'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street' (R): For the lack of better words, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" goes for the jugular, containing everything from music and mayhem and merriment, to brilliant direction by Tim Burton and a charismatic cast of actors who can hold their own as singers, to boot.

Oh, and it has an endless river of blood, too.

Fans of Burton's trademark dark atmosphere and twisted, visual flair shouldn't be surprised, given the director's past horror film efforts including the classic interpretation of Washington Irving's "Sleepy Hollow." But what makes this particular adaptation interesting is that it's borne of a classic musical, and one by Stephen Sondheim, no less. True, Burton's film is far bloodier than anything attempted on stage, but it's amusing to think the idea of a murderous barber whose victims become meat pies didn't originate in his wicked mind, but rather, from the man responsible for the lyrics to "West Side Story."

"Sweeney Todd" tells the tragic tale of a barber named Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), who seeks revenge on a Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) a corrupt official who unjustly sends him to prison for 15 years and destroys his family in the process.

Escaping incarceration and emerging a ghoulish shadow of his former self, Barker, who renames himself Sweeney Todd, returns to London and Fleet Street where his family once lived, only to happen upon Mrs. Lovett, a destitute pie shop owner who allows him to reopen his barber shop upstairs. Sharpening his blades once again, it's the business of murder that's on Todd's mind. Topping the list is Turpin -- who not only stole Todd's infant daughter -- but intends to marry the girl, who has grown into the beautiful teen Johanna (Jayne Wisener).

Given Burton's penchant for quirkiness, "Sweeney Todd" is no doubt an acquired taste -- but if you can stomach the gallons of bloodshed and Todd's victims' fates as the main ingredients of meat pies by Mrs. Lovett, then you're bound to enjoy what is undoubtedly the most original -- and one of the best -- films of the year.

While Depp, Bonham Carter and Rickman give dazzling performances, not to be overlooked are "Borat" star Sacha Baron Cohen, who's a scream in a small, but pivotal part as a rival barber to Todd; and Timothy Spall in a love-to-hate performance as Turpin's associate. Relative newcomers Jamie Campbell Bower and Ed Sanders also turn in remarkable performances as Johanna's potential suitor and Lovett's surrogate son, respectively.

But Burton is really the star of "Sweeney Todd," creating a dark, damp and dizzying atmosphere that sucks you in from beginning to end (there is one respite from the gloom -- the hilarious and colorful "By the Sea"). Sondheim should get top billing, too, with a vast array of songs (including the ballad "Johanna" and the peppy "Worst Pies in London") that are accessible to more than just the folks who frequent musical theater.

DVD Features: The deluxe, 2-disc release of the DVD includes multiple featurettes on the film production and origins of the musical; a hilarious "MovieFone Unscripted" segment with Burton and Depp, and more. (Paramount Home Entertainment).

'Alvin And Chipmunks' (PG): Ignore the sniping of the critics during the successful theatrical run of "Alvin and the Chipmunks," the big-screen live-action/part computer-animated adaptation of David Seville's recording studio creation. For what it's worth, it's an entertaining family film that makes all the right moves in order to please it's intended audience.

Jason Lee stars as David, a struggling songwriter who catches his break when a trio of talking and singing chipmunks -- Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Theodore (Jesse McCartney) and Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) come into his life. Spoiled by fame, the Chipmunks' loyalty to David is put to the test, however, when a slippery record executive (David Cross) wants to exploit his investment.

Family friendly throughout, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" is light, funny and for the most part keeps it clean. The bonus is, if grown-ups can allow themselves to get a little nostalgic, there's plenty in "Alvin" for them to get chipper about, too -- so long as you don't mind the classic barbershop-like trio breaking into hip-hop song stylings and dress from time to time.

Fans of the original Chipmunks recordings and cartoon shows should keep a look out to several visual homages to Seville's classic creation. It's a fun movie that won't disappoint.

DVD Features: Chipmunks history and music featurettes, and more. (Fox Home Entertainment).

Recent Releases:

'Enchanted' (PG): "Enchanted," not surprisingly, is an enchanting film -- a wonderful princess tale that melds Walt Disney's classic animation sensibilities and live-action filmmaking. Displaying a sense of humor about itself, the film is like a classic Disney cartoon fairytale come to life, yet is keenly aware of the unrealistic world from which its animated characters emerge.

Amy Adams in brilliant as a wide-eyed maiden who finds herself banished from the animated land of Andalasia to the not-so-welcome world of New York City. Once she finds solace in a divorced bachelor (Patrick Dempsey) and confidence that her prince (James Marsden) from Andalasia will come to rescue her, Giselle turns the Big Apple into the sort of musical setting that hearkens the classic Disney days of old.

Directed by Kevin Lima, "Enchanted" in the end inspires such of sense of optimism and faith in true love, in fact, that you begin to realize that maybe the film isn't so tongue-in-cheek after all -- and maybe we really have grown too cynical. Lima adds a nice touch by incorporating the princess voice actresses behind such classics as "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" as live-action performers in the film. It's an instant classic and arguably one of the best films of 2007.

DVD Features: Deleted scenes, bloopers, production featurettes, and more. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)

'I Am Legend' (PG-13): Will Smith gives a great performance in a good movie that's not exactly legendary with "I Am Legend," a doomsday film that starts as a strong mystery thriller but falls victim to horror film convention.

Smith stars as Dr. Robert Neville, a military scientist with an immunity to a viral plague that's wiped out most of Earth's population. Alone in New York City with his trusty German Shepherd, Sam, Neville's desperately searching for a cure to the plague while he struggles to maintain his sanity amid the isolation.

But as viewers will eventually discover, Neville is not completely alone – there are mutated victims of the plague called "dark seekers," an endless army of emaciated, blood thirsty zombies with speed and agility that pursues the doctor after he captures one of them for experimentation.

Possessing his usual charisma, Smith does his best to hold "I Am Legend" together, but there's no escaping the trappings of horror films past. The dark seekers essentially are an upgraded version of the title character and his fellow mummies from "The Mummy," and the intriguing storyline (including Neville's backstory) eventually falls prey to an inevitable confrontation with the night creatures. It's thrilling, but not exactly new territory.

Smartly included in the DVD release is an alternate to its theatrical ending, which essentially gives the viewer the choice of an upbeat or downer of an ending. The better, in this writer's opinion, is the latter, which is much more poetic. Either way, both are strong.

DVD Features: Animated "I Am Legend" virtual comic books, a second disc with the alternate ending and more. (Warner Home Video)