By Michaela Pounds – Entertainment Editor

“Into The Woods” is a 2014 film that was adapted from a play and is based on several popular children’s fairy tales. The stage version of the story was not as family-friendly, but the film was changed so it would not be as scary for children to watch.

Disney lovers will definitely be interested in “Into The Woods’’ because of the fairy tales that are portrayed in the movie. The movie includes the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales of “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Jack in The Beanstalk,” and “Rapunzel.”

The movie is based on a couple who are not able to have a child because of a curse that was put over the man’s family by their neighbor. The witch who lives next door placed the curse because she had her magic beans stolen. The witch says the couple will be able to receive a baby if they collect all the items she desires: a lock of hair yellow as corn, golden slippers, a cow as white as milk, and a cape as red as blood. The movie shows the quest this couple goes on to collect all of the items while incorporating the other fairy tales into the story. The ending of the story is not expected because there is a twist of events.

It is easy to tell that there is major musical talent among all of the actors and actresses in the movie because of how much singing takes place. The movie reuses the song “Into The Woods” over again in the movie.

The cast of “Into The Woods” is full of well-known actors and actresses who are also able to sing. Some of the main characters in the movie are Meryl Streep, who plays the witch, Anna Kendrick, who plays Cinderella, and Johnny Depp, who plays the wolf.

The downside to the movie is its long running time, which is over two hours. The movie drags on at parts and it makes watching in the theater tiresome after a while. If the movie was shorter and its plot more streamlined, it would be more enjoyable.

The set design and special effects in the movie make it stand out and exciting to watch. The giant and the beanstalk are two great visuals in the movie.

Overall, “Into The Woods,” is a movie for all ages to see. The plot is aimed toward children, but adults and teenagers can also enjoy the familiar childhood fairy tales and musical voices of actors in this film.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars