Read Mixed User Reviews for Into the Woods

5

Movi3R3vi3werDec 31, 2014

I walked up excited and came out disappointed. While the performances from the actors and singing was good. Everything else just seemed out of place from the pacing, to the story and to the running time. This movie kept going and going andI walked up excited and came out disappointed. While the performances from the actors and singing was good. Everything else just seemed out of place from the pacing, to the story and to the running time. This movie kept going and going and going and going and going until it finally ended.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

All this user's reviews

6

AaronMJan 6, 2015

This movie was almost amazing! The first 2/3 of the movie were almost perfect, then it drags on to tie up a couple of loose plot holes that were unnecessary. This movie could have been a funny, delightful, and refreshing take on fairy tales,This movie was almost amazing! The first 2/3 of the movie were almost perfect, then it drags on to tie up a couple of loose plot holes that were unnecessary. This movie could have been a funny, delightful, and refreshing take on fairy tales, but it loses it steam and everything that could have made it great. With so many new releases around the holiday, there are better movies to invest your time with.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

5

soccerjess21Feb 14, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie Into the Woods was not horrible, but not one of the best movies I've seen in my life. The story is both bland and dark. Giving the story book characters a bit of a twist from the original story. The movie was definitely not what I had expected. I am surprised by the director's and the writer's creative integrity in the original story, but I being a favorite of the original story I prefer the original story over this one. The characters acting wasn't bad. It shows not oly the good in the character but also a darker side to them. The prince being self-centered and the other characters having a darker and self-centered side was a huge twist in the story. I honestly liked the story being original but didn't like the ending or the way the characters were written. Storybook characters are written to inspire people to do the impossible and over come all odds but the whole prince cheating on Cinderella thing wasn't something that should be taught to younger kids. Overall I give the movie a 5. The story is original, bland, and changes the original story completely.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

5

ClariseSamuelsJun 21, 2015

In December 1987, I saw Into the Woods on Broadway with Bernadette Peters. The musical had just opened the month before, and it was charming, original, and entertaining. Translating the musical and stage format to the screen expands theIn December 1987, I saw Into the Woods on Broadway with Bernadette Peters. The musical had just opened the month before, and it was charming, original, and entertaining. Translating the musical and stage format to the screen expands the spatial representation to the world of reality, or pseudo-reality, given that the story is a fairy tale, and that expansion is problematic for it dilutes the concentrated power of the original format.

The most innovative aspect of the original effort was the clever intertwining of several prominent fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm. A baker (James Corden) and his young wife (Emily Blunt), who cannot conceive, live next door to a nasty, old lady (Meryl Streep), who looks exactly like a witch and turns out to be a real one—she has a vegetable garden that grows magic beans, and she cursed the couple long ago when the baker’s father stole some of the beans from her. In order to lift the curse, the couple has to provide the witch with a milky-white cow, a golden slipper, a red cape, and corn-yellow hair in three days before midnight. In the meantime, the old witch visits her adopted daughter, who has very long hair and lives in a tower. That would be Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy). The magic beans, of course, grow a giant stalk that is climbed by a young boy named Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), and the kingdom is ruled by a handsome prince (Chris Pine) who is seeking a wife and who meets a young woman named Cinderella (Anna Kendrick) at the ball. The woods of the small kingdom contain wolves and a hut occupied by a grandmother—a little girl visits granny wearing a red cape with a hood (Lilla Crawford).

As per the original story, there are dilemmas and scenarios that would have shocked the Grimm Brothers. For example, the baker’s wife has a one-night stand with Prince Charming, and that takes place after he has had his happily-ever-after wedding with Cinderella. And Cinderella is very frustrated about life with the prince because everything is too perfect. The witch is actually just an overprotective mother who can’t accept that her daughter’s childhood has ended. They all come together in the last act to fight a common foe, which is a giant who has descended by way of the stalk and wants revenge upon little Jack for stealing from her and accidentally killing her husband.

Live theatre creates its own microcosmic reality; thus, the stage version is not as jarring when the characters are constantly breaking out into song. Generally speaking, in a musical stage production the singing is well integrated. On film, the integration of the singing has to be more nuanced, and it is very difficult to achieve just the right timing in a film setting that appears to occupy a realistic landscape. There is a constant air of “I feel a song coming on...” that can weary the audience.

Streep makes for a good witch, albeit maybe a bit too exaggerated if one is to believe she is also a loving mother. Blunt has the strongest role as the baker’s wife. All the actors seem to be desperately seeking their character, including Anna Kendrick as a petite, brunette Cinderella, a description which doesn’t quite fit the profile. (Blunt’s plaintive line, “I’m in the wrong story,” strikes a chord in more ways than one.) The two princes, Cinderella’s prince and Rapunzel’s prince (Billy Magnussen) are as handsome as princes can be, but they are overly fickle and shallow. If the reasons behind their fickleness are complex, that complexity is never explored. And the film is overly long.

Although the visual representation of the fairy-tale kingdom is brilliantly magical, if not positively supernatural, it is not clear that this is the fairy-tale version that the children want to see. The Broadway version was more openly cynical, and it was also strictly for grown-ups.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

6

NShep53Apr 12, 2015

Into the Woods definitely has it's flaws, mostly due to pacing, but overall, the movie's performances (especially Streep, Corden, and Blunt) make this a solid movie from Disney.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

royphishoohJan 26, 2015

Fairly entertaining, with some good performances apart from Anna Kendrick's Cinderella - I have no idea how this actress got this part as she cannot hold down a tune. As review Devax2 noted the film is much too long and loses its charm wayFairly entertaining, with some good performances apart from Anna Kendrick's Cinderella - I have no idea how this actress got this part as she cannot hold down a tune. As review Devax2 noted the film is much too long and loses its charm way before the end.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

pruzFeb 8, 2015

Into the Woods was great until the end. I get it that everyone wants their work to be different, but the end made no sense really. The character changes toward the end were along the lines of immaculate conception--it would not have happenedInto the Woods was great until the end. I get it that everyone wants their work to be different, but the end made no sense really. The character changes toward the end were along the lines of immaculate conception--it would not have happened naturally. Great movie for people with low IQs. If curious, rent it. Although the acting was great, it is not worth the cost of a movie ticket.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

Armin_AbbasiMar 22, 2015

Into the Woods mixes all the favorite stories to make a boring sophisticated musical film. Watching the movie, there are times when you WISH it to come to an end which finally becomes granted after a two-hour endurance.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

6

nauticoDec 27, 2014

Although I really enjoyed the first two-thirds or so of this innovative fairy tale merger, I found it went on much too long, with the result that the novelty finally wore off. I also found the music sing-song and void of a single hummableAlthough I really enjoyed the first two-thirds or so of this innovative fairy tale merger, I found it went on much too long, with the result that the novelty finally wore off. I also found the music sing-song and void of a single hummable melody. All of that said, Streep was her usual peerless presence.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

4

jbl123Jan 1, 2015

Much too long. Lousy music. Couldn't care less about the characters or what happens to them. The visuals and scenery were the only good thing about it. Also, Meryl Streep does a decent job as the witch. Wait 'til this one comes to Netflix.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

4

Ansatsu83Jan 3, 2015

This film tried to tie four classic series together with a story that no one had heard. It tried to tie Little red riding hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and jack in the bean stalk, together... but... only 10 minutes of The Little Red Riding HoodThis film tried to tie four classic series together with a story that no one had heard. It tried to tie Little red riding hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and jack in the bean stalk, together... but... only 10 minutes of The Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel were really shown, the rest is trying to tie in both Cinderella and Jack in the Beanstalk, while the little red riding hood and Cinderella are kept in the background with minor roles. The film is a musical... these can be good to a certain point... however two hours in and you will be wishing and praying for spoken dialogue instead of singing. The film cast quite a few b-list actors and Johnny Depp as the big bad wolf (only a-list actor in the movie). The film obviously had an incredibly high animation budget but an incredibly low casting budget... with the exception of Depp. This having been said, Depp played the big bad wolf, his entire performance lasting less than 10 minutes. With a massive animation budget they could have easily created an animated wolf and cut the middle man, saving their budget, which leads me to believe they only had enough money for him to briefly appear. All in all I would recommend you watch it on netflix.... or not at all... and save your money.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

5

ECWFeb 3, 2015

"Into the Woods" is a very funny movie but a not so funny adaptation.

The entire action revolves around the witch who's well characterized and interpreted by Meryl Streep. Sometimes she's nice, comic and even vulnerable and in other"Into the Woods" is a very funny movie but a not so funny adaptation.

The entire action revolves around the witch who's well characterized and interpreted by Meryl Streep. Sometimes she's nice, comic and even vulnerable and in other moments philosophical and terrible.
This mark that both the heroes and villains alike have their own problems and daydreams highlights the universality inherent in this work and therefore makes it special. "I was raised to be charming, not sincere." said by the prince is the best note.

Despite being only 5min Johnny Depp doesn't cease to deserve our congrats on his wolf role.
As for the soundtrack, I think "Agony" is the most excels. A good duet and a waterfall in the background.
However, the last part is a disappointment. The dark present throughout the work simply disappears. One feels that something is missing, that is incomplete, lost.

In this world, where a happy ending is a utopia, I think "Into the Woods" is a pleasant sight.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

5

StevesitzJan 14, 2015

For anyone that has not seen or know anything about the musical, just know that this movie gets quite depressing! Disney really did capture the musical as it was right from the stage, which is good but also leaves you wanting more out of aFor anyone that has not seen or know anything about the musical, just know that this movie gets quite depressing! Disney really did capture the musical as it was right from the stage, which is good but also leaves you wanting more out of a film adaptation. The fact that there are very few spoken lines in this entire movie (since everything is literally sang from beginning to end) it does leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone that isn't a hard-core musical fan. The blending of the stories was great, the acting was amazing but the music does start to pain your ears after a while. I would only recommend this movie to older Disney fans or (of course) fans of the on stage version, because that is exactly what you are getting.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

5

wornoutspinesJan 30, 2015

I thought I was the musicals loving kind but turns out I'm not. I could barely sit through Les Misérables and the only reason I sat through Into The Woods was its comedic aspects. It was almost a parody at times, they didn't seem to be takingI thought I was the musicals loving kind but turns out I'm not. I could barely sit through Les Misérables and the only reason I sat through Into The Woods was its comedic aspects. It was almost a parody at times, they didn't seem to be taking themselves too seriously, so it was funny. Not laughing out loud funny but it put a smile on my face.

There is a wonderful combination of all the famous fairy-tales in one story. They've incorporated the drama, the comedy of these tales, and obviously added a music into the new story. They've humanized our fairy tales characters, adding a little more edge to them, making the story is somewhat interesting but not enough for me to be invested in it.

Although the singing was good - I'm talking quality here - I wasn't
blown away by the songs, I didn't once want to sing along and I can't remember a particular song I like, except maybe the Merryl Streep one from the trailer.

It's a nice ensemble of a cast, they've picked the right people for the right roles. Depp is right in his wheelhouse but he's not on long enough to be annoying. Streep struggled to get me on board with her character but by the end I was in. James Corden & Emily Blunt are a lovely pair, they were great together and Blunt really impressed me - mostly because her and musicals, I mean singing, didn't ring true - she was good and really stood out for me. One last thing about the cast, I liked Pines in the movie ONLY because he delivered my favorite quote from the film "I was praised to be charming, not sincere."

@wornoutspines… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

6

cascadaJan 31, 2015

The first half of the film is AMAZING! The probably then becomes the second half... You literally feel like the film is 5 hours its so boring. I recommend seeing this film just because Meryl Streep plays the Witch so well. But you may want aThe first half of the film is AMAZING! The probably then becomes the second half... You literally feel like the film is 5 hours its so boring. I recommend seeing this film just because Meryl Streep plays the Witch so well. But you may want a sleeping bag for the second half.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

6

BHBarryJan 11, 2015

"Into the Woods" is the musical adaptation of the Brothers' Grimm fairy tales interwoven by writers James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim in this film directed by Rob Marshall. The film stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine and Anna"Into the Woods" is the musical adaptation of the Brothers' Grimm fairy tales interwoven by writers James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim in this film directed by Rob Marshall. The film stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick with music and lyrics by Mr. Sondheim. I saw the Broadway production of this property and felt then, as I do now, that Mr. Sondheim wears a crown a little too big for his 'music and lyrics" title and talent. He is a wonderful lyricist but unlike Messrs. Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Frank Loesser, he fails to succeed as a composer of memorable or even hummable tunes. Take away "Send in the Clowns" and "You Are Not Alone" (from the subject film) and you are left with a one dimensional writer. Just as Richard Rodgers needed Messrs. Hart and Hammerstein, so, on the other end of the spectrum, does Mr. Sondheim need Leonard Bernstein, Jules Styne or some other fine musical composer. As far as the film is concerned, and as clever and witty as the lyrics are, the numbers are too long and, as a result, create a movie experience that causes the viewer to wish it would end at least 30 or 40 minutes before it actually does. One must also recognize the obvious intention of the producers to "get their money's worth" from Ms. Streep who is over utilized and, as in her role in Mamma Mia, is at her best in a non-musical setting. This is a film where the exceptionally gifted cast is placed in a vehicle not really worthy of their respective talents. I give the film a 6 rating and cannot, in good conscience recommend it.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

beingryanjudeJan 11, 2015

With the charm of Rob Marshall, this musical adaptation stays true to its source work and remains truly devoted to Sondheim. Over time, Into the Woods does lose its way but it is difficult to deny the triumph of Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

5

ThegodfathersonDec 29, 2014

This sweet and sour reprise of Stephen Sondheim's musical is watchable but really its more Disneyfied than recent movies coming from the studio. Emily Blunt does good as The Baker's Wife and Meyrl Streep as the Witch is very enjoyable! ButThis sweet and sour reprise of Stephen Sondheim's musical is watchable but really its more Disneyfied than recent movies coming from the studio. Emily Blunt does good as The Baker's Wife and Meyrl Streep as the Witch is very enjoyable! But tye songs are TOO long and some sequences travel on and on without notice. Not a theatre watch, but a Dvd rent.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

haggiemJan 18, 2015

Great 2/3rds of movie then after witche's spell broken and grand parade, all went on a bit too long, got a bit morose, too deep and meaningful for my two 8 year olds. In my opinion a good movie in my book will leave the audience sitting inGreat 2/3rds of movie then after witche's spell broken and grand parade, all went on a bit too long, got a bit morose, too deep and meaningful for my two 8 year olds. In my opinion a good movie in my book will leave the audience sitting in their seats for 30-60 seconds to reflect on the movie however the whole cinema couldn't wait to up and leave.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

RtheomDec 27, 2014

It was... an interesting movie. I'm not sure how close the movie stayed to the play, so perhaps the play is more to blame than anything, but overall the movie just felt jumpy and a bit bi-polar. The characters go through very wild and rapidIt was... an interesting movie. I'm not sure how close the movie stayed to the play, so perhaps the play is more to blame than anything, but overall the movie just felt jumpy and a bit bi-polar. The characters go through very wild and rapid mood swings, which might work better in a play where there are very obvious breaks, but in a movie it just felt weird.

The Actors were great though. If it were not for them, this movie would have just been a disaster. Fortunately, they added life and color to characters that could otherwise come across as very dull, and their singing was exceptional, which is not something every musical movie can manage to accomplish.

I'd recommend this to fans of Meryl Streep, because she carried the entire production by herself, but the rest can wait to see it on Netflix or catch it on TV sometime. It's too jumbled to feel like I could recommend it for the casual movie-goer.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

All this user's reviews

5

spizer511Dec 29, 2014

From Broadway to the Silver Screen: Why can't some musicals make the leap?

I adore the live musical that this movie is based on. I've watched the taped production on Netflix and even own the amazing recording from the original cast.From Broadway to the Silver Screen: Why can't some musicals make the leap?

I adore the live musical that this movie is based on. I've watched the taped production on Netflix and even own the amazing recording from the original cast.

The Movie? A good attempt at bringing a modern tongue-in-cheek to a contemporary audience. Each of the characters worked in their own parts... but a couple choices seemed to cause this film to feel...off.

The biggest culprit is the pacing. It just goes and goes and goes. One of my favorite lines, "You can talk to birds?" Fell completely flat because it felt like every single line tried to usurp the last. Behold the power of the pause, the power of silence. You won't get a lot of that in this film.

Some characters suffered. The singing was fantastic, I mean, Meryl doesn't disappoint per usual. Sadly the weakest performers for me were Depp and Kendrick. The wolf was too much a cartoon in this otherwise life-like world. And Cinderella, well, her stoic disposition is only betrayed by the occasional smile or tear. Again powerful voice, but if not for the metaphorical botox in her face she would have made for a great character.

Finally, for such a budget and such an effort the number of close shots in this were staggering. Only once every 30 minutes or so were you treated to an establishing shot, such as at the end of the Princes' duet, "Agony". Just like Les Mis, I fear there was too much focus on the expressions of the people and not enough of letting the scene tell the story.

All in all, a good try, but I'm thinking I might skip this one for my collection. At least the movie. The soundtrack is definitely worth a look.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

5

LowbrowCinemaDec 26, 2014

INTO THE WOODS lacks a concrete conception to make it really jump off the screen. The cast is perfect, the costumes and set design quire wonderful, but director Rob Marshall shoots the entire film in medium shot as if directed for television.INTO THE WOODS lacks a concrete conception to make it really jump off the screen. The cast is perfect, the costumes and set design quire wonderful, but director Rob Marshall shoots the entire film in medium shot as if directed for television. He has no real foundation to work from which is truly unfortunate since he as amassed such talent. You watch the film wondering, "Why?"… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

All this user's reviews

5

vgmkyleMay 6, 2016

It's theatrical and fun, but the movie really does drag on after a while... like almost any play I don't get the screaming and stupidity, but the production values are really good and the songs are almost tolerable.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

All this user's reviews

5

lasttimeisawMar 26, 2015

As a much anticipated movie adaption of a famed broadway musical, INTO THE WOODS struts in its “dark treatment” of the classical fairytales, namely: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk, and panders to aAs a much anticipated movie adaption of a famed broadway musical, INTO THE WOODS struts in its “dark treatment” of the classical fairytales, namely: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk, and panders to a more adult-leaning demography. As a matter of fact, it turns out to be really dark, but only because the happenings occur inside the ill-lit woods most of the time, as to the story itself (or maybe pregnancy is a bit too un-fairytale-sy and killing off a main character is a bold move), the noted outlandish elements are conveniently compromised by its PG rating, a well-expectedly avaricious manoeuvre from the money-seeking corporate to cash in from as many viewers as possible at the expense of the project’s artistic essence. Altogether, Rob Marshall’s newest star-studded musical is a ragtag mess fails to connect with audience who are not the devotees of its theatrical archetype.

to keep reading my review on my blog, please google: Cinema Omnivore, thanks!… Expand