Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2014/07/31/into-the-woods-trailer-released/" target="_blank"><b>7/31/14: Into the Woods Trailer Released</b></a>
Originally Posted By utahjosh It's a great trailer. I guess they don't want people to know it's a musical. Those who do know don't need to be told. Worked for Frozen.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead Loved the trailer. I was originally very wary, but everything I've seen this week has me stoked.
Originally Posted By darcy-becker I showed it to my friend who'd never heard of Into the Woods. She stoked to see it.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I love how Hollywood producers seems nervous about promoting a movie as a musical, and then promote it with nods to two very popular Broadway shows, one 'Chicago' was adapted into a move and won Best Picture.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I'm trying to stay optimistic and open about Meryl Streep, even though Bernadette Peters will always be the Witch for me. But other casting choices I think will work, and the production values look really sharp. I just hope ITW does better at the box than Sweeney Todd.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I just hope that Into the Woods is a better movie than Sweeney Todd. I know I'm not Sondheim's biggest fan, but I thought that movie was pretty dreadful. I don't particularly like Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter, and it seemed like they misplaced the humor that can be in the stage version. I'm not thrilled that Depp is in ITW, but at least it's not a central role
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <...it seemed like they misplaced the humor that can be in the stage version>> This is my single biggest fear about ITW on the screen. I'm afraid the wit and humor is going to be trampled in favor of a more dramatic and operatic presentation. That will kill it for sure. And don't get me started on Sweeney Todd. I love Sondheim, I love Tim Burton. But WTF was that mess, anyway? I figured ST would have been a perfect fit for Burton's dark side. Geez I couldn't have been more wrong. At least Lapine wrote ITW's screenplay and Sondheim had some control over the music, even writing a new song for the film. That helps. But will it be enough? Please, Disney. Don't butcher my favorite Sondheim musical!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <And don't get me started on Sweeney Todd. I love Sondheim, I love Tim Burton. But WTF was that mess, anyway? I figured ST would have been a perfect fit for Burton's dark side. Geez I couldn't have been more wrong> Ditto
Originally Posted By magic0214 If this does well, I need a Company movie. Just saying. Anna Kendrick's casting has me super excited, as I think she is a superb actress (Example: Up in the Air) and singer (Example: Pitch Perfect).
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA 'Company' could work in the right hands. Maybe take it 70s retro. It's one of my all time favorite musicals.
Originally Posted By leemac Rob Marshall and his creative team seem to have nailed the look of the movie - it feels right to me. I'm still not sure about some of the casting (Streep in particular) but Corden, Blunt and Kendrick look very right. I'm just so glad that James Lapine came back to adapt his own book. He is an exceptional writer that doesn't get the credit he deserves for his work. After having the biggest musical of all time last winter you'd have thought that the studio marketing machine would play it up in spades for the first trailer. However I've given up trying to understand their actions. Not enough hours in the day......
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^I'm never sure why marketing decides to do things they way they do. Did they even show any indication that Frozen was a musical before it really took off? I know for a while they were trying to conceal it (like they were fooling anybody, and like anybody cared) and they had all of those awful ads featuring Olaf At times, I wonder how much better the film could have done (early on at least, when the Studio gets a higher cut of tickets sold) if they had an appealing ad campaign For ITW, I wonder if they're starting to sense a Frozen fatigue, and don't necessarily want to try and ride its popularity until December
Originally Posted By lesmisfan I will say when Disney announced they were doing of my favorite musicals I was very very worried. But after I saw the trailer I do have a little hope left. The imagery looks spectacular! The casting I think is almost there. I to have my reservations about streep but she is one of my favorites and I think she will breath new life into the role of the witch.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<It's one of my all time favorite musicals.>> Ditto. My second favorite Sondheim. Did you see the Neil Patrick Harris/Stephen Colbert production from two years back? https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/stephen-sondheims-company/id566791759 <-- ashamed to admit she doesn't own it =8^0
Originally Posted By magic0214 That Company version is fantastic...Anika Noni Rose for every role ever, please.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Re: 'Company' I'm kind of partial to the Roundabout Theater production version from 1994-ish. Really do not like the Raul Esparza version where they play musical instruments on stage. It's unnecessary IMO, and only made things too complicated. Neil Patrick Harris is a bit smug as Bobby - the production is good. And the 1970 original with Dean Jones and Elaine Stritch is just incredible. I've had the privilege to perform in the show twice -- once at Laguna Playhouse and once at West Coast Ensemble in Hollywood (George Furth came to a performance), Both were solid productions. I directed 'Company' at our theater here in Merced about three years ago and was lucky to have assembled a solid cast. It was another wonderful experience and a solid show. Again 'Company' is one of my favorites. It is a fantastic show.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Neil Patrick Harris is a bit smug as Bobby>> Isn't he in everything? I've never understood the love for NPH. Sure he has some talent but he always seems to play characters in the same way - which is effectively like Barney in the God awful HIMYM. <<Again 'Company' is one of my favorites. It is a fantastic show.>> I'm really not a musicals fan - more of a plays guy. That said I've never seen Company in any format. I think I'll have to seek it out.
