No Style No. 36: The worst film in London.
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I’m not even sure why I’m trying to post this when the site’s tanked and has been for almost two days now. If this ever shows up (since my admin console on WordPress is working but the rest of the site is redirecting to the main 451 Press site), sorry the site’s been down. Some sites on the network are suffering from huge scraper attacks and our head honcho is swamped trying to block them as they come and keep things running, and a few sites are suffering as a result.
On the topic of the film: seriously, forget the worst effin’ pies in London. That was the worst bloody film in London or anywhere else, and after sitting through it last night, I’d like to be reimbursed for those lost hours of my life that I can never regain.
I love theatre, musicals (well, to an extent; they have to be good musicals, but if I can enjoy Ewan MacGregor in Moulin Rouge I should have loved this), Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and grim, grimy, gory scenarios. Sweeney Todd had all of those, with a dark psychological edge and fun flips of the macabre counterpointed by the whimsical…and it fell completely flat. I don’t understand how it gained such widespread critical review, or made it into the IMDB top 250.
Though I’m pretty sure the singing had nothing to do with it.
I was shocked that Johnny Depp could sing at all, especially in such a clear, angelic voice…but that doesn’t change that most of the singing was pretty lackluster, random, and seemed to be done just for the sake of singing. It wasn’t music; it was just singing one’s lines rather flatly, and not a single melody stuck with me after the film. Don’t get me started on the leading lady, who was likely only the leading lady because she’s boning the director. Good gods, I thought my eardrums were going to pop when she hit a few high notes. The entire thing was listless, washed-out, and even the actors seemed bored by their parts. If they can’t be bothered to take interest, why should I?
no style, gay comics, webcomics, humor, gay comic strip, johnny depp, tim burton, sweeney todd, the worst tags in london
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February 4th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Seems to be back and functioning- couldn’t find a trace of it over the weekend, kept redirecting and buggering about, but is now all shiney and intact.
As for Sweeney Todd… I went with a bunch of threatre fans, and their unanimous opinion was that the actual musical is much better, and that the film would be improved if it kept in a few full songs (apparently Joanna is a beautiful song) and didn’t have random snippets interrupting conversation.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I first saw the video of the 1982 Sondheim version of Sweeney Todd, which I think was better (except for the annoying whistle used between scenes). I’d recommend trying to find a copy and watching that.
Some of my favorite songs, including the introduction/exposition song, were cut from the movie.
That said, I thought the movie did at least a semi-decent job of turning the play into a film, a very difficult thing to do. And I find Depp no less pretty now than before.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I agree completely…but then, you already know that. All I remember was the stage blood, the surprise when Johnny Depp started singing, and “the worst pies in London.” Otherwise, it was only worth watching for the company.
I do have to laugh at the poor loser in the comic, though. You sure are harsh, Adri. Guess he needs to try harder? *grins*
February 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Del: That “random snippets interrupting conversation” thing was one of the parts that drove me the most insane. In most musicals I’ve seen, the music has a purpose. This didn’t really seem to.
Ashtara: One good thing I can say for this is that it made me want to see the 1982 production with Angela Lansbury, as I’ve heard she was brilliant.
Hikaru: If he tries any harder, he might get a boot to the teeth. Honestly, do you have any idea what a pain this guy is? I can’t believe I sat through a film with him. Now, don’t tell him that I already knew the film was awful before we watched it, or he’ll catch on that I made him watch it with me to torture him… (…okay, I really didn’t know. I had high hopes for the film, at least. Now the guy…he’s a lost cause.)
February 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
…I liked it…
I don’t like musicals, so I didn’t mind about the music not being hugely purposeful. My friend was hiding her eyes at most of the bloody bits but I found it rather amusing.
February 4th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Hmm…you seemed a little afraid of the prospect of me trying harder. Are you trying to entice me to it?
February 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
…uh. Listen, I’ll be…um…over there. Yep. Over there. Hiding behind…um…something. Something big. Yep. This is me hiding. ~flees~
February 4th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Jack Sparrow, Bellatrix LeStrange, Professor Snape, and Peter Pettigrew walk into a bar… -ber shop.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
It’s a relief that the site was the one messing up, anyway; I was convinced that my computer was methodically boycotting all the important sites that I visit. -_-;
As for the movie, I happened to love it. Like with mouth. I can see what you mean, though. I did expect the music to be more prominent than it was, and I certainly didn’t expect the whole thing to be quite so graphic, given that Burton usually opts for creepy over bloody, but here I think it mostly worked.
But then, I’m the person who’s never seen The Wizard of Oz or The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I don’t watch movies. I’m kinda sheltered that way.
Oh, and Adri (I keep typing Adir, damnit, which is a nice name, but entirely useless to me right now) - I got the package, and proceeded to run about the house squealing with glee. It’s very shiny, and incredibly useful (I think the colour might even be growing on me. Like a fungus. Like a hot pink fungus. Eee.). <333
(And your handwriting is so elegant. I’m jealous. Mine is chicken-scratch.)
Er…anyway, I’ma go do my homework now. And maybe write. Or finish reading American Gods. Or…do something that isn’t rambling on here (Mi bedaŭras).
February 5th, 2008 at 2:36 am
*grins* You can run, but you can’t hide?
Besides, it’s not like I spent most of the day on the phone with you, or anything…
February 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
So that’s a definite don’t watch movie?
February 6th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Cole: I blame you for the diet cherry coke currently splattered on my laptop screen.
Kaine: I’m glad it made it safely. You sound as bad as me with the pink; I was almost sad to give up my horrid pink monstrosity of a phone, as I’d grown attached to it. Good luck with the homework.
Hikaru: ~mutters~ Impossible, horrid man. If it wasn’t for T-Mobile and MyFaves, you’d have me in the poorhouse, you know that?
Noa: Depends. I’m definitely in a minority on disliking it, so you might like it.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Yes, I do. xD
February 7th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I liked a couple of the lyrics.
……
……
And…um…yeah. It was cute? No. I remember being equal parts entertained and bored, so it had to have some redeeming qualities. Too bad I seem to have it blocked…
February 11th, 2008 at 1:03 am
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