Wicked
7.3
1103 Votes
+ Playlist

In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

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Trailers & Clips
Director Jon M. Chu
2024-12-31T20:00:06.000Z
Yours To Own
2024-12-31T17:10:05.000Z
Elphaba & Glinda Arrive At Shiz
2024-12-31T17:01:06.000Z
Watch At Home on December 31
2024-12-26T19:54:42.000Z
Sing-Along in Theaters Now
2024-12-25T16:58:23.000Z
Enchanted Forest Ambience & Music
2024-12-24T22:42:50.000Z
Ariana Grande as Glinda
2024-12-24T17:27:52.000Z
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
2024-12-24T17:12:11.000Z
Defying Gravity Sing-Along
2024-12-23T17:30:20.000Z
Shiz University Library
2024-12-20T20:41:08.000Z
Golden Globe Nominee
2024-12-20T17:30:11.000Z
Choreographer Christopher Scott
2024-12-20T01:13:30.000Z
The Wizard And I Sing-Along
2024-12-18T21:08:30.000Z
See It Again
2024-12-13T22:40:32.000Z
Cinematographer Alice Brooks
2024-12-12T22:03:40.000Z
Sing-Along
2024-12-10T17:00:42.000Z
Editor Myron Kerstein
2024-12-06T21:47:29.000Z
Ozdust Ballroom
2024-12-04T17:00:22.000Z
The Wizard and I
2024-11-28T15:41:57.000Z
#1 Movie
2024-11-25T16:49:59.000Z
Sky High
2024-11-24T18:00:27.000Z
Jon M. Chu Interview
2024-11-23T14:47:31.000Z
What Is This Feeling
2024-11-22T16:15:27.000Z
What They Want
2024-11-20T20:01:05.000Z
“Everything Cinema Should Be”
2024-11-19T22:00:17.000Z
Official IMAX® Interview
2024-11-18T20:00:01.000Z
A Day On The Set With Marissa Bode
2024-11-14T20:00:29.000Z
One Short Day
2024-11-14T18:00:23.000Z
The Wizard And I
2024-11-13T16:03:29.000Z
GreenWitch Takeover
2024-11-12T18:05:40.000Z
Meet Fiyero
2024-11-08T19:00:16.000Z
Meet Madame Morrible
2024-11-07T20:00:11.000Z
Get Ready With Ariana Grande
2024-11-07T16:05:12.000Z
A Day In The Life of Cynthia Erivo
2024-11-07T16:04:49.000Z
Fandom
2024-11-06T23:45:18.000Z
Meet The Wizard
2024-11-06T20:30:56.000Z
Meet Nessarose
2024-11-05T21:30:07.000Z
Meet Boq
2024-11-04T21:00:12.000Z
A Week On Set With Ariana
2024-10-31T15:00:12.000Z
Singing Live
2024-10-28T16:00:34.000Z
Wait Till You See This
2024-10-27T16:00:24.000Z
Roblox
2024-10-25T21:00:06.000Z
The Magic of Wicked
2024-10-23T15:00:28.000Z
Paul Tazewell Costume Design
2024-10-18T16:00:29.000Z
Elphaba & Galinda Dorm Room
2024-10-15T19:24:47.000Z
Global Tour Announcement
2024-10-10T16:00:04.000Z
Musical Event
2024-10-09T12:51:18.000Z
Elphaba
2024-10-06T20:30:07.000Z
Celebrating Wicked
2024-09-25T15:01:19.000Z
Shiz University Orientation
2024-09-23T22:09:25.000Z
Glinda The Good
2024-09-12T02:30:18.000Z
Official Trailer 2
2024-09-05T14:59:03.000Z
Nessarose
2024-09-03T23:02:43.000Z
The Powerful Bond of Friendship
2024-08-21T15:00:40.000Z
Fiyero
2024-08-12T16:00:06.000Z
Welcome To Oz
2024-08-07T16:00:21.000Z
Green & Gold Olympics Spot
2024-07-27T15:00:05.000Z
Olympics Spot
2024-07-26T18:17:55.000Z
Building the World of Wicked
2024-07-24T15:02:47.000Z
Tony Awards Spot
2024-06-17T03:18:01.000Z
Trailer Reactions
2024-06-12T16:43:26.000Z
Official LEGO Brickified Trailer
2024-05-29T13:01:16.000Z
Shiz University - Apply Now
2024-05-15T16:50:43.000Z
Official Trailer
2024-05-15T15:00:29.000Z
Passion Project
2024-05-13T17:02:15.000Z
First Look
2024-02-11T23:45:31.000Z
Images (Posters)
Images (Backdrops)
Cast
Cynthia Erivo
Elphaba
Ariana Grande
Galinda / Glinda
Jeff Goldblum
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Michelle Yeoh
Madame Morrible
Marissa Bode
Nessarose
Peter Dinklage
Dr. Dillamond (voice)
Andy Nyman
Governor Thropp
Courtney-Mae Briggs
Mrs. Thropp
Bowen Yang
Pfannee
Bronwyn James
Shenshen
Aaron Teoh
Avaric
Shaun Prendergast
Shiz President
Keala Settle
Miss Coddle
Sharon D. Clarke
Dulcibear (voice)
Jenna Boyd
Wolf Doctor (voice)
Colin Michael Carmichael
Professor Nikidik
Lexi Lancaster
Munchkinland Kid
Arlo Turner
Munchkinland Kid
Joey Unitt
Munchkinland Kid
Bea Ward
Munchkinland Kid
Dereke Oladele
Munchkinland Kid
Sienna-Rose Amer
Munchkinland Kid
Tarik Frimpong
Munchkinland Crier
James Dryden
No One Mourns Munchkin
Malinda Parris
No One Cries Munchkin / Chorus
Noah Prempeh
The Good Man Munchkin / Dancer
Vicki Noon
Winkie Mother
Debbie Kurup
Winkie Mother
Jasmine McIvor
Winkie Mother
Hattie Ryan
Curious Munchkin
Kirsty Anne Shaw
Skeptical Munchkin
Karis Musongole
Young Elphaba
Cesily Collette Taylor
Young Nessarose
Jarlan Bogolubov
Munchkin Bully
Isaac Bishop
Munchkin Bully
Adam James
Galinda's Popsicle
Alice Fearn
Galinda's Momsie
Clive Kneller
Emerald City Train Conductor
Michael McCorry Rose
Wiz-O-Mania Narrator
Idina Menzel
Wiz-O-Mania Super Star
Kristin Chenoweth
Wiz-O-Mania Super Star
Robin Berry
Palace Guard
Bobby Windebank
Shiz Security
Cherida Strallen
Shiz Librarian
Tom Kitely
Snow Leopard (voice)
Elizabeth Dulau
Piebald Deer (voice)
Kim Durham
Tamarin / Owl (voice)
Jennifer Woodward
Birds (voice)
Stephen Stanton
Fiyero’s Horse (voice)
Aaliyah Baker
Dancer
Aaron Bryan
Dancer
Aaron Witter
Dancer
Abbie Brown
Dancer
Adam Crossley
Dancer
Alex Hatt
Dancer
Ama Rouge
Dancer
Amber Doyle
Dancer
Anders Deeno
Dancer
Andi Vega
Dancer
Andrew Kyrzyk
Dancer
Angela Andrew
Dancer
Armando Cruz
Dancer
Ashley Young
Dancer
Becky Wong
Dancer
Beth Hinton
Dancer
Beth John
Dancer
Billy Sawyer
Dancer
Blue Makwana
Dancer
Bogdan Pascal
Dancer
Busola Peters
Dancer
Callum Clack
Dancer
Carl Parris
Dancer
Cece Nama
Dancer
Chima Akenzua
Dancer
Chloe Kibble
Dancer
Chris Arias
Dancer
Connor Tidman
Dancer
Craig Stein
Dancer
Cruze Philip
Dancer
Crystal Jones
Dancer
Daniel Rae
Dancer
Darron Gifty
Dancer
David Cottle
Dancer
Dean Street
Dancer
Dollie Henry
Dancer
Ed Munro
Dancer
Eddie Saleem
Dancer
Ediz Ibrahim
Dancer
Edward Scott
Dancer
Elise Bickley
Dancer
Eliza Hart
Dancer
Ella Goodwin
Dancer
Ella Nonini
Dancer
Emer Walsh
Dancer
Emi Ichikawa
Dancer
Emilio Dosal
Dancer
Emily Plews
Dancer
Erica Stubbs
Dancer
Fabiane Leame
Dancer
Fatou Bah
Dancer
Faye Stoeser
Dancer
Fred Folkes
Dancer
Fumy Opeyemi
Dancer
Garry Lee
Dancer
Glenn Hudson
Dancer
Grace Hooper
Dancer
Grace Hope
Dancer
Gustave Die
Dancer
Hannah Arbury
Dancer
Hannah Raynor
Dancer
Harry Barnes
Dancer
Hayley Jones
Dancer
Helen Siveter
Dancer
Hollie Dorman
Dancer
Honey Makwana
Dancer
Ian Harris
Dancer
Ian Oswald
Dancer
Irene Salvi
Dancer
Jack Horner
Dancer
Jade Joan
Dancer
Jaih Betote
Dancer
Jal Joshua
Dancer
James Collins
Dancer
James Lambert
Dancer
Jane Fowler
Dancer
Janine Somcio
Dancer
Jasmin Saulo
Dancer
Jaye Marshall
Dancer
Joel Gooding
Dancer
Johnny Bishop
Dancer
Johnny White
Dancer
Johnny White
Dancer
Jorge Antonio
Dancer
Josh Lamb
Dancer
Joshua Gadget
Dancer
Kaela Owusu
Dancer
Kamira Samuel
Dancer
Kanah Flex
Dancer
Kane Horn
Dancer
Kane Silver
Dancer
Karen Hauer
Dancer
Kenn Oldfield
Dancer
Kenrick Sandy
Dancer
Kiera Brunton
Dancer
Kieran Lai
Dancer
Kikz Katika
Dancer
Kofi Mingo
Dancer
LaShay Harvey
Dancer
Laura Buckley
Dancer
Laura Dougan
Dancer
Leah Hill
Dancer
Lee Bridgman
Dancer
Lily Wang
Dancer
Lisa Spencer
Dancer
Luke Jackson
Dancer
Luke Randall
Dancer
Lynn Jung
Dancer
Madison Davis
Dancer
Martha Gimson
Dancer
Mary Weah
Dancer
Matthew Eudu
Dancer
Matthew Koon
Dancer
Matthew Rich
Dancer
Maya King
Dancer
Megan Charles
Dancer
Melody McAvoy
Dancer
Mette Linturi
Dancer
Mike Fellows
Dancer
Mikey Ureta
Dancer
Mira Jebari
Dancer
Misa Koide
Dancer
Moe Sakan
Dancer
Myron Birch
Dancer
Nadia Sohawon
Dancer
Naia Bautista
Dancer
Naomi Weijand
Dancer
Natasha Trigg
Dancer
Neal Piron
Dancer
Neave Harvey
Dancer
Nevin Cheung
Dancer
Nimmz Riaz
Dancer
Olu Alatise
Dancer
Paola Nyembo
Dancer
Patience J
Dancer
Peter Francis
Dancer
Petra Hajduk
Dancer
Rachel Gough
Dancer
Ramzan Miah
Dancer
Reece Daniels
Dancer
Remi Black
Dancer
Renae Hughes
Dancer
Ricky Jinks
Dancer
Rufus Lacey
Dancer
Sam Parry
Dancer
Sam Salter
Dancer
Samuel Lawson
Dancer
Samuel Newby
Dancer
Sarah Seville
Dancer
Sasha Shadid
Dancer
Sera Maehara
Dancer
Serena McCall
Dancer
Shani Ross
Dancer
Shanie Blais
Dancer
Shawn Aimey
Dancer
Sophia McAvoy
Dancer
Steven Pascua
Dancer
Marvel Ebinum
Dancer
Theo Maddix
Dancer
Theo Simpson
Dancer
Tia Denton
Dancer
Tia Holden
Dancer
Todd Talbot
Dancer
Tom Mather
Dancer
Tom Norman
Dancer
Tori Bew
Dancer
Tyson Simon
Dancer
Vicky Leung
Dancer
Will Loftis
Dancer
Will West
Dancer
Yasmin Ogbu
Dancer
Yves Cueni
Dancer
Yvonne Evans
Dancer
Zion Battles
Dancer
Aisha Jawando
Chorus
Leah St Luce
Chorus
Marilyn Cutts
Chorus
Minal Patel
Chorus
Paul Isles
Chorus
Vishal Soni
Chorus
Winnie Holzman
Wiz-O-Mania Audience Member (uncredited)
Terence Hughes
Munchkin Dignitary (uncredited)
Jason Lines
Teacher (uncredited)
Marvin Montoute
Munchkin (uncredited)
Stephen Schwartz
Emerald City Guard (uncredited)
Ricardo Ludgero Souza
Munchkin (uncredited)
Alfredo Tavares
Teacher (uncredited)
Poppy Townsend White
Girls Brigade (uncredited)
Details Of Movie
Music
Photos Alice Brooks
Revenue 681385955
Location United States of America
Producer Marc Platt, David Stone
Director Jon M. Chu
User Reviews
Chris Sawin November 23 2024 01:35:57 AM

The film adaptation of Wicked is based on the Broadway musical, which is a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Both Maguire’s novel and the musical are expansions of L. Frank Baum’s original The Wizard of Oz novel was published in 1900 and its film adaptation in 1939. The musical is one of the longest-running and financially successful Broadway musicals of all time. With a screenplay by Winnie Holzman (writer of the book of the Wicked musical) and Dana Fox (Cruella) and directed by Jon M. Chu (Now You See Me 2, Crazy Rich Asians), Wicked begins around the time The Wizard of Oz ends. The Wicked Witch of the West has died and Glinda the Good Witch is breaking the news to Munchkinland. As the munchkins celebrate and burn a giant, Wicker Man-style witch in celebration of the witch’s death, Glinda is asked by one of the munchkins if she knew the witch. What follows is nearly three hours of how a green-skinned, outcast girl named Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) whose emotions spark wondrous fits of unbelievable magic interacts with the spoiled, entitled, and pink-infatuated Galinda (Ariana Grande) as they enroll in a magic school known as Shiz University. Visually, Wicked is jaw-dropping and beautiful. All of the talking animals look extraordinary and every sequence with the flying monkeys is a visual highlight. Peter Dinklage voices a goat teacher named Dr. Dillamond and he has one of the most emotional arcs in the film. The bear nurse and dog doctor in the opening moments of the film look so good for what little amount of screen time they have. Given how many VFX teams are credited in the film, it’s no wonder the CGI looks intricately gorgeous. The three VFX teams with the most credits in Wicked include OPSIS (The Fall Guy, Rescue Rangers), Framestore (Gladiator II, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), and ILM (Venom: The Last Dance, Alien: Romulus). Then there’s various work from about a dozen different other VFX teams/houses, but the most intriguing one is one called FoyProAI. FoyProAI doesn’t have an accessible official website, but some digging around on an executive producer’s LinkedIn page gives some background. Foy stands for Fountains of Youth and FoyProAI specializes in de-aging, up-aging, and beauty work in film. They’ve worked on Smile 2, John Woo’s The Killer for Peacock, and 400 shots on Wicked. There are moments of greatness in Wicked that mostly stem from the chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Grande’s comedic roots, specifically her time and experience on SNL, really come into play here. Grande is essentially the comedic relief as Galinda as her outgoing personality carries most sequences while Erivo has more of a straightforward performance that has more of a dry delivery. But the generic musical formula is infuriating. Story beats pause and go out of their way to cater to multiple songs at times and it logically hurts your brain. Yes, it’s a musical and yes people are going to sing. But when the main characters are trying to get away on a flying broom as guards are pounding at the door and they spend another ten minutes dancing, crying, and bellowing about their broken friendship it becomes a nuisance. Get on the damn broom and sing on the way to your destination. It doesn’t seem that hard. Some sequences are thrown in solely because they’ll make a big song more appealing (the whole rotating library straight out of Inception thing) or side stories that don’t go anywhere because two characters need to seem closer than they are (Elphaba and Fiyero’s awkward ten-minute excursion into the forest to free a lion cub). These are both roundabout executions that take the long way to showcase that Fiyero thinks reading is dumb and that he’s actually in love with Elphaba over Galinda. The film adaptation seems like it’s quite faithful to its source material, but the Hollywood concept of transforming nasty and recognizable villains into sad, relatable characters that the audience roots for is a dumpster fire of a concept. Pure asshole villains can be fantastic too and often make protagonists more interesting if done right. But the musical fantasy film treats Elphaba like dirt for the first hour and a half. Everyone looks down on her because of the color of her skin. Then when she finally becomes friends with Galinda, she develops a soft spot for mistreated animals. It’s the main reason she turns against The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) apart from being one of the only characters who can read magic spells. Wicked is Mean Girls at Hogwarts as everybody sucks and is superficial apart from a character that is supposed to be evil. Elphaba mostly accepts the role of wicked witch because her beliefs don’t match anyone else’s and she’s unwilling to adapt to their ways solely to keep the peace. Wicked features some unreal VFX and even touches on some incredible ideas from time to time, but the ideas that work seem to stem from capitalizing on a fantasy world that was established over a century ago. As a film, Wicked conjures song after song and drags on and on solely because it’s a bloated musical that wants you to die a rhythmic, sometimes undecipherable, high-pitched death.

Almando November 25 2024 09:59:10 PM

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* I've been a Wicked fan since 2010. My expectations for this film were extremely high! And I was blown away by how Jon M. Chu was able to bring this story a new life. Everyone involved did an excellent job! The choice to sing live paid off! Not one note was out of tune! Bowen Yang & Bronwyn James were absolutely hilarious as Phannee & Shen Shen. Marissa Bode was fantastic as Nessarose. Can't wait to see her story continue in Part 2. I hope they include "Wicked Witch of the East" in the Part 2 Soundtrack. Ethan Slater was great as Boq. I'm excited to see how he becomes the Tin Man in Part 2 because that's not shown on stage. He transforms behind the cabinet but I hope we actually see it in Part 2. Michelle Yeoh was great in every scene as Madam Morrible. She was very Wicked! Jeff Goldblum was amazing as The Wizard! I loved the new version of The Grimmerie! The way it opened was very cool! Jonathan Bailey was incredibly charming as Fiyero! Dancing Through Life was very well choreographed and his singing was great! Loved the way he met Elphaba in this version. I'm very intrigued to see him become The Scarecrow in Part 2. Ariana Grande was absolutely phenomenal as Glinda! She embodied everything about Glinda! Loved her homages to past Glindas in Popular. Her voice was very Angelic. You can tell that she studied a lot for this role. Can't wait to hear her "I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)". Cynthia Erivo stole the show as Elphaba Thropp. She poured her heart into this character! I'm so excited to hear "No Good Deed" in Part 2! She was incredible! As for the Cameos in One Short Day, Loved seeing Stephen Schwartz as The Guard & Winnie Holtzman as an Emerald City Resident. Love the expansion of the Wizomania show to include Kristin & Idina telling the story of The Grimmerie. Loved that Idina did her Elphie Battle Cry. It didn't take away from Cynthia's at the End. The Film was meant to happen in 2024. Had it come out in 2016 or 2019, I don't think it would've been as well done as it was! I can't wait to see Part 2 and how much of The Wizard of Oz they include. I hope we get to see Dorothy's Face. 10/10 No Notes.

CinemaSerf November 26 2024 02:45:29 PM

OK, so I'm going to be swimming against the tide a bit with this, but I didn't love it. We start where the "Wizard of Oz" story finishes off, only without the catchy "Ding Dong the Witch is...". Instead we get an ensemble dance number that is energetically performed, colourful and expertly choreographed but instantly forgettable. Then we meet "Galinda" (Ariana Grande) who arrives in her pink bubble to confirm the news and enjoy the celebrations. Turns out, though, that she and the erstwhile "Wicked Witch of the West" were once friends and so back in time we go to the birth of a little green baby who may (or may not) have been conceived within the bounds of happily married wedlock. Scoot on many years more and we discover that said green person - "Elphaba" (Cynthia Erivo) is accompanying her wheelchair bound sister "Nessarose" (Marissa Bode) to the "Ozian" equivalent of "Hogwarts" where she encounters the snobbish "Galinda" and a fairly comprehensive degree of hostility. Luckily for her, the legendary sorceress "Madame Morrible" (Michelle Yeoh) spots some hidden talent in this young woman and soon she is sharing rooms with her new nemesis and finding herself the butt of school jokes. Then enter the mischievous prince "Fiyero" (Jonathan Bailey) who tends to treat everyone the same and who's been kicked out of more schools that he can shake a sceptre at. He does, however, manage to create an environment in which everyone can get along and that's when things begin to change for an "Elphaba" who is to be made likeable by her now pally roomie. When a letter arrives from the all-powerful Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) summoning her to the "Emerald City", then they set off hoping to find answers to all of their questions, only to find that nothing there is as it seems... I have to admit that JB has been a friend of mine for many years, so I ain't going to be saying anything bad about the man who might just be the next "007", and both Erivo and Grande do well enough with the set piece musical numbers - especially the lively and cleverly written "Populer/lar", but the rest of this just struck me as "Harry Potter" goes to the musicals where it meets "Mean Girls". Goldblum makes his presence felt, but in the same slightly affected fashion that he aways does, and though the visual effects are all fantastic, somehow they are all just so much more sterile to watch than when you see them within the confines of a theatrical stage - where this works so much better, and without the need for the commercially exploitative part 1 and part 2 released months apart. To be fair, everyone looks like they are enjoying themselves, there's a fun number from Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth and Bailey brings some much needed charm to the proceedings but I'd probably just prefer a director's cut that offered us the whole story in one three hour chunk so we can get that mediocre "Defying Gravity" power ballad out of the way (repeatedly) in one fell swoop. It's a very polished production, and maybe the hype has just got to me, but I can't pretend I wasn't disappointed by this. Wilted more than wicked, sorry.

Brent Marchant November 25 2024 12:12:35 AM

It’s quite a rare occurrence these days when a much-anticipated film actually lives up to all of its pre-release hype, but this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical truly does so in every regard. Director Jon M. Chu has brilliantly brought to life the back story behind the lives and relationship of the two witches from the original L. Frank Baum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its 1939 classic screen adaptation, as well as Gregory Maguire’s 1995 prequel novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. In this stunningly beautiful and delightful big-screen production, viewers learn how the supposedly evil Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) came to know the purportedly Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande-Butera), sorcery students and college roommates whose relationship initially went through a series of changes from unabashed contempt to solid friendship. However, as high-level political intrigue unfolds in their homeland of the magical land of Oz – efforts clandestinely spearheaded by the supposedly all-powerful Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and university headmistress Mme. Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) – Elphaba and Glinda become unwittingly caught up in the high-stakes subterfuge playing out around them, a development that jeopardizes the future of their friendship and the stability of Oz itself. The filmmaker thus subtly but effectively presents audiences with a fable on the nature of good and evil, particularly in terms of what actually constitutes wickedness, especially when it’s skillfully veiled. The result is a thoughtful and thoroughly entertaining tale replete with stunning musical numbers, excellent choreography, ample humor, gorgeous cinematography, an inspired production design and superb performances by the four principals, all of whom are certain to be strong awards season candidates (quite a recommendation coming from someone who unapologetically makes no claim to being a fan of musicals). More than that, though, “Wicked” is an insightful treatise on the quest for power and learning how to make judicious use of it, both in personal dealings and in matters of wider consequence, a fitting cautionary tale for our times (or any time, for that matter). If I had any complaint here, it would be my concern that this is yet another example of a story that’s been divided up into two installments, a growing trend that I don’t believe will ultimately serve the movie industry well. According to the director, this was seen as a necessary step to do justice to the source material, given that it would have been nearly impossible to cram everything into one picture without doing major damage to the content. And, to give the filmmaker the benefit of the doubt, perhaps that will ultimately prove true with the release of part 2 in 2025 (but I’ll reserve judgment on that for the time being). In the meantime, though, this first part comes through as promised, and, in this day and age, that’s a cinematic miracle in itself.

r96sk November 27 2024 01:40:34 AM

Very good! I enjoyed 'Wicked'. Always impressive when a long run time flashes by - no doubt a sign of a sturdy movie. 2hr 40mins is how long this one lasts, I thought I might have felt that whilst watching but, honestly, I didn't. Since sharing my reviews online I have appreciated musicals much more, to the point that when I learn a film is from this genre it barely registers. I have never seen the stage musical, in fact the only detail I knew for certain was that it was from the world of 'The Wizard of Oz' - which, in turn, I only know from the 1939 and 2013 movies, as well as one or two other flicks. As such, I wasn't actually sure where they were heading with the Wicked Witch of the West - but I approve. Cynthia Erivo impresses as the aforementioned. I have to say, mind, that Ariana Grande is the person onscreen that stood out most. She does an excellent job at making her character's self-centered quirks so convincing, while also producing a few amusing moments too. Jonathan Bailey and Peter Dinklage are good, while Jeff Goldblum certainly fits his role. The ending, whilst perfectly fine and pleasing, is possibly a bit rushed/abrupt, though that's to be expected given it's only part one. The same can be said for most films that are split into multiple productions, to be fair. I am intrigued to see where part two goes, bring on this time next year. The music is, as one would expect, also a positive. Granted I don't think I'll be adding any of the tracks to my playlist, but I still had a pleasant time hearing all the songs come and go - not one sticks out like a sore thumb, so that's good. Elsewhere, visually and plot-wise I have no real complaints.

good.film November 28 2024 01:35:14 PM

https://good.film/guide/haters-will-tell-you-wicked-sucks-heres-why-theyre-wrong Broadway hits rely on a suspension of disbelief. With the right ingredients, even the oddest of ideas can take flight on stage… but in the delicate translation to screen, they crash-land. Take Cats: something about that core premise of humans playing felines – which theatre audiences lapped up (sorry) for decades – just didn’t work at the movies. From the outside, it’s easy to paint Wicked with the same brush. Isn’t it all a bit… silly? There’s a blonde Godiva who floats in a bubble. A green woman who was raised by a bear (and whose father may or may not be a wizard). And when they meet at a Hogwarts-style university, we find out their professor, Dr. Dillamond, is a talking goat. These aren’t exactly the trappings of a thoughtful, award-winning piece of drama. But peel back the colours of any GOOD fantasy and you’ll usually find the allegories are rich and meaningful. With its themes of parental guilt, absent fatherhood, disability, discrimination and class supremacy, Wicked is no exception. Look, we’re not saying Wicked’s perfect. At 2 hours 40 minutes, it’s knocking HARD on the “too long, wrap it up!” door. And there’s characters that either overdo it a bit (Governor Thropp) or arguably, don’t add much at all (oh Pfannee, do you even go to this school?). But that’s a bit like complaining about a scratch on a speedboat. A sleek, wondrous craft that can whiz you somewhere thrilling, and change you along the way. We didn’t have crazy high expectations – hey, the everyday moviegoer isn’t a hardcore Broadway fan – but honestly? You don’t need to be. Wicked is a movie for anyone. And maybe that’s why it feels so GOOD.

Manuel São Bento December 03 2024 12:30:33 AM

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/wicked-review-cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-butera-shine-in-a-riveting-musical-experience/ "Despite a few technical and narrative missteps, Wicked shines brightly with its compelling story, outstanding performances, and astonishing musical sequences. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera deliver truly remarkable, award-worthy performances, grounding the film with unparalleled chemistry and elevating their characters to incredible heights, all while demonstrating phenomenal vocal talent. Jon M. Chu crafts an ambitious, visually stunning adaptation that captivates both long-time fans of the musical and newcomers alike. With timeless messages conveyed through poignant themes and well-crafted character arcs, Wicked not only lives up to its initial hype but leaves audiences eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this magical story." Rating: A-

rssp55 January 03 2025 01:40:13 AM

I so wanted to hate it. I didn't like the decision to split the musical into two films. I didn't like the casting. I HATED the trailer, where it made the film look like it was baked with plastic, glossy CGI, or even worse Gen-AI. And I was wrong. Erivo and Grande are stellar. The co-stars aren't who I'd have picked, but they're quite excellent themselves. (Particularly the folks playing Bok and Nessa.) It's a glorious, beautiful, and joyful film in many ways. When Elphaba finally soars, my heart soared as well and I found myself tearing up. I also appreciated how it gives a nod to the much, much darker book, especially with the propaganda posters and effigy in the opening, and the various references to Oz's takeover. (Like when the stone edifice falls off the side of the school building revealing the animals beneath.) My only complaint is, as with any two or three-parter, lots of the filler is garbage. This is especially true of the Dancing Through Life number, which becomes unbearably long and significantly less magical because of the added content. Still, highly recommended. 8/10 Stars.

RalphRahal January 09 2025 06:08:35 AM

Wicked by Jon M. Chu is an ambitious adaptation that largely delivers on its promise to bring the magic of the beloved musical to the big screen. Visually, the movie is stunning, with vibrant set pieces and a cinematic take on Oz that feels both familiar and fresh. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba brings an emotional depth that truly captures the character’s struggles, while Ariana Grande’s Glinda adds a balance of charm and humor. Together, their performances anchor the film and make the story’s core themes, friendship, identity, and societal perception, shine. The musical numbers are undeniably the movie’s highlight. Songs like "Defying Gravity" are powerful and beautifully staged, though I couldn’t help but feel the choreography, while good, could have been taken a step further to truly elevate the experience. The pacing is a mixed bag, with the first act taking its time to set the stage, which may feel slow for some. That said, once the story finds its rhythm, it balances the emotional beats with grandeur fairly well, though the shifts in tone could have been smoothed out more. Overall, Wicked succeeds as a visually impressive and emotionally resonant adaptation, even if it stumbles in a few places. It’s a solid film for fans of the musical and newcomers alike. While there’s room for improvement, particularly in pacing and choreography, it’s hard to deny that the performances and visual storytelling make it a worthwhile watch.