Wicked (2024)

[Sarah 103]

23 hours ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I still don't understand why they decided to make this 2 movies. I like Wicked but, the good numbers (IMO) are in Act 1. No Good Deed is the only song of note in Act 2 (IMO).

I agree with you and would take it a step further. Act 2 overall is weak. I don't see how you turn Act 2 into its own movie, even if it sort of a sequel. Also, the running time of the first movie makes me very nervous. Normally, the stage screen transition/translation fails when the filmmakers add a bunch of stuff that was not in the stage show. (The biggest offender that immediately comes to mind is Bye Bye Birdie). 

[proserpina65]

On 5/25/2024 at 6:26 PM, JustHereForFood said:

I don't even understand what the issue with showing/not showing if a movie is musical is. If somebody goes to watch a movie without looking up info about it and then is disappointed, it's their problem.

I think it matters when it's something which probably shouldn't have been a musical and for which the intended audience is not Broadway/musical fans.  Case in point - Joker: Folie a Deux.  I think if moviegoers had known ahead of time that it was a musical, it would've made even less money than it did, which is exactly why the studio hid that fact.

On 7/17/2024 at 10:51 AM, chitowngirl said:

I hate that they (whoever “they” may be!) are trying to make this a thing. There was anticipation and buzz about Barbie and Oppenheimer and they just happened to be opening the same day. Is there buzz about Gladiator 2? Were fans clambering for a sequel? Gladiator barely registered on my radar, so maybe I am missing something…

I seriously doubt there's much crossover in the fanbase for these movies.  I think there is buzz for Gladiator 2, but as someone who was a huge fan of the first movie, I don't think most of us were clamoring for a sequel.  Will probably end up seeing it, though.  The original movie was huge at the time, so I suspect the sequel will do very well as long as it doesn't suck.

 

[JustHereForFood]

On 10/29/2024 at 1:50 AM, Morrigan2575 said:

I still don't understand why they decided to make this 2 movies. I like Wicked but, the good numbers (IMO) are in Act 1. No Good Deed is the only song of note in Act 2 (IMO).

As long as you're mine and especially For good are IMO pretty strong, but otherwise I agree. One movie would be a lot better, IMO.

[Morrigan2575]

1 hour ago, JustHereForFood said:

As long as you're mine and especially For good are IMO pretty strong, but otherwise I agree. One movie would be a lot better, IMO.

I don't remember either song I'll try to find them on YouTube.  The only other Act 2 other (from the list) that I remember is Thank Goodness 

[tv echo]

Wicked Featurette - Singing Live (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon   Oct 28, 2024

Wicked Featurette - A Week On Set With Ariana (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon   Oct 31, 2024

Wicked Featurette - A Week On Set With Cynthia (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon   Oct 31, 2024

Wicked Featurette - Munchkinland (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon   Nov 1, 2024

 

[Sarah 103]

For the people who are fans of the character or the actor.

 

 

[Spartan Girl]

1 hour ago, Sarah 103 said:

For the people who are fans of the character or the actor.

 

 

Personally I don’t like Boq and I really hope that the movie(s) call him out on his toxic Nice Guy behavior.

[MissAlmond]

I don't know what it is about this movie, but the more promotions I see, the more I think "Nah, I'm good."  I hope it works out for Wicked fans though. 

Edited November 15 by MissAlmond

[Kemper]

I saw the play (in Raleigh, NC) about six/seven years ago and thought I might go to the movie. Until those horrible Target commercials with the shrieking customers. Nails on a chalkboard. But I think most people will love it, especially during the holidays.

Also - it seems kind of like an obvious money grab to make it into two movies.

[Browncoat]

Knowing that this is in two parts, and that the first part is three days long (perhaps a slight exaggeration), makes me not want to see it at all, much less in the theater.

[iarwain]

Getting back to an earlier discussion about how the film was being promoted:  I was talking to a woman who was telling me she was going to go see it, and I told her I had the soundtrack to the play if she wanted to familiarize herself with the songs.  She was quite surprised to find out it was a musical.

So yeah, the trailers don't make it blatantly obvious.

[Spartan Girl]

On 11/17/2024 at 5:13 PM, Kemper said:

Until those horrible Target commercials with the shrieking customers. Nails on a chalkboard

Aww, I like that commercial. I mean, I only put up with the horrible singing just for Cynthia to nail that note, but still!

Look, everybody is welcome to their opinion about the show. Me? I need this, okay? Especially after this month.

[Browncoat]

It's getting excellent reviews, so now I'm waffling towards seeing it.

[Morrigan2575]

4 hours ago, iarwain said:

yeah, the trailers don't make it blatantly obvious.

Maybe because I live close to NYC but, I thought everyone would realize Wicked is/was a musical and the movie would obviously be a musical.  

I remember they did the same with that Peter Dinklage Cyrano movie, I had no idea until the last trailer that it was a musical but, I figured Wicked IP would have been well known. 

3 hours ago, Browncoat said:

It's getting excellent reviews, so now I'm waffling towards seeing it

The biggest reason i don't plan to go is the fact that it's 2 movies, I just think it's a dumb move and killed any interest.  

[shipmate]

I am super excited to see this and have tickets for Saturday. I’m glad Ariana and Cynthia are getting deservedly lots of recognition, but I think Jonathan Bailey is a freaking superstar!!

[iarwain]

3 hours ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I remember they did the same with that Peter Dinklage Cyrano movie, I had no idea until the last trailer that it was a musical but, I figured Wicked IP would have been well known. 

Cyrano was a musical?  I had no idea.  Anyway, yeah you would think everybody already knows Wicked is a musical, but obviously that isn't the case.  

As for the movie being 2:41 long, I have to wonder why?  It just seems completely unnecessary, especially since it's only covering the first act.  I'm guessing they are padding the dialogue, and maybe even a new song or two.  I wonder if they're even including some material from the book? 

[Keywestclubkid]

It was so good saw it last night .. 

[proserpina65]

19 hours ago, iarwain said:

Anyway, yeah you would think everybody already knows Wicked is a musical, but obviously that isn't the case.  

People who have little to no interest in Broadway musicals probably don't know it's a musical.  They might have only read the book or just see the obvious relation to The Wizard of Oz.

[SeanC]

I was a teenager in the mid-2000s. Wasn't a theatre kid, but I listened to the soundtrack plenty over the years. I've made a number of trips to NYC over the years, but never actually saw Wicked in my trips to the theatre, as I tended to prioritize limited-run productions, so this was my first time seeing the actual story fully dramatized.

Overall, I thought this was pretty good. Chu already showed he knows his way around a production number, and he delivers here with all the big setpieces, and with most of what goes on in between.

You can tell this was Grande's dream role (as she has said many times), and she delivers. Lots of people didn't think she could do this, and to some extent I guess she only has herself to blame for foregoing acting for over a decade in favour of pop stardom.

They really went big on the cameos, in a way that unavoidably took me a bit out of the movie when they first happened, though the audience I was with loved it.

[Keywestclubkid]

17 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

People who have little to no interest in Broadway musicals probably don't know it's a musical.  They might have only read the book or just see the obvious relation to The Wizard of Oz.

no tea no shade but you would have to literally go out of your way to NOT know that this was a musical .. im sorry in this day and age to play dumb doesn't work when everyone and i mean everyone can google things at the drop of a dime and do especially with things they might be interested in seeing ..no one goes into things blind anymore ..And its not like its been a thing for 20plus years and has been KNOWN to the general public as a musical

Edited Friday at 02:15 PM by Keywestclubkid

[tv echo]

There was a behind-the-scenes special that recently aired on NBC called Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked, which was pretty good. It made me interested in seeing this film, when I was 'meh" before. The special ended with showing a musical number from the movie.  I think you can only watch this special on Peacock now.

EXCLUSIVE: The First 90 Seconds of NBC's Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked Special
NBC   Nov 18, 2024

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Reminisce | Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked | NBC
NBC   Nov 20, 2024

Ethan, Marissa and Bowen Talk Choreography | Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked | NBC
NBC   Nov 20, 2024

Edited Friday at 02:26 PM by tv echo

[Morrigan2575]

Jeremy Jahns gave it a middle of the road positive review (good time no alcohol required).  Which is his 3rd best ranking (Awesometacular and I'd Buy it on Blue Ray are his top 2 ranks).

Anyway he said the acting was good, the visuals were good, they setup the story so he knows/has an idea where it's going. He just felt that the story they are setting up is what he's more interested (part 2) and, didn't really see the need for a 2 part movie as this felt like a slow burn.

I think this will do well and, there are plenty of movie goers that will pay for both, just not me but, I hope the fans enjoy it as it sounds like they did a good job translating the musical to movie format.

Edited Friday at 03:20 PM by Morrigan2575

[proserpina65]

3 hours ago, Keywestclubkid said:

no tea no shade but you would have to literally go out of your way to NOT know that this was a musical

No, you wouldn't.  Someone just seeing the commercials on tv would not necessarily realize this was a musical because the commercial I've seen does not make it obvious.  Not everyone is into Broadway or nor would they automatically google the movie.  I have relatives who've seen the commercial and assumed it was related to the WOO but did NOT know it was a musical.

[iarwain]

Saw it earlier today, thought it was fantastic.  I got a little emotional a few times just thinking about what a dream role it was for Ariana Grande to play Glinda, and she actually got to do it.  And she is well suited for it.  

Liked the way the title font was done to reflect the '39 Wizard of Oz.

Spoiler

I wasn't aware that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth had small parts in this, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw them.  And they both gave little nods to their original parts during their song.

 

[SeanC]

The full version of "What Is This Feeling?" has been posted by the studio:

 

[Browncoat]

I saw it last night, and apart from having to remind another moviegoer that recording the movie with her phone is illegal and she needed to cut it out, I enjoyed it a lot.  I've read the book, but haven't seen the musical, and only have a passing awareness of some of the songs.  

Galinda reminded me of a cross between Regina George and Elle Woods.  Hair tossing = bend and snap.

I love Jeff Goldblum, but I felt like he was the weakest link here.  He doesn't have much of a voice, and I find it unlikely that he was actually doing that little dance behind the curtain.  

And I agree with @iarwain's entire post, including the spoiler.  I thought that was an awesome piece.

 

[iarwain]

6 hours ago, Browncoat said:

And I agree with @iarwain's entire post, including the spoiler.  I thought that was an awesome piece.

That's a new song that wasn't in the musical, by the way.  Given the length of the movie, I was expecting added dialogue and perhaps a new song or two.

 

6 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I love Jeff Goldblum, but I felt like he was the weakest link here.  He doesn't have much of a voice, and I find it unlikely that he was actually doing that little dance behind the curtain.  

 

Not really fond of spoiler spaces, but I suppose I had better use them here:

Spoiler

Was he involved in the song at the beginning, as the voice of the "lover", or even as the de-aged actor?  I thought it sounded kind of like him, with maybe a younger actor standing in for him.

 

Edited 9 hours ago by iarwain

[Crashcourse]

Did Ariana and Cynthia lose weight specifically for this movie, because they look like they have a combined weight of about 190 lbs.

[shoregirl]

I thought it was great. It looked beautifu.l I wasn't sold on the Ariana Grande casting but she was really good. Galinda suited her talent  well. Cynthia Erivo is stupendous. What a voice. Defying Gravity is pretty iconic and she killed it. 

Jonathan Bailey is super charming. Dancing Though Life was a highlight for me. 

I was sceptical about splitting it into two films but so far it works for me. Though I wish part 2 was coming out sooner.  I thought the pacing was good it didn't feel like it was as long as it was 

 

[scarynikki12]

I expressed my concerns about Ariana upthread and I'm happy to say they are no more. She was great, Cynthia was great, Michelle was great, Jonathan was great, Jeff was great, everyone was great!, and the movie was far more colorful than I expected. I'm still annoyed we have to wait a year for Part 2 but I'm looking forward to it.