Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
Marva-nova
Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
TheLittleSongbird
Into the Woods is funny, clever, complex, poignant, enchanting and also deliciously dark, it is so cleverly constructed as a musical and if you love Stephen Sondheim you will not be disappointed here. Because the music is just wonderful, The Last Midnight, Agony, Children Will Listen and No One is Alone stand out. For performances, you'd be hard pressed to find a better performance than this one, one of the best productions of any musicals seen personally in recent weeks. The costumes and sets give off this enchanting fairy-tale-like atmosphere and then they match the darker mood of the second act(which understandably may feel a little too heavy for some) beautifully as well. The production is very well photographed with excellent video directing, live performances of musicals and operas as well are not always successful in this department, but that is not the case with Into the Woods.The songs lose none of their impact, the orchestra play in sweeping style, the tempos are very well-judged and they are beautifully staged as well. The fist act enchants and the darker second act is suitably macabre in places and just as smartly done. You just have to love Cinderella's birds, the baker's wife being grabbed by the handle of her top and the horse that moves backwards. The stepmother cutting off her daughter's heel shows some fidelity to the spirit of the original fairy tale(which is darker than you think it is), and The Last Midnight is deliciously macabre. The Last Midnight is also the song that says the most about any of the characters, Sondheim reveals so much about the Witch through this song and especially the lyrics.With the dialogue, it is also smart and witty, and everybody seems to be having a ball delivering it(lines like "some of us don't like the way you've been telling it", "slotted spoons don't hold much soup" and "I was raised to be charming, not sincere" amongst others are gems). Amongst the fun and endless charm, "Sometimes people leave you halfway through the woods" leading into Children will Listen is also hugely affecting. With the story, it is really fun to spot the fairy-tale stories and characters- Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk to name a few- and it is unfolded in a way that is always entertaining, magical and clever. The narration is as wittily written as the rest of the dialogue, and always serves a purpose when needed, never does it feel too much and it does a great job making things a little more understandable for first-time viewers.You can't go wrong with the performances either. Bernadette Peters is phenomenal in every way as the Witch, to find somebody better than her in this role would be highly unlikely. Her beautiful voice is in powerhouse form, she commands the stage in sassy and menacing fashion and her dainty, doll-like look is put to good use when the production calls for it. Joanna Gleeson shows why she deserved her Tony win, she sings very strongly and her acting is beyond excellent. In fact all the performances are great, with a deliciously sarcastic Red Riding Hood in Danielle Ferland, a wonderfully frustrating and later easy to love Baker in Chip Zien, a lovely Cinderella in Kim Crosby, a very funny Prince/menacing yet amusing Wolf in Robert Westenberg(his musical interlude with Red Riding Hood is a comic highlight with a somewhat sexual element) and a charming Jack in Ben Wright(his Giants in the Sky is very winning).Overall, a brilliant production of a really well-done Sondheim musical show. A very easy 10/10. Bethany Cox
RobertHI
"A slotted spoon doesn't hold much soup" is a good characterization of this sometimes appealing entertainment. Although it occasionally rises above the level of television situation comedy, it probably wasn't worth the price of a Broadway ticket (not many Broadway shows are), but if you can get the DVD at a discount, go for it. The DVD accurately documents the stage show, which had high production values (costumes, sets, props, lighting) and a cast filled with highly talented people. Personally I'm not terribly fond of Bernadette Peters, who plays the witch, but the in-the-know audience makes clear she is the "Big Star" of the ensemble, and she certainly qualifies as a peerless and experienced Sondheim interpreter. The camera work is appropriate and rarely calls attention to itself. The frequent intrusion of audience applause/laughter increases the aptness of a comparison to television situation comedy. Fortunately it's "live" and spontaneous, not canned.
goldoro99
"Into the Woods" never became the stuff of legend like "Hair" or "West Side Story", and it never became a commercial blockbuster like practically every Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Perhaps this is because of its length--three hours, on average--perhaps because of the fairy-tales-go-to-hell subject matter. People don't usually like to see what happens after "happily ever after," but it's one of the most cogent and powerful lessons of "Into the Woods," the best of all Broadway musicals. It's comical, serious, joyous, poignant, mystical, accessible, you name it. It's got an intricate plot, complex and sympathetic characters, and the most rich and rapturous score ever to grace the professional stage. Thank you so much, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, for this wonderful gift.
natewillsheets
This was the first show I have seen written by Sondheim, and I was amazed not only at his work, but also of the casts, the crew, and the quality of the tape. First of all, live shows are usually not taped very well---this version of INTO THE WOODS is an exception---it is the best live taping I have EVER seen of a musical. Different angles, cues, etc help make it the best experience you could have.It may seem as if Sondheim wrote a simple, annoying musical, but this is far from the case. The music is quite complicated, with musical themes throughout--very impressive score. The voice parts are equally complicated and detailed.This is a great, family show, and with the exception of one innuendo, totally appropriate. Some may also have a problem with their children seeing the wolf's costume (it is very, uh, detailed) but truth be told I didn't notice it until I had seen it twice.
