Bear in mind that as an unabashed Depp fan, I'm going to be biased! But I got to see an advance screening of the film 2 weeks ago, and have just returned from the theater where I saw it again. I loved the film. It is daring, unique, and haunting. The end will stay with you for a long time.
I will say, though, that the film is a very different beast than the stage versions I've seen. The characters are much more internalized. Johnny broods and simmers, and he rarely bellows like Hearn did, but when he does... watch out. Helena's singing is quite weak, and I was concerned about her after hearing some of the sound clips, but her singing voice works surprisingly well in the context of the film, in my opinion. If you're a real fan of the stage show, you are bound to miss certain things- a few songs have been cut and several have been trimmed. A lot of the stagey, slapstick humor is gone. However, if you think about it, I think the slapstick aspect, which works so wonderfully on stage, would seem out of place on film. Here, you are kept in the moment, and as strange as the singing, the blood, and even some of the CGI effects of the sets are unrealistic, the film *feels* very real. About the physically intimidating presence- I have had this conversation with folks who are familiar with George Hearn or Len Cariou. Some feel that someone who had been slaving in a prison with harsh conditions for 15 years would be burly. Maybe. But it seems to me that a man who has a very sharp razor in his hands doesn't NEED to be that physically strong. And despite Johnny's lean frame, he CAN look pretty darn intimidating when he wants to.
At any rate, I understand your qualms, and I realize that this film may not be to everyone's liking. But for myself, I'm thrilled that they rose to this huge challenge, and I'm thrilled with the way it turned out.
And yeah, I can start to see a glimmer of Barnabas in Johnny's eyes as he portrays Sweeney Todd. Oh, please, let this happen soon!!
