posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (12:22 pm)
Well, it is adapted from a play. Did you expect Tim Burton to change the source material so that everything is sunshine and roses?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (1:29 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
No. It's most likely quite faithful to the play, which I understand is a smash hit. The message is delivered in an outstanding manner. But, my problem is the message.
posted by:
intricategirl (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (3:26 pm)
LOL! I find myself in the exact opposite position. I thought the acting wasn't that spectacular, the special effects were mostly awful, and the message, while dark, has some points worth considering.
Sweeney Todd is a person who lost everything. He should have handled it like Job, and perhaps, if there was someone to tell him that his wife is alive and to help him retrieve his daughter, he could have had some hope. But in Todd's world, that didn't happen. He was told his wife was dead, his daughter was locked away, and the one person who could actually save her was going to also take her away from him.
Remember the mall shooting that happened fairly recently? I used to work at that mall, not too far from where it happened. When I hear about events like that, I always have to wonder what caused them to lose ALL hope, and to feel like not only is there nothing worth living for, but that they should destroy others as well. It's a dangerous thing to lose all hope, and it's a dangerous game to show random unkindness to others.
On a lighter note, I can't figure out the timing of this movie. It would have been cliche in October and great in November, but it's just puzzling in December.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (7:31 pm)
I won't see it till the weekend after New Years. It's been my favorite musical for twenty-five years. I LOVE the lyrics.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (7:43 pm)
gosh. I am thinking i will NEVER see it!!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
12.24.07 (7:47 pm)
Epiphany is not a religious word, though religious people - like all others - sometimes have epiphanies. It is simply an unexpected realization.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (3:18 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Your favorite, and you love the lyrics? I should have known. So I guess you have enjoyed the presentation many times. How do you walk out, not wanting to slice your own throat?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (3:19 am)
Reply to: fractalmom
I guess it is like other dark and foreboding works of art. There's a place and perhaps a need for such- but I can only take this sort of thing in small doses, and preferably not at Christmas time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (3:29 am)
Reply to: intricategirl
When I read this reply, I wonder anew why someone as insightful and smart as yourself would spend so much time on fashion reviews? Then, I realize I'm wearing yellow socks and a sweatsuit.
"When I hear about events like that, I always have to wonder what caused them to lose ALL hope, and to feel like not only is there nothing worth living for, but that they should destroy others as well. It's a dangerous thing to lose all hope, and it's a dangerous game to show random unkindness to others." When such awful things are done, I fail to realize that the assailants are most likely persons not really that far removed from myself. They did not start out being murderous and evil. And, somewhere alone the way, the course of their lives could have been altered. Perhaps some kindness, love, effort from those like myself? You make a great point. Thanks.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (3:29 am)
Reply to: fractalmom
I guess it is like other dark and foreboding works of art. There's a place and perhaps a need for such- but I can only take this sort of thing in small doses, and preferably not at Christmas time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (3:30 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Your favorite, and you love the lyrics? I should have known. So I guess you have enjoyed the presentation many times. How do you walk out, not wanting to slice your own throat?
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
12.25.07 (5:41 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Art isn't always "pretty." It's the story of how one man dealt with his situation. (plus, you really should have posted the rest of the lyrics for that song... It about him dealing with his conflict "And I'll never see Joanna, no I'll never see Joanna, no I'll never hug Joanna to me again... -and on and on.) It's doesn't glorify his actions, but it is a great reminder, to me anyway, about how, when we allow injustice to reign in the systems we live under, that weak people will sometimes use the incredible slights they've felt in life to justify even more horrendous acts - and confuse those actions with "strength." -Thinking of themselves as tiny beacons in the blackness, when in fact, it isn't as dark as they imagine, and the only ones who can see their brief flicker is them.
Plus, it's a perfect example of/for inappropriate revenge. And, the music? Man... Incredible.
You're right, I've seen it live a half dozen times over the years and watched the HBO presentation from Broadway from the early 1980's with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury at least three or four times - probably more. The story's been around since around 1830 and has many stage incarnations. Sondheim got the idea for the musical after seeing a staging of it in London in the early seventies.
posted by:
intricategirl (
reply)
post date:
12.26.07 (7:05 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Did you know it's based on a true story? It's on the Crime Library. And if it's possible, it's much bleaker. At that time period, you could be hanged for pickpocketing. And you usually needed a witness. So while they were trying to have a complete crackdown on crime, what happened instead is that criminals figured that it's better not to leave any witnesses. :S
Pastor Dave- doing a special post. With the kids home from school and the new pinball machine that grandma thought would be funny, I'm not sure how much time I'll have to work on it, but I promise to get it up this week.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
12.26.07 (7:40 am)
Reply to: intricategirl
Now THAT'S spooky! Thanks, I had no idea.
