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Rating:  -
Well you obviously haven't seen this production of Sweeney Todd! In comparison to this version of Sweeney, Pippin has amazing cinematography.
Now yes this is a good musical, yes this is the version with Lansbury and the first version with Hearn. But cinematography wise, this version is a complete train wreck. For one there's too many closeups during the drama scenes, not allowing us to see the rest of the set. As for the far shots and shots from above, they become more of a distraction than anything else. The editing is quite bad too- constant jump cutting, which makes ruins the "filmed at one show" thing. I wish my hair could randomly fix itself without me touching it like Hearn's in "A Little Priest"! Actors' poses change positions, not to mention some songs looked lip synched due to bad production.
In short, steer clear of this horrid video, look for a bootleg of the same tour, or get the concert version with Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone.
Rating:  -
The Bottom Line:
Whatever power the musical might have had on stage is not in evidence in this filmed version of the play; instead of watching this nuetered version you'd be better served to watch the theatrical one with Depp and Bonham-Carter--it's not perfect, but it's better than watching a filmed stage play.
Rating:  -
I, too, have owned the VHS version of this production for 20 years and am glad that it made the DVD transition. I wish all musicals - not just Sondheim's - were transferred to DVD in their orignal Broadway state before the 'movie version' is released. Think of posterity!
Rating:  -
It is a great privilege to be able to view this original incarnation of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd (imagine if we were able to see the original productions of a Mozart opera?) This performance of a stage production with audience present is excellent - certainly demonstrating Angela Lansbury's wonderful abilities as a singing actress.
Sweeney Todd is one of the great masterpieces of musical theatre blurring the genres of the musical and opera. Those who find musicals shallow should enjoy this as it has a little more bite. Fans of opera should also relish this as in it complex musical structures it resembles an opera. Sweeney Todd is bursting with melody, rhythmic variety, clever lyrics, interesting characters, and is quite unlike just about every other musical theatre production in its macabre storyline.
It's fascinating to compare this to the recent Tim Burton film Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Both are excellent in their own way but are completely different. This is very much a filmed stage production whereas Burton converts it into a real film. Sadly Burton resorts to unnecessary graphic violence which throws the film off-balance whereas the stage production is more suggestive and consistent with the tragi-comic tone of the work.
The quality of the sound and picture is excellent. Sadly there are no extra on the DVD.
Rating: -
I never imagined watching Mrs. Angela Lansbury in a musical like this. I love this actress and I think her performance is remarkable as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Tood. She would have enjoyed so much the new version in cinema. I recommend this DVD as a tribute to her. The story is amazing as well as in cinema but I think is very interesting to see all the technical aspects of a live-musical in a theater as if we were there.
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