a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Blistering performances.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

INTO THE WOODS is a musically intricate and enchanting musical from the man who brought us COMPANY,A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC,FOLLIES, Sunday IN THE PARK WITH GEOGRE and SWEENEY TODD. Sondheim, Broadway's finest lyricist, has once again struck gold with this clever and complex story that incorporates characters from several different classic fairy tales in a mystical blend that might make the Brothers Grimm roll over in their graves but will leave fans of this musical genius clamoring for more. This musical follows the adventures of a poor Baker and his wife, who want to have a child more than anything and are promised a child by an evil witch, with secrets of her own, if they can bring her Little Red Riding Hood's Cape, Cinderella's slipper, the cow belonging to Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame and a lock of Rapunzel's hair and it is their journey into the fairy tale forest to find these items that provides the plot for this delightfully imaginative musical. As always, Sondheim has provided us with lush melodies and intricate musical arrangements where characters sing on top of each other and it is virtually impossible to catch everything that is being sung, but for us Sondheim-aholics, this is half the fun, requiring careful attention and multiple viewings. This DVD is a taping of a performance by the original Broadway cast, led by the divine Bernadette Peters as the Witch. Hidden behind heavy makeup for the first act, Peters proves to be a gifted actress as well as the consummate song stylist. Peters stops the show with "Children Will Listen" and "Last Midnight". Joanna Gleason won a Tony for her effervescent turn as the Baker's wife and Chip Zien is beautifully paired with her as the Baker. There are also outstanding supporting performances from Robert Westenberg in two roles as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince, Danielle Ferland as Little Red Riding Hood, Kim Crosby as Cinderella, and Ben Wright as Jack. Other musical highlights include "Agony" a funny yet melodic duet between the two princes, "On the Steps of the Palace" sung by Cinderella, "Hello Little Girl", the musical meeting between Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" and Gleason's show stopping "Moments in the Woods". A thoroughly original and lushly theatrical musical that provides another testament to the genius that is Stephen Sondheim.

Having grown up with the Grimm Brother's and all sorts of fairy tales, this is the ultimatum that conquers all! Combining the vocal talents of Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien and others with the dazzling power of Sondheim is an ingenious feat.Not only are the actors/actresses perfectly suited for the roll, the dynamics of each individual is designed almost in perfect unison with the singing part, costuming and development.The first half of the play is astounding! Reading Little Red Riding Hood, you would not be able to comprehend any resemblance or connection between Cinderella. The morals are not even the same, yet Stephen Sondheim some how allows Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Baker and His Wife, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and other small (yet noticeable) fairy tales to intertwine and become so closely related that at the end, the Baker adopts Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and basically marries Cinderella. Anyways, back to the point, the first half of the play is the basic fairy tale with a curse and finding a cure and living "Happily Ever After." All seems peaceful and full of bliss, in fact, the "opera musical" could be only one half, but it would not be the same without the complexity of the second act.The second half of the production begins with complaining about how life is hard or not what they wished for, and so everyone once again seems to be unhappy...as the plot begins to become quite strange. The narrator is eaten, hence a plot vanishes. Chaos rains and everyone gangs up on each other because the Giantess has climbed down another bean stalk. It really throws the mind in for a whirl.This musical is one that every film lover should own. It is worth the buy and time to watch the 3 hours. Some people only watch the first half claiming the second is quite strange and odd, but I say the whole musical is a remarkable achievement of not only acting, but also dancing, singing, costuming, lighting, scenery and "awefying" delight!

Stephen Sondheim's "Into The Woods" has a wonderful premise, wonderful music and a universal premise: be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. The film takes place in the forest where The Baker (Chip Zien) and his wife (Joanna Gleason)want a child. Unfortunately, due to a curse placed on his home by the witch (Bernadette Peters), this doesn't happen. Only if they complete a task put on them by the witch can the curse be removed. They go on a journey "into the woods" to find 4 items: The cow as white as milk, The cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold. The 2 of them are not alone in their quest to have their wishes granted: Jack (Ben Wright),whose cow he has to sell for food; Little Red Riding Hood (Danielle Ferland)is on her way to visit her grandmother; Rapunzel (Pamela Winslow)lowers her corn-yellow hair so the witch can climb it: and Cinderella (Kim Crosby)desperately wants to attend the ball and gets her gown and beautiful slippers. Through a series of intertwining events, everyone gets what they wish for.It isn't until the second part of the musical when things get dark. With everyone's wishes granted, not everyone is living "Happily Ever After". Many of the characters are totally unhappy. And with the arrival of a visitor from the past that is seeking vengeance on one of the inhabitants, things turn tragic.The songs are incredible (Especially "Children Will Listen," "Last Midnight." and "No One Is Alone."),the costumes and scenery are great, and all of the stars shine. But it is Gleason and Peters that really shine in their roles. The musical will have you laughing and crying. A must have.

I remember the first time I saw this play in high school when my drama class went to see it on a field trip. My math tutor who had seen it told me before I saw it that it was a great play and that I would loved it and she was right. As a musical lover I was captivated the first time I saw this play at theatre. Then by chance I got to see this version with the origanal broadway cast on the Bravo channel a couple years later and I was was so thrilled because I got to enjoy it all over again. I thought it was very oringal and creative the way characters from different fairy tales are all thrown together each interacting one another without really changing the story of each fairy tale.The basic plot is the each character has a wish and longing with the main focus on the childless baker and his wife, two original characters who only wish for a child. They are confronted by rapunzal's witch who puts a curse on them preventing them from having children and tells them to end the curse they must go into the woods and get in three days the cape as red as blood, the cow as white as milk, the hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold. They go to the woods and meet Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzal as well as a mysterious old man as they try to get what the need. The first act of the play is has a lot a humor and intrigue as each character set out to get their wish and ends with them living happily ever after. The second act deals with what happens to them after living happily ever after and although still has some humor and fun it has a more darker and sadder note as reality catches in and shows that happily ever after doesnt' last but there's still hope for happiness.The acting and the characters as well as the plot was superb. Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason were great as the main characters the baker and his wife. Bernadette Peters was outstanding as the witch but my favorite character was Little Red Riding Hood(Danielle Ferland)who portrayed as fiesty and humorous. The songs are great and unforgettable. My favorites being "Momemts in the Woods" and "No More". I was fortunate enough to finally get the video last Christmas and I now to to enjoy watching it over and over again. This has become one of my favorite musicals.