Sweeney (razor) Todd

I haven't written a post for quite some days. Not that I am not in a mood to pen down my thoughts; I have started on some posts but they have only ended up as drafts. But then last night, things changed. Something happened. Something terrible... I watched Sweeney Todd.

Now this is a movie which stars our charismatic Johnny Depp. The plot goes on something like this: After years in exile for a crime he didn't commit, Sweeney Todd, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of an evil Judge. In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all London; opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims in with a charming smile before casually ending their life with a flick of his razor across their neck.

Pay close attention to the last sentence. Coz thats all that happens in the movie. Now what I have not told you till now is that there are no dialogues in the movie. Almost literally. No exaggeration. Coz whenever any character has to speak any damn thing, they start flexing their vocal cords and start singing. Opera type singing. Now it is fine when you do the opera thing once in a while, like in DCH, but not everytime someone has to say something. Everybody starts singing when the hero makes entry, they sing when the heroine makes entry, sing when they go into flashback, sing when they are in the present, sing when they go in the future, sing when the villian makes entry, and sing even when a street dog makes entry.. So you pretty much get the idea what I mean.

Now I know that the movie is supposed to be like a musical, and the costumes, make up, art direction are all worth applauding, but sitting through the movie seemed like a test of human tolerance levels. I could not see the poor villian showcasing his evilness by singing melodiously. Just imagine Gabbar Singh asking 'Kitne aadmi the' and 'Ab tera kya hoga kalia' by singing in the tune of 'Piyu bole piya bole'.

And as per me, this is how actually the plot of the movie is:
Sing. Sweeney enters London. Sing. Opens barber shop. Sing. Lure customers. Sing. Sharpen razor. Sing. Apply shaving cream. Sing. Start shaving. Sing. Use razor to kill them. Sing.