MARAUDING FILMS

I didn’t want to see this movie mostly because I feel I’ve seen enough of Johnny Depp and enough Tim Burton and certainly enough of the two together. Because the theater was crowded I was forced up front into no man’s land and figured it would be over for me and my group early because I don’t usually enjoy these seats and avoid them at all costs. Figured I’d watch a few minutes and turn to my group and say. ” Oh well we tried, this sucks lets get out of here.” But I didn’t. I was transfixed by the beautiful picture that greeted me, it felt as though this movies was made with the person in the front row center in mind the whole time. I wasn’t uncomfortable, in fact I very comfortable pressed deep into my seat as watched a dreary but intriguing London unravel on the screen. I also found myself amazed by Depp’s makeup and face, it was as impressive and impressionable as the landscape, it was a story in itself. It really wasn’t until later that I was taken out of the story by the resemblance of Sweeny Todd to Edward Scissorhands in the scene where Todd raises his razors to the sky. Another quark about the story involves Sweeny’s motivations. In the first act his actions are just and your are with him wholeheartedly as he seeks his revenge, but when he and Mrs. Lovette decide to kill wanton to provide meat for her shop, you feel disconnected from the story and the characters as Sweeny coldly kills his victims in his killing chair. Also when the boy is locked below I have a problem believing that Mrs. Lovette would kill him but then she is the one cooked up this scheme in the first place, but when the boy snaps into one of Mrs. Lovette’s meat pies and spies a finger, well I was totally taken out of the movie. What has the young boy been eating? None of patrons have had similar experiences? The meat grinder is working sometimes? It just seemed like lazy story or showboating, I don’t know but the writer seemed to break his own rules in his kingdom thus pulling the audience out rudely.

Overall I like the movie and the above points were minor. The movie takes you to another world and lets you wander another time and for that it did a wonderful job.

Said the Night wind to the little lamb, “Do you hear what I hear?”

It’s so frigid tonight as I sneak into my room to put on my night clothes. Almost snug as bug as the clock strikes midnight, what is that I hear, a riot? Yes, it must be, outside my window in the distance an angry mob, it must be. Darling grab your house coat it will be a long one tonight. Do you hear what I hear? To the truck, almost forgot grab the camera I think the kids are fed up and are taking Pink Floyd’s advice to heart. It must be serious now… chop chop.

This is one area I really need work in, so last night I went to a local filmmakers get together and mingled. I took my brother and my son and we had a really good time. The last time I went to this particular groups meetings was over a year ago and I tell you I only recognized two people for sure and the rest were, I think, newbies. At least the ones I spoke with were. Even so I did meet an interesting couple who got me thinking about current direction and I am in the process of making another project that had been shelved for awhile come on-line. So while I don’t think I directly hit gold while networking, I did get my juices flowing which is what is important, right? So keep your eyes peeled for the announcement pertaining to the new project which will be reality based, sort of left field for us but something we want to try none the less.