Into the Woods Official Movie Thread- Page 171

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 7:39am

as of this morning it is pulling 85% approval from the LEADING CRITICS on Rotten tomatoes...that's amazing!...i am seeing it at 12 noon today...i can't believe it is finally here after all these months...:)

Updated On: 12/25/14 at 07:39 AM

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 7:43am

Amazing reviews! Too bad I have to wait.

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 7:55am

It is now on 91% with Top Critics on Rotten Tomatoes! :)

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 7:58am

while i would LOVE a 91% positive with the TOP CRITICS...my reading of Rotten Tomatoes says 85%...i just checked...

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 8:01am

That's odd for me it says 91% based on 20 Positive and 2 Negative.



Updated On: 12/25/14 at 08:01 AM

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 8:05am

hummm...my site says a total of 34 TOP CRITICS with the breakdown 29 fav v. only 5 neg...odd

also METACRITIC.COM has a 28 fav to 5 neg listing as well...

IT'S A HIT!!!... Updated On: 12/25/14 at 08:05 AM

[Bobby_Baby]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 8:06am

"And did anyone else catch that music at the ball?"

I caught it! Very exciting moment for any true Sondheim nerd. :)

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 8:06am

It must be on my end then, perhaps it's because I am in the UK. :)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 10:18am

I don't "get" the importance placed on Rotten Tomatoes...but maybe that's just because I like what I like regardless of their "percentages".

[Javi]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 10:30am

AwesomeDanny, yeah, I also caught that music when we first go to the ball. I was so happy about that. I'm glad others heard it too. Such a wonderful movie. I want to take Chris Pine home. :)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 10:35am

u cant take chris pine home...hes mine. but u r allowed to dream...merry x-mas!

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 12:29pm

I agree that the importance of RT isn't important as art is subjective but all things considered critical success is very important to sell a film and convince the general audience to attend if people here terrible reviews they don't want to see the film. In this day and age people like other people to make their minds up for them and tell them what to like.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 12:44pm

In this day and age people like other people to make their minds up for them and tell them what to like.

Sad. Some people cant think for themselves.

[mFabila]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 3:40pm

Expected to make $30 million according to the Hollywood Reporter.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 3:56pm

just got out of the theatre and i found myself crying as i explained to a pal who hasn't seen it yet how moving and touching i found it to be...all the moments in the score that touched me on stage or on record touched me even more magnified by the movie screen and full-blown sound...while i always thought the book was somewhat draggy in parts, the move works even better at keeping the action moving as this works better for me as a movie than a stage show...

chris pine AND billy magnussen are both wet dreams come to life...and there is not one false note in the singing and acting of anyone...

WHEW! a big sigh of relief that INTO THE WOODS is certainly a GREAT movie musical...

Updated On: 12/25/14 at 03:56 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 4:34pm

I just saw the movie. Where do I begin? It was magnificent, glorious, beautiful, and moving! A stellar adaptation of a stellar musical!

When the trailers started, I couldn't help but feel there were too many, and I wanted the film to start! Then, the lights dimmed, and I knew I was about to see something magnificent. The opening words in voice over said, "once upon a time", and the opening number started with the opening "clang" we all know. This number was amazing. The camera zooms, the quick pace, and the rhythmic pulse of the music boomed through the speakers. In just these few moments, I could tell the cast was brilliant! My favorite part of the number came when James Corden (who delivered a magnificent performance) said with fear in his eyes, "it's the Witch from next door". Then Meryl Streep completely transformed as the Witch (my favorite character entered). She killed the rap! She brought humor and excellent acting to it. The rest of the opening number was equally magnificent! I thought I was dreaming many times.

I could go on and on about all the scenes and how each scene was perfect, but for the sake of this review, I won't.


Performances...as I said before the cast was excellent!


Meryl Streep- Wow! Talk about a stellar performance! Her Witch had so many layers to it, and she brought it all out in a way it never has been before, though that may have to do with the intimacy of the film compared to the stage, The love for her daughter that she brought out was beautiful, and she made excellent choices in line readings (which were all spot on). There was this one moment that really resonated. It was just before her big transformation, and she found out the ingredients were wrong. Other actresses who played the role just chased the Baker and the Wife around the stage as she said "yes", but Meryl Streep said this she was not monstrous! Instead tears welled in her eyes as she knew that her dream of pleasing her daughter would not be fulfilled; the love she brought to the Witch caused the audience to root for her all the way through, and when she transformed (a wonderful transformation I must add, and I am still trying to process why people doubted she could pull it off), and when she was rejected by her daughter, she made the Witch's heart turn to stone...she was sarcastic and seemingly unfeeling. Brilliant performance Ms Streep! Last Midnight...just...I get chills thinking about it,


Blunt and Corden- They were magnificent, and their chemistry was off the charts! It made me enjoy It Takes Two which was never a favorite of mine. Blunt was magnificent and brought so much to the Bakers wife....Moments in the Woods alone should give her every award she's nominated for and I hope she wins the Golden Globe. Corden broke everyone's heart in the seen that would've been No More. There was one
small change in their relationship in the 2nd Act from the stage show, and it was much welcome!


Anna Kendrick- She was very good and excellent...she brought a younger and more modern tone to Cinderella , and it was wonderful!


Chris Pine- The raves are true! Though I wouldn't say he "stole the show" , he was very good in his scenes, but I think Billy Magnuseen needs more praise for his performance. See the movie and you will see why....he was very funny, and for the first time, I thought Rapunzel's prince was more than just this 2-dimensional character.


Everyone else was just as fantastic, and Lila and Daniel were perfection in their roles, and I hope real kids are cast in these roles again, as it brings more meaning, feeling, and emotion to No One Is Alone.



In summary....


GO TO THE WOOD!!!

Updated On: 12/25/14 at 04:34 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 4:43pm

I am seeing it again tonight!

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 4:50pm

i am seeing ITW again as well in another movie theatre here in Palm Springs in one hour...lol...i am in love...:)

(i waited since this thread first went up in dec of 2012 to see this movie...read through all the posts and pages in anticipation for this move and it has come and i won't let go of it easily...lol...) Updated On: 12/25/14 at 04:50 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 5:05pm

Seen it 3 times already... I ain't giving up so easily either! Luckily I saw them all for free... I will see it in theaters until I spend the equivalent to a Blu-ray combo pack then I will stop and wait 'til it's released in March/April. lol.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 5:06pm

So happy to hear such good word of mouth on this board.

Here's to INTO THE WOODS' future success at the box-office.

[RW3]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 5:48pm

I just got home from seeing the movie. It was nearly perfection. Rob Marshall did a great job at directing this piece. In addition, you could feel Sondheim's hands all over the movie. You could tell that he was heavily involved in making of the movie. It was nicely paced and flowed very easily. Also, the cast sounded great. I could understand every word they were saying and singing. Now, the performances:
Meryl Streep: Just so unbelievably great! Her ability of dealing with all the emotions that the Witch has was amazing to see. Her rendition of "Stay with Me" was heartbreaking. Then, her take on "The Last Midnight" was so powerful and just awesome. Her Golden Globe nomination is totally deserved.
Emily Blunt and James Corden: The chemistry between the two of them was great. I actually starting believing that they were married in real life and then I had to remind myself that they were. Corden's take on the Baker was clumsier than the ones I had seen, but it worked. Throughout the movie, you could tell the evolution of the Baker. He had a sufficient singing voice. However, Blunt was superior out of the two. She completely nailed humor of the Baker's Wife. Her interaction with Chris Pine for their two songs was great. Also, I still felt sad when she died (even though knew that she was going to die).
Anna Kendrick: A lovely interpretation Sondheim's Cinderella. "On the Steps of the Palace" was a great moment for her and really showed her vocal range.
Tracey Ullman: She really brought humor into a dark film. I wish she had more do to as Jack's mother.
Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen: Two really great princes. "Agony" was one the funniest scenes I've seen all year. Chris Pine was totally captivating as Cinderella's Prince. The chemistry he had with Anna and Emily was great. Billy Magnussen was great as the more love struck prince of the two. He had nice chemistry with Mackenzie Mauzy.
Lillia Crawford and Daniel Huttlestone: Superb job by these two rising stars. Crawford was lovely as Little Red and Huttlestone did a great job as Jack.
Mackenzie Mauzy: She did a nice job of Rapunzel. It's not a big role, but she did a nice job of what she was given.
Overall: 9/10

[Showface]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 6:16pm

I forgot to mention how beautiful the film is visually! Not only were the performances wonderful, but the visuals were amazing. Colleen Atwood's costume design was inspired. Even though the costumes were mixed from different time periods, they still seemed unified. Yes, even Depp's costume! And, I must add Depp was not bad. I understand why people says he is playing a wacky version of himself now,though. Actually the way he was costumed, and the way his number was staged, I couldn't help but think, "Michael Jackson! Thriller!" Those of you who have seen it should know what I'm talking about.


The Visual Effects were very well done. Some highlights include:

-The Witch's Rap Flashbacks: SPOILERS I loved the on screen transformation to the hag SPOILERS

-Transformation: I understand CGI was not used in this scene (except for a moment or two), and I can see that! The true effect in this scene is Streep's movement. When she is ugly she is old and withered. Then, when she is beautiful, she completely transformed, and not only were the costuming and makeup a big help in making this transformation huge, but Streep's mannerisms. Bravo!


-Last Midnight: Absolutely magnificent. The effects really shine through at the end! With the lightening, Streep's performance, the rapid and swirling camera movement, and when the ground rose beneath Streep. A visual highlight!

-The scenes with the Giant(s) we're also very well done!

Updated On: 12/25/14 at 06:16 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 6:25pm

We saw the 1:30 show at Monmouth Mall in barcoloungers...nice!

Loved it! Delicious! Beautiful and the sound was gorgeous!

Streep deserves every accolade. She takes all the character provides to a new level. "Stay With Me" was the highlight of the entire film for me. Kendrick was better than I expected. I loved her take on the role. Blunt is terrific and Ullman almost steals the film, IMO.

Pine and Magnussen were wonderful, and "Agony" is a highlight, helped by wonderful direction/choreography! Great staging!!!!!

If I had one small disappointment, it was that Little Red loses some of her edge in this version. I think that was a choice, but it takes away from the end when she lets down her guard. It reminds me how great Ferland was!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 6:37pm

...and imagine what Streep would've done with Lovett! I really liked Bonham Carter, but dang!

[Showface]

Posted: 12/25/14 at 6:54pm

ITW is a success!!! Just today it is expected to make $10,000,000! It is supposed to finish the weekend with over $30,000,000!

https://tv.yahoo.com/news/box-office-unbroken-woods-scoring-christmas-day-interview-050032947.html




If I had one quibble with the film, it is that the pace moved a little to quickly....I did not want it to end!