"Into the Woods" is very dark.

The feature film based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tales is dark not only in subject matter. It's also dark literally.Agreed: A majority of the movie's action takes place in the woods. However, filmmakers can make allowances.With "Into the Woods," director Rob Marshall (Oscar director nominee, "Chicago," 2003) has filmed many of the scenes in shadow, with characters' faces dimly lit, and under the towering blackened bark of trees."Into the Woods" is all about what happens after the "happily ever after" happens.These are not your mother's fairy tales. Wishing, and having your wish come true is only half the battle.The Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine (book) musical (the 1987 Broadway production received score and book Tonys) on which the movie is based (Lapine wrote the screenplay) is a mashup of Grimm fairy tales, the originals of which were much darker than the storybooks that were probably read to you, or that you read to your little ones."Into the Woods" is a fascinating blending of well-known fairy tales: Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) and the Big Bad Wolf (Johnny Depp), The Baker (James Corden) and the Baker's Wife (Emily Blunt), Jack (Daniel Huttlestone) and the Beanstalk, Cinderella (Anna Kendrick) and her Stepmother (Christine Baranski), Stepsisters (Tammy Blanchard, Lucy Punch) and Prince (Chris Pine), and Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy) and her Prince (Billy Magnussen).The musical's storyline has been streamlined for the movie. The basic plot remains. In order to break her curse on the Baker and his wife, the Witch demands they bring her "a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold."Their quest is the tie that binds the fairy tales, not all that neatly, as it were. In the stage musical, one is distracted by the songs, the performance of them and the actors' characterizations. In the movie, the prerecorded singing of the songs is less enchanting. The emoting is hampered by the aforementioned dark scenes. Whereas the musical seemed larger than life, the screen version seems smaller than life.You may want to consider the emotional age of the child who may accompany you to see "Into the Woods." I winced at scenes where the stepsisters' feet were "shortened" (even though shown offscreen) to fit into Cinderella's shoe and when crows pecked out their eyes. Ghastly scenes like these (there are others) disrupt the tone and seem excessively graphic.Even so, "Into the Woods" is entertaining. The fairy tale characters are still on the analysts' couches of Sondheim and Lapine. The characters' foibles are bared. They must resolve their problems on their own, by their own wit and will with little dependence on the supernatural, fairy godmothers and magic.The songs are nothing short of brilliant. And, surprising perhaps for Sondheim, you may even be humming a few of the melodies after you leave the movie theater, most notably the beautiful "No One Is Alone" and the title song, "Into the Woods," with its trademark Sondheim staccato rhythm. "Agony," sung by the two princes, is given the hilarious interpretation it deserves.Streep is a hoot as The Witch, giving yet another amazing performance. Blunt is beguiling as the Baker's Wife. Kendrick is an interesting and commendable untraditional choice as Cinderella. It's good to see Tracey Ullman as Jack's Mother.My take-away from the movie is that the songs are more enjoyable than the characters, and, by turns, the actors who sing them. The movie, as with the play, is really more of an operetta, with very little spoken dialogue."Into The Woods" is, you might say, kinda Grimm. It's not your typical bedtime story. It's a fairytale for adults."Into the Woods," MPAA Rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.) for thematic elements, fantasy action and peril, and some suggestive material; Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Run time: 2 hrs., five mins.; Distributed by Walt Disney Studios.Credit Readers Anonymous: "Into the Woods" was filmed on location in Dover Castle, Surrey, Kent and Shepperton Studios, England.Box Office, Jan. 2: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" again battled back all challenges, with $21.9 million, $220.7 million, three weeks. "Into the Woods" was close behind, continuing at No. 2, $19 million, $91.2 million, two weeks. "Unbroken" also continued at No. 3, $18.3 million, $87.8 million, two weeks. "The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death" opened at No. 4, with $15.1 million.5. "Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb," $14.4 million, $89.7 million, three weeks; 6. "Annie," $11.4 million, $72.6 million, three weeks; 7. "The Imitation Game," $8.1 million, $30.8 million, six weeks; 8. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1," $7.7 million, $323.8 million, seven weeks; 9. "The Gambler," $6.3 million, $27.5 million, two weeks; 10. "Big Hero 6," $4.8 million, $211.2 million, nine weeksUnreel, Jan. 9:"Taken 3," PG-13: Liam Neeson is back as Bryan Mills in the crime-thriller. Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen co-star.Read Paul Willistein's movie reviews at the Lehigh Valley Press web site, thelehighvalley-press.com; the Times News website, tnonline.com; and hear them on "Lehigh Valley Art Salon," 6-6:30 p.m. Mondays, WDIY 88.1 FM, and wdiy.org, where they're archived. Email Paul Willistein:

pwillistein@tnonline.com. You can follow Paul Willistein on Twitter and friend Paul Willistein on Facebook.Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes