Review: Into the Woods (2014)

I have no idea what to expect when I rocked up at the cinema to see Into the Woods, I knew it was a musical but I didn't know if it was serious like Les Miserables or funny or complete fantasy.  It seems I was surprised on all counts...

Somehow I didn't even realise it was a musical until about a week before it was released in cinemas, and then my other half wouldn't go with me! Boo...

 

Into the Woods is the story of a Baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who are desperate for a child but in order to be able to do that they have to lift a curse put on their house by the wicked witch (Meryl Streep).  They venture into the woods to gather four items that the witch needs to reverse the spell, at the same time Cinderella happens to be in the woods running from her prince, Jack is escaping and giant from the beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood is wandering having lost her Grandmothers house and Rapunzel is banished there by the queen. 

 

This is a great mixture of lots of different fairy tales but it took me at least half an hour to settle into it.  In this first half an hour I was desperately trying to take the film seriously (and losing) and finding it cheesy and awful.  But then, I was about to give up when the Prince brothers (Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen) meet in the woods and break into a rendition of Agony, which was hysterical.  This brought me back, I stopped taking it so seriously and enjoyed it for what it was.  It has it's serious moments, comedy scenes and completely ridiculous sections but I was engrossed.  I couldn't take my eyes off the screen and, considering these are well known fairy tales, I had not idea what was going to happen next.
 

 

The mixture of different fairy tales is what really captured my interest. These are stories we all know, stories we've heard a million times before, but take a bunch of them and put them together, and suddenly they're no longer boring to see brought to life for the hundredth time. Red Riding Hood and the Wolf was a tad creepy, but really, what could they do to tone the theme down without losing the story?

 

I know there have been some mixed reviews about this but I think the benefit for me is that I haven't seen (or heard of) the stage version (which I have been told is better by far).  This meant I went in with no expectation and because of that I was pleasantly surprised.  The music, what can I say about the music, it took a bit to get used but it was totally gripping, I have already downloaded the soundtrack and the original stage version (as there were some songs missing in the movie) and I can't wait to listen to them.

 

 

I didn't even know it was based on a stage show until now, oops! It makes perfect sense now. The music got me instantly and I found myself humming 'Into the Woods' all evening, much to the annoyance of my fiance. Could anyone else listen to Chris Pine singing for hours on end? Is it too late to cast him for Pitch Perfect 2?

 

After all that though, there was one clear cut highlight of the whole film.  That was Meryl Streep.  She stole every scene she was in with complete ease and her singing voice is unreal (apparently she sang everything live even though she has pre-recorded the songs).  Last Midnight was amazing, so much so that it gave me goosebumps.  Is it just me or (once she was made young again) did Streep look as good in this as she did in Death Becomes Her way back in 1992, she has got some good ol' genes!

 

The film is pretty much in two halves, and the first half was amazing, the second dragged a little and there was a huge break between songs which wasn't great, but the twists in the story made it worthwhile I think.

 

I know many won't agree with me but I really loved this, I can't wait to learn all the songs and then (attempt) to sing along. 

Apologies to Jenna's neighbours, because I'll be blasting this soundtrack in the car on my way to her house next time I see her!

Thursday Movie Picks: Live Action Fairy Tale Adaptions

This week’s theme is right up my street. I love fairy tales! Or so I thought. Once I got my notebook out and thought about all the live action fairy tale movies I’d seen, I realised I’d seen, um, 2. Well, if I stretched the definition of fairy tale a bit too much, then maybe it could be more, but seriously, how have I only seen 2?! And so, in the ritual of picking 3 movies to discuss, I’ve come up a little short.

I won’t give up that easily though. Instead, I’ve chosen 3 live action fairy tale adaptations that I really want to see soon, so you can expect to see reviews of these on the blog sometime in the near future.

Stardust (2007) is based on a tale by Neil Gaiman of the same name. I only know of Neil Gaiman through his work with The Sandman at DC Comics, but that alone makes me interested in Stardust. I guess the real question is, should I read the book first or watch the movie?

Enchanted (2007) is something I need to watch very soon. From what I gather, it’s sort of like a Disney movie making fun of itself? All I really know is my 20 year old brother who’s a complete lads lad loves this movie, and he and my Mum are often found singing duets from it, and well, how can it be bad?

As soon as Into the Woods comes out on DVD here in the UK, it’ll be straight on that night. I simply ran out of time this January to watch it in the cinema. With Chris Pine as a complete over the top Disney prince, this movie really can’t go wrong for me. Of course, I love the rest of the cast too!

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema this Month...January

Happy New Year, everyone! It feels really odd to type this...as I'm trying to be super-efficient and it's not even Christmas yet. But I'm already trying to plan my cinema trips for the New Year, and with Orange Wednesday's impending demise, going to the cinema is about to get expensive. Although, I've heard that Compare the Market is in talks with the aim of picking up the deal, so maybe we'll have Meerkat Mondays? Apologies to anyone overseas who has no idea what I'm talking about.

Enough blabbering, and back to the point. There are so many films coming out in January, and so many that I'm really looking forward to. A good few which already came out in the USA too, like Birdman and Foxcatcher. I can't wait to see them, don't get me wrong, but I am most looking forward to this:

Yep, Into the Woods. I'm fairly sure the rest of the world will get to see this before we do. It's coming out in Kazakhstan before the UK according to IMDB! Sigh. Anyway, I only learnt recently, with an updated trailer, that Into the Woods is a musical! I'm so dense sometimes. I got excited for this months ago, and no, it wasn't just Chris Pine as Prince Charming that did it for me, although it certainly helps. I'm a sucker for Disney, and so I'm hoping this won't disappoint. Here's the trailer if you haven't seen it yet:

Into the Woods is released in the UK on Friday, 9th January, 2015.

  

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! (FYI as I write this it is actually 16th December!! ha!).  Thinking about January already, where has the year gone!

Anyway, back to it, what am I looking forward to this month.  Well I was looking forward to this last year but it was delayed so hopefully that won't happen again. Kingsman: The Secret Service.

However, I have just looked it up on IMDB and it is now saying 12th February - but screw it I'm going to be daring and leave this where it is (who knows what I'm going to do in February now!!)  If you haven't seen the trailer yet, here is is:

Kingsman: The Secret Service is released in the UK on Thursday, 12th February 2015 (oops!).



I feel the need to add another honorable mention here after a telling off from Jenna for not giving a certain actor's upcoming film a mention. I only missed it out because I know the die-hard critics out there would scoff at me! I am however, extremely excited to see Liam Neeson in Taken 3, even though it will be Liam Neeson playing Liam Neeson and will be slated by critics everywhere. So there!