Into the Woods Official Movie Thread — Page 174

"Sorry Ljay but The Witch's arc got so rushed and by the time Last Midnight came, there was just no impact. No weight to her character. She really got butchered in the 2nd half."

I'm not understanding. All of her scenes are still there, and little bits of dialogue are gone. Act 2 just felt rushed, but for good reason. They had to cut certain songs to make it cinematic, and that's what they did. I felt the moment we saw the Witch again, with flattened, somewhat tattered hair, holding Jack by the ear, the Witch just turned her heart to stone. Her line readings from this point seemed to be very unfeeling and sarcastic. I thought it was smart.


@MagicalMusical
The small change in the Bakers relationship is that they were still a strong couple when they separated. When the Wife walked in her direction, the Baker looked back to see if she were okay. He didn't want anything to happen to her. I felt this made "Any Moment" stronger (thought that was a very well handled scene, and I don't understand the Disneyfied accusations being thrown around), and I thought it made the impact of her death stronger.




TazTarney,


About the Baker's reaction to his wife's death. I though it was very well handled. People handle grief differently. He denied it first, he then went on to place blame, and then, when he was to himself, he finally cried with all of the emotions running inside of him (a very well acted scene by Corden)



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I actually like the film MORE upon reflection. I need to see it again!

Not a fan of the film, but I would be surprised if it made it into the Best Picture race. Even with the 10 slots, I see films like Whiplash or Grand Budapest Hotel making the cut before Woods.

Not a blatant lie for this diehard ITW and "No More" fan.

I wouldn't go so far as to say the scene thoroughly offers the same experience that "No More" does.

But the scene similarly advances the plot, all the subtext is there for anyone who knows the song well (aided beautifully by the underscoring for us veterans), the crux of commitment to one's responsibilities in the face of adversity is clearly in play even for the uninitiated, and I'm now convinced the dialogue serves the movie's pacing and momentum far better than the song likely would have, particularly since with the loss of Mystery Man - which similarly proves a wise cinematic move - a Baker/Father duet wouldn't have had nearly the same impact as it does in the stage musical.

Look, there's going to be a variety of takes on this movie.

As someone who hated the Les Mis movie, I know what it's like to be on the grinch list for show adaptations. Everyone, obviously, is entitled to their opinion.

Still, I feel like shouting to the rooftops that this is a great movie, for me clearly one of the year's best.
Particularly because no one is likely more shocked as I am how well - again, obviously, IMHO - it turned out.

I don't expect everyone to agree.

I feel as satisfied with the omission of "No More" as I do with the omission of the equally beloved "Music That Makes Me Dance" from the movie of Funny Girl. Adaptation is a tricky form. It requires hard choices. For me, Lapine has done his job very well, far better than I ever dreamed of.

One other thing I think the movies does gorgeously is balancing scenes in which we see the action unfolding during songs which related past action with scenes in which the characters are allowed, as on stage, to simply relate experience which goes unseen. "Giants in the Sky" with only it's brief flashback frames and on screen mostly Jack relating his journey to the Baker was wonderful. "He's a Very Nice Prince" and "On the Steps of the Palace" with their very different ways of handling this issue also worked like a charm.

I'm happy to be disagree with. As I said, last year, I defended my dissent of Les Mis.

Updated On: 12/26/14 at 11:03 AM

Don't get me wrong, I really REALLY liked this film. But I do think I will always believe that the omission of "No More" hurt the ending.

I agree....Streep is my favorite Witch! I know many in the "fandom" were disappointed that Bernadette Peters was not cast, but I feel that Streep was inspired casting. I said this before, but maybe it was the intimacy of the film compared that made her performance a superb one. That's probably the case, also.


But, hey! Why compare when we can have both!!


In Fact, Let's Have Both: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pOfgT5CNmu

BOXOFFICE came out with their overnight figures for INTO THE WOODS yesterday...now they say ITW took in 15.1 million not 13.6 as reported earlier by another source...that is HUGE!..although LES MIZ took in 17% more when it opened over Christmas...I think LEZ MIS definitely had a larger fan base audience then ITW...

Updated On: 12/26/14 at 11:21 AM

Huttlestone's accent isn't put-on - I've seen him in interviews and that's how he actually talks. I agree that he needs to work with a vocal coach to lose it or at least tone it down if he wants to continue getting roles.

The second half of the show has always been divisive and criticized for being too slow, moody, and dark. I really can't imagine a world in which it can be pared down more than what was done in the film.

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"The second half of the show has always been divisive and criticized for being too slow, moody, and dark. I really can't imagine a world in which it can be pared down more than what was done in the film."


Neither can I, and I know it would probably involve cutting one or two more songs that I'd rather they didn't. I'm perfectly happy with the film, from start to finish. But I heard audible groans by the time "No One Is Alone" began both times I saw it. The film currently has a 64% audience rating on RT. It'll be interesting to see how word of mouth turns out...

I like this audience review - "The songs were way too long and loud, and that's coming from a big fan of musicals...!"

I'm loving reading the audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The Christians aren't too happy about the Bakers Wife kissing the Prince. I'm surprised they haven't started a boycott of the film over it.

...and ITW opened in almost 700 less screens the UNBROKEN which only made $500,000 more yesterday...that is good business...but with only a B rating from the audience surveys it will be interesting to see if ITW can hold up now...

I didn't think it was really going to bother me that "No More" wasn't there, but it really did.
For crying out loud, the scene wasn't even good and they played "no more" behind it. I don't understand why they didn't just sing it. It wouldn't have slowed the film down at all. By cutting it, they sped it up too much.
It also didn't give the Baker a chance to really shine.