#toeb

I'm a little late on this, but it's been out for about a week now, so it seemed like a good time to do so.

Disney releases it's first movie musical based on an existing work with Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. After much casting controversy (sorry Sophia Grace) and issues with script changes (which, in fact were false), the film is done and, let me tell you, it does not disappoint.

Into the Woods intertwines some of the best-known fairy tales of all time (Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood) when a Baker (played brilliantly by James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) get a visit from the witch from next door (the incomparable Meryl Streep). If they can acquire a slipper as pure as gold, a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, and hair as yellow as corn in three day's time, she will give them a child. Along the way we are introduced to colorful characters (especially Johnny Depp's Big Bad Wolf who can make even the manliest of men squirm in their seat) and beautiful music. The best part of this story is how it delves into what happens after happily ever after. 

That's where the story gets real.

This has been marketed as a family film, but it really speaks to the 9/11 generation. The film boasts the idea that bad things will happen, but, somehow, life will move forward. It does this in an utterly moving way without being too preachy.

Directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha), Into the Woods is a different type of musical for Marshall. It doesn't feel unnatural or performance-y. He really goes for a more realistic feel...as realistic as you can get in a fairytale. You never feel as though they shouldn't be singing, you're never questioning why. 

The sets are incredibly breathtaking, the costumes wonderful (although the wolf could've been more wolf-like). Into the Woods is truly a beautiful film. The pieces that set it over the edge is it's superb cast. Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, James Corden give magnificent performances, worthy of awards (James Corden was SNUBBED), really adding some depth to the characters they are portraying. Lilla Crawford and Daniel Huttlestone hold their own against the big stars playing Little Red and Jack, respectively. They're not typical child stars where their only purpose is to just be cute and be a kid. They don't get swallowed by the material and prove very able. I'm interested to see where they go.

The biggest gems of this film, however, are Chris Pine (Cinderella's Prince) and Emily Blunt (The Baker's Wife). Pine instills every scene with laughs for all, playing the prince as an over-the-top, shallow buffoon. But somehow it doesn't feel ridiculously over-the-top. I believe every bit of it. He and Billy Magnussen (Rapunzel's Prince) steal the show with Agony, probably the funniest musical number in any film I've seen. 

Emily Blunt proves to be an utter revelation. I had no idea she could sing, and sing well. She brings a lot of heart to her performance and knows when to dial up the humor and when to ground herself. You really feel for her tragic character and really root for her, even when she's screwing up. It's safe to say I'm now a huge Emily Blunt fan.

Into the Woods is one of the best live-action Disney films I've seen in a long time. It's one of the best movie musicals I've seen in a long time (MUCH better than Les Mis). Yes, it has it's problems and it is far from perfect. But it's magical, it's memorable, it's a beautiful, beautiful film. Fans of the original musical will not be disappointed; the changes make sense and don't detract from the story by any means. People going in without any prior experience of Into the Woods will enjoy it. There's something for every age, every demographic. Into the Woods is darker than most Disney films and doesn't feel Disney'ed down. Yet, it's a magical movie-going experience; you'll laugh and cry and walk out humming the tunes. Well done, Disney. Well done, Rob Marshall.

The Kiss FM Jingle Ball was perhaps one of the most entertaining and fun concerts I have been to in a long time. Hosting a number of the hottest acts performing their hottest songs, the Jingle Ball makes sure you will have a splendid time from the moment the lights dimmed (promptly at 7:30) to the minute the last act concluded. There was never a moment something wasn't going on, which a lot of concerts suffer from. Constant movement. Constant entertainment. Yes there were some duds, but, all in all, it proved to be a fantastic show. Since there were so many acts, I have compiled a list of the Top 5 Performers at the Jingle Ball:

5. Jessie J She only got to perform two songs, but man did she make it memorable. Jessie J is determined to make sure you don't forget her and really proved why she is one of the most talented live vocalists to ever come around.

4. Fall Out Boy Performing a mix of classics and new hits, Fall Out Boy really knows how to work a crowd and give you the show of your life.

3. Meghan Trainor The newcomer is determined to prove herself among these big names and heavy hitters. She's much more than "All About That Bass" (which she performs to perfection). She should have had more songs, but she made each song count. Perfect stage presence, perfect voice, perfect crowd interaction.

2. OneRepublic They have been around for quite some time, and OneRepublic reminded me why I loved them so much in 2006. Ryan Tedder's pipes shined on this night and he dazzled us with his piano skills. Playing some classics mashed up with current hits (even some hits that aren't their own), OneRepublic took hold of the night and made it theirs.

Since 1989 has been out for a full week now, The Other Entertainment Blog is celebrating with a Top Ten Taylor Swift Songs!

10. Holy Ground from Red    Holy Ground really stands out on Red, an album that spans so many different sounds. It really channels the indie, folk side of Swift. It's different and a real pleasant listen. Yes, it may be a controversial choice off of Red, but it everything about it shines right down to the background vocals.

9. Sparks Fly from Speak Now    Sparks Fly takes Swift back to her country-er sound off her previous two albums. Speak Now really began her country-pop days when the banjos and fiddles were becoming less and less. Listening to this song really takes you back to her early days.

8. Red from Red     Red is another track that really shows of Swift's country chops, especially standing against her transition into pop with the likes of 22 and I Knew You Were Trouble. The song boasts some vivid imagery that make her songs so easy to relate to. Swift makes you think about love in ways you might never have before.

7. Bad Blood from 1989    On Bad Blood, Swift really asserts herself as a reigning pop queen. It's stomping beat and sassy lyrics really propel this song as radio potential. It's fun, relatable, and cathartic all while proving to be one of her more daring songs.

6. You're Not Sorry from Fearless      Swift boasts incredible song-writing chops on this song, which is pretty impressive seeing as this is her second album. This song really makes you feel what she's feeling. You don't just hear what she has to say, you feel every emotion she went through, and that's a powerful thing to do.

5. Tim McGraw from Taylor Swift     It's full of heart and feeling. It's so simple yet so powerful. It's classic.

4. All Too Well from Red     This song is reminiscent of You're Not Sorry, as well as many of her other ballads. So, what makes this one so special? Swift paints a full story in a mere five minutes, talking about the rise and fall of a relationship. Yes, she's tackled the subject on many occasion but this one makes you feel her heartbreak. This song also talks about something everyone can relate to: that feeling of having wonderful memories turn to painful.

3. Out of the Woods from 1989    Out of the Woods earned this spot just based on how sonically different it is alone. And not just different for Swift. This song is so refreshing among a lot of pop music that tends to all sound the same. The lyrics are powerful and paint those Swift pictures that she's so great at telling. But the sound is so striking, and truly proves that Swift can be versatile.

2. Love Story from Fearless     Love Story paints the picture (as most of her songs do). But using the Romeo and Juliet metaphor to tell a simple teen love story is absolutely brilliant. 

1. Our Song from Taylor Swift     C'mon, it's classic Swift. This song demonstrates why she is a brilliant song writer (especially since she was just 16 when this song was released). Her honesty  is refreshing and she so easily puts the feelings and story of this particular relationship into a catchy tune. 

Honorable Mention: