WOW. I was totally unprepared for this. I went in to see “Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” tonight with medium expectations: yes, I love Tim Burton movies, think that Johnny Depp is amazing, but I knew nothing of Sweeney Todd. Well, I knew that it was a Broadway musical period piece about a deranged barber, and garnered Angela Lansbury an award…hardly enough to get me too excited about seeing the movie. I figured that it would warrant two or perhaps three stars. But two hours later, after seeing Depp and the amazing Helena Bonham Carter sing - yep, sing - their way through murder and meat pies, I emerged from the theater a True Believer. Four Stars. Absolutely.

Depp’s portrayal of Sweeney Todd can’t help but remind you, in some ways, of a more grown-up version of Edward Scissorhands…grown up, and bent on extracting revenge for the injustice dealt to him. And he sings! ‘Swelp me, I never imagined that Depp could - or would - sing, but he pulls it off brilliantly. His Sweeney Todd is dark, menacing, and focused;the only time that he smiles is when he is wielding his precious razors. And speaking of brilliant: Carter is amazing as Ms Lovett, the purveyor of the worst meat pies in London. She is ever so practical and smart, and surprisingly sexy. Her longing for “Mr T” is endearing, and their eventual partnership seems absolutely too perfect.

Other characters include the loathsome Judge Turpin and his toady assistant; a young sailor who falls in love with Todd’s long-lost daughter; an Italian “barber to the stars” of sorts; and the young gin-loving lad who escapes servitude and becomes quite the little helper to Ms Lovett as her meat pie business flourishes. All played perfectly, although the actor portraying the flashy Italian barber gave me pause for a few minutes - he almost was the sole wrong note in the film, until it became clear who his character was, and how he figures in the scheme of things.

Oh, and the blood must be mentioned. Yes, there will be blood. Lots of it. But the color and consistency of it are “off” just enough to make you smile, after you cringe and wince at the actions that cause the blood to flow. But don’t think that this is just a gory blood-fest; it is also quite touching in many ways, such as when the boy sings to Ms Lovett. And there are plenty of moments of dark humor, too.

Happy ending? Um…I don’t know about “happy,” but the ending certainly does bring closure to nearly all of the various relationships and themes. Everything came together perfectly.

This movie is amazing. If you have the slightest interest in Burton, Depp, Carter, Sweeney Todd, musicals, period pieces, or meat pies, get on down to the multiplex now and enjoy it on the big screen!