by AMY LASSITER Section Editor
One of the most highly anticipated films of the 2014 holiday season “Into the Woods” hit the big screen on December 25.
With highly accurate sets, costumes, and casting, the movie adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical definitely did not disappoint.
Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep played the fan favorite Witch, alongside Johnny Depp as the wolf, Anna Kendrick as Cinderalla, Chris Pine as Cinderella’s prince, and a variety of other talented actors.
Being a huge fan of Sondheim myself, I did have many doubts about the movie, but after viewing it, all of those doubts disappeared. With very little altered from the original script, director Rob Marshall (who is also well known for his artful adaptation of the stage show “Chicago”) could not have done a better job.
“‘Into the Woods’ was a movie full of stunning performances. It’s has a unique blend of many fairytales that create an unforgettable story. The serious story has a beautiful touch of comedy that makes for a very enjoyable film,” said junior Diyaa Capil.
The film opens with our four main characters – Jack, Cinderella, Little Red, and the Baker – singing about their deepest desires. Jack wants his cow and best friend Milky White to provide milk for his mother; Cinderella, of course, wishes to go to the King’s festival; the Baker and his wife desperately want a child; and Little Red just wants some bread for her poor old granny in the woods.
During the opening number, however, each character is prompted to venture into the woods in order to fulfill their wish – thus the plot of the movie begins.
Without giving too much away, ” Into the Woods” is not your regular fairy tale. Almost every scene introduces a new song, obstacle, comedic element, dark plot point, and, in some cases, even the death of a beloved character. If you are under the impression that you can predict what will happen during this film, you are mistaken.
“I absolutely loved ‘Into the Woods’. It has a beautifully star-studded cast that compliments the original musical perfectly. There is very little I would change, but that’s me being a broadway nerd. Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, Johnny Depp, and Emily Blunt all blew their parts out of the water and I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack. It’s a fantastic movie and I’d recommend it to any person, drama geek or not,” said junior Jared Theinart.
“Into the Woods” is definitely one of the best movies to premiere during 2014, and the box office agrees. During its opening weekend, the movie managed to get $31,051,923 in ticket sales and ranked #2 in over 2,440 theaters.
“I loved ‘Into the Woods’! I’ve never seen the show before, so it was my first time experiencing it and it was awesome. I had the songs stuck in my head for days. I expected it to be another overdone Disney storyline, but I was so wrong. I recommend it to anyone, especially if you want to to see Chris Pine singing shirtless. Five stars,” said an anonymous student.
Did you see “Into the Woods”? What are your opinions? Tell us in the comments below!