When Tim Burton and Johnny Depp tried to sell the idea of a horror/musical to production studios, people laughed, believing the only thing it could sell would be the names Burton and Depp on the poster. A two thumbs up from Ebert and Roeper, 4-star review from Roger Ebert, and sudden talk of being close to winning "Best Musical/Comedy" against Hairspray and Beatles-crazy Across the Universe. Only one statement can describe the success of Sweeney Todd: The studios were wrong. Sweeney follows a happy-barber with a nice life with wife and child. The movie opens with the barber returning after being framed by a jealous judge who raped the wife and kidnapped the child. Sweeney (Depp) returns to find his wife poisoned herself, and moves back upstairs over Mrs. Lovett's bakery (Helena Bonhem Carter) and returns to the shaving business, cutting too close to the throat and sending patrons to be ingredients in Lovett's meat pies. Business turns well for both, with the fullest of meatpies, while Sweeney gets closer to having revenge upon the infamous judge (Alan Rickman).
Two aspects make this operatic story of scarred souls seeking revenge worth the bloody good-time. The first is Burton's trademark scenery, making the impoverished London as dark and greedy as Batman and hauntingly ghostly as Nightmare Before Christmas. Second is the music, and not in a soundtrack way like Hairspray or Across the Universe, but in a way where it ties the plot and character development, such one duet between Sweeney and Lovett, where Sweeney confesses his love to his only friend, the long-lost razor, while Lovett suggests he has others. The operatic music delivers clearly, to both music lovers and the average movie-goers, the positions of the love triangle and makes them understood.
Special notice should go to Depp, who has perfected his character-actions in a way no other actor can for visual and audio signifigance. His movement and facial ticks carry the movie from start to finish. While his singing is not as strong, it is not the vocals, but the lyrics and scenery that make this my favorite for musicals this year. Helena Bonhem Carter doesn't bring as much to the scene or sound, making the other half of the musical aspect fall short. At these times, such as when she's going on about meat pies instead of Depp's plot for revenge on those that step on the poor (who the poor are fed and the rich cannibalized). Indeed, if Carter wasn't singing, the picture would be too one-sided, but balancing does come at a cost. Another aspect, which would not work outside of a musical, is the Shakespearian tone. The plot turns and characters lie. Like MacBeth that betrays or Romeo and Juliet where love is murder and suicide, I can't help but enjoy how simple of a storyline ties us into it by the end, with small twists and turns, all functioning and well.
One such scene is ironic. Sweeney, giving the judge an honest, clean shave, sings about beautiful women and how they can make a man feel. The judge sings along. Sweeney is talking about the happiness and redemption it can restore him, while the judge is singing about lust. Only Sweeney is aware of the difference, although the irony and clever positioning to present good and evil (good here is a dark character at best) side-by-side.
Is it entertaining? Yes. Although Carter has her slow moments, overall, the lyrics make the music, which ties to the movie, which catches you with the characters. By the end, it is delightfully bloody.
Is it for everyone? No. Blood spraying everyone and music that isn't for music lovers will probably hurt some of the potential audience. However...
Is it memorable? Very much so. Horror/musical/drama has never been blended before, and I doubt it will be again any time soon.
My suggestions: If you can stomach blood and meatpies, watch Sweeney Todd in a surround sound theater. 
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