Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Blu-ray

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 (2007)

Crime | Drama | Horror | Musical | Thriller



Unjustly sent to prison, a man vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, he becomes Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who "shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again." Sweeney's amorous accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, creates diabolical meat pies.

For more details about Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on Blu-ray, see the Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Blu-ray Review

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Director: Tim Burton

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Tim Burton’s Fleet Street is a gloomy, horror-show take on Victorian London, and this 1080p VC- 1 1.85:1 transfer is blacker than the plague itself, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. While Sweeney Todd is, by no means, a reference disc for accurate color representation, it is reference-level quality for everything that Tim Burton sets out to do here. This is a deep, dark, inky film, and what would be called a lack of shadow delineation in other movies is used in Sweeney Todd for delicious dramatic effect. Just check out the sleepy hollows (har har) that are Johnny Depp’s cheeks, and marvel at the way the light curves and disappears into their sunken recesses. The film is cast with a suitably blue and corpse-like pallor, which gives the colorful flashback scenes—not to mention Mrs. Lovett’s beautifully toned seaside fantasy—a vivid and contrasting appearance. Texture and clarity are razor-sharp throughout, and I found that I could easily make out individual fibers on many of the characters’ costumes. The only quibbles I have with Sweeney Todd’s visual presentation are minor and in no way transfer-related. In some scenes it’s apparent that Johnny Depp’s pores have been digitally smoothed over, a choice that, to me anyway, doesn’t seem to fit with the character’s otherwise stylish yet haphazard look. Additionally, some of the CGI and compositing takes on the slightly fake quality of HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, a love it or hate it approach that often looks stunning but undeniably unreal. These are petty complaints, really. The big no-noes—over- sharpening, digital artifacts, poor DNR—are wholly absent from the film, and the picture quality of Sweeney Todd is sure to impress.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


A booming church organ opens Sweeney Todd’s 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track, and from then on the music rarely relents. Thankfully, this mix of Stephen Sondheim’s memorable tunes is full, dynamic and sonically palatable. The orchestra swells and pierces with multi-channel prowess. Listen to the deep, untroubled lows, the strong, crystalline highs, and a clear middle that keeps the track grounded in clarity. The sense of immersion is strong, especially as London’s crowds swarm and gather around Señor Pirelli’s elixir cart. A tad boost in vocal volume would be appreciated, as some of the voices—women’s in particular—get occasionally overshadowed in the mix, but otherwise, Sweeney Todd’s audio package is strong, consistent, and fully engaging.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - October 21st - October 21, 2008


• Sweeney Todd Gets Detailed - July 30, 2008


• Dreamworks Announces Sweeney Todd - June 30, 2008

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