Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

--R-- Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's best collaboration since Ed Wood.

Benjamin Barker (Depp) was wrongfully imprisoned due to the jealousy of a powerful Aristocrat known as Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). After 15 years Barker returns with a new moniker Sweeney Todd. With the aid of Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) Todd resumes his career as a barber with the hope of taking his revenge upon Turpin. Whether he succeeds or not and what happens in between you are just going to have to see the movie.

It is a mark in a good direction that I enjoyed this film considering it is foremost a musical. Now I hate musicals and quite frankly wouldn't give any other musical as glowing an endorsement as this.

Bonham Carter is at the top of her game, but let us be honest is she ever off? Depp is superb and it was fun to see him as a character other than the over-rated Jack Sparrow concoction. Now my only complaint is the blood. This movie didn't need to be rated R, if Burton had cut out the blood splatter this movie would have been more family friendly and would make more money.

I don't understand the reasoning of releasing a film during the Holiday season if it isn't either hands down an Oscar caliber film or family friendly. Sweeney Todd is neither, it may garner some Oscar attention and maybe even a nod or two but it really doesn't deserve it other than for set and costuming...maybe. Anyway Burton should have cut down on the blood and made this a more accessible film that could be enjoyed by all.

cah

Juno

--PG-13-- This movie is a perfect example of what is wrong with the rating system of America. While technically there is no F... words, no violence, no nudity or sex (the tell tale reasons for an R rating), this movie is of decidedly adult material and should not be seen by anyone of younger than adulthood.

That said; Juno is a sweet, fun, quirky film that exemplifies what a slice of life film should be. Juno Macguff is an outcast that is smarter and far more mature than your average 16 year old. The film begins with Juno taking her third pregnancy test refusing to believe that she is indeed pregnant. I mean after all she only had sex once and only did it because she was bored...and did it with her best friend Bleeker.

Now, Bleeker unlike Juno (that while she is an outcast is one of those people that doesn't care and in fact flourishes in her uniqueness), Bleeker is odd, geeky and as far as Juno is concerned the coolest guy she knows. Anyway I digress, Juno is a story about a teenage girl's pregnancy, the decisions she makes and how she grows into an even more mature and unique individual that realizes...oh well you have to see it to find out what she discovers about herself and life.

Once again Juno is a superb film, one that I recommend to anyone that can handle adult situations, because even though this film is about teenagers and received the rating of PG-13 the dialogue and situations call for a far more mature mindset.

cah