing. And genius: Johnny Depp in a Tim Burton film about a mass murderer makes this Edward Razorhands.

   All in all, this highly theatrical production captivates and pleases with charismatic performances, a compelling story about a sympathetic serial killer and a rich recreation of ye olde London.

4. Acting

   Perfect 5.0

   Yes, Johnny Depp can sing, as can Helena Bonham-Carter and the rest of the cast. A good thing, as nearly all of the dialogue is sung. More importantly, these are movie stars of the first order, meaning their visages blown up to big screen size never fail to command our gaze.

   Depp continues to amaze, proving himself the master of yet another theatrical form.

   Bonham Carter – the mother of Tim Burton’s children – proves herself an extraordinary performer encased in the face and bosom of a classic screen beauty.

   The movie introduces two promising young stars: Jayne Wisener as the ingenue and Jamie Campbell Bower as her Romeo.

   The villains are well cast, with Alan Rickman oozing his patented unctuousness and Timothy Spall looking every bit the part of his henchman.

   Finally, Sacha Baron Cohen’s appearance provides welcome comic relief as a barber in murderous competition with Depp’s Sweeney Todd.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

6. Female Stars Perfect 5.0

7. Female Costars Perfect 5.0

8. Male Costars Perfect 5.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Musical-theater brought to the screen rarely connects with modern movie audiences raised on flash and quick cuts. This one succeeds, perhaps because the songs are generally short, clever and in service of a compelling plot.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

    Tim Burton, genius. He proves it here once again, sending his camera on daring flights of fancy. He’s not always to my taste, but there is no denying his unique brilliance.

12. Play Great 4.0

    While somewhat too mannered for American ears not used to British musical theatre, the story proves wickedly interesting.

13. Music Very Good 3.5

    Steven Sondheim’s great songs no doubt are better served on stage than screen. Plus, there isn’t a memorable number among them: You won’t leave the theater humming or singing, that’s for sure.

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0

    A feverish dream of a period piece, Sweeney Todd wonderfully brings to life the London of 1800, from a hand-cranked Tower Bridge to a looming St Paul’s, all encased in smoke and grime and populated by Brits of countless class distinctions.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.1

    The blood letting takes a while to begin, but when it does you’ll want to don a raincoat.

17. Sex Innocent 1.2

18. Violence Brutal 3.4

19. Rudeness Salty 1.7

21. Reality

    Glib 1.9

    Circumstantial contrivances abound in tall tales like this.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.8

23. Biological Glib 1.9

24. Physical Natural 1.0