That, “if there are no further questions, I gotta go” and her going “WHAT???” In the bubble when the one Munchkin asks Glinda if she was Elphaba’s friend were such cute Ariana-isms that never took away from her performance
No bc I fully agree with your take of not caring about how old Jonathan Bailey looked as Fiyero 😭😭😭 his charisma won me over, but also every character looked roughly the same age to me so it wasn’t as though he or anybody (and I think most of the actors playing students are in their 30s???) looked out of place!!
Really, did Kristen Chenowith, Idina Menzel and Norbert Leo Butz look like college students on Broadway?! You have to suspend disbelief when viewing films, TV, and theater when it comes to a character’s age…
@ nowhere did I say that the actors HAD to be college aged??? I said that Jonathan Bailey and every actor playing students (Cynthia, Ariana, Marissa, Ethan) looked the same age so them not all being actually college aged didn’t bother me. The only issue I have with casting people who are older than their character sometimes is when they cast people who CLEARLY stick out as being way older than their character is supposed to be - such as Ben Platt in the Dear Evan Hansen movie, he looked OLD compared to the other actors in that movie playing high schoolers. Hope this helped!
@@diannklotzbier7447 sorry, but I am allowed to say that people who are cast to be certain ages should look at least ROUGHLY the age they’re meant to be playing (and I think Wicked did that well!)… you wouldn’t cast a 20 year old to play a 60 year old because that would look off, so I am allowed to believe that you should at least TRY to cast actors who can be believed as college student to play college students 😐
To your point about the “KILL HER” in defying gravity I agree that they made it an even more dangerous and jarring moment in the movie version, paired with the guards actually dying, the balloon explosion, and the VICIOUS monkeys that were also after Glinda lol
I was like GASP, have I been hearing the lyric wrong this whole time?! KILL HER over those damn monkeys? KILL HER?! And Glinda just standing there after hearing them give a death sentence?!
You are SO REAL for mentioning that moment in dancing through life when fiyero licks his fingers and pushes the guy’s forehead and then body rolls off of him. I haven’t seen anyone else really talk about it and it still has me in a chokehold like a month later 😳
I watched 'Wicked," the movie for the first-time last night without ever having seen the musical beforehand. I found one of the most powerful themes in the movie to be the endearing 'loyalty,' between Dr. Dillamond & Elphaba. The plot-line of nurturing a mutual kinship of characters that come from entirely separate worlds is such a unique undercurrent
Your take on defying gravity is so spot on. I never thought about the song in that way until watching the movie. The sensitivity of Elphaba made that song so much better, so heartbreaking and so much more powerful 🥺 had me bawling.
8:57 finally someone else who appreciates Thank Goodness, a lot of people hate it and I fully don't get why, it's so full of smart exposition and whimsical world building on top of being a perfectly executed and clever way of showing us the layers on Glinda's mind in the moment, I'm so freaking tired of people saying it's boring
Sometimes I wonder if half the reason some people have such shallow takes on Glinda's character is because they aren't paying attention during Thank Goodness 😅
about the break in momentum in defying gravity- i think the choice to have her fall serves this movie elphaba’s narrative more. of course we know she isn’t going to die but when i saw her fall it was genuinely scary (maybe it’s just my fear of heights) and it added a lot of realism because she just got the broom spell to work. on top of this she had to take a true leap of faith - faith in herself because now she was back to being alone like she was as a kid 🥲 which resonated with me even more than defying gravity’s original thematic interpretation. i’m also glad this scene is different because a film adaptation allows for endless new possibilities and we got to see the scale of the emerald palace that she just leaped out of (we don’t talk about how crazy that is imo) i think we all love defying gravity so much and have heard it so many times that such a change is a bit jarring but i think it’ll become more natural with each rewatch edit: i think this (when she reaches out to her reflection) was also the moment she truly and fully accepted herself and accepted that little girl who was neglected her whole life. i love that her moment of self acceptance was intimate and not in front of the world or even glinda because when she does face them again, she truly has nothing left to prove. the stage elphaba towers over the crowd (which works amazingly on stage!!), but this elphaba soars above the world leaving them all behind and finally being truly free
When she crashes through the window and then falls-the entire audience I saw it with collectively held its breath. Even though we know she’s going to fly, it was still suspenseful.
@@zoejohnson6397 I really loved this addition too!!! I think showing Elphaba falling and having to take a moment to learn how to fly versus her just knowing how to (as she does in the stage show) makes the ending of the song SO much more powerful
I wanna add that the part where sings "unlimited". It's more of a reprise of the consistent theme she has been saying since "Wizard and I". Before, she dreamed of endless possibilities. By the time of "Defying Gravity", she has the Grimmerie, which will allow to be unlimited in her power. Plus the ability to fly is a physical manifestation of her ability to go beyond her current limits.
I started tearing up within the first minute or so of the movie when No One Mourns The Wicked started playing. Like it’s just so cinematic and I knew right then they did the musical justice. I love how they expanded on some songs/scenes. They did that absolutely perfectly. I loved the Ozdust ballroom scene. That scene is always emotional but like it being slowed down for the movie was so incredibly perfect and made you really feel for Elphaba all the more. I was sobbing. 😭 I got choked up by the cameos in One Short Day. I cried during Defying Gravity and I was crying as I left the theater lol! 🤣 I am so excited for Part 2! I’ve been a huge fan of the musical since 2009 especially after seeing it live on tour back then. I went to see the movie with my aunt and now she wants to see the musical so this June I get to go see the musical for the 3rd time with my aunt, mom and 2nd cousin. Which for my aunt and 2nd cousin it’ll be their first time seeing a Broadway musical on tour so that’s all the more exciting.
Cynthia’s portrayal of Elphaba honestly made her more likable. I’ve seen the stage version 3 times and her character comes off pretty aggressive and a bit hard to root for. But right from the jump, you feel for her so much sooner and made her connection with Glinda just that much more special. Ariana’s portrayal of Glinda was the most sensational version of her. There is so much more depth there and humanness. She also brought a softness to her that you don’t get with the stage version. This pairing is heavenly and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
That momentum that you felt was missing in Defying Gravity is still very prominent in the audio anyway which I love!! I think the movie wanted to show a more wider input to Elphaba’s story than what you can see on the theater stage which it did. So beautiful!
Yeah I’m glad the studio version isn’t like that. I don’t really like the “unlimited x3” that she does, it kinda breaks the momentum for me too. But ultimately I LOVE Cynthia’s version
As a person that uses a wheelchair, words cannot express how moved I was with the changes made to Nessarose and overall accessibility to the world of Oz❤
12:34 - funny enough John Chu actually tweeted that he wasn't happy with the sound in some Cinemas/Theatres saying that they were playing it way below what they recommended when he'd popped in
I think the new fans falling in love with Wicked is especially a good thing bc this is a *magnificent* adaptation. It is true to the original, but it expounds upon and deepens many of the themes. I think it is everything a stage to screen adaptation should be.
Your takes were so funny. It was great watching you be giddy about Fiyero. 😂 Wicked really is amazing. I’m newly subscribed because of this video. I hope you get that plaque! 💚🩷
I just wish that they didnt play the battlecry in the trailers.... I wanted that to be a surprise for all of us. Like use popular or the wizard and I - yes ik DG is iconic but the battlecry would have been an incredible surprise into blackout (no more shots, should have been blackout)
I'm gonna be so real, out of context the battle cry sounded terrible to me and I was with the other ppl who hated it. But as someone who has never seen the musical and didn't know the story, everything surrounding it, including the music, really made it feel so powerful, and it worked perfectly in context. But I guess it didn't ruin the change for me cuz I didn't see anything to do with wicked before (except maybe some random high notes by singers with green face paint on)
It wouldve been a bad idea though. You will basically put off people that are so familiar with the cry in the movie. Instead of them fully taking in the sequence, they would inevitably ruminate if they liked the cry or not hearing it the first time. Sort of like cutting the momentum of their immersion.
I completely agree with your take at 9:47 on Jonathan Bailey’s age for multiple reasons. First of all, because it’s a fantasy story that takes place in a fantasy setting, it makes you suspend your disbelief a little more than a story that takes place in our world; we don’t know how school/university works in Oz and at what age people attend it (compare this to the Dear Evan Hansen movie, where Ben Plat was in his late 20s playing someone we _knew_ was supposed to be a teenager). Secondly, as you mentioned, part of Fiyero’s character arc is that he keeps getting kicked out of schools, so it would make sense that he was a bit older. I think you could even make the argument that him being a prince meant that he might have started school a bit later too. Finally, there’s a time jump (another good point you mentioned) of about 5 years between Act 1 and Act 2.
I totally get your take on "Defying Gravity". When I saw it the first time. I was bothered by all the breaks. However, I will say...I've now seen it 5 times in the theater and each time I watched it, I actually prefer the slower buildup to each of the moments. Honestly, the visual of her coming up after "It's me!" and then she flies up, spins around, and the cape is flying out and then starts with "And if you care to find me...". That visual, is my favorite part of the whole movie (and I love the entire movie). But, her quick spin and singing...kills me. I want that visual as my computer screensaver. Just her spinning and holding there in the sky. Also, the Ozdust Ballroom scene broke me EVERY time. It's one of the best moments of the movie. You'd think after the first few viewings would have changed it. But, EVERY time I've seen it. Breaks. Me. Also, like you, I'm so happy that new people have seen this movie/story and love it. So many reviewers that said "I hate musicals" turned out to love the movie and that makes me happy. The move, overall, makes me happy and like you...it brings me so much joy. Awesome review and so happy you enjoyed it. 😀
4:05 I’ve been trying to communicate why Defying Gravity always gets me crying. And you explained it perfectly. I also was a fan since a young teen, saw it for the first time when I was about 14/15, and that moment she rises into the air just took my breath away. So the song already meant a lot to me at that age. And just all that surging back during the number is almost overwhelming. I swear, every time she goes “It’s me!” and bursts into the final verse it’s just waterworks. Maybe it’s also because of that moment they gave with her looking at her young self. Sure it builds the tension for the big moment, but I’m just realizing maybe it like I’m looking back at my younger self too. The only way I’ve been able to describe what I’m feeling at that moment is: “We made it.” That didn’t feel enough, but now it makes even more sense. God, I’m making myself emotional again just thinking about it.
The new fan thing is so true and nice! I have always been sort of surrounded by musical soundtracks but I have only properly gotten into musicals last year or so. Musical theatre is so great to be a part of and something to love 💝
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH WICKED CAUSE OF THE MOVIE AND SEEING YOUR PASSION AND WARMTH AROUND THE TITLE JUST MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CHANNEL AND I JUST SUBSCRIBED... THANK YOU !!
OMG i am so excited to come onto TH-cam to see this video today, I have been waiting for your opinions. This is also great timing as I literally watched it for the 5th time today
I’m thrilled that this is finally here!!! I did genuinely enjoy this movie and had no notes, I’ve known of Wicked since 2015 and have never really gotten around to listening to the music (minus Defying Gravity and Popular) but as I’ve gotten into musical theatre, have tried but this movie really helped, I do know the general plot and am so excited for part 2, generally agreed with your points, and am so excited for part 2
I want to talk about how accessible this movie made the story for people with disabilities!! I have autism, and unfortunately I feel like I couldn’t appreciate Wicked for what it was when I was younger because it had such a nuanced take on authority and I have a hard time understanding why anyone would lie. I saw the movie with someone who has an intellectual disability; because of that association I had I was worried that the movie would be too complex for this person to follow. But I was so impressed with how clear the movie was at every point and how well my movie-going partner was able to follow along. They sometimes had questions about characters’ intentions, but clocked when intentions shifted and understood when the girls were/ weren’t friends or when somebody was angry. And I think the moral storytelling was clear at every point in the same way, which is huge because that’s the whole point of the story and if the audience can’t access the message then there’s a problem. Maybe the stage production creates a similar experience, idk I’ve never seen it live, but my guess is that the length of the movie (being able to move through the plot slowly) and being able to hone in on subtle cues like facial expressions helped the movie be extra good at this. So now I love Wicked, I’m kicking myself for not getting into it sooner (but also trying to remind myself maybe I couldn’t have understood it back then), and I’m so glad the person I went with enjoyed the movie
As someone that had absolutely no plans to see Wicked, I loved the movie and am now obsessed! I will limit my comment to the momentum break during DG - repeating Madam Morrible's announcement is what did it more for me. I've unsuccessfully tried to figure how they could have handled that differently, The falling scene was necessary and could have been shorter, and the volume could have been higher for the flashback statements Elphaba heard. Love your recap!
I have seen this 5 times in the theaters, I just bought it on DVD and will watch that on repeat. This was an incredibly done movie and my GOD Ari and Cynthia are incredible!!!
One thing that I’m interested to see in Part 2 is what they’ll do with Nessa. Marissa Bode is of course disabled which I think is amazing because representation matters but…. Spoiler, Nessa stands up, off the wheelchair in Part 2. Marissa in an interview, to me sounded like she was hinting a slight story change with it. I could be wrong but I’m curious to see what they do with it.
Thank you for making this video, Sam! It's always a pleasure to hear your thoughts on things, and especially on Wicked, knowing how much of a fan you are!
I like the “For Good” title but wish they would have stuck with either “Part 1” and “Part 2” or called the first movie “Wicked: Defying Gravity” or something like that. Just so it was more cohesive.
I loved this! I was singing along and felt the same feels. The benefits of listening to someone like you is we get the, "Well, the choreographer". Given additional credit where it's due.
Honestly, once Elphaba & Glinda meet the Wizard, I like movie more than the musical. Every scene from that point onward has so much more weight & emotion to the story. The pacing isn’t as rushed, the characters feel genuine, the emotional moments have more impact, Sentimental Man shows the Wizard’s character more than it did in the play, and scenes like Defying Gravity or the the monkeys sprouting wings just feels more intense. I also loved the scene where the monkeys chase Elphaba due to the musical cues and the cinematography. It has great homages to both the monkeys flying in the Wizard of Oz and their big reveal in the musical and I felt that whole segment was perfect
I just watched the Wicked play on youtube only because I will never get to watch it live in New York. I loved how Nessa Rose the ability to walk by the magic shoes. Unlike some disabled people I loved that part because I would love the ability to walk in some way. Also, the ending had me in tears. It well done, and I hope that the 2nd part of the movie gives the same feelings of happiness that the play did.
Regarding the break of momentum in Defying Gravity, after having watched the film 12 times in theatres, I have thoughts on an alternate sequence of the events unfolding. - Elphaba and Glinda have their “I hope you’re happy” moment. - Guards break into the attic, attempting to apprehend the two. - In trying to fight off the guards, Elphaba falls from the tower. - We then have the younger self reflection moment as she falls. In a moment where it could be easy to surrender and put an end to her own suffering at the hands of the other Ozians, Elphaba CHOOSES to trust herself, showing her younger self what they’re truly capable of. In this moment, she chooses to fly. - As guards are apprehending Glinda, she flies up and around the tower, circling it as she says “she hasn’t done anything wrong! I’m the one you want! It’s me!” - After singing “it’s meeeeeeee,” Elphaba halts to have the confrontational moment with the guards as she sings “so if you care to find me…” - All else remains the same! I don’t even know if I’d want it all to unfold this way, but it would have allowed for the momentum to build into the final chorus.
i’ve also been a fan since middle school as well! (2006 saw this musical as an 8th grade graduation present & wow i feel old saying that out loud) PERFECTLY CRITIQUED! can’t wait to watch this on new year’s eve at home 🌸💚✨
My mom is obsessed like me with this movie! Which is a first.. I've seen this movie three times and every time I watched this movie it made me cry, it's so incredible.. I was so overwhelmed during defying gravity in a good way when the credits were rolling my mom had to drag me out of my seat .. this movie is brilianttttt.. I loved it.. definitely the best film of 2024 . I'm wishing all of next year away so I can see part two 😂😂😂
19:00 I read all those scenes will be in streaming/Blu Ray, which is why I'm buying it. In my last viewing of it earlier this week, I definitely saw a disconnect. If you notice right before Dr Dillamond gets arrested, there's the scene of Glinda practicing the hair toss, then Fiyero makes his comment and says "let's get to class" and it goes into the arrest scene. But Elpeba is literally wearing something different in that classroom scene (vs hair toss scene) and everyone has poppies like they were all went on a trip together. Hint: They did, there's like a hangout spot in the woods the "main 5" go to. That's a cut scene that will be in the home release.
Oh so you're saying the film will have a directors cut? It would be so awsome if they include both the director and theater version in the physical release of the movie
I LOVED the movie, but I had a hard time with defying gravity the first time. I'm still not totally convinced with all the cuts but I think it's a great greaaat adaptation! And I also agree with you!! I needed the sound to be louder in the English version!! In my case I'm from Mexico so I also got to see the Spanish dub and idk if it was the theater or the dub sound but that was DEFINITELY louder and I can tell you it CHANGED the whole experience for me! I think that's the time i cried the most hahah cause I was able to listen to every single detail and it was AWESOME
While I didn't like the defying grafity break, I defenately think it was a necesarry moment for the movie version of the story and this was arguably the best way to do it. I can't really think of a different way personally. Also the "Me and *BOQ* " just gets me every damn time 😂😂
The girl with the bob doing the fork dancing was awesome. I agree. She gave the best disgusted face. The birds flying off were a callback to Wizard of oz not the flying monkeys (although it's a nice tie in as well). It alludes to somewhere over the rainbow, where "bluebirds fly". So the rainbow was in the background, and then the bluebirds flew out.
I've been Wicked-obsessed for 20 years. I saw it at a regular screen, then in 3D, then the singalong. I used a 101-point structure for the breakdown video on my channel! 2:53 You don't need to explain. So many of us were crying too. 14:17 Yes! I made exactly the same points in my video. I get it academically but when the song's about to climax, you don't wanna start mixing things up. 21:59 Yes it is the biggest thrill watching new fans be born. All the "first time watching Wicked" videos are so gratifying. Some people completely mangle the names and it's quite adorable 😊
i maybe would’ve loved a no-break edit version of defying gravity available for streaming? it served its purpose for the movie, but maybe for the “album version” some dialogue could be not included
I am a new fan to wicked and my compliment is going to the music. The beginning opener was fantastic and the break in defying gravity absolutely built up the ending of the final note for Cynthia. Honestly, just into the music as a producers ear.
When I tell you the first note of Thank Goodness is going to play and I’m going to burst into tears. I’m not even a long time wicked fan, but no song has ever stood out to me like that one, or explained my experiences so well. I will not make it through.
I wanted to ask a die hard wicked fan if you thought that her cape swoosh at the end of the movie was sorta referencing earlier in the movie where she was trying to swoosh her hair but it wasn’t working for her. So she kinda made it her own
the entirety of defying gravity is perfect. the break through the window was such a masterful addition of suspense and symbolism. it added to Elphaba’s character depth and shows how she’s still learning and growing, while accepting her decisions. if you’re truly invested in the scene, then the momentum should’ve stayed the entire time. it’s like 5-10 seconds before the big moment, so honestly people are just being impatient and nit picky. the momentum stayed with me the whole time and that specific moment left me breathless. the anticipation was unreal, so i wholeheartedly disagree with anyone saying this moment killed the momentum, or whatever. glad you enjoyed it otherwise lol
the movie was BEYOND amazing but i definitely agree with the critique of some scenes needing to be louder in volume. for instance, while the ending of defying gravity was perfect, the intro could have been more louder and grand
I´ve never seen Wicked, but I love musical theatre. What I loved about the movie is, Glinda holds het skirt up every time no matter how long or short it is. Only if she´s relaxed though. That was a detail that fitted so well with her character! PS. I really appreciated you keeping it spoiler free, thank you!
I've seen this critique about the movie not ending on a blackout after DG, like in the musical. And my honest opinion, as someone who never seen the musical, is that it makes sense on stage with intermission, but here it was necessary to not end here. First of all, because it makes the movie "complete". Obviously, part 2 is coming next year, but the movie end could work as the end of the story. Like that's how she became evil and you can watch the original WoO movie. Second, because it allows us to know where the characters are at the end. We see Glinda telling Fiyero. We see Nessa and Boq. And we see Frexpar have a heart attack. It's like it has gone full circle. It began with Shiz, and ended with Shiz!
I agree with your points and I really enjoyed the movie! Though I felt that a lot of the choices were made to draw out the length of the movie since it was Act I as a stand alone film. I felt it slowed down during Ozdust with the waltz, and the cameos were lovely but it sort of took me out of the world for a moment. Also what was going on with Idina's wig??????
thank goodness is gonna break me. as someone who was an arianator before i was even a wicked fan(was a wicked fan before ariana was glinda but i wasn’t into musical theater till middle school in like 2018), and recognizing that thank goodness encompasses ariana as a whole is gonna truly break me. ariana has had much success in music but has also been through it with the manchester bombing, mac miller death, her marriage, being ridiculed by the media liek all of that, it’s like what thank goodness is about. that like yeah ur dreams came true, but are u finally happy? and ariana also said on the sentimental men podcast that she’s a thank goodness glinda like all of this combined plus the actual story….. imma be a mess in that theater
I sobbed at defying gravity. It is the most iconic scene in almost any musical of all time I would argue this strongly. I have been so lucky to see it in the stage version a few times and it is epic so to see it on a screen was like life-changing? The emotion of her seeing her younger self took over realizing the momentum was missing a little. Also I agree Jonathan Bailey was perfect, no notes at all.
Im so happy this came out since most of my friends havent watched it yet and dont talk that much about theater so this just felt like a podcast except im talking to myself after every single one of the ideas you mention 🙏(ps : i also noticed the eyelash and it was INFURIATING😠😠)
The sound is interesting because it was perfect in my theater and way too loud in our local IMAX (which is always too loud). So I feel like some theaters turned their sound down or something weird because it was a musical.
I had the same thoughts about the volume too! I honestly thought it was my bad hearing 😅 also I heard somewhere that there is a deleted montage before the poppy scene with the friend group (plus a shirtless Fiyero)
I came to the film from a very odd angle. On the one hand I love musical theatre but where I live it is not very accessible so I haven't seen a lot of shows and I never saw Wicked. I knew a couple songs and some general plot beats and later reveals just from existing in the musical theatre space online, but I never had Wicked on the list of shows I really would love to go and see and I never really got why so many people love it, as the songs didn't seem so special to me when I listened to them on Spotify. But wow...... Now I get it. I loved the film and I now really really want to find a way to see the show somewhere. Is it still playing in London? If so, maybe I need to book a trip sooner rather than later... I want to show the film to all my friends who don't really care about musicals just because I think it could be a great entry point. The themes are so clear yet don't totally beat you over the head, the songs are amazing when seeing them in the context of the story, the characters are flawed yet lovable... It is great. Also for a film adaptation of a musical it feels so well done. The sets, costumes and everything just feel like they are from a stage musical and don't try to hide it. Shiz is probably the prettiest magic school on screen since Hogwarts and definitely my new favourite. I just loved every minute of this film and even though it is so long it never felt like it dragged at all. I went to see it with a couple friends one of which is really into musicals and knew a lot about it before, and two who had no idea what the show was about besides: "there are two witches and one is green and they hate each other at some point and are friends at some other point" It was the most fun thing to be sitting between them when on one side of me a fan is vibing with everything, laughing and gasping and loving everything and on the other side there are two people just being genuinely surprised and discovering the story for the first time and me in the middle who was somewhere in between in my experience as well. I have rarely been to the cinema this year because it got very expensive but I am so glad I got to experience this, because, while I will love watching it at home again and again, the in person experience in the cinema will be a treasured memory and can probably only be beat if I do manage to see the stage show somewhere. That was a long ramble but I don't know how else to comment on the film. 😅 TLDR: I loved it a lot more than I expected
My six year old got both the Elphba and Glinda Little Golden Books for Christmas. They did draw a few pictures based off that cut friend scene from the trailer in both of them talking about them all being buddies. I hope we get a chance to enjoy that scene
I took my best friend too see Wicked on my third watch , the best part was watching her discover and fall in love with Wicked! But annoyingly lol, 🙄 she’s perceptive af and literally put everything together literally 5 minutes after watching… she caught all of the little Easter eggs. Stole my thunder of withholding spoilers lmao 😂 😂
Agree on louder. My first thought was turn it up!!! I saw it in 3D the first time and it was not loud enough. I feel like maybe people complained because the second time I saw it I could feel it vibrating through my body. I don’t know what happened but I’ve heard the “it wasn’t loud enough critique” a lot.
My favorite Ariana ad-lib "Dearest Momsy and Popsicle: Guess what? I can't hear....your guesses....because _this is a letter'_
That, “if there are no further questions, I gotta go” and her going “WHAT???” In the bubble when the one Munchkin asks Glinda if she was Elphaba’s friend were such cute Ariana-isms that never took away from her performance
I thought ad libs are improv. Is this line improvised?
@@swedishfishoreos the additions of " I can't hear....your guesses....because this is a letter" and "WHAT???” are both improvised
No bc I fully agree with your take of not caring about how old Jonathan Bailey looked as Fiyero 😭😭😭 his charisma won me over, but also every character looked roughly the same age to me so it wasn’t as though he or anybody (and I think most of the actors playing students are in their 30s???) looked out of place!!
OMG quit nit picking!
Really, did Kristen Chenowith, Idina Menzel and Norbert Leo Butz look like college students on Broadway?! You have to suspend disbelief when viewing films, TV, and theater when it comes to a character’s age…
@ nowhere did I say that the actors HAD to be college aged??? I said that Jonathan Bailey and every actor playing students (Cynthia, Ariana, Marissa, Ethan) looked the same age so them not all being actually college aged didn’t bother me. The only issue I have with casting people who are older than their character sometimes is when they cast people who CLEARLY stick out as being way older than their character is supposed to be - such as Ben Platt in the Dear Evan Hansen movie, he looked OLD compared to the other actors in that movie playing high schoolers. Hope this helped!
@@diannklotzbier7447 sorry, but I am allowed to say that people who are cast to be certain ages should look at least ROUGHLY the age they’re meant to be playing (and I think Wicked did that well!)… you wouldn’t cast a 20 year old to play a 60 year old because that would look off, so I am allowed to believe that you should at least TRY to cast actors who can be believed as college student to play college students 😐
The main thing that really got me when first watching it was every time the “For Good” melody was played even in the background I started tearing up 🥹
To your point about the “KILL HER” in defying gravity I agree that they made it an even more dangerous and jarring moment in the movie version, paired with the guards actually dying, the balloon explosion, and the VICIOUS monkeys that were also after Glinda lol
I was like GASP, have I been hearing the lyric wrong this whole time?! KILL HER over those damn monkeys? KILL HER?! And Glinda just standing there after hearing them give a death sentence?!
I’m not ready for Ari and Cynthia to sing ‘For Good’ , I will sob
Oh group therapy in the theater WILL be necessary
You are SO REAL for mentioning that moment in dancing through life when fiyero licks his fingers and pushes the guy’s forehead and then body rolls off of him. I haven’t seen anyone else really talk about it and it still has me in a chokehold like a month later 😳
I watched 'Wicked," the movie for the first-time last night without ever having seen the musical beforehand. I found one of the most powerful themes in the movie to be the endearing 'loyalty,' between Dr. Dillamond & Elphaba. The plot-line of nurturing a mutual kinship of characters that come from entirely separate worlds is such a unique undercurrent
Your take on defying gravity is so spot on. I never thought about the song in that way until watching the movie. The sensitivity of Elphaba made that song so much better, so heartbreaking and so much more powerful 🥺 had me bawling.
Bowen yang said the poppy field scene was a montage after popular. They all get the flowers for professor dillamond. But it got cut.
8:57 finally someone else who appreciates Thank Goodness, a lot of people hate it and I fully don't get why, it's so full of smart exposition and whimsical world building on top of being a perfectly executed and clever way of showing us the layers on Glinda's mind in the moment, I'm so freaking tired of people saying it's boring
Sometimes I wonder if half the reason some people have such shallow takes on Glinda's character is because they aren't paying attention during Thank Goodness 😅
Omg Thank Goodness is my fave Glinda song! It’s sooooo heartbreaking!
about the break in momentum in defying gravity- i think the choice to have her fall serves this movie elphaba’s narrative more. of course we know she isn’t going to die but when i saw her fall it was genuinely scary (maybe it’s just my fear of heights) and it added a lot of realism because she just got the broom spell to work. on top of this she had to take a true leap of faith - faith in herself because now she was back to being alone like she was as a kid 🥲 which resonated with me even more than defying gravity’s original thematic interpretation. i’m also glad this scene is different because a film adaptation allows for endless new possibilities and we got to see the scale of the emerald palace that she just leaped out of (we don’t talk about how crazy that is imo) i think we all love defying gravity so much and have heard it so many times that such a change is a bit jarring but i think it’ll become more natural with each rewatch
edit: i think this (when she reaches out to her reflection) was also the moment she truly and fully accepted herself and accepted that little girl who was neglected her whole life. i love that her moment of self acceptance was intimate and not in front of the world or even glinda because when she does face them again, she truly has nothing left to prove. the stage elphaba towers over the crowd (which works amazingly on stage!!), but this elphaba soars above the world leaving them all behind and finally being truly free
When she crashes through the window and then falls-the entire audience I saw it with collectively held its breath. Even though we know she’s going to fly, it was still suspenseful.
@@zoejohnson6397 I really loved this addition too!!! I think showing Elphaba falling and having to take a moment to learn how to fly versus her just knowing how to (as she does in the stage show) makes the ending of the song SO much more powerful
I wanna add that the part where sings "unlimited". It's more of a reprise of the consistent theme she has been saying since "Wizard and I". Before, she dreamed of endless possibilities. By the time of "Defying Gravity", she has the Grimmerie, which will allow to be unlimited in her power. Plus the ability to fly is a physical manifestation of her ability to go beyond her current limits.
Really agree with this take!
I liked the falling, but still didn't like the break. I wish it had been timed differently to include both the fall and the musical build.
I started tearing up within the first minute or so of the movie when No One Mourns The Wicked started playing. Like it’s just so cinematic and I knew right then they did the musical justice. I love how they expanded on some songs/scenes. They did that absolutely perfectly. I loved the Ozdust ballroom scene. That scene is always emotional but like it being slowed down for the movie was so incredibly perfect and made you really feel for Elphaba all the more. I was sobbing. 😭 I got choked up by the cameos in One Short Day. I cried during Defying Gravity and I was crying as I left the theater lol! 🤣 I am so excited for Part 2! I’ve been a huge fan of the musical since 2009 especially after seeing it live on tour back then. I went to see the movie with my aunt and now she wants to see the musical so this June I get to go see the musical for the 3rd time with my aunt, mom and 2nd cousin. Which for my aunt and 2nd cousin it’ll be their first time seeing a Broadway musical on tour so that’s all the more exciting.
Cynthia’s portrayal of Elphaba honestly made her more likable. I’ve seen the stage version 3 times and her character comes off pretty aggressive and a bit hard to root for. But right from the jump, you feel for her so much sooner and made her connection with Glinda just that much more special. Ariana’s portrayal of Glinda was the most sensational version of her. There is so much more depth there and humanness. She also brought a softness to her that you don’t get with the stage version. This pairing is heavenly and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
That momentum that you felt was missing in Defying Gravity is still very prominent in the audio anyway which I love!! I think the movie wanted to show a more wider input to Elphaba’s story than what you can see on the theater stage which it did. So beautiful!
Agreed. I mean just look at the ages of all the actors in Grease who played high school students...
Yeah I’m glad the studio version isn’t like that. I don’t really like the “unlimited x3” that she does, it kinda breaks the momentum for me too. But ultimately I LOVE Cynthia’s version
As a person that uses a wheelchair, words cannot express how moved I was with the changes made to Nessarose and overall accessibility to the world of Oz❤
12:34 - funny enough John Chu actually tweeted that he wasn't happy with the sound in some Cinemas/Theatres saying that they were playing it way below what they recommended when he'd popped in
I think the new fans falling in love with Wicked is especially a good thing bc this is a *magnificent* adaptation. It is true to the original, but it expounds upon and deepens many of the themes. I think it is everything a stage to screen adaptation should be.
i’ve been watching you for FOREVER. please post as much as you want and i will always watch
Your takes were so funny. It was great watching you be giddy about Fiyero. 😂 Wicked really is amazing. I’m newly subscribed because of this video. I hope you get that plaque! 💚🩷
I just wish that they didnt play the battlecry in the trailers.... I wanted that to be a surprise for all of us.
Like use popular or the wizard and I - yes ik DG is iconic but the battlecry would have been an incredible surprise into blackout (no more shots, should have been blackout)
Yeah or they should’ve just showed Cynthia doing Idina’s battle cry, then surprise! The movie version is completely different
I'm gonna be so real, out of context the battle cry sounded terrible to me and I was with the other ppl who hated it. But as someone who has never seen the musical and didn't know the story, everything surrounding it, including the music, really made it feel so powerful, and it worked perfectly in context. But I guess it didn't ruin the change for me cuz I didn't see anything to do with wicked before (except maybe some random high notes by singers with green face paint on)
It wouldve been a bad idea though. You will basically put off people that are so familiar with the cry in the movie.
Instead of them fully taking in the sequence, they would inevitably ruminate if they liked the cry or not hearing it the first time. Sort of like cutting the momentum of their immersion.
I completely agree with your take at 9:47 on Jonathan Bailey’s age for multiple reasons. First of all, because it’s a fantasy story that takes place in a fantasy setting, it makes you suspend your disbelief a little more than a story that takes place in our world; we don’t know how school/university works in Oz and at what age people attend it (compare this to the Dear Evan Hansen movie, where Ben Plat was in his late 20s playing someone we _knew_ was supposed to be a teenager). Secondly, as you mentioned, part of Fiyero’s character arc is that he keeps getting kicked out of schools, so it would make sense that he was a bit older. I think you could even make the argument that him being a prince meant that he might have started school a bit later too. Finally, there’s a time jump (another good point you mentioned) of about 5 years between Act 1 and Act 2.
I totally get your take on "Defying Gravity". When I saw it the first time. I was bothered by all the breaks. However, I will say...I've now seen it 5 times in the theater and each time I watched it, I actually prefer the slower buildup to each of the moments. Honestly, the visual of her coming up after "It's me!" and then she flies up, spins around, and the cape is flying out and then starts with "And if you care to find me...". That visual, is my favorite part of the whole movie (and I love the entire movie). But, her quick spin and singing...kills me.
I want that visual as my computer screensaver. Just her spinning and holding there in the sky.
Also, the Ozdust Ballroom scene broke me EVERY time. It's one of the best moments of the movie. You'd think after the first few viewings would have changed it. But, EVERY time I've seen it. Breaks. Me.
Also, like you, I'm so happy that new people have seen this movie/story and love it. So many reviewers that said "I hate musicals" turned out to love the movie and that makes me happy.
The move, overall, makes me happy and like you...it brings me so much joy.
Awesome review and so happy you enjoyed it. 😀
we will NEVER be over “holding space”
4:05 I’ve been trying to communicate why Defying Gravity always gets me crying. And you explained it perfectly.
I also was a fan since a young teen, saw it for the first time when I was about 14/15, and that moment she rises into the air just took my breath away. So the song already meant a lot to me at that age. And just all that surging back during the number is almost overwhelming. I swear, every time she goes “It’s me!” and bursts into the final verse it’s just waterworks. Maybe it’s also because of that moment they gave with her looking at her young self. Sure it builds the tension for the big moment, but I’m just realizing maybe it like I’m looking back at my younger self too. The only way I’ve been able to describe what I’m feeling at that moment is: “We made it.” That didn’t feel enough, but now it makes even more sense. God, I’m making myself emotional again just thinking about it.
i've been waiting to hear from you about this movie!! so excited for part two aaaa
I had the opposite experience with the volume - it was practically ear splitting at the theater where I saw it (and I loved it!)
Yes just came to say this! My theather was sooooo loud hahaha
The new fan thing is so true and nice! I have always been sort of surrounded by musical soundtracks but I have only properly gotten into musicals last year or so. Musical theatre is so great to be a part of and something to love 💝
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH WICKED CAUSE OF THE MOVIE AND SEEING YOUR PASSION AND WARMTH AROUND THE TITLE JUST MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CHANNEL AND I JUST SUBSCRIBED... THANK YOU !!
The expressions in Glinda while no one morns the wicked is amazing
OMG i am so excited to come onto TH-cam to see this video today, I have been waiting for your opinions. This is also great timing as I literally watched it for the 5th time today
I’m thrilled that this is finally here!!! I did genuinely enjoy this movie and had no notes, I’ve known of Wicked since 2015 and have never really gotten around to listening to the music (minus Defying Gravity and Popular) but as I’ve gotten into musical theatre, have tried but this movie really helped, I do know the general plot and am so excited for part 2, generally agreed with your points, and am so excited for part 2
I want to talk about how accessible this movie made the story for people with disabilities!! I have autism, and unfortunately I feel like I couldn’t appreciate Wicked for what it was when I was younger because it had such a nuanced take on authority and I have a hard time understanding why anyone would lie. I saw the movie with someone who has an intellectual disability; because of that association I had I was worried that the movie would be too complex for this person to follow. But I was so impressed with how clear the movie was at every point and how well my movie-going partner was able to follow along. They sometimes had questions about characters’ intentions, but clocked when intentions shifted and understood when the girls were/ weren’t friends or when somebody was angry. And I think the moral storytelling was clear at every point in the same way, which is huge because that’s the whole point of the story and if the audience can’t access the message then there’s a problem. Maybe the stage production creates a similar experience, idk I’ve never seen it live, but my guess is that the length of the movie (being able to move through the plot slowly) and being able to hone in on subtle cues like facial expressions helped the movie be extra good at this. So now I love Wicked, I’m kicking myself for not getting into it sooner (but also trying to remind myself maybe I couldn’t have understood it back then), and I’m so glad the person I went with enjoyed the movie
Ah I was so excited for this tysm for making it 🩷💚
As someone that had absolutely no plans to see Wicked, I loved the movie and am now obsessed! I will limit my comment to the momentum break during DG - repeating Madam Morrible's announcement is what did it more for me. I've unsuccessfully tried to figure how they could have handled that differently, The falling scene was necessary and could have been shorter, and the volume could have been higher for the flashback statements Elphaba heard. Love your recap!
Oh my godddd I’ve been WAITINGGGGG for this oneee
Your review had me sobbing in the car bc it reminded me just how much this movie wrecked me 😭
I have seen this 5 times in the theaters, I just bought it on DVD and will watch that on repeat. This was an incredibly done movie and my GOD Ari and Cynthia are incredible!!!
One thing that I’m interested to see in Part 2 is what they’ll do with Nessa. Marissa Bode is of course disabled which I think is amazing because representation matters but…. Spoiler, Nessa stands up, off the wheelchair in Part 2. Marissa in an interview, to me sounded like she was hinting a slight story change with it. I could be wrong but I’m curious to see what they do with it.
Especially since Nessa being able to walk is necessary for the plot (including Boq turning into the Tin Woodsman).
Thank you for making this video, Sam! It's always a pleasure to hear your thoughts on things, and especially on Wicked, knowing how much of a fan you are!
The amount of fans discovering Gelphie for the first time is awesome, my 12 year old is weeping
DUDE IVE BEEN WAITING
I like the “For Good” title but wish they would have stuck with either “Part 1” and “Part 2” or called the first movie “Wicked: Defying Gravity” or something like that. Just so it was more cohesive.
I loved this! I was singing along and felt the same feels. The benefits of listening to someone like you is we get the, "Well, the choreographer". Given additional credit where it's due.
Honestly, once Elphaba & Glinda meet the Wizard, I like movie more than the musical. Every scene from that point onward has so much more weight & emotion to the story. The pacing isn’t as rushed, the characters feel genuine, the emotional moments have more impact, Sentimental Man shows the Wizard’s character more than it did in the play, and scenes like Defying Gravity or the the monkeys sprouting wings just feels more intense.
I also loved the scene where the monkeys chase Elphaba due to the musical cues and the cinematography. It has great homages to both the monkeys flying in the Wizard of Oz and their big reveal in the musical and I felt that whole segment was perfect
Yay, finally found your new channel! :)
I am not a big Wicked fan overall, but the movie was very well made.
I just watched the Wicked play on youtube only because I will never get to watch it live in New York. I loved how Nessa Rose the ability to walk by the magic shoes. Unlike some disabled people I loved that part because I would love the ability to walk in some way. Also, the ending had me in tears. It well done, and I hope that the 2nd part of the movie gives the same feelings of happiness that the play did.
Regarding the break of momentum in Defying Gravity, after having watched the film 12 times in theatres, I have thoughts on an alternate sequence of the events unfolding.
- Elphaba and Glinda have their “I hope you’re happy” moment.
- Guards break into the attic, attempting to apprehend the two.
- In trying to fight off the guards, Elphaba falls from the tower.
- We then have the younger self reflection moment as she falls. In a moment where it could be easy to surrender and put an end to her own suffering at the hands of the other Ozians, Elphaba CHOOSES to trust herself, showing her younger self what they’re truly capable of. In this moment, she chooses to fly.
- As guards are apprehending Glinda, she flies up and around the tower, circling it as she says “she hasn’t done anything wrong! I’m the one you want! It’s me!”
- After singing “it’s meeeeeeee,” Elphaba halts to have the confrontational moment with the guards as she sings “so if you care to find me…”
- All else remains the same!
I don’t even know if I’d want it all to unfold this way, but it would have allowed for the momentum to build into the final chorus.
i’ve also been a fan since middle school as well! (2006 saw this musical as an 8th grade graduation present & wow i feel old saying that out loud) PERFECTLY CRITIQUED! can’t wait to watch this on new year’s eve at home 🌸💚✨
I had to pause at 9:03 and it was the mood of the whole video
My mom is obsessed like me with this movie! Which is a first.. I've seen this movie three times and every time I watched this movie it made me cry, it's so incredible.. I was so overwhelmed during defying gravity in a good way when the credits were rolling my mom had to drag me out of my seat .. this movie is brilianttttt.. I loved it.. definitely the best film of 2024 . I'm wishing all of next year away so I can see part two 😂😂😂
19:00 I read all those scenes will be in streaming/Blu Ray, which is why I'm buying it. In my last viewing of it earlier this week, I definitely saw a disconnect. If you notice right before Dr Dillamond gets arrested, there's the scene of Glinda practicing the hair toss, then Fiyero makes his comment and says "let's get to class" and it goes into the arrest scene. But Elpeba is literally wearing something different in that classroom scene (vs hair toss scene) and everyone has poppies like they were all went on a trip together. Hint: They did, there's like a hangout spot in the woods the "main 5" go to. That's a cut scene that will be in the home release.
Oh so you're saying the film will have a directors cut? It would be so awsome if they include both the director and theater version in the physical release of the movie
I LOVED the movie, but I had a hard time with defying gravity the first time. I'm still not totally convinced with all the cuts but I think it's a great greaaat adaptation!
And I also agree with you!! I needed the sound to be louder in the English version!! In my case I'm from Mexico so I also got to see the Spanish dub and idk if it was the theater or the dub sound but that was DEFINITELY louder and I can tell you it CHANGED the whole experience for me! I think that's the time i cried the most hahah cause I was able to listen to every single detail and it was AWESOME
While I didn't like the defying grafity break, I defenately think it was a necesarry moment for the movie version of the story and this was arguably the best way to do it. I can't really think of a different way personally.
Also the "Me and *BOQ* " just gets me every damn time 😂😂
It's streaming on the 31st already?! Best Christmas gift ever! I cannot wait for all of my favorite reaction channels to start pumping this one out!
The girl with the bob doing the fork dancing was awesome. I agree. She gave the best disgusted face. The birds flying off were a callback to Wizard of oz not the flying monkeys (although it's a nice tie in as well). It alludes to somewhere over the rainbow, where "bluebirds fly". So the rainbow was in the background, and then the bluebirds flew out.
OMG SAM! I love your videos. Your videos always make me laugh! ❤
I've been Wicked-obsessed for 20 years. I saw it at a regular screen, then in 3D, then the singalong. I used a 101-point structure for the breakdown video on my channel!
2:53 You don't need to explain. So many of us were crying too.
14:17 Yes! I made exactly the same points in my video. I get it academically but when the song's about to climax, you don't wanna start mixing things up.
21:59 Yes it is the biggest thrill watching new fans be born. All the "first time watching Wicked" videos are so gratifying. Some people completely mangle the names and it's quite adorable 😊
i maybe would’ve loved a no-break edit version of defying gravity available for streaming? it served its purpose for the movie, but maybe for the “album version” some dialogue could be not included
I am a new fan to wicked and my compliment is going to the music. The beginning opener was fantastic and the break in defying gravity absolutely built up the ending of the final note for Cynthia. Honestly, just into the music as a producers ear.
Hi Sam!! I am obsessed with your colour palette for this 💚🩷 Can I ask what microphone you're using?
ally sheehan!?!? ARIANA WHAT ARE U DOING HERE 😭😭💚💕
omg ally!!!!
Hi!! I’m using a DJI mic mini, that’s essentially just clipped onto a mic holder, then got the mic cover on Amazon! 💗
omg ally my fellow theatre kid swiftie
When I tell you the first note of Thank Goodness is going to play and I’m going to burst into tears. I’m not even a long time wicked fan, but no song has ever stood out to me like that one, or explained my experiences so well. I will not make it through.
An I the only one that didn’t care for the “it’s me” transition?
Did it still hit emotionally? Yabsolutely !
I wanted to ask a die hard wicked fan if you thought that her cape swoosh at the end of the movie was sorta referencing earlier in the movie where she was trying to swoosh her hair but it wasn’t working for her. So she kinda made it her own
the entirety of defying gravity is perfect. the break through the window was such a masterful addition of suspense and symbolism. it added to Elphaba’s character depth and shows how she’s still learning and growing, while accepting her decisions. if you’re truly invested in the scene, then the momentum should’ve stayed the entire time. it’s like 5-10 seconds before the big moment, so honestly people are just being impatient and nit picky. the momentum stayed with me the whole time and that specific moment left me breathless. the anticipation was unreal, so i wholeheartedly disagree with anyone saying this moment killed the momentum, or whatever. glad you enjoyed it otherwise lol
Thanks a lot for the review. I echo your points which are so very precisely articulated.
See I caught on to Fiyero and Boq, but I didn't realise the lion cub until you mentioned it and now I'm sad
the movie was BEYOND amazing but i definitely agree with the critique of some scenes needing to be louder in volume. for instance, while the ending of defying gravity was perfect, the intro could have been more louder and grand
This video had me crying
I´ve never seen Wicked, but I love musical theatre. What I loved about the movie is, Glinda holds het skirt up every time no matter how long or short it is. Only if she´s relaxed though. That was a detail that fitted so well with her character! PS. I really appreciated you keeping it spoiler free, thank you!
I’m loving the sweater!
13:05 Jon said for viewers to make sure the volume was at like 6.5 at the theaters… whatever that means
Never really been all that into musical theatre and just went to see Ariana (with very tempered expectations btw), but I have become obsessed!
Agreed on Michelle Yeoh, disagree on Peter Dinklage! Love his voice. Was so pleasantly surprised!
Fun video 😊
Something Bad, and Sentimental Man are my "go pee" songs. :-) lol I'm with you.
THAT DANCE!
Also, if the bookcase spins, why ladders?
Where do you get the shirt it's cute
I've seen this critique about the movie not ending on a blackout after DG, like in the musical.
And my honest opinion, as someone who never seen the musical, is that it makes sense on stage with intermission, but here it was necessary to not end here.
First of all, because it makes the movie "complete". Obviously, part 2 is coming next year, but the movie end could work as the end of the story. Like that's how she became evil and you can watch the original WoO movie.
Second, because it allows us to know where the characters are at the end. We see Glinda telling Fiyero. We see Nessa and Boq. And we see Frexpar have a heart attack.
It's like it has gone full circle. It began with Shiz, and ended with Shiz!
I agree with your points and I really enjoyed the movie! Though I felt that a lot of the choices were made to draw out the length of the movie since it was Act I as a stand alone film. I felt it slowed down during Ozdust with the waltz, and the cameos were lovely but it sort of took me out of the world for a moment. Also what was going on with Idina's wig??????
thank goodness is gonna break me. as someone who was an arianator before i was even a wicked fan(was a wicked fan before ariana was glinda but i wasn’t into musical theater till middle school in like 2018), and recognizing that thank goodness encompasses ariana as a whole is gonna truly break me. ariana has had much success in music but has also been through it with the manchester bombing, mac miller death, her marriage, being ridiculed by the media liek all of that, it’s like what thank goodness is about. that like yeah ur dreams came true, but are u finally happy? and ariana also said on the sentimental men podcast that she’s a thank goodness glinda like all of this combined plus the actual story….. imma be a mess in that theater
I wasn’t as wowed about defying gravity as i wanted to be and honestly you described it perfectly!
I really like your thoughts on the movie, i'm a new fan of wicked so I'm stilll reading things haha.
I’ve been waiting for this one… TURN IT UP
girl which blush are you wearing 🩷 absolutely stunning popular glow ✨
I sobbed at defying gravity. It is the most iconic scene in almost any musical of all time I would argue this strongly. I have been so lucky to see it in the stage version a few times and it is epic so to see it on a screen was like life-changing? The emotion of her seeing her younger self took over realizing the momentum was missing a little. Also I agree Jonathan Bailey was perfect, no notes at all.
I completely agree I thought it was quiet both times I saw it too, wondered if I was losing my hearing 😂
16:28 I felt the same about the song breaks but appreciated the movie doing something I wasnt expecting.
Im so happy this came out since most of my friends havent watched it yet and dont talk that much about theater so this just felt like a podcast except im talking to myself after every single one of the ideas you mention 🙏(ps : i also noticed the eyelash and it was INFURIATING😠😠)
The sound is interesting because it was perfect in my theater and way too loud in our local IMAX (which is always too loud). So I feel like some theaters turned their sound down or something weird because it was a musical.
I had the same thoughts about the volume too! I honestly thought it was my bad hearing 😅 also I heard somewhere that there is a deleted montage before the poppy scene with the friend group (plus a shirtless Fiyero)
Luckilly the Spotify version for you is edited to not have the break in momentum
YAYYY WICKED VIDEO
I’m loving this movie
I came to the film from a very odd angle. On the one hand I love musical theatre but where I live it is not very accessible so I haven't seen a lot of shows and I never saw Wicked. I knew a couple songs and some general plot beats and later reveals just from existing in the musical theatre space online, but I never had Wicked on the list of shows I really would love to go and see and I never really got why so many people love it, as the songs didn't seem so special to me when I listened to them on Spotify.
But wow...... Now I get it.
I loved the film and I now really really want to find a way to see the show somewhere. Is it still playing in London? If so, maybe I need to book a trip sooner rather than later...
I want to show the film to all my friends who don't really care about musicals just because I think it could be a great entry point. The themes are so clear yet don't totally beat you over the head, the songs are amazing when seeing them in the context of the story, the characters are flawed yet lovable... It is great. Also for a film adaptation of a musical it feels so well done. The sets, costumes and everything just feel like they are from a stage musical and don't try to hide it. Shiz is probably the prettiest magic school on screen since Hogwarts and definitely my new favourite. I just loved every minute of this film and even though it is so long it never felt like it dragged at all.
I went to see it with a couple friends one of which is really into musicals and knew a lot about it before, and two who had no idea what the show was about besides: "there are two witches and one is green and they hate each other at some point and are friends at some other point" It was the most fun thing to be sitting between them when on one side of me a fan is vibing with everything, laughing and gasping and loving everything and on the other side there are two people just being genuinely surprised and discovering the story for the first time and me in the middle who was somewhere in between in my experience as well. I have rarely been to the cinema this year because it got very expensive but I am so glad I got to experience this, because, while I will love watching it at home again and again, the in person experience in the cinema will be a treasured memory and can probably only be beat if I do manage to see the stage show somewhere.
That was a long ramble but I don't know how else to comment on the film. 😅
TLDR: I loved it a lot more than I expected
My six year old got both the Elphba and Glinda Little Golden Books for Christmas. They did draw a few pictures based off that cut friend scene from the trailer in both of them talking about them all being buddies. I hope we get a chance to enjoy that scene
Omg your sweater!!
One thing I was sad about is Glinda didn't have a yellow dress when they went to the emerald city
WHATS GOING ON WITH THE STAGE DOOR?!?!? PLEASE KEEP POSTING IM DYING!
you got a couple of chapters to catch up on lol! Stage door won’t be continuing, but I’m excited to put stuff out for you here :)
I took my best friend too see Wicked on my third watch , the best part was watching her discover and fall in love with Wicked! But annoyingly lol, 🙄 she’s perceptive af and literally put everything together literally 5 minutes after watching… she caught all of the little Easter eggs. Stole my thunder of withholding spoilers lmao 😂 😂
Agree on louder. My first thought was turn it up!!! I saw it in 3D the first time and it was not loud enough. I feel like maybe people complained because the second time I saw it I could feel it vibrating through my body. I don’t know what happened but I’ve heard the “it wasn’t loud enough critique” a lot.
My 9 year old grandson (who knew nothing about Wicked) stood up at the end and proclaimed “worst cliffhanger ever!” Haha. He can’t wait for part 2.