Sweeny Todd

I do have to concede that in some aspects I am a sort of dumbed down version of the K-9 element in my house. At least she had some sense to catch Sweeny Todd on the big screen while I was still fiddling thru my phonebook trying to con some unsuspecting soul into catching the musical with me.

A musical which left a lasting impression on me no doubt, when I caught it last night with canis lupus in my pad. We tried watching another flick right after, 'Fracture', a legal drama starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, but the intensity of the previous film rendered us incapable of following the latter.

Like the man who played the titular character, I was never a sucker for musicals, but the character of a serial killer and his thought process being brought forth on celluloid in the musical format did intrigue me enough to watch it. That together with the fact that it was set in London 2 centuries ago and the presence of Johnny Depp, known all too well for his outstanding and rather eccentric performances in movies, got me onto this film. (If your ass has been warming the icy wastelands of Pluto since '84 and has only seen the rum-worthy, alco-soaked, squid-chomped wishy-washy side of the man, get off this page right now and turn on the cartoon network.)

And I was mesmerized.

The film was disturbing no doubt. With revenge at its core, and the steady degeneration of his persona, losing almost all humanity, driven by a singular objective of purging London of all its vermin, one is plunged into the deep darkness that permeates through our veins and flesh but never really surfaces oft due to the presence of legal institutions and conventions of socially-acceptable behavior. But what if you've decided to break those walls which keep the negativity within its confines? What if the legal institution which was supposed to protect you in the first place was the very reason for the destruction of your world? If the very dreams you had and shared collapsed like a domino effect thanks to another man's obsession...or a woman's.........

Newton's Law dictates that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Equal and opposite? I beg to differ, and this film shows that exactly. Watch it if you haven't already and if you have the stomach for it. It is revolting, certainly not for the flimsy, faint-hearted types and the consequences of the antagonist's actions is bound to leave you open-mouthed.

Strong undercurrents of the most basic human traits run through this film, and while watching it, make sure your brain is not in the 'read-only' mode, for it certainly does convey a very valuable message.

If your only idea of Johnny Depp is Captain Jack Sparrow, then do us both and the world a favor and stay away from this one, savvy? For the very first individual killed off in this one happens to be Sparrow himself. His performance was THAT GOOD!

For dudes intending to keep lengthy locks of hair, this would be the right time to watch the film. I reckon a visit to the barber wouldn't be happening anytime soon. And stay away from the meat pies too..........

*Are you Mexi-can?? Or a Mexi-can't??*