"Into the Woods" Movie Changes — Page 5

I just don't think he's very objective about his own work, which I totally understand. He will rise quickly to defend a long-dead author when the hubris of a new creative team thinks they can "make it better."

Yet when someone takes his masterpiece (Sweeney Todd) or one of his most popular musicals (Into the Woods) and makes major changes to it, he's okay with it and simply shrugs. Perhaps if this were a stage production and they (dared to) cut "No More," he would be singing a different tune.

As a film, though, he probably feels out of his element enough to let it go.

He's not THAT out of his element. He's also an Oscar-winning songwriter for film, not just a Broadway guy.

---

I don't think enough people (and I'm referring to the target demo for this film, excepting theater devotees) know who Sondheim is or know enough about ITW for his comments to cause any damage.

---

Most of us will probably see the film regardless (i know I will) simply because we love musical theatre. Outside of the theatre community, i doubt it will have much impact.

Paddington Bear?

---

^^^ I doubt it. Annie has been advertising heavily; more than any of the other films listed so far. One could almost think that they are advertising so much BECAUSE they want to firmly stake a claim on that weekend as the Anti-Hobbit (i.e. the movie people with kids go see).

Hobbit won't move. It's too firmly established. Disney HATES backing down but they're the only one that I could see moving. Maybe none of them will, lol.

Les Miserables moved away from direct competition with the previous installment of The Hobbit in 2012 when an opportunity arose ( Great Gatsby was moved to the following year). Although Les Miserables was not previously scheduled to go head to head against The Hobbit and had scheduled its original opening date a week earlier, a slight delay in post production ( it had a very short post prod time) moved it in direct competition for the succeeding week. Fortunately, The Great Gatsby also experienced delays and had to vacate its Oscar-bait schedule of a December 25 opening and paved the way for Les Miserables to get a Christmas Day opening date.

It may not be that easy to move Opening Dates especially for wide releases, as presumably contractual obligations may be involved, unless one major film vacates its schedule?

Btw, Box Office Mojo lists Annie as opening on exactly the same date as The Hobbit and Night at the Museum 3 --

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/schedule/?view=bydate&release=all&date=2014-12-05&showweeks=4&p=.htm

Speaking just for myself, I'm pretty sure I understood what the witch meant when she sang those words the first time I heard them in 1988. Meaning the lyrics are not particularly obscure.

---

Thanks Hest882.

So many on this thread seem to be ready to "decide what's right and what's good" by whether it makes money or not.

I've heard it said once that "you decide what's right" and "you decide what's good"

When did "you" become the box office?

Reading about these changes I envision this "you" leaving the movie asking:
"What was that?
Was that me?
Was that Sondheim? Was that Lapine?
Was it wrong? Am I mad?
Was that all?"

And right now, i feel like telling Disney, "you may know what you need, but to get what you want, better see that you keep what you have."

I can't help wondering how anyone who loves this show, any of us "children who listened" - could think that making this movie "nice" would make it "good".

One thing's certain.

"Good" or "bad" - and yes, I'm trying my best to remain "much more open hearted" about what waits in "the woods" - '"once we've had this "and"' Disney is bringing us for Christmas, it may well

"make the "or" mean more than it meant before....."

Updated On: 6/23/14 at 05:32 AM

Wasnt that clip of Meryl singing from Lament? I was under the impression she sang part of it leading into the new song. Of course, that may have changed.

bestie, Sondheim said that "Any Moment" will probably be cut, not "Moments in the Woods," right?

---

I was watching "Haunted Mansion" and if they can show a person hanging himself within the first 5 minutes of the opening credits, why can't they show Rapunzel getting killed by a giant... far less extreme than that suicide scene.

Rapunzel not dying shows that not everything in life ends in disappointment. Every other character loses someone important. At least one character deserves a positive ending.

All of those who are complaining do not understand commerce 101 and how these decisions will, at the end of the day, actually benefit their business. If the business benefits, the chance of future movie musicals increases. It's a win/win.