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Into the Woods [Blu-ray]

Bernadette Peters (Actor), Joanna Gleason (Actor), James Lapine (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: Blu-ray
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,806 ratings
IMDb8.6/10.0
Additional Blu-ray options Edition Discs
Price
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Blu-ray
August 19, 2014 		—
1
$137.09
— $133.10
Blu-ray
January 1, 2015 		—
1
—
— —
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Into The Woods: Stephen Sondheim — —
Genre Musicals & Performing Arts/Musicals/General
Format Blu-ray, NTSC
Contributor Michael Brandman, Kay McClelland, Bernadette Peters, Tom Aldredge, Lauren Mitchell, Barbara Bryne, James Lapine, Chip Zien, Joy Franz, Joanna Gleason, Danielle Ferland, Robert Westenberg, Kim Crosby, Edmund Lyndeck, Iris Merlis, Ben Wright See more
Language English
Number Of Discs 1

Product Description

A baker and his wife journey into the woods in search of a cow, a red cape, a pair of golden slippers and some magic beans to lift a curse that has kept them childless. Tony Award winners Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason and the rest of the original Broadway cast weave their magic spell over you in Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, directed by James Lapine, a seamless fusion of fairy tale characters and what happens after "happily ever after." With oft-recorded songs such as "Children Will Listen" and "No One Is Alone," INTO THE WOODS is a music lover's delight from start to finish--and will forever cement Stephen Sondheim's unparalleled position as the giant of the American musical theater.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 253
  • Director ‏ : ‎ James Lapine
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 4 hours and 23 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2015
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Robert Westenberg, Tom Aldredge
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Iris Merlis, Michael Brandman
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Image Entertainment
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00RUT3BVO
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,806 ratings

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • SAB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Skip the Disney movie adaptation, watch this instead!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not quite two years ago, sometime after the Disney movie adaptation of this play was released on DVD, I rented it and watched it with my family. I have always loved fairy tales and Disney's happy adaptations of fairy tales, while also being intrigued by the darker original tales; so of course I wanted to see Into The Woods. Disney dropped the ball on this one and I'm glad I didn't buy it, only rented it. They didn't give Into The Woods the usual sugar-coated Disney makeover - which would've been OK if they hadn't completely overreached in their attempt to preserve the darker overtones of the original play. (They also failed to edit the 2 hour 30 minute play down to a 2 hour movie with a story that still WORKS). All this resulted in a product that is simply weird, creepy, and doesn't make sense. Something about the story got under my skin, however, and I came away from the movie feeling like "I'm glad I saw it, even though I did not love it". Fast forward nearly two years; the disappointing experience of the promising concept was still nagging at me, so I purchased and watched this version of the story after reading all the positive reviews. So glad I did! Finally, gaping plot holes were filled, AND I was able, emotionally and thoughtfully, to experience the story as it was meant to be experienced. The MOVIE makes you feel ambivalent and uneasy about its characters. Not so with the play. All the actors did a wonderful job and gave heartfelt, compassionate performances. None of the characters were wholly good or bad, just human and relatable. They are portrayed with genuine pathos. Also, the thought-provoking (and fully intact) lyrics actually make sense when they're sung in this version. Of course, Bernadette Peters steals every scene she's in, but I also very much enjoyed the marvelous performances of the actors who portrayed the Baker, his Wife, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and... well, the whole cast, really. The play is actually more family-friendly than the movie, too, even though the Baker's Wife and Cinderella's Prince are seen rolling across the forest floor in an embrace and the Wolf's costume seems to be anatomically correct (most kids probably won't know or care, it's noticeable only briefly). The point is that in the play the adult content is portrayed much more subtly and open to interpretation - an interpretation a child wouldn't make. As for the music, I will refrain from comparing the singing in the two productions; to compare the pop style of the movie and the Broadway style of the play would be a useless 'apples and oranges' argument. At any rate, this play is definitely worth the $8.99 and the 2 1/2 hours; I am glad I saw it AND love it. I hope you love it, too.
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  • Michael E. Corby
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Primer for Living a Mentally Healthy Life
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    If there's a modern-day Shakespeare who understands and translates the complicated relationships of the 20th--and 21st--centuries into accessible, entertaining, moving works, it's Steven Sondheim, as I see it. I haven't seen or listened to all of his works but based on what I have seen (Gypsy, Pacific Overtures, Sunday in the Park with George, Company, Into the Woods, to name a few), he pretty much nails it. If there's one Sondheim work that sums it all up for us, Into the Woods is it. Basing the show on familiar, centuries-old fairy tales(Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and nods eventually to Sleeping Beauty and Snow White), Sondheim weaves a story that takes basic human emotions, relationships, desires, weaknesses, struggles, disapointments, sorrows, failures, and triumphs and turns out a tapestry that explains the things we do selfishly and selflessly that make us all human, and worthy. Good and evil are not as simple as black and white, as some who adhere strictly to religious beliefs would have us believe. Children are not perfect and symbolic witches and giants are not evil incarnate. The songs "Children Will Listen" and "No One is Alone" instruct more about the human condition than most will ever get from any psychology textbook. I saw Into the Woods in the late 1980s when my first child was very young and its impact on my childraising skills, and my understanding of my relationships with my parents and significant others, was like a lightbulb turning on. I have given the DVD of the Bernadette Peters production and/or the original cast album (the production of which tells the story succinctly without even seeing the show) to relatives and friends with children, as a gift. Into the Woods is a gift from Steven Sondheim. I watch or listen to it often and it always moves me, sometimes to tears. It's not always available so if you're interested in it, I suggest you grab it when you can. The LP was produced with a libretto of the show, a special treat, if you can find it. Note: the DVD is a videotaped production of a live show on Broadway starring Ms. Peters and an outstanding cast. The laughter and applause is not hammy and the production is exceptional. I gave this five stars because that's the scale, but I give it 10 in this review. Note also: it's not for small children, but children of 10-12 will probably be engaged. I suggest watching it as a family. The lessons may escape the children but the story is engaging and they will probably remember it and want to see it again. It will mean more on later viewings. Into the Woods should be an essential part of the family library. You should definitely go Into the Woods.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • David Cherry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Into the woods into greatness
    Reviewed in Canada on October 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a true masterpiece by sondheim. If you are a fan of his you must have this.
    Funny, sad, makes ya think . A true gem
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  • carlos
    5.0 out of 5 stars simplemente genial!
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 13, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Este musical de Sondheim que puede parecer superficial, es sin duda uno de las obras mas complejas. Por medio de los cuentos clásicos y la fantasia, Into the Woods nos enseña más sobre la humanidad, la bondad, la maldad y la hipocresia de la siciedadad que la mayoria de los "dramas" serios.
    Un musical Serio. Una lección de vida.
    Con el elenco original resulta una joya.
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  • Taizo
    5.0 out of 5 stars おすすめです
    Reviewed in Japan on November 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    某音楽大学のミュージカルコースの公演を見てこの作品を知り、
    STEPHEN SONDHEIMの音楽に魅せられてこのDVDを購入しました。
    最高のキャスト、演出の名盤だと思います。
    英語は苦手なのですが細かいユーモアに満ちていて見返す度に発見があって楽しいです。
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  • Sergi Mesonero Burgos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Un clásico del teatro musical
    Reviewed in Spain on May 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    El cast original de Broadway en una obra que ya es un clásico. Es una edición original: el formato es 4:3 y no tiene ningún extra ni subtítulos.
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  • Kassiopeia
    5.0 out of 5 stars I wish...
    Reviewed in Germany on October 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Rezension enthält Spoiler

    Kurz zur DVD selber, wobei aufgrund der vielen verschiedenen Versionen alle Angaben mit Vorsicht zu genießen sind: Es gibt leider keine englischen Untertitel. Wirklich Verständnisprobleme von der Handlung her sollte man zwar nicht haben (wenn doch, deutsche Untertitel gibt es), aber jede schöne Formulierung und jeden Wortwitz mitzukriegen ist schwierig. Extras gibt es keine. Bild wäre sicher ein wenig besser, wenn es heutzutage gefilmt würde, aber gestört hat mich nichts.

    Und weit wichtiger, zum Inhalt:

    Der erste Akt von "Into the woods" sind mehrere miteinander verknüpfte Märchen: Aschenputtel, Rapunzel, Rotkäppchen und ein britisches Märchen namens "Jack and the beanstalk", außerdem ein dazuerfundenes über einen Bäcker und seine Frau, das die anderen miteinander verbindet. Die Märchen verlaufen an sich wie gewohnt - näher an den Gebrüdern Grimm als an Disney, abgehackte Füße und ausgestochene Augen inklusive - bis zur großen Happy End-Feier am Ende des ersten Akts.(Es würde einen nicht überraschen, wenn manche Zuschauer versehentlich den zweiten Akt verpasst hätten).

    Im zweiten Akt geht es genau von da an weiter, aber weit weniger "märchenhaft": Die Märchenfiguren bringen den Erzähler um, was sie in einer Welt ohne vorprogrammiertes Happy End und Ordnung zurücklässt. Und sie haben einige neue Probleme: Aschenputtel etwa langweilt sich im Schloss, die beiden Prinzen in ihren Ehen, Rapunzel ist mit der Welt draußen vollkommen überfordert, und die Frau des von Jack getöteten Riesen will Rache.

    Es scheint die vorherrschende Meinung zu sein, dass der erste Akt der bessere und der zweite ein bisschen zu düster oder auch langweilig ist, mir ging das aber überhaupt nicht so. Während die Märchen im ersten Akt auf großartige Weise mit viel Humor und auch guten Charakterisierungen erzählt werden, kennt man sie ja nun mal schon, insofern fand ich den zweiten Akt interessanter. Er sprengt eben etwas den Märchenaufbau und stellt die Moral in Frage: Die Hexe ist zwar der Bösewicht, aber irgendwo auch die ehrlichste und praktischste Person, die Prinzen wissen überhaupt nichts mit sich anzufangen, nachdem sie das Happy End geliefert haben und niemand mehr zu retten ist, und Menschen können auch mal zufällig und sinnlos sterben.

    Die Lieder sind sehr schön - schon beim ersten Hören und gewinnen bei jedem weiteren. Die Texte sind klasse, mit Wortspielen und gelegentlich Zungenbrechern ("It's your father's fault that the curse got placed and the place got cursed in the first place", "Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment").

    Der Cast ist praktisch durchweg ideal, trotzdem stiehlt Bernadette Peters als Hexe allen die Show - jede Zeile von ihr ist ein Highlight, und es fällt schwer, woanders hinzusehen, wenn sie im Bild ist. Ebenso gut, aber rollenbedingt weniger "spektakulär" ist Joanna Gleason als Bäckersfrau, die einen mit einem auf Papier nicht so sympathischen Charakter mitfühlen lässt, und Chip Zien als der Bäcker. Rotkäppchen und die Prinzen waren auch sehr gut, und sehr lustig. Einzig mit Jack konnte ich gar nicht mitfühlen, aber es ist schwer zu sagen, ob das am Schauspieler lag.
    Ich hatte auch nie eine "woah, zu viel"-Reaktion, was ja leicht vorkommen kann, wenn man Bühnenschauspiel filmt. Wobei da sicher auch der Märchen-Hintergrund hilft.

    Was mir so an Negativem einfällt:
    - Eine Version des Musicals mit etwas mehr Fokus auf den psychischen Folgen der Märchenhandlungen und etwas weniger auf der alles tottrampelnden Riesin hätte mir vielleicht noch etwas besser gefallen
    - Wie gesagt: Bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich Jack gar so unausstehlich finden sollte
    - Gegen Ende nehmen sich mehrere schöne Balladen hintereinander vielleicht etwas gegenseitig an Wirkung

    Natürlich kann nie etwas allen gefallen, aber sofern man halbwegs gute Englischkenntnisse hat und nicht direkt etwas gegen einen der Beteiligten oder Musical Theater im allgemeinen, sehe ich keinen Grund, warum man es hiermit nicht versuchen sollte.
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