Rating: 
Summary: Wonderous!
Review: This is a glorious musical. The first act takes traditional fairy tale characters on a happy quest journey, and a much more serious journey in the second. The Baker and his Wife need to get four things to lift the curse of sterility that the Witch, played fabulously by Bernadette Peters, has bestowed on them. She tells the story of the curse in a rap like song. In doing this they meet a spunky Little Red Riding Hood, who is being pursued by the Big Bad Wolf, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Rapunzel, and Cinderella. Humor and tears highlight this musical by Sondheim. The song, "Children Will Listen," spreads the message of the play, which is that everyone must be careful and learn and face up to life's tragedies. Here is a snippet of it:Careful the wish you make, wishes are children. Careful the path they take, wishes come true. Not free. No one is alone. Filled with humor and magic, INTO THE WOODS is told by The Narrator, who gets fed to the Giant's wife in the second act. The Witch's love for Rapunzel is illustrated in the song, STAY WITH ME: Outside the world is warped and wild. Stay a child while you can be a child. Lines like, "I need that shoe to have a child!" And Little Red Riding Hood's cynicism , "You talk to birds?" make this a priceless treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Sondheim & Lapine Improve Upon The Brothers Grimm!
Review: On the surface it sounds silly and simplistic: Cinderella and her Prince, Little Red Ridinghood, her Granny and The Wolf, Jack and his Beanstalk, Rupunzel, a Witch, a Baker and his Wife all come together in an enchanted wood to play out their famous stories...and then we get to see what happened AFTER the "happily ever after." But "Into the Woods" is anything but silly or simplistic. It is one of Sondheim's funniest and cleverest scores and this DVD version blessedly captures the sterling performances of the original Broadway cast headed by the incomparable Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien and Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife. Sondheim and James Lapine dig deep and make us take a look at the consequences of getting what we wish for, since there truly is a price for everything, and the "ripple effect" of our desires touch the world in ways we may never imagine. It is also a musical about accepting loss and moving forward (a common theme in Sondheim scores, but one eloquently explored here in heartfelt numbers such as "Children Will Listen" and "No One Is Alone."). As an entertainment, you will get more than your money's worth, and along the way, you may learn a thing or two about yourself and your world. I have seen this show about a dozen times and learn something new each time. If you are a Sondheim novice, this would be a wonderful introductory show before jumping into the more complex pieces like "Sweeney Todd," "Assassins," or "Passion."
Rating:
Summary: Unbelivable !
Review: I watched this in English class one day and never forgot it. The script itself is unbelivable, witty, whimsical, incredible. The cast in this version is amazing, every person fufills thier role. Bernedette Peters is histerical. The Baker has an amazing voice and buy the end of the play I was just in love. The vocal talent is off the charts. I have become so obsessed with this play that I want my school to perform it. I believe it is doable for a high school cast. I recomend this movie to anyone who enjoys: Fairy tales, romance, comedy, good music, good voices, and just fun you will love this movie. If you have a friend that dosn't like musicals make them watch this and they will change thier mind!
Rating:
Summary: Great Musical
Review: Into The Woods is at all times humorous, sad, disturbing, and thought-provoking. It is enjoyable by all ages. Children will find it to be a delightful twist on conventional fairy tales, and Adults will find it thought-provoking and moving, as well as a delightful romp through childhood stories. Despite what people may say, the second act does not drag; it is merely less fairy-tale-ish compared to the first act, as the characters keep getting killed off. It is a bit less subtle than some of Sondheim's other shows, which may irk some of the fans devoted to Sunday in the Park With George or Assasins (which I also recommend), but newcomers to Sondheim will find it to be a very easily enjoyed and accesible play. With melodic tunes and clever, moving, and thoughtful lyrics and book, and exceptional performances by Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, and Bernadette Peters (this is a must for any of her fans), Into the Woods is and will remain a Broadway classic.
Rating:
Summary: A Broadway Masterpeace
Review: This DVD is the best Musical DVD I have ever gotten. INTO THE WOODS is such a great show and is great for the whole family to see. Bernadette Peters is amazing in this and so is the whole cast. It is the story of the Baker and his wife as they go into the woods to undo the witch's spell. Along the way they meet Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding hood, and are taught lesions that you will never get any ware else. The story makes you want to make you cry. It is such a moving show with songs like "No one is alone," a beautiful song sung by Ms. Peters, "Agony" a great duet, sung by the two princes who are trying to find Cinderella and Repunsul and sing about their difficulties and "You're Fault/Last Midnight," witch really makes you think about life and why you place the blame. This is a wonderfull peace of work and needs to be seen, by any story, Sondheim lover, or a person with a heart. Bye it NOW and get prepared to say WOW!
Rating:
Summary: Fractured Fairy Tales At There Best
Review: This is a humorous musical staring Bernadette Peters and Chip Zine. It's about famous fairy tale characters being attached to each other in the most strangest ways you could ever imagine.
From Cinderella to Jack in the Bean Stock you get to see some of your favorite characters interact with each other. Bernadette Peters is beyond excellent as Repunzele's witch. The two Prince's are very funny ( especially towards the end. )
There are also so many great one liners that will want to make you watch it over and over.
Every one's performance in this movie is professional and entertaining.
I especially loved during close towards the end of the second first act. Were Petes' turns from a horrible nasty looking witch, to her true very beautiful forum.
Also who are very funny are Cinderella's step sisters and her step mother. One of my favorite line is when their all facing the giant and Peter's is all like "Excuse me... Would you like a blind girl instead?"
(Replying to the stepsisters who are now blind. Because pigeons poked out their eyes on Cinderella's wedding day.) The Stepmother says , "How dare you!"
It's moments like those that will make you to continue watching it.
Why even Jack's mother has some very funny and clever moments. For instant when she first meats the Prince and she 's screaming about the giant. Or when the Baker's wife tells her that she has no children and she then says, " That's ok to."
There are so many other wonderful actors and actresses in the movie.
In fact a couple of the actors even play two parts, and I think that is very impressive. The costumes are also very beautiful like Cinderella's dress. And it's interesting how they start the first and second act.
There are even a couple interesting death's in the movie ( you got to see what happens to the narrator.)
All and all a very funny musical. Every one in it is wonderful and all A+ performances.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing show!!!!
Review: Into the Woods is definitely one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. There is not a single dull moment in this musical. Stephen Sondheim is pure genius. As for the Broadway cast of ITW, I absolutely LOVED them. Every single one of them gave outstanding performances. However, Bernadette Peters obviously stood out a great deal as the Witch, and I thought another actress who did well was the lovely Kim Crosby as Cinderella..She had a beautiful voice. But the shining star here was definitely Joanna Gleason, no question about it. Her stunning performance as the Baker's Wife could have you holding your stomach, laughing; or it could make you cry. Joanna Gleason is an amazing actress...Her acting is so simple, yet complicated at the same time..She's just incredible as the Baker's Wife. A show stopping number was her "Moments In the Woods," along with "Any Moment" sung by Robert Westenberg as the HiLaRiOuS Cinderella's Prince... Every time I watch this part it cracks me up. Also, the beautiful duet "No One is Alone" done by Kim Crosby as Cinderella and Chip Zien as the Baker brings tears to your eyes... And the opening number "Into the Woods" is not to be missed. Another fun song is "Your Fault," done in the second act which is very awesome...I've proceeded in memorizing this whole thing and I'm pretty proud of myself, lol. I have no clue how Sondheim wrote that. The finale, "Children Will Listen," is a amazing as well...A great closing for the show. Into the Woods is simply amazing... I prefer the first act over the second, though...The first is funny, heartwarming, and hilarious as we follow the Baker and his Wife into the woods to find a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold to break the curse that is keeping them from having a child. The second act is a lot more deep and dark when the giant arrives and upsets the whole kingdom. It's sad but still very enjoyable. If you are thinking of buying this video, DO! I promise you WON'T regret it. (btw, that ending phrase sounds SO corny but oh well, that's me.)
Rating: 
Summary: DVD ... Happily Ever After
Review: The DVD of Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS is not that remarkable other than the fact that it's great to have this wonderful television production available in the format. The picture is crisp and the sound is pristine. There are no extras on the disc. I do enjoy the chapters, however. Unlike my video tape version, it's great to be able to skip to a particular song I wish to view. INTO THE WOODS is such a great show. The first act is hilarious and witty. It very smartly weaves together all those fairy tales so familiar to us all. Then act two makes us look at them through adult eyes. I think Sondheim and Lapine are telling us that in fairy tales as well as "real" life, the simple words "I wish..." are truly the beginning of whatever story each of us is about to tell. They counsel us to be careful of what we wish in life -- our wishes effect everyone. My favorite song in this production is "The Last Midnight" which is performed by Bernadette Peters as the Witch. It is very macabre and Sondheim reveals so much about the Witch's character through the lyrics. Plus, it gives Ms. Peters an opportunity to belt! INTO THE WOODS is a hoot! Enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: The Trees Are Just Woods, The Woods Are Just Trees
Review: Into the Woods is a very amusing musical staring Bernadette Peters as the Witch. It's the story of the Baker and his wife not able to have children because the Witch put a curse on his house many years ago.
The Baker goes into the woods and tries to break the spell. While he goes through the trials that is pushed up against him.
Other funny and memorable story lines crop up. Such as Jack in the Bean Stalk, Cinderella, and several other that will make you laugh very hard.
Rating:
Summary: The best ever...except maybe Les Miserables, or Phantom
Review: This musical is incredible, because of the storyline and how it intertwines the chatacters together. The vocalists are sensational...Bernadette Peters...of course does an inspiring job as the witch. The musical score and the story makes this musical something you just have to see for yourself.
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