Into the Woods Official Movie Thread — Page 143

I'm waiting for the actual critic reviews to come out. Either way I will still see the film. I'm one of those people who are very cautious of film hype before the actual reviews are out. I also had way too high expectations for Les Mis so I'm keeping my expectations low for this, which is probably why it sounds like I am basking in these reactions. Not the case.

The reviews are not even mixed. They are mostly positive with *a few* negatives, and *one* entirely negative reaction.

I have every intention of enjoying everything about this film (yes, even the I Know Things Now scene)

At least it won't be an average musical film like ANNIE is, that's a 100% certainty.

I'd say the tone of the show is one of the things the movie does especially well in preserving. The balance of humor and sadness, giddy fantasy and glimpse into the apocalypse is all very well captured onscreen. Icecreambenjamin, I think you'll be very pleased on that score.

On the GoldDerby forum someone recently saw the screening.



It's positive!

"I saw "Into the Woods" yesterday and I absolutely loved it. It was a guild screening (not SAG which I'm sure will go nuts over it) and it went over very well. I had a feeling I would love it and I'm thrilled to say it lived up to my expectations. It is a grand spectacle and a rather faithful adaptation that carefuly toes the line between the many comedic fun elements and the darker moments of the musical. As many have stated, Streep is simply astounding. She could easily take her 4th Oscar for this one. The next standout is Pine who is utterly hysterical and I think will land a nod as well. Blunt is wonderful and could land that 5th Best Actress spot if the film gains momentum. I have no doubt it will do very well at the box office too."

http://www.goldderby.com/forum/topics/view/5291/page:26

Updated On: 11/30/14 at 10:12 PM

hello indytallguy,
i sent you a private message regarding the advanced screening in chicago. thanks

I saw it last weekend, and Someone in a Tree2's reactions are almost identical to mine. (Like him, it is not a particular favorite of mine among Sondheim's shows.) I personally love Emily Blunt. If she's different from Gleason's great performance in the original cast, you might put it down to her being English. She has a very different manner--nicer, quieter, less laconic. She's very touching, I think.

Jonathan Tunick is a genius, and Paul Geminiani conducts, so all is gloriously well in that department.

To all of the positives I would add these qualms: I think the pacing is too consistently swift, without enough variation or modulation in the tempo. The little nips and tucks in many of the songs, along with the (welcome, in my opinion) simplification and clarification of the story lines, speed the movie along, but I kept wishing for more time to settle into the songs, live in the world they create for a few minutes. Then again, maybe I just need to see it again to get used to the speed.

My biggest disappointment is that "No more" has been cut. For me, this is the most touching part of the show. What's interesting is that we see James Corden go off alone, and the orchestra plays the melody of "No more," but then the movie cuts away. So I suspect that the song was filmed, then cut. Does anybody know for sure? Might we hope the song will be restored in its home video release?

And that brings me to a third quibble: The movie ends rather abruptly. Again, maybe I just need to get used to it, but I came away with the distinct sense that somebody was breathing down the director's neck that it must come in at two hours. No lingering! So no more "No more" and we don't get that long, lovely wind-down when the plays shifts from a hyper-active overlapping of separate tales to a coming together of the remaining characters distilled now into one family in sadness and reflection and greater empathy and understanding.

But on the whole, it is a remarkably faithful adaption, with wonderful performances. I don't know if it's the stuff that hits are made of, but Sondheim fans will be happy, I think.

REMINDER:
Streep will be on GMA tomorrow! Anyone think she may premiere a new clip? Perhaps some of the rap? Or will they just show "Stay With Me"?

I've also been very pleased with seeing the promos on TV!

I FOUND 2 SCREENING REVIEWS!

This is from someone who has never seen it before:

"Great movie! I don't even know where to start so I'll just list (no spoilers unless you ask)...

1. Amazing performances from everyone in the film. They picked the right cast and they all did a great job.

2. The singing! This was my first musical that I've seen in theaters and I was a little nervous at first that I wouldn't like all of the singing. Well, there certainly is a lot of singing, but it didn't bother me one bit. My favorite songs were Jack's song about the beanstalk and "with me" by the witch.

Anybody have any particular questions? I'll try my best to answer!"

Someone who has:

"Saw the film last night. After Tim Burton's peculiar "Sweeney Todd," Tom Hooper's close-up parade in "Les Miz" and whatever-the-hell this new revised "Annie" turns out to be, finally we have a well-made studio musical that is true to the spirit of the stage production yet still works as a movie. After the regrettable detour known as "Nine," Rob Marshall is back in "Chicago"-like form here.

If there were any questions as to whether the stage show could be opened up to work as a film, they are quickly answered in the film's opening sequence, the "I Wish" prologue that beautifully introduces most of the film's major characters and their wishes in a beguiling 15-minute number. From that location-based opening, we move to the soundstage and the woods, featuring a marvelously detailed production design by Dennis Gassner.

As to the reports that the film's plot was softened at Disney's request, there's not much softening here. True, one of the major characters who is killed in the stage production is spared here, but most of the other deaths and intentional blindings are still present. (Yet, with all this mayhem, the film sports the same MPAA rating as "Penguins of Madagascar.")"




Also, have we all agreed that this is the official thread, and that it shall remain so at least until the film comes out? Then we can maybe have another thread mainly for reviews that we write about it, but until then, this is the main thread? Thoughts?

I for one would be A-OK with another thread dedicated just to reviews, especially when they're so lengthy. The movie news keeps getting lost between all the reviews.

@Showface, when one of the reviewers said: "After the regrettable detour known as NINE, Rob Marshall is back in CHICAGO like form here"; I couldn't help but to smile like an idiot.

If he does really good on INTO THE WOODS' direction, he may be back on top and Hollywood would want him in more projects. But it didn't stop him to direct PIRATES 4 when NINE flopped badly.

He or Darren Aronofsky should direct FOLLIES, but that's wishful thinking on my part.

The title has not changed on the main board because wildcard has not changed it in the first post. We don't really need the mods to change it because we all know what we are discussing here. You are starting to turn into one of those PTA moms that has to be in charge of everything. Just let things run at the status quo, man.

The clip on GMA this morning was wonderful, Meryl sells it.