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Why Into the Woods is a MUCH better adaptation than Sweeney Todd

posted 10 years ago by theunopeneddoor-697-442391
22 replies | jump to latest

People who post here for some weird reason seem to think that Sweeney Todd was somehow a great adaptation of a Sondheim show, while Into the Woods was inferior. I don't get this. In fact I feel the exact opposite. Burton did a seriously piss poor job in most levels of Sweeney while Marshall made ITW an enjoyable film, Hell I'd call it a masterpiece.

Here are the reasons why ITW is far superior to Sweeney.

1. Singers.

The main actors is Sweeney quite frankly were piss poor singers. Depp, Carter, Rickman and Baron Cohen are not at all suited to do such a complex musical. Sure Jayne Wisener and Jamie Campbell Bower had pleasing voices, but their parts were much too small (more on that later!).

2. Changes to plot.

While there were a few changes to Into the Woods I didn't agree with (no Rapunzel death, second act happening too fast) most of the changes weren't too bad.

in Sweeney Todd Burton (or the screenwriter) made the absolutely stupid decision to change the ending to the finale. We do not see the constables catching Toby killing Todd nor do we see the two lovers escaping together giving the darkness the light it needs.

3. Changes to music.

Although I miss "No More" in Into the Woods, there aren't very many other changes that were really remarkable other than some reprises being cut.

In Sweeney, Burton makes the stupid decision to cut the entire chorus, eliminating some of the best music from the show. "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd" is now an Instrumental track, "God That's Good" doesn't include it's title and some songs are cut entirely.

Also Joanna's beautiful singing in the act 2 version of "Joanna" is cut and a she's only included in one song. Antony and she have been cut considerably from the singing, despite the fact that she and he had the two best voices in the cast.

Into the Woods is the superior adaptation.

Joseph Chastainme
www.twitter.com/sinnersbible

[–] icestorm29 10 years ago

Couldn't agree more. I love both stage productions and while film adaptations generally aren't as good as their predecessor, I thoroughly enjoyed Into the Woods and the changes they made on the whole made sense. The changes in Sweeney Todd made no sense whatsoever. Finally someone who agrees that Sweeney Todd is hugely overrated while Into the Woods us criminally underrated.

[–] KristenStewartForever 10 years ago

You are 100% wrong about Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd had perfect singers. Back off. Johnny Depp is the best Todd ever. And everyone else in the case was perfect in their roles and vocally. Into the Woods was wonderful too. But Sweeney Todd was perfection.

[–] BestOfAllPossible 10 years ago

You seem to be compelled by passion and that passion may be clouding your judgment. Either that or you simply aren't familiar with the technicalities of singing. I liked the movie of Sweeney Todd a lot. I thought Burton did some fantastic things with the film, it was visually sumptuous, the orchestra sounded fantastic, and Depp was a far better singer than I'd anticipated him to be.

But from a purely technical standpoint, there were a number of weak singers in the film, Depp being one of them. He certainly wasn't as strong a singer as others who have played the role before and after him. This doesn't mean he wasn't terrific in the role, but others have definitely sung it technically better than him. Helena was the weakest, I feel. As I stated, I really do love the movie, but this is not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of technicality. You certainly have a right to your opinions on who fit the roles best and how you think the performers handled the material they had in the film, but the FACT remains that there were a number of weak singers in the film of Sweeney Todd. I didn't feel that this ultimately hurt the film as much a it could hurt a stage production, though I wish someone like Toni Collette had been cast as Mrs. Lovett. I missed hearing a voice with some oomph to it sing those songs.

[–] boxerrebellion 10 years ago

Personally, I thought Depp was amazing in the role of Todd (acting) and although his singing wasn't on par with most stage musical actors, I preferred it to the idea of having his singing voice dubbed as was traditional in earlier Hollywood eras.

[–] rock90-683-757379 10 years ago

Definitely not perfect singers. Listen to the original cast. They sang circles around them. It's operatic music truly. I enjoyed the Sweeney Todd film but the singing was not as powerful and the singing in Into the Woods was really wonderful and some of the actors did such justice to the music.

Last Midnight performed by Meryl Streep is an absolute tour de force.

[–] Confection_Pictures 10 years ago

They also cut out the Judge's "Johanna", which added complexity and sympathy to the character. That was heinous.

I can't believe Jesus called me a DIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[–] theunopeneddoor-697-442391 10 years ago

Agreed. Love the book of Mormon signature BTW. "I've got maggots in my scrotum" and that one are my two favorite lines (Those guys are great at genitalia jokes for some reason lol)

Joseph Chastainme
www.twitter.com/sinnersbible

[–] Confection_Pictures 10 years ago

Well, they are Trey Parker and Matt Stone. No matter how much their projects are acclaimed, they're still schoolboys at heart. But not in that way. 😉

Seriously, The Book Of Mormon is a very close second in my list of greatest musicals, with Into The Woods being #1. The lyrics and score are phenomenal and hilarious, but can also get a bit emotional at times. I've seen the musical with the original cast about 6 times.

I can't believe Jesus called me a DIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[–] BestOfAllPossible 10 years ago

The original production cut the Judge's "Johanna," as well, for what it's worth. I was not expecting to see it in the film.

[–] Confection_Pictures 10 years ago

It's been added to productions ever since 2000.

[–] BestOfAllPossible 10 years ago

Not all productions. Its available in the licensing as optional material, as is the Tooth Pulling sequence and The Beggar Woman's Lullaby. Major productions both since and before 2000 have used any combination of these numbers.

Lonny Price's concerts have both used The Judge's Johanna and The Beggar Woman's Lullaby.

John Doyle's Broadway revival included The Judge's Johanna.

The recent West End revival starring Imelda Staunton used none of them.

[–] Confection_Pictures 10 years ago

That was a huge mistake since it shows the Judge's self-loathing over his sins.

A cross between Star Wars and the smell of ass! - Jon Stewart

[–] chell-glados 10 years ago

You think Joanna was a good singer? Really? Isn't she the daughter who sang about birds or something?

:/ she just sounded like squealing to me.

Tbh I thought sweeney was incredible till I watched it in London with Emma Thompson. My god the ballad of sweeney todd is epic. And she's a much better Lovett than Helena.

[–] Naeblis5 8 years ago

I would agree with that, at first her singing was quite lovely, but the notes were almost like fingers on a chalkboard.

Depp I found quite tolerable singing those songs, it worked for the character in my view.

[–] marauteatime 10 years ago

I love
Into the Woods
Les Miserables
The Phantom of the Opera
And some others. Sweeney Todd adaptation was by far the worst to me. Songs, plot and development hacked to shreds. It pissed me off. Especially Depp's singing. Good actor, but man, I swear his singing was monotone throughout the entire movie. He's reminiscing: "meh", he's happy: "meh", he's angry: "meh" I swear that's all I ever heard out of him. And as much as I like Tim Burton, how DARE he hack my favorite song from the musical to shreds. Little Priest.
Rant over.

[–] rock90-683-757379 10 years ago

Yeah with all the Into the Woods fans outrageously upset by the loss of "No More"

I look at Sweeney Todd and they cut like at least FIVE of the best songs or hacked them down as you said.

[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

Um, Sweeney Todd was perfect. I preferred the movie over the stage show. Great singers and all.

[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

I'm glad he cut the ensemble. I always said a musical can totally be done without a chorus. Nobody listens. Who needs it? At the stage door, nobody wants to meet or even knows who ensemble and chorus people are. They want the leads.

[–] BestOfAllPossible 9 years ago

Well, that's only one of the most disrespectful things I've ever seen anyone say about hardworking performers.

[–] cathcart78 9 years ago

I took KSF off my ignore list momentarily just so I could see what you were responding to Best. Now I can put them back on it. I agree with you that it is very disrespectful to hard-working performers.

[–] movieaddict-115-210155 9 years ago

In a big musical theater person and I did enjoy the Into the Woods adaption for the most part, however Sweeney Todd is simply one of the best movie musicals out there. The changes made helped enhance the film and the casting was spot on. No not everyone was a fantastic singer but Somdheim isn't always meant to sound pretty, plus the acting was spot on. Into the Woods made many changes from the musical that unfortunately for the worse. Still a pretty good adaption in my opinion but it's got nothing on Sweeney Todd. Les Mis however...

[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

No. Both were perfect adaptions. Nothing wrong with either of them. Singers wonderful. Story awesome.