Films - Into the Woods

I watched Into the Woods on Monday and I really loved it. Stephen Sondheim is a musical genius. He really knows what he's doing with his music and lyrics. I loved Sweeney Todd and I love Into the Woods. I have no one to compare the Disney film cast to, so I'm just going to review all of the cast and characters.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Meryl Streep as The Witch

Meryl Streep is an amazing actress. I would go as far to even say that she is the best actress of our time. She has three Oscars to prove it. Not only is she just an amazing actress, but she can carry a tune. I loved her in Mamma Mia! Not to mention Streep is absolutely gorgeous. I have never watched any other version of ITW, so I can't compare her portrayal of The Witch to anyone else, but I can say that I think she did a magnificent job. I always vote for the "Villains" so you know who my favorite character was. Although I don't really see her as a villain. She was robbed by the Baker's father, so she has a right to punish him.

Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife

I don't think I've seen Emily Blunt in anything other than ITW and The Young Victoria, which she did amazing in and I loved the film. I really liked how she portrayed the Baker's Wife. I think she's beautiful and can sing very well. When the Baker's Wife died toward the end I was a little heartbroken, but I feel like it had to happen. When she spoke to her husband at the end and told him to tell the baby a story, that little scene brought tears to my eyes, but I cry over everything. I am listening to the Soundtrack as I type this post.

James Corden as the Baker

First of all, let me start by saying, I really love James Corden. He was, honestly, the actor that got me interested in the film, not even Johnny Depp. I have loved Corden since I saw him in Doctor Who, where he played my favorite non-companion. I really love him and the fact that he can sing makes me love him more. I really loved him in the role of the Baker and I really liked the character of the Baker. At first he was a bit hesitant about being a dad, but he did not abandon his son, and that made me think of his DW character, Craig, with his son Alfie. I really loved how his character developed a lot, first not wanting his wife to help him, then accepting that they'd get it done if there were two of them. "It takes two, I thought one was enough, it's not true." I literally am listening to that song as I write this. Perfect timing, right? I loved how they made him the narrator.

Anna Kendrick as Cinderella

Anna Kendrick is amazing. I loved her in Pitch Perfect. I loathed her in Twilight. She's a great actress. She sings amazingly. How do I feel about her portrayal of Cinderella? If Disney hadn't already made their live action Cinderella movie, I would write to them to cast her as Cinderella. I really liked her portrayal. It's weird, but I would actually love to see her opposite Richard Madden. Anyway! I'm getting off track. I still don't really understand why she kept running away from her Prince. At least in the story, she has until midnight, so she leaves so he won't see her rags, but she had no real reason to run away from him in ITW. At first he seems perfect, but let's not get into what he did. I do support how she did leave him and go with the Baker in the end.

Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince

Do I hear a Star Trek Musical coming on? Kidding! First things first. The Prince is a slut! A dirty slut! He seduced the Baker's wife. That was not cool. He was married to Cinderella at that time and the Baker's Wife of course is married to the Baker. He is a jerk for that and the song he sang with Rapunzel's Prince, at least I believed that Rapunzel's Prince loved Rapunzel, but this Prince. I thought Charming was only in it, because he thought Cinderella was hot and playing hard to get, so he saw it as a challenge. All in all, I did not really like Cinderella's Prince. However, I do really love Chis Pine and he is drop-dead good looking.

Tracey Ullman as Jack's mother

Honestly, I am not familiar with Tracey Ullman. Don't hate me. I went through her filmography and the only two things I can say I saw her in was Give My Regards to Broad Street a Paul McCartney film and "Queenie Eye", a Paul McCartney music video. Jack's mother was very cranky through out the film. Maybe it was because she was a single mother. Maybe it was because Jack was a bit of an idiot. Maybe it was because they were poor and starving. I think she was justified in her crankiness and anger. It was kind of sad how she died. But life must go on.

Christine Baranski as Cinderella's step-mother

I have seen Christine Baranski in many of her roles. Birdcage, Chicago, Big Bang Theory, Mamma Mia!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I really love the characters she portrays. She played the step-mother flawlessly. I love how the film's story line included the original Cinderella story and not the Disney version. I really enjoyed Baranski's portrayal of the step-mother.

Johnny Depp as the Wolf

"Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" Not McCartha! Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors, he's neck and neck with Al Pacino. I really love him and his acting. He is an amazing actor and he becomes all of the characters he plays. I have seen about 75% of his filmography and he is just amazing. He did magnificent in ITW as the Wolf. When he howled, though. I just started giggling. I don't know why. I just did. The character of the Wolf was really good and pertinent to the movie, because if he hadn't eaten Red and Granny, the Baker would have never killed him to get them out, and the Baker would have never gotten the red cape.

Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood

As cheesus is my witness, I couldn't stand Red! I mean Lilla Crawford did a good job, I believe so, but I never liked Little Red Riding Hood. She can carry a tune, and I do look forward to her future works, but I just honestly didn't like Red.

Daniel Hutterstone as Jack

GAVROCHE!! I love this kid. His voice is amazing. I knew he was familiar while I was watching it, but it wasn't until the end that I realized it was little Gavroche from Les Miserbles 2012. He would also play a good Toby in Sweeney Todd.What did I think about Jack? He is an imbecile, but he got away with it somehow.

Mackenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel

Mauzy sings pretty. I really love how the story line followed the original Rapunzel story. I think she nailed the locked in the tower and not knowing anyone. I really shipped her and her prince. I don't have much to talk about when it comes to her, so this will be short and sweet.

Billy Magnussen as Rapunzel's Prince

Magnussen is gorgeous.He really is and I thought he played the Prince really nicely. He was sweet and I liked him better than Cinderella's prince, because this prince seemed more authentic and I think he really loved Rapunzel.

All in all, I really loved the film and I am so glad I finally watched it. I wanted to watch it since they released the first trailer. I think that the cast was amazing, and I am looking forward to Disney's next film, the live action Cinderella. I will write a blog post when I finally see that one.