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Post by anthony40 on Nov 22, 2024 14:21:01 GMT
I’ve just come out of the screening.
Wow! Nothing could have prepared me for that!
Having seen it, I can understand the decision to split the films.
Bowen Yang is a gift.
I now need time to process this before my (I predict) very lengthy review.
Again, wow!
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Post by jacob on Nov 22, 2024 15:07:20 GMT
That was pretty spectacular… cried far too much. Not a fault in the entire cast.
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Post by singularsensation on Nov 22, 2024 16:58:36 GMT
It is a fantastic film and I’m so so pleased that after years and years of trying that the final result has been well and truly worth the wait. Wicked is obviously Elphaba’s story and Cynthia is fantastic but Part 1 is Ariana’s film - an absolute revelation and the Oscar hype is more than justified on her performance of Popular alone.
It is for the most part really well paced and you don’t really feel all the extra runtime compared to the first act of the show. Also have to give credit to the direction because it really lets the musical numbers breathe and focus on the actual dancing/performing rather than shy away from it.
A few niggles - Michelle Yeoh is miscast for the most part but does finally come into her own towards the end. Whilst improved over the trailers there are still parts I’d have liked to see them be bolder with the colour grading - like turn the saturation we’re meant to be in Oz!
A 4.5/5 from me - though that isn’t an option on the poll so I’ve rounded up!
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Post by marob on Nov 22, 2024 16:58:41 GMT
I’ve always meant to give the stage show another watch as when I saw it about 10 years ago I was underwhelmed. I wasn’t today. Wow. Roll on part two.
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Post by richey on Nov 22, 2024 18:39:45 GMT
Wow. I cried, multiple times.
I was expecting not to like this, but boy am I glad to be proved wrong.
The singing, the choreography... amazing.
There were several moments which were quite understated and more subtle than the stage version and these worked really well. And one moment in Dancing through Life which really got me choked up.
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Post by Jon on Nov 22, 2024 19:00:50 GMT
For everyone who's seen the movie: Is the Wizard's origins expanded upon? It's one of those things that only briefly touched upon in the stage musical |
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Post by jacob on Nov 22, 2024 19:23:06 GMT
For everyone who's seen the movie: Is the Wizard's origins expanded upon? It's one of those things that only briefly touched in the stage musical Somewhat, during One Short Day... {Spoiler - click to view}
Wizomania breaks off into an extended number that sums up the origins of The Grimmerie and that when The Wizard came in, he was the only one that could read it after many years. They explain he came in by balloon, but not much more is said. There are loads of implied references to his origin though, like the "Oscar Diggs " painted on the boxes in the defying gravity set. Also spotted a poster from his Circus days taming 2 lions, which definitely adds to his character of removing animals from Oz. But they're almost "blink and you'll miss it" moments. Another reference is that because he has no real power, he reads "Omaha" from the Grimmerie in that Wizomania sequence, and although the Ozians believe he's magical, it's actually him just saying where he's originally from in Nebraska. Again, a bit of an obscure reference! I think they'll expand upon this a lot in P2. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 22, 2024 19:43:15 GMT
For everyone who's seen the movie: Is the Wizard's origins expanded upon? It's one of those things that only briefly touched in the stage musical Somewhat, during One Short Day... {Spoiler - click to view}
Wizomania breaks off into an extended number that sums up the origins of The Grimmerie and that when The Wizard came in, he was the only one that could read it after many years. They explain he came in by balloon, but not much more is said. There are loads of implied references to his origin though, like the "Oscar Diggs " painted on the boxes in the defying gravity set. Also spotted a poster from his Circus days taming 2 lions, which definitely adds to his character of removing animals from Oz. But they're almost "blink and you'll miss it" moments. Another reference is that because he has no real power, he reads "Omaha" from the Grimmerie in that Wizomania sequence, and although the Ozians believe he's magical, it's actually him just saying where he's originally from in Nebraska. Again, a bit of an obscure reference! I think they'll expand upon this a lot in P2. That's interesting and I agree we'll see his origins expanded in part 2, there's also the possibility of a redemption arc for Glinda which doesn't exist in the show but it's never explained why she sent Dorothy to see the Wizard knowing full well the Wizard has no magical powers but perhaps she sees Dorothy as a way to draw out Elphaba and perhaps expose the Wizard |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 22, 2024 20:03:41 GMT
I’m not looking at the spoilers (thank you kind members for using the spoiler tags!)
So, without saying anything to spoil, are there surprises?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 22, 2024 20:31:09 GMT
Second question, is the split into 2 films justified? Is there a satisfactory conclusion?
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Post by mhumphries on Nov 22, 2024 20:49:49 GMT
I’m not looking at the spoilers (thank you kind members for using the spoiler tags!) So, without saying anything to spoil, are there surprises?  Well if we told you there are surprises, surely that would spoil the surprise lol. |
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Post by jacob on Nov 22, 2024 20:54:54 GMT
Second question, is the split into 2 films justified? Is there a satisfactory conclusion? Absolutely, there truly is no way that all could’ve been achieved in 2hrs 50. That runtime went incredibly quick and the pacing is great |
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Post by Jon on Nov 22, 2024 21:00:16 GMT
I've read who has cameos in Part 1, makes me wonder if we'll get anymore cameos in Part 2.
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Post by stuartmcd on Nov 22, 2024 21:29:06 GMT
Just got out of seeing it and wow. I know I’ve always been a defender of it being split into 2 parts but it really does work and I don’t know how you would do this as 1 movie. It doesn’t feel like they’re trying to stretch it out to justify it. The movie flies by!
Absolutely loved the movie. Cried multiple times. The delays were worth it as I really couldn’t imagine this movie without this cast and this creative team. It might have taken a long time to get there but the final result is fantastic.
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Post by anthony40 on Nov 22, 2024 22:26:43 GMT
Wicked
Okay, here’s a review.
I had a day off work, wore my green socks and undies and caught a screening at 10:45 this morning.
The great thing about that is that there were only about 20 people at the screening. This means you could move sears and have a little sing.
What a gift Jon M. Chu has given us. I have no doubt that when the time comes sere all gonna be scrambling ourselves to grab a copy of this on DVD/Blu-Ray, or watch it via a streaming platform. But you ned the big screen to take in the colours of this project, the tulip fields, the fish, hummingbirds, beetles on the girls fingers, etc.
Firstly, the costumes. The detail can be seen- for all characters; notice the glitter on Glinda’s shoulders. Especially in The One Short Day sequence- just stunning.
The students at Shiz University were combination of half trousers/half skirt. I questioned last week if I saw that one or two students were bearded (they were), there’s also an albino student.
Madme. Morrible’s gowns and robes are outstanding.
Also look at the was the glasses worn by both Elphabah and Pfannee.
Cynthia Erivo- I’ve made it clear in previous posts that I do not like her. She looks like she’s going to punch your lights out! Don’t even start me on the nose ring, or the guest judging on Strictly! God knows she can sing though- I’ve heard her but I was once watching Stephen Schwartz interviewed where he explained that (as proven) many actresses can ‘sing’ Elphabah’s songs but it was the vulnerability that Indina Menzel brought to the role that got her cast and I was worried about Cynthia Erivo to convey that vulnerability.
I needn’t have worried. She bought it in bucket loads! By the end she won me over.
Ariana Grande- in truth I don’t know too much about this woman but she certainly had the vocal chops and enough perkiness to bring Glinda to life.
There’s actually a little interaction between Galinda and Dr. Dillamond where he offers an explanation as to why he can’t pronounce her name correctly. The Wizard also amusingly refers to Glinda as Belinda!
On more than one occasion I thought, this is like that film. For example,, when the children run to the Munchkin village window shutters and doors open and I thought ‘Belle’ from Beauty & The Beast.
There’s a blink and miss it combat scene during Loathing and I thought, Mulan.
And when the students are on the train platform seeing Elphabah off I thought , oh, Harry Potter, a scene in a nail salon- oh, In The Heights; but this just me.
The burning effigy of The Witch- must have been difficult for Glinda to witness.
All of the musical numbers are choreographed and performed brilliantly. At one stage I feared they’d cut both Something Bad and A Sentimental Man, but, phew, they remained.
I loved the Snow Leopard!
I would have loved to have seen a cameo from Norbert Leo Butz- the origin Fiyaro.
Speaking of cameos, I think it’s the kinda thing where you’ll have to rewatch it several time to catch them all. I did see Stephen Schwartz.
Personally, whilst it was great that they paid homage to both Indina Menzel and Kristen Chenoworth, for me, they really didn’t add any value. With them or without them, the film was still great.
Andy Nymann- what an interesting actor this man is. Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a fan, I thought he was great in such a small but important role.
I have seen the stage show several times but for the first time I saw what was happening through the eyes of Nessarose- how Elphabah’s actions affected her.
We catch a glimpse, and I mean a glimpse of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, The Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion on the yellow brick road.
We also get to see how they decided on the colour yellow for the bricks in that road.
(I think) the Ozdust Ballroom sequence was a little drawn out- not complaining, just an observation.
Watching Chistery and all the other monkeys develop wings was excruciating- he screamed, twisted, contorted in pain- quite a sight to behold!
There was also some lovely underscoring of the songs.
Having seen it, I now understand why it was necessary to have two films. I just there weren’t a year apart. The second one’s gonna be so much darker!
This had it all- fun, laughter, singing, dancing, action, suspense- do yourself a favour. Go and see Wicked!
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