There are a number of really beautiful melodies in Sweeney Todd. But when your musical is packed with songs, you probably won't be able to recall too many melodic hooks, unless one is repeated many times over. Our brains find it difficult to process all that new information at once.

There are a number of really beautiful melodies in Sweeney Todd. But when your musical is packed with songs, you probably won't be able to recall too many melodic hooks, unless one is repeated many times over. Our brains find it difficult to process all that new information at once.

@avclub-e6c1142acfaceea3982a09641b33fc04:disqus Well, I tend to think the movie doesn't really work in general compared to the stage version, but as a lark, the original cheerfully nihilistic ending fits the tone better of everything that's proceeded than the phony two-second happy ending they shot at the last minute.

@avclub-e6c1142acfaceea3982a09641b33fc04:disqus Well, I tend to think the movie doesn't really work in general compared to the stage version, but as a lark, the original cheerfully nihilistic ending fits the tone better of everything that's proceeded than the phony two-second happy ending they shot at the last minute.

It's worth the upgrade just for this, definitely.

It's worth the upgrade just for this, definitely.

Has anyone here seen the movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band? I saw it at 1AM on the Sundance channel introduced by Alan Cumming. He (accurately) described it as "the feeling of doing acid without any drugs."

Has anyone here seen the movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band? I saw it at 1AM on the Sundance channel introduced by Alan Cumming. He (accurately) described it as "the feeling of doing acid without any drugs."

The original BBC miniseries of Pennies From Heaven, starring a young(ish) Bob Hoskins, is even better than the Steve Martin film.

The original BBC miniseries of Pennies From Heaven, starring a young(ish) Bob Hoskins, is even better than the Steve Martin film.

We Will Rock You is at least campy entertainment, or can be, given a good cast - it's funnier than Rock of Ages, that's for sure. Across the Universe was terrible precisely because it was so self-serious.

We Will Rock You is at least campy entertainment, or can be, given a good cast - it's funnier than Rock of Ages, that's for sure. Across the Universe was terrible precisely because it was so self-serious.

I take issue with "producers don't care if the songs are weak." I would say emphatically nine times out of ten, that is not the case. But, if Broadway songs are never going to get to the radio in this day and age, composers are free to write songs that best fit the dramatic situation. Sondheim's "A Little Priest" from…

I take issue with "producers don't care if the songs are weak." I would say emphatically nine times out of ten, that is not the case. But, if Broadway songs are never going to get to the radio in this day and age, composers are free to write songs that best fit the dramatic situation. Sondheim's "A Little Priest" from…

So did Sondheim! I think he said it was the best movie musical he'd seen in years.

So did Sondheim! I think he said it was the best movie musical he'd seen in years.

I said this below, but if you have Netflix, check out Passing Strange. It is easily one of the best musicals of the past five years, and it was filmed by Spike Lee live on Broadway. (I was in the audience!)

I said this below, but if you have Netflix, check out Passing Strange. It is easily one of the best musicals of the past five years, and it was filmed by Spike Lee live on Broadway. (I was in the audience!)

@avclub-29501df08e5d9ae59e432e4f188d3735:disqus If you like Little Shop, check out the new Director's Cut on blu-ray. It reinstates the thought-lost original ending, in full color and 5.1 sound. It helps the movie immeasurably.

@avclub-29501df08e5d9ae59e432e4f188d3735:disqus If you like Little Shop, check out the new Director's Cut on blu-ray. It reinstates the thought-lost original ending, in full color and 5.1 sound. It helps the movie immeasurably.