Movie #987 Into the Woods (the movie) is a treat to see! Disclaimer: I know every word and probably every moment (having worked on the show for two full productions, and its probably one of the shows I have seen (in the audience) the most), so perhaps you could say I am too close to the show. So with that in mind, my comments will probably be more detailed than a lot of other peoples comments....but here goes. I really really enjoyed it -----almost every moment, taking into consideration that it will never be as good as the live show! That being said, I can forgive the two missing numbers (Jacks song to the cow and Justify the beans) in the first act, and even the missing mysterious man, providing the film explained enough the motivation for the baker to go back and help slay the giant ----but thats where it loses points from me. I have always felt the high point was the Bakers song with the mysterious man ---- to me it sets up the reasons for the show: No More - the lyrics No more questions, please. No more tests. Comes the day you say, What for? Please.. no more. We disappoint, we disappear, we die, but we dont. They disappoint in turn, I fear, Forgive, though, they wont. No more riddles. No more jests. No more curses you cant undo, left by fathers you never knew. No more quests. No more feelings. Time to shut the door. Just.. No more. Running away, lets do it. Free from the ties that bind. No more despair, or burdens to bear, Out there in the yonder. Running away, go to it. Where did you have in mind? Have to take care.. unless theres a where, Youll only be wandering blind. Just more questions.. different kind. Where are we to go? Where are we ever to go? Running away, well do it. Why sit around, resigned? Trouble is, son, the farther you run, The more youll feel undefined. For what you have left undone, and more, What youve left behind. We disappoint, we leave a mess, we die, but we dont. We disappoint in turn, I guess. Forget, though, we wont. Like father, like son. No more giants waging war! Cant we just pursue our lives, with our children and our wives, Til that happy day arrives, how do you ignore All the witches, all the curses, All the wolves, all the lies, the false hopes, the good-byes, The reverses, All the wondering what even worse is still in store! All the children. All the giants.. No more. That theme of strength and power in family --- that you cant run away --- that life isnt happy ever after, that its messy --- that you are never alone --- theres an army of family (dead and alive) giving you strength to deal with the giants and the curses, etc. Life is Messy, full of questions, and yes, there are times we would love to run away, but we cant turn our backs, that well be undefined --- all that and more..... So .... I wish....that they would have included that particular number, and that the princes were a tad funnier, but otherwise, it is a wonderful film. I esp. enjoyed how creative it was --- I felt Mr. Marshall did what he did with Chicago in that he tried to make it more accessible to a general audience (but NOT to little kids --- too scary, too much about death, etc. in the second act). I applaud that he left in most of the musical numbers like its your fault at the speed (or pretty close)as it was intended and just made it clearer for the viewers --- for example, the movie takes you INTO the wolfs stomach, what a treat, and as much as I love Bernadette Peters, Meryl Streep makes the witch her own and I loved the filmic entrances and exits, stuff we couldnt do on stage. But I did miss the dead cow being conveyed all over the set. Generally, this show brings up such great memories of a great show, and I dont think it will disappoint those who love the music and the show as much as I do. And for others? not sure. The woman next to me hadnt seen it before and said she loved it --- our family said they enjoyed it, too, because it was so different -- I hope that means good different! I like to think so because if theres one good thing about making a movie of a great show, it is that it makes the story/music more available to the bigger audience so they can enjoy it , too. Hope thats part of the magic here.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:42:29 +0000
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