Into the Woods Official Movie Thread- Page 133

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 3:18pm

I look forward to hearing what you think.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 3:41pm

Yea Rapunzel's death was definitely cut because of Disney, not because Marshall wanted to.

The death is what makes the Witch say and do all she does the rest of the show. It being changed is a really bad thing. It's like it's not the true Into the Woods.

It's why I wish Disney didn't do this, even though it's Johnny Deep and Rob Marshall's work with Disney that got this film made in the first place.

And if Marshall really changed it because he thought it'd be too comical...he's the director, he could just make it not comical!

Oh, I wish...


Updated On: 11/16/14 at 03:41 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 3:43pm

How can you say it really is a bad thing if you haven't seen it yet? Her new end really may be just as affective.

[Showface]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 3:50pm

"Now the fun starts-- industry screenings start on Thanksgiving Day here on the left coast. We've reserved our seats for the Friday 11-28 7pm screening on the Disney lot. Can't wait. We're avoiding all listens to the released soundtrack clips till then."

Report back with your thoughts!


There will be screenings every week (and eventually every day) in the upcoming weeks

________



I think as long as the Witch still "loses" Rapunzel all will be fine. Apparently, the movie is still dark according to those who saw it already.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 4:12pm

I think I've finally come to terms with Rapunzel's non-death. I guess the Witch being proved wrong about the big scary world AND losing Rapunzel to The Other Prince is sad enough.

(Though I still say she's supposed to be trampled in that character poster)

Updated On: 11/16/14 at 04:12 PM

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 11:54pm

The reason I find Rapunzel's death change wrong is because it also changes the emotions and motivations of the Witch for the rest of the story than was originally intended.

Your child running from you, saying they never want to see you again, is not the same as seeing your child die before your eyes. Yes, we can debate forever how they are SIMILAR. But they are not the SAME.

This film will have great emotions and power and meaning, but not the same emotions, power, and meaning that the original had. Not the SAME.

The lyrics the Witch will sing, "No matter what you say, children won't listen. No matter what you know, children refuse to learn" won't make as much sense in this film because originally the Witch told Rapunzel not to run (as I remember, correct me if I'm wrong) and then she does and get's trampled to death. That original event really makes a lot of sense with "no matter what you say, children won't listen" and just her dying out in the world is part of the whole "children won't listen" and mentions of "the world" lyrics the Witch sings. But in this film, changed, Rapunzel running away to perhaps find a better life, without the prince (and if she gets stuck with a cheating prince, who may not even be cheating in this film, it's better being a princess in a roomy castle with him who may still love her, even love her even if he cheats on her, than dying, and she could always run away from him) is at odds with Meryl saying Rapunzel should have listened to have a better life. Rapunzel's off to living a better life. Meryl singing that if she listened she'd have a better life makes no sense then.

If I am wrong and Rapunzel does end up having a terrible ending, off crying somewhere, that is less bad and comes close to the film's change being fine. But like I already said, it still won't be the SAME emotions for the Witch. And it changes the sense behind the Witch's "Last Midnight". In that song, though we have debated what happens to the Witch, we know she is leaving the group and probably can't ever be with Rapunzel again (until the ending where maybe their ghosts meet again...). In the original, Rapunzel's death made a lot of sense out of the Witch leaving that world, because there was no one there in that world the Witch cared about anymore. But with Rapunzel still alive, in a way she's leaving Rapunzel.

Sure, Rapunzel saying she never wants to see the Witch again is close to the Witch never getting to see her again, but not the SAME as death which not only means she REALLY CAN'T ever see her again, but her child had the most horrible thing happen to her, and it is more emotionally upsetting for the Witch. Those kinds of feelings for the Witch, all the rest of it, all that won't be in this film.

Updated On: 11/17/14 at 11:54 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 12:18am

I think it's safe to consider it a foregone conclusion you won't be happy with this film because it's not the SAME.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 2:00am

I don't think this got posted. Sorry if I missed it. This profile of the film offers some interesting details on the recording of the music.




VARIETY - Rob Marshall Boldly Explores Disney’s Take on Twisted Tale ‘Into the Woods’ Updated On: 11/17/14 at 02:00 AM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 2:25am

It's always good to read that certain article which proves that this won't be a musical film disaster ala NINE and ROCK OF AGES.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 7:05am

Agreed with everything MagicalMusical. Taking out her death really sort of screws up the Witch's characterization for act 2. She sings LAST MIDNIGHT because she has no one left in the world. The Witch would never leave the world if Rapunzel was still in it. But whatevs, thanks Disney...jerks.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 8:57am

But whatevs, thanks Disney...jerks.

Or, you know, you could just not get the movie at all.

Maybe STFU until you've seen it.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 9:01am

I will not "STFU" just cause you don't like my opinion. Get over yourself.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 10:26am

I think Rapunzel not being killed onscreen adds a new layer to The Witch. If we think about the character of Rapunzel in the play, she is so mentally unstable that she abandons everyone: The Witch, her Prince, and even her children. We instantly see the consequences of these circumstances when she is killed by The Giant.

I think if Rapunzel is not killed onscreen and has a more ambiguous end, it creates room for more layered choices for The Witch. From the friends I have who have seen the film, it really doesn't change anything for her. The songs still have the same impact because if you think about it, she sings "Lament" to Rapunzel as if she is still alive; out there somewhere. Rapunzel is now missing. Out in the world somewhere away from everyone in a questionable mental state. Maybe the Witch's unraveling stems from her guilt that she made Rapunzel run away due to her over-protectiveness. I personally believe it makes The Witch's situation much more sad and unfortunate.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 12:23pm

I think the audience reaction to Rapunzel's death is an extremely valid point. Even in the original production, it's met with a laugh. It lacks the power of, say, the death of the Baker's Wife- or even Jack's Mother.

Rapunzel has disowned the Witch and runs away with very little, if any, hope of reconciliation. That is just as effective as an off-screen squish.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 12:44pm

Rapunzel surviving also allows for at least one character to have a "happy" ending. Otherwise, it would be a completely dark story. The Baker loses his wife, Cinderella loses her prince, Jack loses his mom, Little Red loses her mom and grandma… a little light in the form of Rapunzel's future, whatever that may be, is not a bad thing.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 2:08pm

Sorry Shakin, I'm on Wildcard, Kad, and TonyaFanatic on this one as they do bring up some very good points. I remember that one of my older cousins did see the original Broadway production and she remembers some light laughing when The Witch reveals that Rapunzel was dead.

So in the end, giving Rapunzel an ambiguous ending and keeping the others deaths was a smart move for James Lapine and Rob Marshall.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 2:52pm

It's not like Rapunzel even gets her Prince in the end (I would assume, if the "Agony" reprise character beat is carried over in dialogue).

[Starship]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 3:02pm

I think Rapunzel wandering out into the unknown is definitely more terrifying then her just getting stepped on.

[jpbran]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 3:30pm

^^ Good point. It may have been captivity-like, but she was cared for and protected most of her life — and now has to face things on her own.

[matttaylorr021]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 4:43pm

"It's not like Rapunzel even gets her Prince in the end (I would assume, if the "Agony" reprise character beat is carried over in dialogue)."

In the trailer you see her riding off with him on his horse. According to those who have seen the movie, that's the final shot we see of her.

[wssinsider]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 5:05pm

Screenings are taking place in NYC on 11/22 and 11/23 at The DGA theater with a Q&A with some of the Cast.

[Mr. Musical]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 5:14pm

Any idea how to get into those screenings?

[pli1018]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 6:32pm

^Those are industry screenings, they're not open to the public unless you have an affiliation with a guild or a film organization. The screening on the 11/22 with the cast is full. There are definitely a few other screenings with cast Q&As before Thanksgiving, but again, by affiliation only.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 6:41pm

Everyone is forgetting that Rapunzel goes crazy and will never have a happy marriage to her prince. The last shot that you see of her may be her on a horse with her prince, but they're riding away into the sunset sunset directly into a miserable life. Hopefully the audience will get that and find her ending incredibly sad.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 6:43pm

"So in the end, giving Rapunzel an ambiguous ending and keeping the others deaths was a smart move for James Lapine and Rob Marshall"

It's not really ambiguous if the last shot of her is riding off with her Charming Prince on a Beautiful white horse. That pretty much is a happy ending from the audience prospective so the witch singing the lament possibly wont make any sense to the audience.

I'm not saying keeping her alive doesn't work. What I am saying is, knowing your child is lost in the world somewhere (with a prince and big castle for christake) is NOT the same as actually watching your child get stomped to death. The worst fear for a parent is having to bury a child. Nothing compares to that.

If Rob Marshall thinks the original show had people laugh, then just change the way she freakin dies. There are plenty of other ways to make it more effective without completely taking out the death scene. But it's not like Rob Marshall had much say in the matter....