MOVIE Review--Into the Woods

So I saw Into the Woods today! It was...interesting! I don't know if many of you know, but this was a musical revival! It was a musical like wayyy back in 1987, I remember watching the video like when I was in the 6th grade, so 2000...whoa, time warp! Basically, I remember enjoying the oddity and quirks of the first one, though trying to track that DVD down is pretty much impossible!

I liked how this version stayed true to the original, but yet was its own story. Granted, I'm working on a 14-15 year memory going on here! I can't remember precisely when I saw it, but yeah...over 10 years! There were moments I totally remembered. Some of the songs, the main one I Wish...! This movie had all that!

I loved how Red Riding Hood was the same as well. She's a snarky, smarmy little girl. "You talk to birds?" said disdainfully to Cinderella when she talks to birds!! That moment happened in the original too! Also a moment with the witch, in this case Meryl Streep, when she shouts "Whooooooooooo cares!" The original witch, Bernadette Peters, did this as well and her voice is much higher, so it was always funny when she shrilled her tune!

The story has a baker and his wife trying to lift a curse placed on him and his family, where they can basically never have children. A lot of fairy tales are there, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk. All the characters are connected and it will definitely change the way you look at fairytales, Disney-ified ones and Grimm! I do like that the movie stuck with Grimm when it came to Cinderella. We're talking no fairy godmother, but a magical tree with her mother's spirit and yes, stepsisters who slice off toes and heels and get their eyes pecked out!

More of my memory came back to me as the story moved along and a particular detail popped up just moments before it happened! An event that kind of sets the course for the ending!

I was psyched when I knew Johnny Depp was going to be in it, because Johnny Depp! Playing the Big Bad Wolf no less, but sadly, his character wasn't in there much. I was reminded of his Sweeny Todd days and singing, so I definitely got a kick out of him singing again!

It was an enjoyable movie. Parts of it got a little slow, but it was one I enjoyed because I remembered watching the Broadway play on film. Which isn't necessary to see in order to enjoy the film obviously, a remake is a remake! Plus that film is a b*tch to find! LOL! My main reasons for wanting to see it was one, I remembered watching the original and two, Johnny Depp! Even if it was only 10-15 minutes of film time.



Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars