ROTTEN TOMATOES: Tomatometer Watch: Sweeney Todd Snips a 100 Percent

Tomatometer Watch: Sweeney Todd Snips a 100 Percent

The sixth Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration looks quite enticing!

by Rachel Sandor | December 07, 2007

When it was originally announced that Tim Burton was going to have his way with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter in in a movie musical, people could be forgiven for being initial skeptics. Tim Burton may know his way around fake blood and Johnny Depp is one hell of an actor, but he hadn't sung on-screen for almost two decades. However, if early reviews have anything to say about it, coffin those fears: Sweeney Todd: The Barber of Fleet Street currently sits in the chair with a 100 percent Tomatometer.

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have worked practically every genre in their five collaborations, but Sweeney Todd represents a musical first. Based on the Stephen Sondheim play, the dark comedy centers around a barber and a baker who take a side job in the business of murder. An inspired career choice according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The show couldn't have fallen into better hands," argues Kirk Honeycutt. "With his sturdy acting and surprisingly good voice, Depp is a Sweeney Todd for the ages."

"No matter how much product I put in it, my hair is still poofy!"

Movie City News's David Poland, a big fan of the musical, confirms the movie should please newcomers and Sondheim fans alike: "The music is so magnificent." And Variety agrees the transition from stage to screen is a smooth one. "This represents one happy instance of a film made by a director without stage experience that genuinely serves the intentions of the original piece," writes Todd McCarthy, "Strictly in film terms, Sweeney is seamless, coherent and vibrant, with scarcely a trace of 'Broadway.'"

Along with Depp and Bonham-Carter, the film co-stars Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. Sweeney Todd: The Barber of Fleet Street opens wide on December 21st.

Related Items

Celeb:	Helena Bonham-Carter
	Johnny Depp
	Alan Rickman
	Tim Burton
	Stephen Sondheim
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(1-20 of 28 posts) | Reply

Mr. Kong writes:
on Dec 07 2007 05:57 PM

Doesn't surprise me one bit. Can't wait for it.

(Reply to this)

DarthWonka writes:
on Dec 07 2007 06:19 PM

I remember when 300 had a 100% tomatometer. First five reviews. Same situation here. I'd hate to see Sweeny follow 300's trajectory. (Although I quite loved 300)

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tabascoman77 writes:
on Dec 07 2007 07:13 PM

Slow news day.

God, what's next?

"After five intial reviews by two movie websites, a newspaper in Maine, and the Larry King-esque Hollywood Reporter and Variety, SPEED RACER currently has 100 percent!"

I will be more excited when I see 50 reviews and Sweeney is sitting at 98 or something.

(Reply to this)

nevermachine writes:
on Dec 07 2007 08:31 PM

i will be more excited when I see you shut your face!
na, i am really looking forward to this one.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Dec 07 2007 09:42 PM

It's at least worth noting that the first few reviews/reactions are so strong, no?

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Dec 07 2007 09:48 PM

hey anything with the lovely helena bonham-carter in it i will see it. ya

know, Tim burton has it great when he has his fav actor/ buddy johhny depp and i

think real life love/ fav actress in nearly every movie he does now. its clear that

as long as he has one or both of them in each of his movies burton will keep making

great films. so i wonder, how good burton could have made those batman if he had his

muses in the two movies. yep, depp as reporter alex knox in batman would have made that

movie a whole better;) but hey seeing helena in skin tight leather and slighty crazed

would be sexy and heck i rather have her be bruce's galpal in batman than now known

crazy lady kim bassinger:)

(Reply to this)

Dachshund96 writes:
on Dec 07 2007 11:10 PM

You couldn't pay me to watch crap like this!

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ZiGyStRdUsT writes:
on Dec 08 2007 12:25 AM

I don't expect you to be paid, but rather pay yourself.

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wordweaver writes:
on Dec 08 2007 01:37 AM

All I'm saying is that Johnny Depp better get his Oscar this time around, that's all I'm saying.

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tHe LiviNg dEaD akaOMG writes:
on Dec 08 2007 03:10 AM

Crap like this? Exactly what kind of movie is it that you watch?

This movie looks great. Saying "I can't wait", is a vast understatement. Good month for movies. Juno, Atonement, I Am Legend, and the best for last. Now lets pay these writers so that we don't get robbed of more good movie months, yes?

peace. love. empathy.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Dec 08 2007 03:12 AM

Johnny Depp, Helen Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen all having fun with Tim Burton. Sounds like rare movie magic to me.

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WinchMan4 writes:
on Dec 08 2007 07:36 AM

i have been raving about how good this movie is going to be for a while now...looks like its going to be confirmed citically as well too. i really do hope that this movie gets burton a academy, a guy of his stature and absolute uniqueness in the way he approaches a movie (planet of the apes not including) deserves to win a best director nod

(Reply to this)

WinchMan4 writes:
on Dec 08 2007 07:37 AM

i have been raving about how good this movie is going to be for a while now...looks like its going to be confirmed citically as well too. i really do hope that this movie gets burton a academy, a guy of his stature and absolute uniqueness in the way he approaches a movie (planet of the apes not including) deserves to win a best director nod

(Reply to this)

Man_Of_Iron8905 writes:
on Dec 08 2007 11:51 AM

Anyone who knows anything about Tim Burton films knows this will be great.

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iamtheseagull17 writes:
on Dec 08 2007 11:52 AM

Tim burton just got the National Board of Review Award for Best Director. I'd say the movie's gonna be fantastic.

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phoenixphire24 writes:
on Dec 08 2007 12:44 PM

I'm seeing this on Tuesday and I can't wait! I'll admit to being skeptical when I first heard this was being made into a movie, despite my love for Depp and Burton. Musicals don't always adapt well to film and Sondheim writes difficult music; plus a movie about a singing, throat-slashing barber? How well was that going to sell? I'm pleased that so far there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to complain about and that the studio didn't try and tone it down to get a PG-13 rating.

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Poor_Frisco writes:
on Dec 08 2007 01:31 PM

RT what are you posting these days
"Tim Burton may be know his way around fake blood and Johnny Depp is one hell of an actor..."
i am confident because of the 100% t-meter and because Burton may be know his way around fake blood.

(Reply to this)

Novastar. writes:
on Dec 08 2007 07:36 PM

The best movies of this year will be 'No country for old men','Sweeney Todd'and There will be blood'

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walkingdead09 writes:
on Dec 09 2007 06:11 AM

It's all a corporate politics as to why this at 100% Microsoft wants you think that.

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Anton Ego the Food Critic writes:
on Dec 09 2007 07:16 AM

I remember when The Hills Have Eyes started at 100%.......

(Reply to this)