I love the movie but I've seen the live production twice and it's just more clever and nuanced. There's a lot that gets left out like Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince were running around the woods finding more princesses (specifically Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) to woo after getting married or that the Baker's Father is actually alive. As for my favorite song, it's gotta be No One is Alone. It makes both my wife and I cry.
@@teganwoods4184 In the Broadway version the dad is a character not a ghost that talks to him. His actor is also the narrator who gets sacrificed to the giant in the second act (and that's when the story starts derailing for good, since there's no one else to tell it).
"Your Fault" is even faster in the stage version. They slowed it down considerably for the movie and actors who at the time weren't necessarily Broadway actors or accustomed to the pace of Sondheim songs.
The show uses more of the older Grimm Brothers versions of the tale, especially Cinderella, with visiting the ball over the three nights and getting her dress from her mother’s grave/tree. The version we know was a rewrite later by a French writer named Perrault. Perrault was cutesy, the Grimms savage and more satisfying.
They didn't kill rapunzel because disney didn't want to have one of their princesses to be killed. It destroys the point that the world is also cruel, and you can't just marry a prince and ride off.
Yeah, it's very out of place thematically for her to ride off with her prince. Like, I'm happy for her that she's alive, but it doesn't work in this story and really undercuts the message.
It's funny that you kept referring to the giant as Umbridge, because the actress playing the giant actually WAS in Harry Potter! She played Madame Maxime, the headmistress of the all girls school from the Goblet of Fire, and Hagrid's crush 😉
The movie is OK, but the stage show (which has an excellent filmed version with Bernadette Peters) is so much better. It goes further and darker, it's funnier, has more songs, just all around FABULOUS. And it's worth it just for the reprise of Agony alone! If you ever get the chance, definitely give it a shot!
I'm such a sucker for "the funny song" so when I was watching the movie the first time I fell hard for their version of Agony - it's hilarious, no notes. So when it got to "act 2" and skipped over the reprise, I was heartbroken. We all deserve to see Chris Pine sing the reprise.
Part of the reason I think people prefer the stage version is because the most commonly viewed recording featured Broadway royalty of the day (Bernadette Peters as the witch, Chip Zien as the baker, Joanna Gleason who won a Tony for her performance as the baker's wife, etc.), but also Sondheim really takes a lot of work to convert to a movie format and they didn't do nearly enough with this one to make it work. It's been done very successfully with West Side Story and Sweeney Todd (another Depp movie where he actually gets to act rather than play a bit part), but they had to completely transform the pacing, characterizations, and vibe to do it well and this movie did not do that. And I love Anna Kendrick but they did her dirty with this movie, she wasn't getting any direction in her speaking parts and it really shows. As far as my favorite song, probably Children Will Listen. Last Midnight is a close second though, you're not wrong about the flow.
These are more based on the original stories than the Disney versions. Like, in the original Cinderella, the slipper was gold and the ball lasted 3 nights. As for the differences between play and movie: the play is funnier, darker, and more nuanced. Some stuff was cut or changed in the movie that really doesn't work. Plus there's a couple songs that I'm pretty sure they slowed down
I saw the original production on tour in San Francisco, then I saw the first revival (in the early 2000s) in LA before it went to broadway. Vanessa Williams played the witch and she was sooo good.
I played Lucinda (a stepsister) in the stage version. A few years before that I worked on costumes and wigs for another production. My dream was to play the baker's wife. Now, I've aged out of that role. I could still play the witch though, maybe Jack's mom. Favorite song? I Know Things Now. Agony is my second.
8:29 you should’ve seen the way we did the stealing of red cape in our musical. My peers did amazing. Actor for Red sounded super loud like that too(more of a cry scream to not hurt audiences ears) and the baker actor ran away with a sneaky “ha-ha-hah” and then ran back and covered her mouth with the cape when she started screaming lol
my favourite thing about Moments in the Woods (Bakers wife song after kissing the prince) is if you listen to it as Moments in the WOULDS. gives a whole different meaning to the song :)
Johnny Depp is Captain Jack Sparrow, Rango, Mad Hatter, the wolf, Gilbert Grape and Crybaby. I love Johnny Depp so much. He has so many iconic characters/roles. He’s one of my GOATS
Our local theater put on a performance of Into the Woods. It was no Broadway but it was still wonderful! Milky white was a plywood painted cow on wheels that they tugged around the whole time lol. It was fun! As for favorite song- I will never get the opening theme out of my head. Actually, I don't know if that makes it a favorite...?? But it's def unforgettable.
We did this show in college, and it has a special place in my heart. The movie is okay, but the stage version has so many amazing details that the movie missed. My favorite song is No More Giants, which they mostly cut from the movie (it's the underscore while the baker is crying).
2:27 that’s Lilla Crawford, not Millicent Simmonds; Lilla became first known for playing Annie in the Broadway revival in 2012, which then led to this movie. Also, Jack is played by Daniel Huttlestone, who also played Gavroche in the 2012 Les Miserables movie
Jack is played by the same actor who played gavroche in Les Miserables. Hes an extremely talented child. He was a bit older in this movie. Please watch Les Miserables 🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
My first time seeing this was when my oldest daughter(now 25) played the Giantess at 7. It made it even more funny as she was the smallest cast member, so they had her on a ladder for her part. It keeps coming around again. Last time was a local high school production. This production isn't easy. Sondheim wrote some incredible, but crazy music for this.
I did my undrgrad work at UC Santa Cruz, which was nestled among the redwoods. they did production of it where the Narrator was a forest ranger who led the audience on a "tour' through the woods above the campus; the cast appeared at different points along the tour. It was phenomenal. My favorite song is Last Midnight; as wonderful as Meryl was, the Broadway version with Bernadette Peters was incredible.
I love the live performance with Bernadette Peters even better. There's some great stuff cut from the live show for the movie. I highly recommend it! The movie is a Lot darker and has a lot of great humor in it. The best song is also cut from the movie: No More
Honestly the first 15 minute intro of the original is mt favorite piece of stage music like the way that they weave in all the different storylines and give you the plot lines and everythinf its ao good
My favorite song was actually cut from the movie, it's called "No More" and has the Baker singing with his Father. In this Movie, probably "Children Will Listen." I like the Movie but I LOVE the stage production. They had to change a lot to make this work for cinema. One of the things they had to cut was the character of the Narrator who is a 4th-wall breaking character who adds a lot to the tone. It makes sense that they removed him, but it changed a few plot beats and shifted the tone just the slightest bit. It's the difference between "good" and "great" imo
I have seen the stage version at least twice. Once when I was realy young in I saw it as theater in the park. My favorite song from the play is not in the movie, it is called “No More,” it is supposed to be sung by the Baker instead we got that really short dialogue scene. My second favorite song is Agony, unfortunately the 2nd reprise was also cut from the movie. The reprise foreshadows a later scene. If you ever get the chance you should either go see the play, or watch the Bernadette Peters version.
I saw this live at Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania back in 1992. The witch was played by Joann Worley (from the show Laugh-In). The live performances are amazing! The one thing that is missing in the movie is the comic timing ..... One-liners are breezed over so quickly that you lose the joke in the dialogue. Little Red Riding Hood is hilarious, but the movie version is faster-paced than the play and her jokes sometimes get missed. "Oh, dear. How uneasy i feel." Hahahahaha!!!!! Highly recommend seeing this live, if you ever have the chance. My favorite song is "Your Fault." What a fun reaction! Thanks for sharing. :)
I love Agony and the argument song in the second act-can’t remember the name. I have seen the original cast recorded version and then my mom played in the pit for a production.
The woman giant is played by the actress that played in Harry Potter as Beaubaxton’s Headmistress. My favorite song is Moments in the woods but specifically with Sarah Barellies as the baker’s wife on broadway. I love your reactions so much and I can’t wait to see your next one!
37:30 It’s really funny you call her Umbridge here, because I believe the giantess in this film is played by the same actress who played the Beauxbaton headmistress in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire who is rumored to be a half giant
I saw the play once years ago as part of a college theater trip and of the three plays we saw it was probably my favorite but that was years before the movie was even a thing so to me while both are excellent they’re also entirely different experiences. I’ve also seen the movie multiple times purely because I enjoy how campy and ridiculous the performances are.
I saw the movie and No One is Alone became my favorite song to cry to 😂 I was blessed to be able to see the production last year at the Kennedy Center with Montego Glover as the Witch and I LOVED it. Definitely my favorite musical 🥰
I am an actress and I’ve been in this show a few times. I love the movie the only thing is it doesn’t quite give full context like the stage play does. You should watch it and compare❤❤
3:39 Okay so the play and the movie are two VERY different beasts, they changed lyrics, took out songs and entire characters for the movie but the original play was just, a masterpiece. I was in a production of Into The Woods in my Senior year of high school and even doing the Junior version of it(bc it's all my broke ass school could afford) I adored it so much more than i did the movie. The original stage production(which is free to watch on youtube if you want to check it out for a video, the same goes for the Legally Blonde musical which is, imho, an amazing adaptation of the story) included Bernadette Peters, who played a much goofier and unserious witch compared to Meryl Streep's portrayal. There are so many amazing things from the original that got taken out of the movie version, and some less amazing things that got taken out to keep the movie a decent length(one thing I don't mind them removing is Agony(Reprise) because it ruins the character of Rapunzel's Prince for me personally) Into The Woods is genuinely my favorite musical I have ever been in, I got to play Cinderella and challenged myself with 'On The Steps Of The Palace' which is a very different song in the movie compared to the musical. All of the characters have so much more depth in the Musical and are connected a lot more seamlessly.
I own the blur ray and seen the live play on TH-cam i really like them both and i have to agree with you the song ( your fault) and the first ( into the woods)songs r mt favorite
I haven’t seen it live but in my teenager years I was in a musical program and we had a recital and sang “into the woods” so I’ll have to say that’s my favorite song since it brings back memories. I also felt from the shadow of the Giant she looks like Mrs Garret from the facts of life
Even though this is a Disney film, these are not Disney 'princesses' or Disney storylines. Please remember, this musical predates ANY Disney involvement at ANY level. I'm old, like in-my-70s old. When I was in third grade, I became interested in myths, legends, folktales, and fairy tales from all nations and cultures. During those pre-internet times, I read deeply into original renditions as far as I could find English translations of them. One thing I learned is that what modern people (and especially Americans) have experienced of the stories that have come down to us has been transformed from cultural subconscious creations (often very dark and feral) into these squeaky-clean safe-for-children tales. They are nearly unrecognizable from the originals, whether the source was Hans Christen Anderson or the Brothers Grimm. The stories in "Into the Woods" mainly come from the original Brothers Grimm, who collected folktales throughout Germanic Europe in the 1800s. I recognize these stories from my elementary school research and reading. 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is British, but dark; being forced by poverty and hunger to sell the cow at market, selling it for magic beans, the mother slapping the beans out of the boy's hands, the beans sprouting overnight, the climb to the giant's castle on a cloud, the giant's wife taking pity and feeding then hiding the boy. In the original story, the boy climbs several times, first to take a look, then to grab the harp, then to bring the goose that lays golden eggs; the last theft reveals the boy to the giant, who pursues, the boy reaches ground first, chops the beanstalk, the giant dies in the fall. The End. The other stories, 'Cinder Ella', 'Rapunzel', 'Red Riding Hood', are Grimm stories and grim in nature. And western cultures have 'civilized' the stories to pap. If Rapunzel had been more accurately depicted, she would have still been impregnated with twins; at least the part of the original where the prince is blinded and Rapunzel's tears heal him has been retained. Rapunzel is depicted as the very beautiful daughter of a baker and his wife, is kidnapped by a witch, and is brought up in an isolated tower with the witch claiming to be Rapunzel's mother. The magic beans being stolen from the same witch, that's genius poetic license that is part of the device that binds these stories together in the musical. Cinder Ella was the daughter of a widowed nobleman or wealthy merchant; he marries a widow with social ambitions who has two daughters of her own. In short order, the father dies, and the stepmother presses Ella to take on housekeeping duties. Before long, she is the 'dog' everyone kicks. The fairy godmother is a reworking of the original spirit of Ella's mother, over whose grave a weeping willow has grown. Willows required wet ground to grow, and Ella's tears are plentiful enough to provide what the willow needs. There's the ball, the tiny lentils tossed in the hearth, the birds sent to help, the stepmother's rescinded permission to go to the ball, the gown/carriage/footmen/driver provided, the race home at the strike of twelve. The original includes the slicing of one stepsister's toes and the other stepsister's heel to fit the sipper, the dripping blood each time that reveals the fraud, Ella brought out and fitting the shoe, and the stepmother and her daughters having their eyes pecked out by birds. This is the original Grimm tale. The poetic license that binds the stories in the musical is Ella's prince and Rapunzel's prince being brothers; also, that Cinder-Ella suffers culture shock growing up servile and now is a 'princess' by virtue of marriage (not to mention Prince Charming being a womanizer; I absolutely LOVE his line "I was raised to be 'charming', not 'sincere'"). With Red Riding Hood, Granny lived a bit aways from Red and her mother; Red's mother pulls together some bread and other foods for Red to take to Granny. She meets a wolf along the way, short conversation answering 'leading' questions, Wolf takes a short cut to Granny's, the almost ritualistic back-and-forth, the swallowing Granny whole, the wolf dressing as Granny and climbing into bed, the repeat of the back-and-forth, the attack on Red which is heard by a passing woodsman, who kills the wolf, cuts the wolf open, and miraculously Granny falls out still alive. And THAT is the whole of the original story. The poetic license of the musical is the intertwining of Red's story into Rapunzel's parents' story and the baker taking the place of the woodsman. But any of the characters being in ANY way Disney princesses? Hard 'no' on that count. This musical was based on actual fairy tales, not the Disney version of them, and ran on Broadway for years before Disney came in to make a movie of it. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Strangely enough, the woman playing the giant is indeed a veteran of the Harry Potter film franchise, but is not Umbridge. It's Frances de la Tour, who played the headmistress of Beauxbaton Academy and love interest to Hagrid. Madame Maxime was a half-giant, as was Hagrid. Ms de la Tour is a well-known actress with a lengthy resumé. (You should put 'Vicious' in the TH-cam search bar and watch the full episodes of that delightful British sitcom she is part of.) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Favorite song is "You are Not Alone", followed closely by the softer version of the song "Stay with Me" that's sung at the film's end ("children will listen"). And while I really like this film (the musical, actually), the reason I like it might help explain why others don't. It's unconventional. In every respect, it's unconventional. It takes creative risks. It runs counter to the Disney appropriation of ancient stories and weaves stories that were never related into a well-unified single story. Some people are disturbed by the darkness of tales they learned as pretty children's literature, not knowing the terrible originals. The lyrics and melodies are unconventional; that can grate on some ears. To me, the melodies are thematic; just as in classical orchestral music, certain characters are provided 'characteristic' musical motifs that help identify the character taking action in classical music. You hear a certain arrangements of notes and you instantly know who is 'speaking'. The lyrics are highly structured and singsong-y, which some take as annoying. But I see it as representative of characters living in a fairytale; they speak Nursery Rhyme, not standard English. For me, it works. For all the structure and pretension of the music and lyrics and the fantasy of the storylines, the humanity of the characters bleeds out and rings true. Fear, stupidity, pride, lust, self-doubt, gullibility, ambition, positivity, depression, all of it very human and in this production palpable. And though people don't contend with the EXACT issues the characters are forced to handle, we can draw parallels between their problems and ours. And we can sympathize, empathize. The cast did a great job. In parsing the lyrics, in expressing the emotions, in making it feel real. But I can easily see how it would be irritating for some.
i love both the stage play and the movie. i’ve been able to see local small community theater or high school productions of the play in person. but grew up watching the professional recording of the play (with bernadette peters) on vhs. there are pros and cons to the movie vs the stage. stage has more songs, some more story threads that were condensed or omitted all together from the movie, the movie is able to have the special effects and convey the immenseness of “the woods”. favorite song is really hard, i love so many. ‘agony’ (as well as agony reprise in the stage version), ‘on the steps of the palace’, ‘children will listen’ are among the top. after losing my mom though a few years ago, ‘no one is alone’ has taken on a new tone for me, as well as a stanza from the ‘children will listen finale’ “sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood. do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good.” ❤❤
Love your reaction. Yeah, I saw the original Broadway production, although like a year or more into the run with a lot of the original cast gone. I’m going to see a concert production in December in Toronto. You need to watch the amazing video of the original Broadway cast, which is peerless. But really, this is one of the best movie adaptations of a musical I’ve ever seen. My favourite songs are “The Last Midnight” and the song the Baker’s Wife sings after her tryst with the Prince (and it’s clear in the stage version that they did the deed). Also, in the stage play, the giant doesn’t attack the wedding and The Baker’s Wife doesn’t get insta-pregnant. She has the baby normally during intermission, and the giant attack happens at the start of Act II.
Favorite song is "it's your fault" the stage version was much more tongue in cheek and knew it was making fun of itself . This version was too serious. Still fun to watch though.
The original 90s production the flow of the music is so much better it's not chopped up for exposition, the acting is better, it's so funny, and it has the narrator who was my favorite character in the play and I was so upset they cut him out in the movie and they shortened some of the songs in this version so the stage production has the full length and it just makes the ending so much more meaningful in my opinion plus so one can do better than Bernadette Peter's as thw witch not even Meryl Streep I said what I said
I think my favorite song from the musical might be agony both the first and reprise. Also I have seen a live production of the musical because my old high school did it a year after I graduated, so I felt okay with going since I would recognize people. Also, because their drama department is actually really good.
I'm one who sides with the stage production. I feel like a lot of the humor and magic comes from confining boundless concepts like magic and enchanted forests onto a tiny, limited stage. The practical effects and high energy performances make what's happening right in front of you so extraordinary. Incomparable music aside, I feel like if you're going to adapt such a fantasy for cinema, use the medium. Go big. There's no edge of the stage to hold you back. The most phenomenal thing that came out of this movie, for me, was hearing Sondheim's genius performed by a full orchestra. Plus, (as you are a singer) I know you appreciate the value of a true, live voice. 😉 Broadway performers are so much more stunning, because they have to have it all, acting, singing, dancing. No auto tune, cuts or stand-ins.
Great reaction! This play has a special place in my heart-especially since I was in a summer production my last year of HS and got to “die” on stage multiple times; I was multi-cast as Jack’s mom AND the giantess, along with the “spirit” of Cinderella’s mom (in the tree). This was an enjoyable film adaptation! Still, I personally prefer the filmed stage production - which I HIGHLY recommend for Bernadette Peters alone!!
I think that’s the thing I love about grim fairy tales, although some have happy endings, they also show the ugly truth of the real world and humanity. We all have flaws, morals, and sins, it’s how we decide to move forward in our lives to see if we deserve our happy endings.
the actress who played little red ridinghood was in a skit on youtube from about 2014 that had a bunch of broadway stars in it which i think is cool! the skit is called russian broadway shut down if anyone is wondering!
I love the songs Agony and Giants in the Sky (as sung by baritone Ben Wright in the original B’Way production) In the beginning of act II the narrator dies and the storyline goes south. He warns the main characters that there will be negative consequences without him to tell the story.
for at 3:49, the movie is okay, but the thing it fails to show (that the play does) is that Into the Woods is a comedy!! It's a big parody, think Shrek levels. Half of the fun of Into the Woods is the 'reality' twist on fairytales and how a lot of it doesnt work in real life, but the movie takes most of the ridiculousness out and play the jokes straight (for example, the 'tears' curing the prince's eyes? Rapunzel was hysterically boo-hooing and prying his eyelids open😭😭😭). The message/nuance of the 'woods' also gets lost a bit since they made it 'edgier' but still cut out the parts that made the play 'dark' in a good way. for example, the whole theme of nice vs good, and how you have the power/ability to decide your moral code isn't underlined nearly as well in the movie as it is in the play (in the play they kill the narrator and as a result, have to make their own choices. they fuck up tremendously😭)
The children's version of the play ends at the "happy middle" - before the giant comes, when it seems that everyone's problems have been solved. The Big Bad Wolf is often played by the same actor who plays Cinderella's Prince. They are both predatory. It's much more overt on the stage. Little Red loses her innocence in her encounter with the Wolf (which is much softened in this version). The Prince has no scruples whatsoever, taking advantage of the Baker's Wife. Life is always messier than Fairy Tales. The second Act of the musical (from the giant on) shows the messier side.
Having seen and been in stage productions, my main issue with the film is the ways they change up some characters' fates (Rapunzel, as others have mentioned, and the Baker's Wife gets crushed by a tree the giant knocks down rather than falling off a cliff), and the fact that it shows you right from the start that the Witch is cursed. It's supposed to be a bit of a twist that the potion is for herself to make her young again, but here it's basically spelled out. The Baker's father plays a much bigger role in the first half as well, but you only find out that's who he is right at the point where the Witch is transforming. Generally I don't mind the film too much, it's fine as an introduction to the show, but it doesn't come close to the stage version for me.
The play is much better- more nuanced, the overall lesson and message is communicated better, the timing and humor is better, things happen back to back in the movie that doesn't happen in the play- the play gives room to breathe and all the characters are flawed and complex all of which gets lost in the movie. no-one is alone is my favorite song and I have seen a production of the pay (not on broadway)
Sweeney Todd! If you haven't seen it yet, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Richmond are all AMAZING!
I have top three favorite songs in no particular order: agony, steps of the palace, and my fault. Also, I never saw into the woods live, but I was in the musical, in my own community theater place…I was the evil stepmother
I love this movie! I think the people who didn't like it probably didn't like they didn't do the Disney ending of the stories. Most fairytales don't have happy endings in the original story.
When you do your “research” on the fairytales just read Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen … they wrote down the folktales from oral traditions while Disney tamed them and merged them. They’re short and worth knowing.
Agony is just. Such an unhinged scene.
gotta love it😂😭
In the best way 😂
AGONYYYYYYYY
I love the movie but I've seen the live production twice and it's just more clever and nuanced. There's a lot that gets left out like Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince were running around the woods finding more princesses (specifically Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) to woo after getting married or that the Baker's Father is actually alive. As for my favorite song, it's gotta be No One is Alone. It makes both my wife and I cry.
I love No One is Alone. Such a moving song
We see him talk to his dad in the movie
@@teganwoods4184 In the Broadway version the dad is a character not a ghost that talks to him. His actor is also the narrator who gets sacrificed to the giant in the second act (and that's when the story starts derailing for good, since there's no one else to tell it).
"No More" was always my favorite song 😢
"Your Fault" is even faster in the stage version. They slowed it down considerably for the movie and actors who at the time weren't necessarily Broadway actors or accustomed to the pace of Sondheim songs.
Your fault was my favorite growing up it's so quick and witty
this movie is the most accurate thing to their respective Grimm stories
The show uses more of the older Grimm Brothers versions of the tale, especially Cinderella, with visiting the ball over the three nights and getting her dress from her mother’s grave/tree. The version we know was a rewrite later by a French writer named Perrault. Perrault was cutesy, the Grimms savage and more satisfying.
They didn't kill rapunzel because disney didn't want to have one of their princesses to be killed. It destroys the point that the world is also cruel, and you can't just marry a prince and ride off.
In the stage version Rapunzel’s death is the main reason the witch wants revenge. Having her live blunts that message
Yeah, it's very out of place thematically for her to ride off with her prince. Like, I'm happy for her that she's alive, but it doesn't work in this story and really undercuts the message.
It's funny that you kept referring to the giant as Umbridge, because the actress playing the giant actually WAS in Harry Potter! She played Madame Maxime, the headmistress of the all girls school from the Goblet of Fire, and Hagrid's crush 😉
The movie is OK, but the stage show (which has an excellent filmed version with Bernadette Peters) is so much better. It goes further and darker, it's funnier, has more songs, just all around FABULOUS. And it's worth it just for the reprise of Agony alone! If you ever get the chance, definitely give it a shot!
Oh Bernadette Peters is just 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😍
I hope he does the stage version.
I'm such a sucker for "the funny song" so when I was watching the movie the first time I fell hard for their version of Agony - it's hilarious, no notes. So when it got to "act 2" and skipped over the reprise, I was heartbroken. We all deserve to see Chris Pine sing the reprise.
The play has a lot more dark humor in it 😅
This is my favorite musical because into the woods has some of the most difficult music to sing and this cast didn't miss a beat,even james corden
I love the message that adults show children the way. Not many movies talk about it.
Part of the reason I think people prefer the stage version is because the most commonly viewed recording featured Broadway royalty of the day (Bernadette Peters as the witch, Chip Zien as the baker, Joanna Gleason who won a Tony for her performance as the baker's wife, etc.), but also Sondheim really takes a lot of work to convert to a movie format and they didn't do nearly enough with this one to make it work. It's been done very successfully with West Side Story and Sweeney Todd (another Depp movie where he actually gets to act rather than play a bit part), but they had to completely transform the pacing, characterizations, and vibe to do it well and this movie did not do that. And I love Anna Kendrick but they did her dirty with this movie, she wasn't getting any direction in her speaking parts and it really shows.
As far as my favorite song, probably Children Will Listen. Last Midnight is a close second though, you're not wrong about the flow.
I find YOU extremely Entertaining as far as being a first time viewer.... I absolutely list it while listening to YOU!!!
These are more based on the original stories than the Disney versions. Like, in the original Cinderella, the slipper was gold and the ball lasted 3 nights. As for the differences between play and movie: the play is funnier, darker, and more nuanced. Some stuff was cut or changed in the movie that really doesn't work. Plus there's a couple songs that I'm pretty sure they slowed down
I saw Into The Woods at a local theater and my favorite song is no one is alone
I saw the original production on tour in San Francisco, then I saw the first revival (in the early 2000s) in LA before it went to broadway. Vanessa Williams played the witch and she was sooo good.
My favorite song is probably the song Your Fault. Which is the song where the characters were arguing with each other
I played Lucinda (a stepsister) in the stage version. A few years before that I worked on costumes and wigs for another production. My dream was to play the baker's wife. Now, I've aged out of that role. I could still play the witch though, maybe Jack's mom. Favorite song? I Know Things Now. Agony is my second.
Hey! I’ve played the bakers wife in the stage version, I hope you get to play her some day 💕
I also played Lucinda! One of my favorite roles I’ve done
8:29 you should’ve seen the way we did the stealing of red cape in our musical. My peers did amazing. Actor for Red sounded super loud like that too(more of a cry scream to not hurt audiences ears) and the baker actor ran away with a sneaky “ha-ha-hah” and then ran back and covered her mouth with the cape when she started screaming lol
My favorite song is Agony because it’s such a competition of attention 😆
Oh and Chris Pine’s chest
They could never make me hate this movie even James can’t make me I love it I’m an aggressive nostalgic way 😂😂😂
Thissssss
Honestly, I'm not even mad at James's performance 😂 I kind of like him in this 😅
my favourite thing about Moments in the Woods (Bakers wife song after kissing the prince) is if you listen to it as Moments in the WOULDS. gives a whole different meaning to the song :)
Johnny Depp is Captain Jack Sparrow, Rango, Mad Hatter, the wolf, Gilbert Grape and Crybaby. I love Johnny Depp so much. He has so many iconic characters/roles. He’s one of my GOATS
Our local theater put on a performance of Into the Woods. It was no Broadway but it was still wonderful! Milky white was a plywood painted cow on wheels that they tugged around the whole time lol. It was fun! As for favorite song- I will never get the opening theme out of my head. Actually, I don't know if that makes it a favorite...?? But it's def unforgettable.
Never seen a live performance, but my favorite song is On the Steps of the Palace
I have this theory that as long as everything is audible, it’s impossible to ruin a Sondheim show.
We did this show in college, and it has a special place in my heart. The movie is okay, but the stage version has so many amazing details that the movie missed. My favorite song is No More Giants, which they mostly cut from the movie (it's the underscore while the baker is crying).
2:27 that’s Lilla Crawford, not Millicent Simmonds; Lilla became first known for playing Annie in the Broadway revival in 2012, which then led to this movie. Also, Jack is played by Daniel Huttlestone, who also played Gavroche in the 2012 Les Miserables movie
I think he was talking about Emily Blunt.
Omg I forgot about him in Les Mis!
“You cut her hair off, gang.”
*I was trying to protect you!*
“ by cutting her hair off, gang.”
I love the song with Chris Pine and the other prince competing 😅 I just find it hilarious
I really like the "you are not alone" song near the end. One of my personal favourites
If you love Anna Kendrick you must have seen The Last Five Years. It's one of my favourites movies!
Jack is played by the same actor who played gavroche in Les Miserables. Hes an extremely talented child. He was a bit older in this movie. Please watch Les Miserables 🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Jackerson is wild. Lol
I love Daniel Huttlestone in this movie 😭 (tbf I loved him in Les Mis too he's iconic)
My first time seeing this was when my oldest daughter(now 25) played the Giantess at 7. It made it even more funny as she was the smallest cast member, so they had her on a ladder for her part. It keeps coming around again. Last time was a local high school production. This production isn't easy. Sondheim wrote some incredible, but crazy music for this.
"Where was this shot?" its funny you asked cuz I heard they built the entire forest setting just for this movie. Not planted, built.
Agony from the movie, Agony Reprise and Very Nice Prince from the 2022 cast recording, and Last Midnight from the original production.
I did my undrgrad work at UC Santa Cruz, which was nestled among the redwoods. they did production of it where the Narrator was a forest ranger who led the audience on a "tour' through the woods above the campus; the cast appeared at different points along the tour. It was phenomenal. My favorite song is Last Midnight; as wonderful as Meryl was, the Broadway version with Bernadette Peters was incredible.
I’ve actually played in a pit orchestra for this musical. It was so fun! My favorite song to play and over all is Your Fault
I love the live performance with Bernadette Peters even better. There's some great stuff cut from the live show for the movie. I highly recommend it! The movie is a Lot darker and has a lot of great humor in it. The best song is also cut from the movie: No More
Honestly the first 15 minute intro of the original is mt favorite piece of stage music like the way that they weave in all the different storylines and give you the plot lines and everythinf its ao good
"No One Is Alone" has got to be my favorite song in this show!
Favorite songs are; your fault, the intro, and on the steps of the palace
My favorite song was actually cut from the movie, it's called "No More" and has the Baker singing with his Father. In this Movie, probably "Children Will Listen."
I like the Movie but I LOVE the stage production. They had to change a lot to make this work for cinema. One of the things they had to cut was the character of the Narrator who is a 4th-wall breaking character who adds a lot to the tone.
It makes sense that they removed him, but it changed a few plot beats and shifted the tone just the slightest bit.
It's the difference between "good" and "great" imo
I have seen the stage version at least twice. Once when I was realy young in I saw it as theater in the park.
My favorite song from the play is not in the movie, it is called “No More,” it is supposed to be sung by the Baker instead we got that really short dialogue scene.
My second favorite song is Agony, unfortunately the 2nd reprise was also cut from the movie. The reprise foreshadows a later scene.
If you ever get the chance you should either go see the play, or watch the Bernadette Peters version.
I saw this live at Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania back in 1992. The witch was played by Joann Worley (from the show Laugh-In). The live performances are amazing! The one thing that is missing in the movie is the comic timing ..... One-liners are breezed over so quickly that you lose the joke in the dialogue. Little Red Riding Hood is hilarious, but the movie version is faster-paced than the play and her jokes sometimes get missed. "Oh, dear. How uneasy i feel." Hahahahaha!!!!! Highly recommend seeing this live, if you ever have the chance. My favorite song is "Your Fault." What a fun reaction! Thanks for sharing. :)
The end song is my fav cause the harmonies
I encourage everyone to see the stage production. It’s so good. I enjoyed the movie, I think they adapted it as well as they could.
I love Agony and the argument song in the second act-can’t remember the name. I have seen the original cast recorded version and then my mom played in the pit for a production.
I assume you are talking about Your Fault, where they argue about whose fault it is that the giant’s wife came down
The woman giant is played by the actress that played in Harry Potter as Beaubaxton’s Headmistress. My favorite song is Moments in the woods but specifically with Sarah Barellies as the baker’s wife on broadway. I love your reactions so much and I can’t wait to see your next one!
your fault is my favorite. I fricking love the flow
37:30 It’s really funny you call her Umbridge here, because I believe the giantess in this film is played by the same actress who played the Beauxbaton headmistress in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire who is rumored to be a half giant
I saw the play once years ago as part of a college theater trip and of the three plays we saw it was probably my favorite but that was years before the movie was even a thing so to me while both are excellent they’re also entirely different experiences.
I’ve also seen the movie multiple times purely because I enjoy how campy and ridiculous the performances are.
The movie is fun! The stage production is far superior, but the movie is a fun time because like you said, the camp is great.
I saw the movie and No One is Alone became my favorite song to cry to 😂 I was blessed to be able to see the production last year at the Kennedy Center with Montego Glover as the Witch and I LOVED it. Definitely my favorite musical 🥰
I saw the guy i was in love with in high school in a live production of into the woods. My favorite song is moments in the woods.
I didn’t go to a live show of this… I was IN it.
Me too it was the best
I am an actress and I’ve been in this show a few times. I love the movie the only thing is it doesn’t quite give full context like the stage play does. You should watch it and compare❤❤
3:39
Okay so the play and the movie are two VERY different beasts, they changed lyrics, took out songs and entire characters for the movie but the original play was just, a masterpiece. I was in a production of Into The Woods in my Senior year of high school and even doing the Junior version of it(bc it's all my broke ass school could afford) I adored it so much more than i did the movie. The original stage production(which is free to watch on youtube if you want to check it out for a video, the same goes for the Legally Blonde musical which is, imho, an amazing adaptation of the story) included Bernadette Peters, who played a much goofier and unserious witch compared to Meryl Streep's portrayal. There are so many amazing things from the original that got taken out of the movie version, and some less amazing things that got taken out to keep the movie a decent length(one thing I don't mind them removing is Agony(Reprise) because it ruins the character of Rapunzel's Prince for me personally)
Into The Woods is genuinely my favorite musical I have ever been in, I got to play Cinderella and challenged myself with 'On The Steps Of The Palace' which is a very different song in the movie compared to the musical. All of the characters have so much more depth in the Musical and are connected a lot more seamlessly.
Agony is my favorite song in this.
Last Midnight is the BEST SCENE of the movie
I own the blur ray and seen the live play on TH-cam i really like them both and i have to agree with you the song ( your fault) and the first ( into the woods)songs r mt favorite
Another suggestion: Sweeny Todd: the demon barber of fleet street
Yessssss
Now THAT is a good musical adaptation!
Yes, the new On the Steps of the Palace lyrics.
🎵He's a very nice prince.
He's a prince who prepares.
He glued my ass to the stairs! 🎶
I haven’t seen it live but in my teenager years I was in a musical program and we had a recital and sang “into the woods” so I’ll have to say that’s my favorite song since it brings back memories. I also felt from the shadow of the Giant she looks like Mrs Garret from the facts of life
Even though this is a Disney film, these are not Disney 'princesses' or Disney storylines.
Please remember, this musical predates ANY Disney involvement at ANY level.
I'm old, like in-my-70s old. When I was in third grade, I became interested in myths, legends, folktales, and fairy tales from all nations and cultures. During those pre-internet times, I read deeply into original renditions as far as I could find English translations of them. One thing I learned is that what modern people (and especially Americans) have experienced of the stories that have come down to us has been transformed from cultural subconscious creations (often very dark and feral) into these squeaky-clean safe-for-children tales. They are nearly unrecognizable from the originals, whether the source was Hans Christen Anderson or the Brothers Grimm.
The stories in "Into the Woods" mainly come from the original Brothers Grimm, who collected folktales throughout Germanic Europe in the 1800s. I recognize these stories from my elementary school research and reading. 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is British, but dark; being forced by poverty and hunger to sell the cow at market, selling it for magic beans, the mother slapping the beans out of the boy's hands, the beans sprouting overnight, the climb to the giant's castle on a cloud, the giant's wife taking pity and feeding then hiding the boy. In the original story, the boy climbs several times, first to take a look, then to grab the harp, then to bring the goose that lays golden eggs; the last theft reveals the boy to the giant, who pursues, the boy reaches ground first, chops the beanstalk, the giant dies in the fall. The End.
The other stories, 'Cinder Ella', 'Rapunzel', 'Red Riding Hood', are Grimm stories and grim in nature. And western cultures have 'civilized' the stories to pap. If Rapunzel had been more accurately depicted, she would have still been impregnated with twins; at least the part of the original where the prince is blinded and Rapunzel's tears heal him has been retained. Rapunzel is depicted as the very beautiful daughter of a baker and his wife, is kidnapped by a witch, and is brought up in an isolated tower with the witch claiming to be Rapunzel's mother. The magic beans being stolen from the same witch, that's genius poetic license that is part of the device that binds these stories together in the musical.
Cinder Ella was the daughter of a widowed nobleman or wealthy merchant; he marries a widow with social ambitions who has two daughters of her own. In short order, the father dies, and the stepmother presses Ella to take on housekeeping duties. Before long, she is the 'dog' everyone kicks. The fairy godmother is a reworking of the original spirit of Ella's mother, over whose grave a weeping willow has grown. Willows required wet ground to grow, and Ella's tears are plentiful enough to provide what the willow needs. There's the ball, the tiny lentils tossed in the hearth, the birds sent to help, the stepmother's rescinded permission to go to the ball, the gown/carriage/footmen/driver provided, the race home at the strike of twelve. The original includes the slicing of one stepsister's toes and the other stepsister's heel to fit the sipper, the dripping blood each time that reveals the fraud, Ella brought out and fitting the shoe, and the stepmother and her daughters having their eyes pecked out by birds. This is the original Grimm tale. The poetic license that binds the stories in the musical is Ella's prince and Rapunzel's prince being brothers; also, that Cinder-Ella suffers culture shock growing up servile and now is a 'princess' by virtue of marriage (not to mention Prince Charming being a womanizer; I absolutely LOVE his line "I was raised to be 'charming', not 'sincere'").
With Red Riding Hood, Granny lived a bit aways from Red and her mother; Red's mother pulls together some bread and other foods for Red to take to Granny. She meets a wolf along the way, short conversation answering 'leading' questions, Wolf takes a short cut to Granny's, the almost ritualistic back-and-forth, the swallowing Granny whole, the wolf dressing as Granny and climbing into bed, the repeat of the back-and-forth, the attack on Red which is heard by a passing woodsman, who kills the wolf, cuts the wolf open, and miraculously Granny falls out still alive. And THAT is the whole of the original story. The poetic license of the musical is the intertwining of Red's story into Rapunzel's parents' story and the baker taking the place of the woodsman.
But any of the characters being in ANY way Disney princesses? Hard 'no' on that count. This musical was based on actual fairy tales, not the Disney version of them, and ran on Broadway for years before Disney came in to make a movie of it.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Strangely enough, the woman playing the giant is indeed a veteran of the Harry Potter film franchise, but is not Umbridge.
It's Frances de la Tour, who played the headmistress of Beauxbaton Academy and love interest to Hagrid. Madame Maxime was a half-giant, as was Hagrid. Ms de la Tour is a well-known actress with a lengthy resumé. (You should put 'Vicious' in the TH-cam search bar and watch the full episodes of that delightful British sitcom she is part of.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Favorite song is "You are Not Alone", followed closely by the softer version of the song "Stay with Me" that's sung at the film's end ("children will listen").
And while I really like this film (the musical, actually), the reason I like it might help explain why others don't.
It's unconventional. In every respect, it's unconventional.
It takes creative risks.
It runs counter to the Disney appropriation of ancient stories and weaves stories that were never related into a well-unified single story.
Some people are disturbed by the darkness of tales they learned as pretty children's literature, not knowing the terrible originals.
The lyrics and melodies are unconventional; that can grate on some ears.
To me, the melodies are thematic; just as in classical orchestral music, certain characters are provided 'characteristic' musical motifs that help identify the character taking action in classical music. You hear a certain arrangements of notes and you instantly know who is 'speaking'.
The lyrics are highly structured and singsong-y, which some take as annoying.
But I see it as representative of characters living in a fairytale; they speak Nursery Rhyme, not standard English. For me, it works.
For all the structure and pretension of the music and lyrics and the fantasy of the storylines, the humanity of the characters bleeds out and rings true. Fear, stupidity, pride, lust, self-doubt, gullibility, ambition, positivity, depression, all of it very human and in this production palpable. And though people don't contend with the EXACT issues the characters are forced to handle, we can draw parallels between their problems and ours. And we can sympathize, empathize.
The cast did a great job. In parsing the lyrics, in expressing the emotions, in making it feel real.
But I can easily see how it would be irritating for some.
i love both the stage play and the movie. i’ve been able to see local small community theater or high school productions of the play in person. but grew up watching the professional recording of the play (with bernadette peters) on vhs. there are pros and cons to the movie vs the stage. stage has more songs, some more story threads that were condensed or omitted all together from the movie, the movie is able to have the special effects and convey the immenseness of “the woods”.
favorite song is really hard, i love so many. ‘agony’ (as well as agony reprise in the stage version), ‘on the steps of the palace’, ‘children will listen’ are among the top. after losing my mom though a few years ago, ‘no one is alone’ has taken on a new tone for me, as well as a stanza from the ‘children will listen finale’
“sometimes people leave you,
halfway through the wood.
do not let it grieve you,
no one leaves for good.”
❤❤
Love your reaction. Yeah, I saw the original Broadway production, although like a year or more into the run with a lot of the original cast gone. I’m going to see a concert production in December in Toronto. You need to watch the amazing video of the original Broadway cast, which is peerless. But really, this is one of the best movie adaptations of a musical I’ve ever seen. My favourite songs are “The Last Midnight” and the song the Baker’s Wife sings after her tryst with the Prince (and it’s clear in the stage version that they did the deed).
Also, in the stage play, the giant doesn’t attack the wedding and The Baker’s Wife doesn’t get insta-pregnant. She has the baby normally during intermission, and the giant attack happens at the start of Act II.
Favorite song is "it's your fault" the stage version was much more tongue in cheek and knew it was making fun of itself . This version was too serious. Still fun to watch though.
Love you doing THIS!!!
Ik it was Anna Kendrick my boy love himself some snow😆
The original 90s production the flow of the music is so much better it's not chopped up for exposition, the acting is better, it's so funny, and it has the narrator who was my favorite character in the play and I was so upset they cut him out in the movie and they shortened some of the songs in this version so the stage production has the full length and it just makes the ending so much more meaningful in my opinion plus so one can do better than Bernadette Peter's as thw witch not even Meryl Streep I said what I said
I love how most of the story’s in this fallow the brothers Grimm and not the Disney version
I think my favorite song from the musical might be agony both the first and reprise. Also I have seen a live production of the musical because my old high school did it a year after I graduated, so I felt okay with going since I would recognize people. Also, because their drama department is actually really good.
I'm one who sides with the stage production. I feel like a lot of the humor and magic comes from confining boundless concepts like magic and enchanted forests onto a tiny, limited stage. The practical effects and high energy performances make what's happening right in front of you so extraordinary. Incomparable music aside, I feel like if you're going to adapt such a fantasy for cinema, use the medium. Go big. There's no edge of the stage to hold you back. The most phenomenal thing that came out of this movie, for me, was hearing Sondheim's genius performed by a full orchestra. Plus, (as you are a singer) I know you appreciate the value of a true, live voice. 😉 Broadway performers are so much more stunning, because they have to have it all, acting, singing, dancing. No auto tune, cuts or stand-ins.
Many of the actors in the movie are great singers though, give them some credit, I mean Sondheim praised particularly Meryl...
I love this movie so much omg. is my fav in this hahaha
I completely forgot all about this musical! ❤ It's a really cute movie.
Love both the play and the movie! The actors all did great ! My top 3 songs are: Your fault, Gaints in the sky, and Agony
Great reaction! This play has a special place in my heart-especially since I was in a summer production my last year of HS and got to “die” on stage multiple times; I was multi-cast as Jack’s mom AND the giantess, along with the “spirit” of Cinderella’s mom (in the tree).
This was an enjoyable film adaptation! Still, I personally prefer the filmed stage production - which I HIGHLY recommend for Bernadette Peters alone!!
Oh! I also played Red’s grandmother, which brought my “death” count up to 4
Lol, I also filled in for the Baker’s Wife a few times. So…that’s #5? 😂
I think that’s the thing I love about grim fairy tales, although some have happy endings, they also show the ugly truth of the real world and humanity. We all have flaws, morals, and sins, it’s how we decide to move forward in our lives to see if we deserve our happy endings.
the actress who played little red ridinghood was in a skit on youtube from about 2014 that had a bunch of broadway stars in it which i think is cool! the skit is called russian broadway shut down if anyone is wondering!
Agony and giants in the sky are tied for me. I was actually in my high schools production of Into the Woods in my jounior year.
I love the songs Agony and Giants in the Sky (as sung by baritone Ben Wright in the original B’Way production)
In the beginning of act II the narrator dies and the storyline goes south. He warns the main characters that there will be negative consequences without him to tell the story.
This is actually adorable
"oo you know what chu are!"
When I get my life together I am hittin up the patroneoneoneoneonie!
The fast claps got me over here 😂😂
Man this movie is a culsterfuk of strangeness but I’m here for it 😂
My favorite song in Into the Woods is No One Is Alone and I was actually in Into The Woods and was the evil stepmother🤪
for at 3:49, the movie is okay, but the thing it fails to show (that the play does) is that Into the Woods is a comedy!! It's a big parody, think Shrek levels. Half of the fun of Into the Woods is the 'reality' twist on fairytales and how a lot of it doesnt work in real life, but the movie takes most of the ridiculousness out and play the jokes straight (for example, the 'tears' curing the prince's eyes? Rapunzel was hysterically boo-hooing and prying his eyelids open😭😭😭). The message/nuance of the 'woods' also gets lost a bit since they made it 'edgier' but still cut out the parts that made the play 'dark' in a good way. for example, the whole theme of nice vs good, and how you have the power/ability to decide your moral code isn't underlined nearly as well in the movie as it is in the play (in the play they kill the narrator and as a result, have to make their own choices. they fuck up tremendously😭)
"Last Midnight" 💙
One reason people prefer the stage musical: There are some funny beats from the second act that were cut from the movie.
Agony! That song/scene is hilarious 😅
i loveeee into the woods
The children's version of the play ends at the "happy middle" - before the giant comes, when it seems that everyone's problems have been solved.
The Big Bad Wolf is often played by the same actor who plays Cinderella's Prince. They are both predatory. It's much more overt on the stage. Little Red loses her innocence in her encounter with the Wolf (which is much softened in this version). The Prince has no scruples whatsoever, taking advantage of the Baker's Wife.
Life is always messier than Fairy Tales. The second Act of the musical (from the giant on) shows the messier side.
Having seen and been in stage productions, my main issue with the film is the ways they change up some characters' fates (Rapunzel, as others have mentioned, and the Baker's Wife gets crushed by a tree the giant knocks down rather than falling off a cliff), and the fact that it shows you right from the start that the Witch is cursed. It's supposed to be a bit of a twist that the potion is for herself to make her young again, but here it's basically spelled out.
The Baker's father plays a much bigger role in the first half as well, but you only find out that's who he is right at the point where the Witch is transforming.
Generally I don't mind the film too much, it's fine as an introduction to the show, but it doesn't come close to the stage version for me.
The play is much better- more nuanced, the overall lesson and message is communicated better, the timing and humor is better, things happen back to back in the movie that doesn't happen in the play- the play gives room to breathe and all the characters are flawed and complex all of which gets lost in the movie. no-one is alone is my favorite song and I have seen a production of the pay (not on broadway)
Sweeney Todd! If you haven't seen it yet, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Richmond are all AMAZING!
I have 2 favourite songs. "No One is Alone" and "Children Will Listen" (full version).
I have top three favorite songs in no particular order: agony, steps of the palace, and my fault. Also, I never saw into the woods live, but I was in the musical, in my own community theater place…I was the evil stepmother
Intersting fact jack is the savage kid from les mis
I love this movie! I think the people who didn't like it probably didn't like they didn't do the Disney ending of the stories. Most fairytales don't have happy endings in the original story.
When you do your “research” on the fairytales just read Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen … they wrote down the folktales from oral traditions while Disney tamed them and merged them. They’re short and worth knowing.
I know it's been a month, but, I really hope you react to the stage version! It's a different experience