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Because it’s a tough life being a student with deadlines, coursework and lectures taking up our time, we’ve decided to give you some welcome excuse for distraction with a double spread of up to date reviews…

Sweeney Todd sees a fifth collaboration of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp as they take on Sondheim’s gothic musical masterpiece to bring to the silver screen, and make quite a good success of it. The urban legend of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber who slits the throats of his costumers, is well known, but the film adds greater depth to the two dimensional story by introducing Todd’s family and the perverted Judge Turpin. Todd is bent on revenge after his wife was stolen from him fifteen years ago, and Depp seems to have been brought to Earth just to play this part. If anyone has ever wondered what a pure evil Jack Sparrow would be like, this is your opportunity.

Supporting him is Helena Bonham-Carter (Harry Potter, Fight Club), in the role of Mrs Lovett, a low-rate baker with little commercial success, but who secretly longs for Todd’s attentions. Though her voice is a little weak at times, she provides a strong contrast to Depp’s brooding Sweeney. The film also features an hilarious cameo by Sacha Baron Cohen (The Ali G Show, Borat) as the flamboyant rival barber Signor Pirelli, whose ‘miracle elixirs’ prove anathema to Todd’s murderous intentions.

Visually, this film stunningly brings 19th century London to life, from the panoramic shots of London Bridge and Fleet Street, to the intimacies of St Dunstan’s market and Mrs Lovett’s parlour. The film is also wonderfully grim and dark, with rare splashes of colour, which brings me on nicely to the subject of gore. For the faint-hearted amongst us, this film may be a little much. The only real way to describe is that there is blood literally all over the place, with no expense spared on adding extra violence and bloodshed. If you’re squeamish, be sure to look away!

With such fine actors, a great supporting cast (with Alan Rickman and Judge Turpin) and a gorgeously rendered backdrop, this Oscar-nominated film is a must see- but I wouldn’t take any younger siblings!