You mention that there's a moment of reservation before Glinda throws the torch and that's the main giveaway that there's something going on behind the curtain, but the moment that stuck out to me was when the first ensemble member sang "No one mourns the wicked." Her entire face changed. It's like her mask slipped, and the crowd was too busy celebrating to notice how taken aback she looked. And from my perspective, she wasn't really able to recover until the number is over and she tried to leave. Even then, all she really wanted was to get away from those people.
I instantly grabbed my best friend - I had a feeling Kristen would be featured in part one, and Idina would be in part two but seeing them together stood next to Ari and Cynthia made me cry even harder than I had been!
Sentimental man is usually a song I always skip and zone out during the musical but I loved how visually interesting they made the movies version. A great change in my opinion.
I missed the first few minutes of the movie. Did they indicate.. at all.. that the wizard would eventually be considered to have been Elphiba's father? I know they were going with a family-friendly movie rather than get into the down and dirty facts, but I wanted to know if they addressed anything.
I actually had to pee so badly and decided to go during that part because I normally feel the same, so now I’m sad I missed it! Good thing I’m seeing again next weekend with my brother and sister in law!
I think they knew they had to zest this song up because I’m not kidding when I said there was an audible groan in my packed theatre when everyone realized that song was coming 😂
Something I haven’t seen anyone comment on: Fiyero and Elphaba’s meeting is EXACTLY how Jane Eyre meets Mr. Rochester! I thought that was so interesting considering that Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero is smart and sad, which is very Mr. Rochester. And Elphaba is very Jane Eyre-adjacent in her role and how she is looked at by others/how she views herself! It was such a smart and subtle way to project that they belong together.
“Many years we have waited for a….”, “popular”, “no one mourns”, then there’s the pink and green lights, the Shiz sweatshirt. I see you, MJ. Already loving the video only 30 seconds into watching it. 😊 I saw it a couple of days ago and it was f-ing fantastic.
As a casual fan of musicals, and more of a movie person in general, I was very much blown away and impressed with this film. I think what makes it work, isn't just the fact that it is a very great adaptation of the musical, but the fact they put a lot of time and craft into it. While there is CGI present, there is a lot of practical work put into the film, and having as much practical sets, props, etc put into the production, it gives the movie that extra bit of believability into it. Apparently the train is actually real for example. It is things like that which make a movie stand out more visually and on a technical level, that hasn't been seen in a long time.
Winnie Holzman was in one short day as well! Which was my favorite surprise. I loved how they sprinkled For Good all over the first act. It's a cute hint as what's to come. My favorite "prop" appearance was the bike! I thought that was cool. Also, how they worked in the hot-air balloon was really cool. Such an amazing film.
Oh how I cried at the little for good motifs that cropped up - that song means so much to me, I fear I’m going to be even more a puddle of tears at the end of part 2 than I was at the end of part 1
I've just come out of the cinema and I was sobbing within the first five minutes, you can see the PAIN in Glinda's face as she's telling the Munchkins the "good news" Bits made me cry, bits made me laugh and a certain bit at the end made me jump/scream. I think Jon M Chu was THE person to direct this, his past movies have looked incredible and generally have good reviews all around. I can't help but feel he would be perfect to make a Dr Seuss movie (bits in OSD made me think of the Grinch with all the bikes and wonderful elements)
I really wish we could have more scenes with elpahaba and fyero. I didn’t fully believe the chemistry. I did love the addition of boq feeling pressure from Nessus dad to not break up with her.
I loved what they did to dr dillamond! I nevered cared for him in the musical but here I was so in awe and interested in every scene he was in. He was one of the highlights for me.
One of my favourite changes that they made was the start of something bad - I think the extra context about the animal rights really helped the wider story.
I loved it! It absolutely blew all my expectations out of the water and then some! Having seen the stage show 13 times, it’s one that means a lot to me - and I’m so pleased that it’s translated so well to screen. I cried a solid 7 or 8 times, but especially during the Idina and Kristin section of one short day - it was beautiful. I also really liked some of the tweaks to the plot - as you say, some made even more sense than the original musical. I don’t know how I’m going to wait a whole year for part 2!
The length of the movie is significant in that the stage musical ran 2 hours and 40minutes. The director speaks to this. He stated that part 2 will also be two hours and 40 minutes. Another piece of the orchestration…. As the children are running through the tulips at the beginning of the movie, you can hear “ding ding the witch is dead” So many Easter Eggs.
The biggest surprise to me was that they did not use the expanded run time of Part 1 to do more concrete building of something between Elphaba and Fiyero. They upped the chemistry in vibes by having the benefit of close ups but I feel like even the most diehard Wicked fan, if you ask them for the one thing they don’t like or don’t understand about Wicked, it’s why does Elphaba fall in love with Fiyero out of absolutely nowhere lol
The plush is gorgeous! Saw the movie this UK afternoon. Tbh the stage show is not one of my favourites, but I absolutely loved the movie! I loved the effects, loved the casting, loved the story telling, loved the costumes, and the song and dance .. but the special moments for me were those little touches & the fun of those cameos! Great review and thank you for thoughtfully making two..
I’m so glad you brought up Jonathan Bailey and the American vowels! I understand it from a rhyming point of view with the ensemble but it makes no sense to have a British actor, make him so obvious in his spoken accent but erase it in his singing. I haven’t seen anyone else talk about it!
44:34 Also a fourth cameo from Winnie Holzman, who is the lady in One Short Day’s extended sequence that exclaims, “He can read it! He must be a wizard!”
throwback: you also see a quick view of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion on their way to Oz. I saw this yesterday and loved it. Appreciated the adding of back stories. I agree with you that it was a bit too long and that Jeff Goldblum was playing, well, Jeff Goldblum. Of all the characters, the Wiz was cast the worst. Hadn't thought about the difference that the way Fiyero makes his entrance changes how we think about him. Love all the things you talk about that I hadn't given any thought to. Thanks!
41:55 I was curious why Glinda was a bit more understated during Gravity… but then we see she does move towards Morrible… it made sense. Lots of good choices in this movie!
I felt the same way about Defying gravity, I could have done without the whole "unlimited" theme coming back before she gets into the ending of the song. Musicaly it killed the momentum of the carefully crafted song that we know and love. That's literally my only gripe. The camera work with Jon M Chu....really makes the dance scenes come alive, especially the spinning library in dancing through life. Also the silent dance scene at Oz Dust....that was really powerful. They really nailed this film. They really took the work seriously and told the story and got it right.
I thought Cynthia WAY overdid the dance in the Oz dust ballroom. I did not buy it at all. It was done so well in the stage play. It tugged especially hard at my heartstrings, but not in the movie. Overacting. IMHO. I also missed the hand movements that Idina did initially. They were magical. Same with The Wizard and I. I agree with Defying Gravity. It really KILLED it for me. The drama was gone by cutting it up as they did. It was like watching a car chase at high speed in the middle. Horrible choice.
@@kakirchmar The dramatic choices didn’t bother me. I really appreciated hearing Defying Gravity sung with a healthy vocal technique and without being able to visual the nodules forming on Idina’s vocal folds.
So I watched this today in IMAX. In the row behind me was half the cast of the North American tour cast of the Book of Mormon. We were all entranced and in love. I have never clapped in a movie but I clapped three times. Twice during one short day and then at the end.
Loved this video Mickey Jo! Cannot wait to see the film again. My favourite glinda line was when at the train station she runs over to elphaba saying there's a man with mustache 😂😂 idk just made me laugh so much. I listened to No One Mourns The Wicked on movie soundtrack yesterday & I totally didn't notice in the film that you could hear ding dong the witch is dead in some small parts. The 4 cameos in One Short Day was so fun. I was "yes!" so quietly when I saw Idina & Kristin. Can't wait to see more Fiyero, Nessa & Boq next movie.
Something I found really interesting is that Chris Stuckmann, in his review, said that it did feel like a complete movie. It's been great to see multiple perspectives and to see people who don't normally care about movie and stage musicals absolutely love it.
CAMEO SPOILER I love idina and Kristin but I believe the cameo was too long and a bit too meta specially with Irina singing the riff. My favorite cameo was on the live action little mermaid Jodie benson quickly gives Ariel a fork and it’s so sweet and simple. But quick! Here it took me out. Anyone else?
Defying Gravity kinda punched me in the gut. I didn’t think it would be that exciting, but it was. The visuals. The score. The Cynthia Erivo of it all. I mean, that was old school Hollywood, baby!
46:31 wow, yeah, I agree… the little choices and directions the movie took does improve the show past the stage version… hard to say that. Act 2 has LOTS of CBB (could be better) moments so yeah, I’m looking forward to those as well!
Not sure if anyone mentioned this or noticed but… one of my fave moments was at the end of Defying Gravity when Madame Morrible holds on to Glinda, in the stage version you don’t really see that cause they face away from the audience during that part.
“Truly no one mourns”! So so SO true! Just listened to your Ragtime review! So glad you share the affinity for that fantastic piece! Any idea if the OG cast reunion concert was recorded or will this new performance be recorded?!
I loved the Easter eggs in this! Showing a bike with basket and introducing broom was cool. When you see it being used a stick to hold door. Such a wonderful adaptation thus far.
I haven't seen the stage musical, I only knew a few of the songs as most people do. I really enjoyed it. It looked great and the music was very well done i thought.
I’ll have to go back and really try to find all the “Wizard of Oz” homages because there were SO. MANY….I was overwhelmed lol. 1.) At one point, Boq tells Glinda “I cry a lot”, his last name being Woodsman…foreshadowing the Tin Man. 2.) Elphaba tells Fiyero to “Get stuffed…”, an obvious nod to foreshadowing the Scarecrow. 3.) We hear “Ding Dong The Witch is Dead” when the children are ringing the bells down the yellow brick road to announce Elphaba’s death. 4.) We hear “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at some points… 5.) At the end of “The Wizard and I”, Elphaba’s I Want song, runs to the end of cliff and we see a rainbow and blue birds flying -a direct nod to the lyrics in Dorothy’s I Want song! 6.) During “Popular”, Glinda picks up red ruby shoes and clicks them 3 times! …and I’m sure so many more I missed!!!
i had such low expectations for this film but i was very very blown away and impressed. missed stephen’s cameo but will be looking when i see it again tonight haha
Im not that girl thoughts: Cynthia sings beautiful But anyone got distracted by the two lights on the background in the middle of the forest? Also it felt more like a music video to me. But I did love the practical sets for the forest? Very whimsical!😍 just wish we had a more whimsical light to help it shine more.
It didn't occur to me until I was five minutes into listening to the cast album that I was going to hear Jeff Goldblum going through "have another drink, my dark-eyed beauty" I still haven't made up my mind how I feel about it
On the bright side, there’s so much going on that I don’t know if that’s a detail the unaware public will notice. I’m dragging my mom to see it so I will see if she notices
I *knew* and I couldn't tell lol. So I reckon people who don't might not spot it. I actually assumed they'd purposely made him sound as not like him as possible... Like, it doesnt sound unlike him but definitely didnt make me think of him immediately.
@@MickeyJoTheatreI found Joel Gray and Nigel Planner obvious, but if you haven’t seen it or heard it before you would get it. I was with friends and they never twigged. And I didn’t spoil it for them. They aren’t musical people but loved the film and characters. And are looking forward to seeing part 2
I saw it Wednesday. It was magical. I was so impressed with Ariana. I wasn’t expecting it from her at all. I knew Cynthia would blow me away and she did. I already bought the cast album. I plan to see again with my other bestie next week.
Saw Wicked twice in New York and 3 times in San Francisco….. I loved the film but we had a dead audience….What I truly missed in the film showing was the reactions you get at a live performance…I found myself laughing alone at the typical parts you’d get a reaction from in a live theatre.
Just watched it. Everything was already said. Its so good! All the cameos and music easter eggs... Ariana was an absolute highlight. The physical comedy of her character worked so well! But... I do have to criticise the CGI cub. Especially when Fyiero is interacting with it. I swear his hands went THROUGH the cub several times 😂
I always feel out of place because I just don't like Wicked, and it has to do with the source material, the 2nd act is just to me bad writing thrown together. I was still very happy with this, as it just feels like a labor of love. I will always have a problem with cgi, for some reason its very expensive now and maybe worse quality, the scenes are much darker than the scenes on the practical sets. People were complaining about the lighting on the practical sets, but then I thought maybe they are just used to being thrust into this dark world of cgi.
@Gee-xb7rt oh I watched wicked on stage for the first time only a year ago and was absolutely disappointed. It was so over-hyped to me. The score is fine, but not the greatest ever and the whole theatrical experience was meh. But I LOVED the movie. I definitely enjoyed it more than the stage version. And 100% agreed with your CGI comment.
@@VeronikaHer I'm sitting here watching a video on how they did Dancing through life, and the hairdresser pops in and says she wanted blonde streaks for Fiyero as part of his story arc, the creatives for this really went all out. The video is on Entertainment Weekly's channel its quite good. But that story arc is also why I just don't like the material, why is a prince taking a job in security, and then nothing good comes of it, its like it was written backwards. Watching this library spin for 12 minutes I'm still confused how they did it, lol.
Not a fan of the blue monkeys. I think all the animals were animated wonderfully. But in the musical the fact that the monkeys look a bit human it felt more creepy. Here the opening and the transformation wasn’t as creepy as I hoped! But I love they added more animal characters like professors and the nanny .
Agree hard on Glinda not coming off dumb here. I thought this was especially true when she throws her tantrum about the secret before popular. It comes off as manipulative / performative rather than truly childish and Cynthia sells it by kinda laughing and rolling her eyes. She sees through the act and I think that explains her draw to her. Shes not really that immature, she knows what she’s doing. Like Fiyero says, she’s “good😏”
I think the Wizard still might have had animals working in the Emerald City (i.e. the hummingbirds in the salon) because if the public saw that it was a no-animals region of Oz, people would start to get sus and start questioning his nature.
my thoughts: i still am not vibing with how the film began with the VO of excerpts “according to the time dragon clock” etc. some of the choreography was very cringe for me (the flower choreography in NOMTW and some of the dancing in DTL). Jeff gave a very predictable performance. It works I was just slightly disappointed about that. Some weird action/dialogue interludes during iconic songs… DG especially (although I LOVED the way it played out). Maybe it was my theatre but I found the audio mix a bit weird. Not enough volume in the music?
Agree with the comments here. I thought Dancing through life was incredible. The library wheels and ladders. An extremely dangerous sequence that had me entranced. I saw it twice and still didn’t catch everything going on in those wheels.
23:16 “animals” here are a metaphor for people… they’re just people… the show, book and movie disguise this by using “animals”… but they are people. And yeah, there are animals in this world too.
I listened to an interview with Jonathan Bailey, where he said that listening to so much American music when he sings he often slips into an American accent
@@MickeyJoTheatre ua-cam.com/video/8zqwAKtrImA/v-deo.htmlsi=RnvFqFNdSnXHMIAK........its a very long but excellent interview with josh Horowitz on you tube. an interesting bit on queer representation also.
I was actually shocked at how un-pop Ariana’s vocals were…. She had more breathless in No One Morns the wicked than she does in the instance where she goes into her head voice - which was sort of surprising. But maybe this was to showcase some of her internal emotions behind the facade. But even though it has more breathless it still has a more “classical” musical theater tone
One of my only complaints with the film is that the set and costumes were so amazing but you barely get a second to focus on anything. I wish there was a cocktail table book with images of everything so I could really study everything
@@MickeyJoTheatre the ceiling in Glinda's dorm room looks almost exactly like some medieval ceilings at the kremlin and one of the schools hallways looks very close to an entryway i saw in Barcelona....i thought...wow the set designer is really pulling from interesting and diverse sources.
"[The horse is] happy for Fiyero to ride him... I mean, Fiyero is Jonathan Bailey, so, listen, who amongst us...?" Who indeed? ;) Spectacular analysis, did you really notice and retain all of that from just one viewing? Mind-boggling... I'm curious as to your thoughts on viewers singing along in the cinemas at non-singalong sessions (maybe you've seen the New York Times piece on this) - entitled self-centredness or a minor and forgivable lapse in audience etiquette?
We got 4!!!!!!!!!! You forgot that the writer of the musical book, Winnie Holtzman, has a cameo too. She the one they focus on when the wizard is saying Omaha!
8:44 “should’ve been illegal”… why were types of people allowed in?!?! They absolutely better not “comment” on the movie!! They can write it in their personal diary… then have the diary thrown away forever…
My biggest issue was the lighting. You have spectacular sets and costumes but you don’t get to appreciate it because almost every scene has a ton of back light and over exposure specially on dancing through life and no one mourns the wicked. It’s frustrating because everything else is so perfect and beautiful. But the light doesn’t let you become immerse into the world. I wish the light and color grading was more like the 2003 Peter Pan movie. I want the light pouting to the characters face so I can see them. When fyero sings to Glinda on dancing though life I can’t see their faces. And no one mourns the wicked made Glinda’s entrance not as epic because she had the sun behind her and we don’t get to see her as much.
Sadly this feels like an aesthetic trend lately - I think if the film had been made 15 years ago it would have has a more vibrant palette. I only really noticed it during the ozdust ballroom and subsequent shiz scenes.
@ for me the worst moment was dancing though life. The set was spectacular but behind the wheel was a big strobe light and you can’t see anyone’s face. And can’t appreciate any details
@@MickeyJoTheatre I know, I was playing Devil's advocate ;) I remember seeing Wicked on the West End in 2006 after obsessing with the OBC Recording and it was so jarring hearing the RP accent... especially being a Northern lass! It really took me aback!
I thought the first beat in the movie didn’t hit as hard as the musical which was a bit of a letdown. I enjoyed the movie. Don’t know if I would want to t watch it over and over, but it did a good job of playing the in between of the musical, its own movie. Wish there was some time dragon.
I cant to see this on Sunday when my son's birthday, when i was pregnant my first choice name if he been a girl was Dorothy can you tell i been life long OZ fan 😅
If you're still avoiding spoilers, check out the *spoiler-free* review here: ua-cam.com/video/3yeJ-0xatRU/v-deo.html
what did you think could have been cut?
@LPnerd less cutting entire scenes, more addressing pacing. The train station and meeting the wizard could both have been halved.
You mention that there's a moment of reservation before Glinda throws the torch and that's the main giveaway that there's something going on behind the curtain, but the moment that stuck out to me was when the first ensemble member sang "No one mourns the wicked." Her entire face changed. It's like her mask slipped, and the crowd was too busy celebrating to notice how taken aback she looked. And from my perspective, she wasn't really able to recover until the number is over and she tried to leave. Even then, all she really wanted was to get away from those people.
No I agree you're so right
When Kirsten and Idina popped up I SQUEALED and when Stephen popped up I squealed again!
I instantly grabbed my best friend - I had a feeling Kristen would be featured in part one, and Idina would be in part two but seeing them together stood next to Ari and Cynthia made me cry even harder than I had been!
@AlexHurleyMusic I went to see it on my own so I was vibrating with excitement to absolutely noone 🤣
Winnie also makes a cameo during that scene
@Zoeysplaylist824 I sadly, and much to my Chagrin don't know what she looks like :(
@ it was the woman who said he can read it he must be a wizard :)
I love how they made the oz dust ball under the sea! That’s so unique and creative!
Sentimental man is usually a song I always skip and zone out during the musical but I loved how visually interesting they made the movies version. A great change in my opinion.
sameeeeee, i was shocked they made it so interesting now
I missed the first few minutes of the movie. Did they indicate.. at all.. that the wizard would eventually be considered to have been Elphiba's father? I know they were going with a family-friendly movie rather than get into the down and dirty facts, but I wanted to know if they addressed anything.
@@mckenna8663yes, they have Goldblum voicing the Elixer man in the opening.
I actually had to pee so badly and decided to go during that part because I normally feel the same, so now I’m sad I missed it! Good thing I’m seeing again next weekend with my brother and sister in law!
I think they knew they had to zest this song up because I’m not kidding when I said there was an audible groan in my packed theatre when everyone realized that song was coming 😂
I NEED UNIVERSAL TO DO A WICKED LAND ASAP.
Imagine a ride flying with elphaba while defying gravity plays!
i had the same thought watching the movie i was like this could be a theme park land, epic universe expansion maybe 🤔
So....Oz? lolol
It would be perfect next to the villains area in epic universe 😭
Omg, my inner child would absolutely die!
HP who?
Something I haven’t seen anyone comment on: Fiyero and Elphaba’s meeting is EXACTLY how Jane Eyre meets Mr. Rochester! I thought that was so interesting considering that Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero is smart and sad, which is very Mr. Rochester. And Elphaba is very Jane Eyre-adjacent in her role and how she is looked at by others/how she views herself! It was such a smart and subtle way to project that they belong together.
Oh excellent point!!
“Many years we have waited for a….”, “popular”, “no one mourns”, then there’s the pink and green lights, the Shiz sweatshirt. I see you, MJ. Already loving the video only 30 seconds into watching it. 😊
I saw it a couple of days ago and it was f-ing fantastic.
Plus the lion and monkey plushies, glinda’s crown and wand!
As a casual fan of musicals, and more of a movie person in general, I was very much blown away and impressed with this film. I think what makes it work, isn't just the fact that it is a very great adaptation of the musical, but the fact they put a lot of time and craft into it. While there is CGI present, there is a lot of practical work put into the film, and having as much practical sets, props, etc put into the production, it gives the movie that extra bit of believability into it. Apparently the train is actually real for example. It is things like that which make a movie stand out more visually and on a technical level, that hasn't been seen in a long time.
Winnie Holzman was in one short day as well! Which was my favorite surprise. I loved how they sprinkled For Good all over the first act. It's a cute hint as what's to come. My favorite "prop" appearance was the bike! I thought that was cool. Also, how they worked in the hot-air balloon was really cool. Such an amazing film.
Oh I missed her!
@@MickeyJoTheatreshe’s the one that says “he can read it. He’s a wizard!”
Oh how I cried at the little for good motifs that cropped up - that song means so much to me, I fear I’m going to be even more a puddle of tears at the end of part 2 than I was at the end of part 1
I was coming here to write this! Lol
THANK YOU defying gravity made me INSANE
I've just come out of the cinema and I was sobbing within the first five minutes, you can see the PAIN in Glinda's face as she's telling the Munchkins the "good news"
Bits made me cry, bits made me laugh and a certain bit at the end made me jump/scream. I think Jon M Chu was THE person to direct this, his past movies have looked incredible and generally have good reviews all around. I can't help but feel he would be perfect to make a Dr Seuss movie (bits in OSD made me think of the Grinch with all the bikes and wonderful elements)
I really wish we could have more scenes with elpahaba and fyero. I didn’t fully believe the chemistry.
I did love the addition of boq feeling pressure from Nessus dad to not break up with her.
I concur, that moment fleshed out Boq's predicament well.
That might be the best threatening dad smile I’ve ever seen
I think for me it was because she is looking like 35-40 yrs old. and he is looking around 22-23. It was almost creepy for me.
@LPnerd I love Jonny, but he doesn't look that young. And she doesn't look that old.
I loved what they did to dr dillamond! I nevered cared for him in the musical but here I was so in awe and interested in every scene he was in. He was one of the highlights for me.
Something Bad as a conference between the marginalised animals worked much better I thought!
Completely the same! Genuinely never usually cared about him but in the film it was genuinely emotional
Maybe because he’s a goat and not a goatman
One of my favourite changes that they made was the start of something bad - I think the extra context about the animal rights really helped the wider story.
I couldn’t be happier with this movie because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true
Oh what a celebration we've had today 💖
@@MickeyJoTheatre thank goodness
I loved it! It absolutely blew all my expectations out of the water and then some! Having seen the stage show 13 times, it’s one that means a lot to me - and I’m so pleased that it’s translated so well to screen. I cried a solid 7 or 8 times, but especially during the Idina and Kristin section of one short day - it was beautiful. I also really liked some of the tweaks to the plot - as you say, some made even more sense than the original musical.
I don’t know how I’m going to wait a whole year for part 2!
I think the defying gravity sequence was pure perfection. So much more emotional stakes.
The length of the movie is significant in that the stage musical ran 2 hours and 40minutes. The director speaks to this. He stated that part 2 will also be two hours and 40 minutes.
Another piece of the orchestration…. As the children are running through the tulips at the beginning of the movie, you can hear “ding ding the witch is dead”
So many Easter Eggs.
Your cheeky comment about Jonathan Bailey and his horse made a gray day in Boston seem a little brighter lol thanks
Hi fellow Bostonian! 👋
35:17 - THANK YOU I dont feel unjustified anymore
I love how they introduced the Ruby Slippers.
The biggest surprise to me was that they did not use the expanded run time of Part 1 to do more concrete building of something between Elphaba and Fiyero. They upped the chemistry in vibes by having the benefit of close ups but I feel like even the most diehard Wicked fan, if you ask them for the one thing they don’t like or don’t understand about Wicked, it’s why does Elphaba fall in love with Fiyero out of absolutely nowhere lol
I agree with this. I was looking forward for them to expand on their romance.
But I’m excited to see how it be in part 2
The plush is gorgeous! Saw the movie this UK afternoon. Tbh the stage show is not one of my favourites, but I absolutely loved the movie! I loved the effects, loved the casting, loved the story telling, loved the costumes, and the song and dance .. but the special moments for me were those little touches & the fun of those cameos! Great review and thank you for thoughtfully making two..
I’m so glad you brought up Jonathan Bailey and the American vowels! I understand it from a rhyming point of view with the ensemble but it makes no sense to have a British actor, make him so obvious in his spoken accent but erase it in his singing. I haven’t seen anyone else talk about it!
I was so confused when his accent was suddenly there after dancing thru life
44:34 Also a fourth cameo from Winnie Holzman, who is the lady in One Short Day’s extended sequence that exclaims, “He can read it! He must be a wizard!”
throwback: you also see a quick view of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion on their way to Oz.
I saw this yesterday and loved it. Appreciated the adding of back stories. I agree with you that it was a bit too long and that Jeff Goldblum was playing, well, Jeff Goldblum. Of all the characters, the Wiz was cast the worst. Hadn't thought about the difference that the way Fiyero makes his entrance changes how we think about him. Love all the things you talk about that I hadn't given any thought to. Thanks!
Agreed about the arrangement for i’m not that girl
41:55 I was curious why Glinda was a bit more understated during Gravity… but then we see she does move towards Morrible… it made sense.
Lots of good choices in this movie!
I felt the same way about Defying gravity, I could have done without the whole "unlimited" theme coming back before she gets into the ending of the song. Musicaly it killed the momentum of the carefully crafted song that we know and love. That's literally my only gripe. The camera work with Jon M Chu....really makes the dance scenes come alive, especially the spinning library in dancing through life. Also the silent dance scene at Oz Dust....that was really powerful. They really nailed this film. They really took the work seriously and told the story and got it right.
I thought Cynthia WAY overdid the dance in the Oz dust ballroom. I did not buy it at all. It was done so well in the stage play. It tugged especially hard at my heartstrings, but not in the movie. Overacting. IMHO. I also missed the hand movements that Idina did initially. They were magical. Same with The Wizard and I. I agree with Defying Gravity. It really KILLED it for me. The drama was gone by cutting it up as they did. It was like watching a car chase at high speed in the middle. Horrible choice.
Ariana is absolutely OUTSTANDING! She deserves an Oscar for this! Absolutely! Far better than Cynthia in this film.
@@kakirchmar The dramatic choices didn’t bother me. I really appreciated hearing Defying Gravity sung with a healthy vocal technique and without being able to visual the nodules forming on Idina’s vocal folds.
So I watched this today in IMAX. In the row behind me was half the cast of the North American tour cast of the Book of Mormon. We were all entranced and in love. I have never clapped in a movie but I clapped three times. Twice during one short day and then at the end.
So looking forward to hearing this review from a musical theatre fan- as I've seen only reviewers from film peeps
Loved this video Mickey Jo! Cannot wait to see the film again.
My favourite glinda line was when at the train station she runs over to elphaba saying there's a man with mustache 😂😂 idk just made me laugh so much.
I listened to No One Mourns The Wicked on movie soundtrack yesterday & I totally didn't notice in the film that you could hear ding dong the witch is dead in some small parts.
The 4 cameos in One Short Day was so fun. I was "yes!" so quietly when I saw Idina & Kristin. Can't wait to see more Fiyero, Nessa & Boq next movie.
Something I found really interesting is that Chris Stuckmann, in his review, said that it did feel like a complete movie. It's been great to see multiple perspectives and to see people who don't normally care about movie and stage musicals absolutely love it.
A lot of the reviewers have said it does have a nice story structure- beg/mid/end and it is satisfying
CAMEO SPOILER
I love idina and Kristin but I believe the cameo was too long and a bit too meta specially with Irina singing the riff.
My favorite cameo was on the live action little mermaid Jodie benson quickly gives Ariel a fork and it’s so sweet and simple. But quick!
Here it took me out.
Anyone else?
Defying Gravity kinda punched me in the gut. I didn’t think it would be that exciting, but it was. The visuals. The score. The Cynthia Erivo of it all. I mean, that was old school Hollywood, baby!
46:31 wow, yeah, I agree… the little choices and directions the movie took does improve the show past the stage version… hard to say that.
Act 2 has LOTS of CBB (could be better) moments so yeah, I’m looking forward to those as well!
So so great.
Marissa Bode really shines through in this as Nessarose.
I can't wait to see her complete Nessarose's arc in the next film, that's always the most interesting part of her material!
I surely loved it, Mickey. 🌈 I'm glad you mentioned the title and "to be continued" font... those even made me cry!
Not sure if anyone mentioned this or noticed but… one of my fave moments was at the end of Defying Gravity when Madame Morrible holds on to Glinda, in the stage version you don’t really see that cause they face away from the audience during that part.
“Truly no one mourns”! So so SO true!
Just listened to your Ragtime review! So glad you share the affinity for that fantastic piece!
Any idea if the OG cast reunion concert was recorded or will this new performance be recorded?!
The OG cast reunion was recorded and was scheduled for televising but has strangely been pulled. The Encores run I believe is getting an album.
I loved the Easter eggs in this! Showing a bike with basket and introducing broom was cool. When you see it being used a stick to hold door. Such a wonderful adaptation thus far.
10:32 that “love triangle” in the movie is WORLDS better set up than on stage… had to say it…
It absolutely did not kill my throuple shipping
I haven't seen the stage musical, I only knew a few of the songs as most people do. I really enjoyed it. It looked great and the music was very well done i thought.
I’ll have to go back and really try to find all the “Wizard of Oz” homages because there were SO. MANY….I was overwhelmed lol.
1.) At one point, Boq tells Glinda “I cry a lot”, his last name being Woodsman…foreshadowing the Tin Man.
2.) Elphaba tells Fiyero to “Get stuffed…”, an obvious nod to foreshadowing the Scarecrow.
3.) We hear “Ding Dong The Witch is Dead” when the children are ringing the bells down the yellow brick road to announce Elphaba’s death.
4.) We hear “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at some points…
5.) At the end of “The Wizard and I”, Elphaba’s I Want song, runs to the end of cliff and we see a rainbow and blue birds flying -a direct nod to the lyrics in Dorothy’s I Want song!
6.) During “Popular”, Glinda picks up red ruby shoes and clicks them 3 times!
…and I’m sure so many more I missed!!!
I do appreciate Winnie Holzman’s Cameo in Emerald City, she’s the one who touts the Wizards Grimmerie reading.
44:29
i had such low expectations for this film but i was very very blown away and impressed. missed stephen’s cameo but will be looking when i see it again tonight haha
“Using the animals as a scapeGOAT” 😂😂😂
BOTH are born to play the roles❤❤ Just watched the movie in Northeast India.. great movie
I concur!
Im not that girl thoughts:
Cynthia sings beautiful
But anyone got distracted by the two lights on the background in the middle of the forest?
Also it felt more like a music video to me.
But I did love the practical sets for the forest? Very whimsical!😍 just wish we had a more whimsical light to help it shine more.
You put into words how I felt about I’m not that girl. Thank you!
I am absolutely SHATTERED from this film! It was SO FREAKING GOOD!
I agree with everything that you said and also learned so much about things I didn't notice. Amazing job as always!!
Thank you, very kind!
It didn't occur to me until I was five minutes into listening to the cast album that I was going to hear Jeff Goldblum going through "have another drink, my dark-eyed beauty"
I still haven't made up my mind how I feel about it
And it's SO obviously Goldblum, which I have mixed feelings about 😅
On the bright side, there’s so much going on that I don’t know if that’s a detail the unaware public will notice.
I’m dragging my mom to see it so I will see if she notices
I *knew* and I couldn't tell lol. So I reckon people who don't might not spot it. I actually assumed they'd purposely made him sound as not like him as possible... Like, it doesnt sound unlike him but definitely didnt make me think of him immediately.
@@MickeyJoTheatreI found Joel Gray and Nigel Planner obvious, but if you haven’t seen it or heard it before you would get it. I was with friends and they never twigged. And I didn’t spoil it for them. They aren’t musical people but loved the film and characters. And are looking forward to seeing part 2
I saw it Wednesday.
It was magical.
I was so impressed with Ariana. I wasn’t expecting it from her at all. I knew Cynthia would blow me away and she did. I already bought the cast album.
I plan to see again with my other bestie next week.
Saw Wicked twice in New York and 3 times in San Francisco….. I loved the film but we had a dead audience….What I truly missed in the film showing was the reactions you get at a live performance…I found myself laughing alone at the typical parts you’d get a reaction from in a live theatre.
Just watched it. Everything was already said. Its so good! All the cameos and music easter eggs... Ariana was an absolute highlight. The physical comedy of her character worked so well! But... I do have to criticise the CGI cub. Especially when Fyiero is interacting with it. I swear his hands went THROUGH the cub several times 😂
I always feel out of place because I just don't like Wicked, and it has to do with the source material, the 2nd act is just to me bad writing thrown together. I was still very happy with this, as it just feels like a labor of love. I will always have a problem with cgi, for some reason its very expensive now and maybe worse quality, the scenes are much darker than the scenes on the practical sets. People were complaining about the lighting on the practical sets, but then I thought maybe they are just used to being thrust into this dark world of cgi.
@Gee-xb7rt oh I watched wicked on stage for the first time only a year ago and was absolutely disappointed. It was so over-hyped to me. The score is fine, but not the greatest ever and the whole theatrical experience was meh. But I LOVED the movie. I definitely enjoyed it more than the stage version. And 100% agreed with your CGI comment.
@@VeronikaHer I'm sitting here watching a video on how they did Dancing through life, and the hairdresser pops in and says she wanted blonde streaks for Fiyero as part of his story arc, the creatives for this really went all out. The video is on Entertainment Weekly's channel its quite good. But that story arc is also why I just don't like the material, why is a prince taking a job in security, and then nothing good comes of it, its like it was written backwards. Watching this library spin for 12 minutes I'm still confused how they did it, lol.
Such a great and detailed review of the film but I felt like I need to point out that Winnie Holzman also cameo's in OSD!
Can't believe I missed this! Will be on the look out during my 2nd viewing tomorrow.
I love the new battle cry! Dare I say it’s even better than the original?
45:54 sure… fine… Schwartz got that line…
But that line is so well done on Broadway that was missed…
I know, I should let it go…
(wrong show…)
Bowen's "Rouge my knees" is a bit on the nose, lol.
Not a fan of the blue monkeys.
I think all the animals were animated wonderfully. But in the musical the fact that the monkeys look a bit human it felt more creepy. Here the opening and the transformation wasn’t as creepy as I hoped!
But I love they added more animal characters like professors and the nanny .
Agree hard on Glinda not coming off dumb here. I thought this was especially true when she throws her tantrum about the secret before popular. It comes off as manipulative / performative rather than truly childish and Cynthia sells it by kinda laughing and rolling her eyes. She sees through the act and I think that explains her draw to her. Shes not really that immature, she knows what she’s doing. Like Fiyero says, she’s “good😏”
this movie was great !!! Honestly so good and just an amazing adaptation of Act 1
can’t wait for part 2!
Same! Only a year to wait 😅
I think the Wizard still might have had animals working in the Emerald City (i.e. the hummingbirds in the salon) because if the public saw that it was a no-animals region of Oz, people would start to get sus and start questioning his nature.
I'm so glad to hear this. I was so disappointed in The Color Purple last year that I'm glad this holiday season has a good musical.
I just got out and OMG this was SO GOOD!
my thoughts: i still am not vibing with how the film began with the VO of excerpts “according to the time dragon clock” etc.
some of the choreography was very cringe for me (the flower choreography in NOMTW and some of the dancing in DTL). Jeff gave a very predictable performance. It works I was just slightly disappointed about that.
Some weird action/dialogue interludes during iconic songs… DG especially (although I LOVED the way it played out). Maybe it was my theatre but I found the audio mix a bit weird. Not enough volume in the music?
You have made me very excited to see the movie now.
Madame morrible clearly had that old school tenure in this film 😂
Exactly 😂
Got to see it at a early access screening truly incredible
Agree with the comments here. I thought Dancing through life was incredible. The library wheels and ladders. An extremely dangerous sequence that had me entranced. I saw it twice and still didn’t catch everything going on in those wheels.
4 actually. I saw Winnie Holtzman
23:16 “animals” here are a metaphor for people… they’re just people… the show, book and movie disguise this by using “animals”… but they are people. And yeah, there are animals in this world too.
I listened to an interview with Jonathan Bailey, where he said that listening to so much American music when he sings he often slips into an American accent
I'm not sure I've ever actually heard him sing without one (he's usually playing Americans)
@@MickeyJoTheatre ua-cam.com/video/8zqwAKtrImA/v-deo.htmlsi=RnvFqFNdSnXHMIAK........its a very long but excellent interview with josh Horowitz on you tube. an interesting bit on queer representation also.
Noooooooooo! 7 more hours before I watch the film 😂 at least I've got this video to look forward to once the movie's over 🤷🏼♀️
Omg. Why do I agree with you 100%
I was actually shocked at how un-pop Ariana’s vocals were…. She had more breathless in No One Morns the wicked than she does in the instance where she goes into her head voice - which was sort of surprising. But maybe this was to showcase some of her internal emotions behind the facade. But even though it has more breathless it still has a more “classical” musical theater tone
I was planning on seeing it on Friday but woke up with a fever an a cough. Will watch vlog after I see it. Brrrr and Chistery 4ever
For me it went really quick !! I could keep watching more ❤
I think Keala's accent is like that due to her mini stroke, she had to relearn how to talk, hence the hybrid accent!
One of my only complaints with the film is that the set and costumes were so amazing but you barely get a second to focus on anything. I wish there was a cocktail table book with images of everything so I could really study everything
Oh there undoubtedly will be!
@@MickeyJoTheatre the ceiling in Glinda's dorm room looks almost exactly like some medieval ceilings at the kremlin and one of the schools hallways looks very close to an entryway i saw in Barcelona....i thought...wow the set designer is really pulling from interesting and diverse sources.
where did you get the hat?
"[The horse is] happy for Fiyero to ride him... I mean, Fiyero is Jonathan Bailey, so, listen, who amongst us...?" Who indeed? ;) Spectacular analysis, did you really notice and retain all of that from just one viewing? Mind-boggling... I'm curious as to your thoughts on viewers singing along in the cinemas at non-singalong sessions (maybe you've seen the New York Times piece on this) - entitled self-centredness or a minor and forgivable lapse in audience etiquette?
Saw it this morning with my sister 🥹🥹🥹
Winnie Holzmen made a cameo too
I do believe the movie "will be very very popular"
We got 4!!!!!!!!!! You forgot that the writer of the musical book, Winnie Holtzman, has a cameo too. She the one they focus on when the wizard is saying Omaha!
Can't believe I missed this! I was too overwhelmed 😅
I loved the movie. I cannot wait to watch it again.
8:44 “should’ve been illegal”… why were types of people allowed in?!?!
They absolutely better not “comment” on the movie!!
They can write it in their personal diary… then have the diary thrown away forever…
My biggest issue was the lighting.
You have spectacular sets and costumes but you don’t get to appreciate it because almost every scene has a ton of back light and over exposure specially on dancing through life and no one mourns the wicked.
It’s frustrating because everything else is so perfect and beautiful. But the light doesn’t let you become immerse into the world.
I wish the light and color grading was more like the 2003 Peter Pan movie.
I want the light pouting to the characters face so I can see them.
When fyero sings to Glinda on dancing though life I can’t see their faces.
And no one mourns the wicked made Glinda’s entrance not as epic because she had the sun behind her and we don’t get to see her as much.
Sadly this feels like an aesthetic trend lately - I think if the film had been made 15 years ago it would have has a more vibrant palette. I only really noticed it during the ozdust ballroom and subsequent shiz scenes.
@ for me the worst moment was dancing though life. The set was spectacular but behind the wheel was a big strobe light and you can’t see anyone’s face.
And can’t appreciate any details
17:47 Miss Coddle, a character original to the film, derives her name from how she coddles Nessarose.
Of course!
Re: "British Vowels" in Dancing through Life... Not all of us say DARNCING my love! Bath/Trap split!
You are correct, of course - my fiancé Aeron being an example BUT the RP accent Jonny is using for Fiyero would pronounce dancing like I do.
@@MickeyJoTheatre I know, I was playing Devil's advocate ;) I remember seeing Wicked on the West End in 2006 after obsessing with the OBC Recording and it was so jarring hearing the RP accent... especially being a Northern lass! It really took me aback!
Alice Fearn looked awesome in it!
I thought the first beat in the movie didn’t hit as hard as the musical which was a bit of a letdown. I enjoyed the movie. Don’t know if I would want to t watch it over and over, but it did a good job of playing the in between of the musical, its own movie. Wish there was some time dragon.
Was this version possibly because of my comment on the spoiler-free video? 😁
I AM SO RELIEVED 😅❤
I cant to see this on Sunday when my son's birthday, when i was pregnant my first choice name if he been a girl was Dorothy can you tell i been life long OZ fan 😅
Amazing 😂 hope you enjoy!
What's a "toss-toss"?
NO ONE MOURNS. ❤
It was everything ❤❤❤