The book is SO much darker than the play. I totally understand why the play cuts a lot of that out, but I am glad John Chu and company decided to add some of that adult aspect back into the story. Helps the movie seem like more than just a live action Disney princess movie.
The Broadway show was a purposeful commentary on the Bush/Cheney landscape in America at that time. The joke about "regime change" was easier to understand with the post 9/11 and War on Terror audience.
Cynthia Erivo is not the first Black Woman to play Elphaba. Alexia Khadime is the current Elphaba in the West End. She first played the role back in 2008. Brandi Chavonne Massey, Lilli Cooper (Sandy in Spongebob the Musical), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Allison in Umbrella Academy) & Saycon Sengbloh have all played Elphaba in Wicked on Stage.
Nice shout out for Rogue. Great to see considering how badly the comics actually treated her. She is only really getting built up and dusted off with Gail Simone's Uncanny Xmen. Even her once perfect adoption origins were turned upside down and made cynical to validate a male character at her expense I greatly argue. The Savage Lands reboot being the solo Rogue fans get is such an insult. Nobody needs a repeat of that degradation and the fans are protesting and fighting it. But Marvel comics and the nochalant editors just let writers do what they want and really ignore the fans to their detriment. So that's a loss for Rogue who deserves to be uplifted like Storm and Jean but still faces the wrath of biased male writers.
One of the first videos I watched from your channel was about universal potentially doing a film adaptation of wicked. 11 years later I’m finally watching you review it😂❤
In the book Munchkins are generally shorter than average height & prejudiced against, contrast Elphaba's height, symbolizing societal bias based on appearance.
ironically, when you say that Hollywood struggles to appeal to women with female-led superhero projects, the ones who *did* appeal to women and even men, are the ones led by witches. because wandavision made a huge splash and was about a woman accepting her grief (plus that she's a witch). and agatha all along seems to also have been really popular among women and queer people. and if Wicked *is* as superhero-esque as you say and it does well with female audiences, it would be another witchy project that connects well with it's non-male audiences
Same, the last trailer was the only decent trailer but that’s exactly why the hype was so weak all year until the last couple of weeks when they went really hard on the marketing.
Wonderful review! As a lifelong Wicked fan, I'm so happy you were able to enjoy the movie. The messaging is as strong in the musical, with only a few lines in the movie added for extra impact (for example "I don't see color"). Cynthia being the first black Elphaba definitely heightened and improved many of the themes already in the story. So happy for Cynthia, and Ariana too! Performances for the ages
I hate being the "uhm, actually" guy but... uhm, actually Cynthia is NOT the first black actress to portray Elphaba. Alexia Khadime is the current Elphaba in the West End production - she was indeed the first black actress to play the role full time. Alexia originally played the role June - November 2008 and May 2009 - March 2010. FUN FACT: the current West End Glinda, Lucy St. Louis, is also black, so the West End has the first ever (and only, so far) all-black pairing of Elphaba and Glinda actresses.
@@JoseBraghiroli there is also Ryan Reid playing Fiyero who is a black actor. so its also the first time he 3 leads are people of colour and they are all incredible
All the political stuff comes from the book, the musical is not as political, focusing more on elphaba’s relationships to glinda and fiyero. Apparently for the movie they added more things from the book
Not entirely true though, as the Broadway show still is deeply political, it just builds more into the politics in act ii and is very much a political story of its time (with direct references to politics of 2003)
Early shows made references to current politics (Bush administration) as jokes to coincide the political themes of the musical. I think they still do it depending on current political situations. The book was also political and the original Oz books as well but was in disguise as metaphors.
Grace, have to pull you up - Cynthia isn't the first black actress to play Elphaba: Saycon Sengbloh, Alexia Khadime (currently Elphaba in London) and Jeannette Bayardelle each need their flowers for their work in the role!
@@deadpool-s3s the baby was already 1 yo before they started shootings in 2022 and besides that, couples with babies divorce more frequently than you can imagine since they try to have a baby to save the relationship, we don’t know these people personally so let’s stop pretending we do
I saw it last night. I love the Broadway musical, but was very skeptical for so many reasons for the film. But wow...this film had me in tears multiple times and I am not usually a crier during films. So many wonderful moments. The moment it ended I was ready to watch it again. EDIT: Also, the musical doesn't feature any of the diversity and representation that was present in the film. Broadway (especially in 2003 when the show came out) is still a very conservative environment. Historically, the role of Nessarose has not been played by an actress with a disability, and there's only been 2 black women to ever lead the show full time. The theme of friendship is the core of the show, and the film definitely punched up a lot of the themes of equality.
The novel was wonderful. Everyone could relate to Elphaba particularly. I was really hoping for a non-musical mini-series. I definitely won’t see this at a theater. Maybe streaming
MARGARET HAMILTON was the original "Wicked Witch" in the Wizard of Oz 1939 film. She was a wonderful woman in real life and an advocate for animals and Judy Garland, and she also endured a toxic environment in making the film with the upmost professionalism.
The book is incredibly dark and political (I mean, it is from the "villain" POV so it was the OG Joker in that sense). I heard the musical was lighter in some aspects but still retained the core messaging so this is not surprising at all.
Wicked is a Broadway show, but the rest of the world isn't as familiar with it. My friends don't even know that the movie is a musical. I think it won't do as well outside of the USA because other countries aren't as familiar with the show, don't generally like musicals, and don't have the same nostalgia factor
There is ONE Black woman who has played Elphaba full-time -- her name is Alexis Khadime, and she played the role on the West End from 2008-2010, then came back to the show in 2023 (when I saw her -- amazing talent). Shes still there today, and shes the only Black woman to have played her full time. Just a few years ago, Broadway welcomed its first Black Galinda as well! The musical theatre industry is brutal for casting diversely in these long running shows, so I hope the casting teams across the globe take Cynthia's turn as inspiration for looking beyond white women who they're going to paint green eight times a week.
@@vs5133 Thank you! I’ve known about her for years before she even showed up in the MCU because of that show. The OP doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Grace's point about WW, Barbie, and Agatha was that the cast in each of those projects really inhabited their characters. She's not directly comparing those three projects against each other.
I’m more inclined to see it now. Reading that it is a blend of the book and musical. Having read the book and seen the broadway musical. I enjoyed the musical. But the book is just such an interesting world that needed to be fleshed out. Very encouraging.
@@Hal-x7l Correct, they were reimagined in the book and musical just to be people from Munchkin Land but people unfamiliar with those are going to wonder why they aren't Little people actors.
Also, and small correction, there have been other black Elphaba’s before (as well as Glinda’s). The current Elphaba on the west end is Black. There hasn’t been a principal black Elphaba on Broadway though, just understudies.
Alexia Khadime was the first black woman to play the role of elphaba in the west end coming after Kerry Ellis in the UK and has returned to the role and is the current elphaba in the west end
I will say, while your points about Peter Dinklage and the munchkins is something that I do agree with.. Gregory Maguire establishes in the book that munchkins actually vary in size - and that it’s actually a misconception in Oz that all munchkins are short. Having said that though, I would’ve loved to see little people cast as munchkins as well.
@ I respectfully disagree. It’s about a complex friendship and navigating that while being faced with issues. They are two female characters, yes. However, the story is about their friendship not feminism.
@ how so? Is every movie with two male leads masculine? It can be feminine without it being the theme of the movie or musical. Just because there are two feminine/female characters doesn’t make it a main theme. The theme is two female characters who have opposite upbringing and social status find and navigate a complex friendship. Other than being two female characters what is the basis for the claim that the main themes of the movie are femininity and friendship? The second one I get. Rocky is a masculine movie, but that’s not the theme. It’s an underdog story. That’s the theme.
Black women are going to relate to the wicked witch of the West? Why? Being judged by your looks or the color of your skin seems like one of the last things they would want. This seems like it might have been better as a Baz Luhrmann style musical.
For me Galinda reminds me of masking (perfectionism, social pleasing, emphasis on materialism and external appearance), building up to the point that she drifts so far from her core, even actively suppresses it because of cognitive dissonance, that she internalises her superficial 'front' and gets cornered by her opportunistic path. It goes so far that it's bordering on covert narcissism that she exaggerates to the outside but we see that she actually has a heart and cares but feels like she cannot show it to others & herself. Elphaba starts with masking as well but in an opposite way: to protect herself she hardens, suppresses her feelings and drive to the point that it appears as though she doesn't care what people think of her and that she doesn't need anybody and that opening up makes you vulnerable. She's unmasking slowly and but due to events retreats again but in a more conscious, empowered, authentic way at least at first. That choice gives her a lot but costs a lot as well. It along with circumstances corners her as well, where she feels like she has no choice then to follow the path/act through but now also is aware of the disconnect with her true self + a kind of mourning of what she could have been when she had more favorable circumstances, validating support, experiences and upbringing where she got a brief taste of at Shiz eventually. That taste makes it even harder to turn away from ❤ She has in common with Galinda that she deep down does care deeply, also feels like she cannot show it but covers up with a different, antisocial mask.🎉 Deep down they are much more alike than meets the eye, perhaps they even don't realize it themselves. That + their opposite coping is both the reason why they connect and cannot stand each other simultaneously.
Ariana Grande received criticism ever since she started dating the guy who plays Boq after his wife just gave birth to their first child. His wife was left with a newborn baby to raise alone while he pranced around with Ariana. Not a good look.
If you thought it was too political in part one (it’s always been there and that’s part of the fabric of the story) you’ll have complaints for part two.
I’d say the movie goes deeper with the fascism/dictatorship theme and revising/erasing history theme than the musical. It’s in the show, but the movie fleshes it out much greater. Honestly, it was slightly chilling to see the present day parallels within the film.
The book was VERY political and the themes of Wicked have always had some discussion of race so hearing it speaking on Feminism doesn’t sulfide me, but I hope it hasn’t moved from that race discussion. As a black theater kid the casting of Cynthia is important and if we can remember the discourse of the little mermaid (Funny how no one’s dragging Cynthia’s casting like they did Halle Bailey? Would it be the same if Cynthia had been cast as Glinda?). I’m excited for the film and I hope it’s done right, it’s always been for the outcasts and I think Wicked is at its best when it leans into that.
There have been black understudies and standbys, but there has only been one black woman (Alexia Khadime) to lead a production of Wicked. That was 15 years ago on the West End. We’ve had more women of color play Glinda than we have had as Elphaba!
Alexia Khadime is currently leading the West End company in the UK but has been the only full-time Elphaba in the history of this show. The others have only been understudies/standbys unfortunately.
The messaging has always been there - from the book to the stage show and as a result the movie. The movie couldn’t be faithful to the source material if it didn’t include the messaging- particularly the political aspects 😊
@@fotiskogias3764 I actually wish I had your release date because here in N. America, the release being so early hits students and teachers right in the height of exams and project grading. This is one of the toughest, most crammed parts of our year so a lot of us don't have the time or energy to go out to see a movie when we'd like to.
I don’t think you can compare either the Democrat or Republican parties of the time in which Walt Disney lived and would have supported them to today. But considering one still holds to, even if in a nominal way, to the ideals of traditional family ideals, I have no doubt in my mind that Walt would be more closely aligned with republicans of today. Though again, neither are what they once were when he was alive, but both at least at one point agreed on basic fundamentals that sadly the Democrats have largely abandoned.
This musical, story and just overall music has helped me so much during some dark times in my life. Never thought I'd see the day where it was going to be adapted and see a review from you Grace 😀🙏 can't wait for this to come out. Weird release strategy for Universal again.. only comes out 4th december in European countries.
Oh boy, it part one is super message heavy, just you wait. Act 2 focuses heavily on the media and propaganda and how they paint people as villains. Mob mentality, etc.
Wonderful review Grace! Yes, the original Wicked musical is very message heavy, but that’s what a lot of diehard fans love about it. Sugar does indeed help the medicine go down.
I'm so sad and angry that I have to wait till the 4th of December to go watch this in theatre. Makes no sense that most European countries have to wait 2 more weeks. 🤦🏼♀️😪
I think what’s also so disheartening about this story is that Elphaba dealt with being treated horribly and differently just because of the color of skin and the only time people started treated her with respect and looking at her is once they realized how powerful she is. Galinda didn’t start treating her nicely until she did a favor for her. Madam & The Wizard used her. And then she’s expected to just go with the flow and do what everyone wants when they don’t see her for who she truly is. Everyone around her is wicked except for the “Wicked Witch” herself.
the only thing i could think of when watching this film was how hard Elphaba fought for injustice and in the end got painted as the villain and how real that is in our current world today especially the United States.
Wicked has ALWAYS been a political piece. Those lines have stayed the same since its' premiere in 2003, it just happens to be as relevant as ever now in 2024. Thanks for your review, Grace! Can't wait for your spoiler video!
The messaging is definitely in the musical, but the book is infamously heavy handed messaging. Infamous because he takes on several huge topics and looses control of them (the book is pretty poorly written).
20:03 Grace discovering the boiling hatred of stan twitter is so funny to me. I'm new-ish to the space as a swiftie and it’s genuinely so upsetting to see women and queer men constantly dragging down these objectively talented women. I'm so glad Ariana will inevitably be recognized for this role during awards season, I hope it'll be a wake up call to some of these horribly hateful twitter users 😂
A few of my friends have said they don’t wanna see it because of Cynthia and how problematic she has been. She amazing but I cannot help but agree, but I’m still gonna see it 😂
Grace- all I'll say about the politics and the original musical is: Bush Administration. It has always had a political angle but maybe it's more obvious now than in the past because of where we are vs 2003.
the problem w/ agatha was it was marketed as a spinoff show of a niche character, it would’ve done much better if it was told from the perspective of someone more on the level of wanda in terms of popularity
18:40 Alexia Khadime, the current Elphaba in the West End, is the first black actress to play Elphaba. She had two short stints between 2008 and 2010, and has been the full-time West End Elphaba since March 2023.
@@acmc7 yes! Lucy St. Louis, the current Glinda in the West End production. And earlier today someone else commented that their current Fiyero is played by a black actor as well.
You can't claim to be progressive and a feminist but in the same sentence say you're sick of talking about it ... That makes no sense. Grace gives very thoughtful and thought provoking reviews and Wicked is about feminism and female unity, as well as progressiveness. I can see the frustration with talking about so many things through that lense, but if it frustrates you so much, maybe you shouldn't claim to be progressive and feminist...🩷💚
You're in for a treat Grace with Act II next year. The broadway is coming back to Los Angeles. It's so good and looking forward to this. If I remember correctly the broadway also had those themes pretty much in there. I'm planning to read the books next.
In the musical, Elfaba was a very powerful female character written right! Incredibly powerful, but had to learn to use it wisely and yield her abilities for the sake of doing what is truly good.
"I have some concerns that the original would not compete with the homage..." Um, Grace you do realise 'Wicked' is essentially fan fiction right? I mean very high quality fanfiction but still it is kind of surreal hearing her talking about the 'original' apparently without irony when we are discussing the movie adaptation of a musical that was adapted from a book that was itself a retelling of another book.
GRACE! Loved this. And if THIS is how you responded to that LAST SONG before the "intermission" - you're going to NEED year to get ready for the FINALE of this show. It'll REWRITE your heart! I cannot wait for friday. My boyf and I are doing a double feature this day: this and Glad. 2!
I loved _The Wizard of Oz_ and the books in the Oz series like _Marvelous Land of Oz_ and _Ozma of Oz. Marvelous_ was written to be a musical stage play sequel, and I think it would be a good movie. I am attracted to adaptations of the Oz stories, like _Tin Man (2007)_ though somewhat on-guard when they change the stories, like _Wicked_ does. I'm still not sure whether I want to see it, but probably will to see what it has to say.
Can’t believe I was in London next to where the premier was taking place and didn’t head there 😂 was with friends and was wondering why there was so much wicked merch everywhere 😅
@ I know. And I don’t know what’s to make of it. I can’t imagine my life being 100% political, even if I agreed. It’s tiring, it’s one sided; I just can’t anymore
Making this a 2 parter is bizzare. There is only one good song in part 2, how are they gonna even pull that off without any good music? Dumb decisions. Hardcore conservative and trump supporter, but I’ve always loved wicked since I was a kid. I think it has broad appeal.
Maybe I don’t recall the musical being heavy feministic because it was a different era in our culture but if it was it definitely was subtle - or at least didn’t spend time painting the wizard as anything
I love Grace’s new trend of serving looks in her reviews!
Indeed 🎉
love that she's method dressing too 😂
Love it too !
Yes it’s so fun and she’s so beautiful !
It’s so fun!!
The book is SO much darker than the play. I totally understand why the play cuts a lot of that out, but I am glad John Chu and company decided to add some of that adult aspect back into the story. Helps the movie seem like more than just a live action Disney princess movie.
Grace isn’t messing around. 3:00pm on the dot!!😂
The Broadway show was a purposeful commentary on the Bush/Cheney landscape in America at that time. The joke about "regime change" was easier to understand with the post 9/11 and War on Terror audience.
Cynthia Erivo is not the first Black Woman to play Elphaba. Alexia Khadime is the current Elphaba in the West End. She first played the role back in 2008. Brandi Chavonne Massey, Lilli Cooper (Sandy in Spongebob the Musical), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Allison in Umbrella Academy) & Saycon Sengbloh have all played Elphaba in Wicked on Stage.
To note, Alexia is the first black woman to play Elphaba full time. All the other performers you listed were understudies.
@theaubreysmalls I know. Why do you think I said her name first?
Nice shout out for Rogue. Great to see considering how badly the comics actually treated her. She is only really getting built up and dusted off with Gail Simone's Uncanny Xmen. Even her once perfect adoption origins were turned upside down and made cynical to validate a male character at her expense I greatly argue. The Savage Lands reboot being the solo Rogue fans get is such an insult. Nobody needs a repeat of that degradation and the fans are protesting and fighting it. But Marvel comics and the nochalant editors just let writers do what they want and really ignore the fans to their detriment. So that's a loss for Rogue who deserves to be uplifted like Storm and Jean but still faces the wrath of biased male writers.
Wicked is set to debut at $165M-$200M worldwide which is a phenomenal start for this Universal event!
One of the first videos I watched from your channel was about universal potentially doing a film adaptation of wicked. 11 years later I’m finally watching you review it😂❤
In the book Munchkins are generally shorter than average height & prejudiced against, contrast Elphaba's height, symbolizing societal bias based on appearance.
Hearing Grace talk about Ariana Grande in Spoiler Free movie still blows my mind. Wishes do come true 😭
How sad your life must be
@@ryany2882for enjoying a musician and movies? Lmfao
@@ryany2882yours sure is sadder since you’re so pressed about this comment
Grace, THIS TOP!! It’s giving Elphaba and Galinda 😭😭
ironically, when you say that Hollywood struggles to appeal to women with female-led superhero projects, the ones who *did* appeal to women and even men, are the ones led by witches. because wandavision made a huge splash and was about a woman accepting her grief (plus that she's a witch). and agatha all along seems to also have been really popular among women and queer people.
and if Wicked *is* as superhero-esque as you say and it does well with female audiences, it would be another witchy project that connects well with it's non-male audiences
It's basically a story about leaving a toxic community
Succinct but true!
And this movie is about to enter the toxic communities
It's about self empowerment and self acceptance regardless of what anyone says. There was no switching sides here. Elphaba is both good and bad.
I'm kinda shocked how good the reviews are considering I thought the trailers looked super weak.
Same, the last trailer was the only decent trailer but that’s exactly why the hype was so weak all year until the last couple of weeks when they went really hard on the marketing.
May be overhyped
@@alaskafrozen4978 nope it’s just that good
Wonderful review! As a lifelong Wicked fan, I'm so happy you were able to enjoy the movie. The messaging is as strong in the musical, with only a few lines in the movie added for extra impact (for example "I don't see color"). Cynthia being the first black Elphaba definitely heightened and improved many of the themes already in the story. So happy for Cynthia, and Ariana too! Performances for the ages
I hate being the "uhm, actually" guy but... uhm, actually Cynthia is NOT the first black actress to portray Elphaba. Alexia Khadime is the current Elphaba in the West End production - she was indeed the first black actress to play the role full time. Alexia originally played the role June - November 2008 and May 2009 - March 2010. FUN FACT: the current West End Glinda, Lucy St. Louis, is also black, so the West End has the first ever (and only, so far) all-black pairing of Elphaba and Glinda actresses.
Thanks for letting me know. A shame more people don't know about Alexia's impact on the role. Regardless, her and Erivo belong to a small group
Shoutout to Saycon Sangelo, a standby for Elphaba on Broadway and the first black actress to play the role.
@@antony_post it is quite shocking that Cynthia is only the second black actress in the role "full-time"
@@JoseBraghiroli there is also Ryan Reid playing Fiyero who is a black actor. so its also the first time he 3 leads are people of colour and they are all incredible
All the political stuff comes from the book, the musical is not as political, focusing more on elphaba’s relationships to glinda and fiyero.
Apparently for the movie they added more things from the book
Not entirely true though, as the Broadway show still is deeply political, it just builds more into the politics in act ii and is very much a political story of its time (with direct references to politics of 2003)
Early shows made references to current politics (Bush administration) as jokes to coincide the political themes of the musical. I think they still do it depending on current political situations. The book was also political and the original Oz books as well but was in disguise as metaphors.
Grace, have to pull you up - Cynthia isn't the first black actress to play Elphaba: Saycon Sengbloh, Alexia Khadime (currently Elphaba in London) and Jeannette Bayardelle each need their flowers for their work in the role!
It’s not so much about feminism, a lot more about friendship
If you cried on 'Defying Gravity'... you will bawl on 'For Good'. Already looking forward to Part 2.
It's always been very political and about female friendship and how women they can treat each other.
Can we talk for a minute about Grace’s choice of colour in her clothes?! Never fails to deliver. Absolute queen!!!!
I think the Elvira situation push it off the ledge because this is not the first time she acted like that.
Not only that but the whole homewrecking thing with Ethan whose wife just had a newborn baby during the filming of this
@@deadpool-s3s the baby was already 1 yo before they started shootings in 2022 and besides that, couples with babies divorce more frequently than you can imagine since they try to have a baby to save the relationship, we don’t know these people personally so let’s stop pretending we do
I saw it last night. I love the Broadway musical, but was very skeptical for so many reasons for the film. But wow...this film had me in tears multiple times and I am not usually a crier during films. So many wonderful moments. The moment it ended I was ready to watch it again.
EDIT: Also, the musical doesn't feature any of the diversity and representation that was present in the film. Broadway (especially in 2003 when the show came out) is still a very conservative environment. Historically, the role of Nessarose has not been played by an actress with a disability, and there's only been 2 black women to ever lead the show full time. The theme of friendship is the core of the show, and the film definitely punched up a lot of the themes of equality.
Same!
I cried from joy and also from emotion for characters.
Wicked was kind of the pioneer of reimagining the traditional villain. Broadway musical was based on a novel of the same name.
The novel was wonderful. Everyone could relate to Elphaba particularly. I was really hoping for a non-musical mini-series.
I definitely won’t see this at a theater. Maybe streaming
MARGARET HAMILTON was the original "Wicked Witch" in the Wizard of Oz 1939 film. She was a wonderful woman in real life and an advocate for animals and Judy Garland, and she also endured a toxic environment in making the film with the upmost professionalism.
i’m so happy that they took stuff from the book too cause the book is very different from the musical
The “messaging” is the same in the stage version.
it’s weird cause i genuinely didn’t think it was THAT heavy in the movie as grace does. but i respect her pov
We will see because the stage version just adds new layers to both characters but Cynthia's interviews were preachy.
The book is incredibly dark and political (I mean, it is from the "villain" POV so it was the OG Joker in that sense). I heard the musical was lighter in some aspects but still retained the core messaging so this is not surprising at all.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..
If you grew up watching Victorious, you know Ariana Grande was going to knock it out the park.
Agatha All Along + Harry Potter + Wonderwoman?! SIGN ME UP!
Wicked is a Broadway show, but the rest of the world isn't as familiar with it. My friends don't even know that the movie is a musical. I think it won't do as well outside of the USA because other countries aren't as familiar with the show, don't generally like musicals, and don't have the same nostalgia factor
and barbie.
@@erik_hirschew. Movie didn’t remind me of Barbie thank god it was so much better.
@@turtlesnail9824 first of all barbie is a phenomenal movie! and second of all it relates to wicked in a representation of feminism kind of way.
plus the builds up to a powerful ending and makes the journey all worth it
"...but it is also about pink & green, hoohoohoohoo" 🤣 ilysm Grace never change ❣️
There is ONE Black woman who has played Elphaba full-time -- her name is Alexis Khadime, and she played the role on the West End from 2008-2010, then came back to the show in 2023 (when I saw her -- amazing talent). Shes still there today, and shes the only Black woman to have played her full time. Just a few years ago, Broadway welcomed its first Black Galinda as well! The musical theatre industry is brutal for casting diversely in these long running shows, so I hope the casting teams across the globe take Cynthia's turn as inspiration for looking beyond white women who they're going to paint green eight times a week.
Agatha isn't comparable to WW or Barbie, those two have decades of history and fandom.. only MCU disney plus viewers know who Agatha is
X-Men Evolution fans also know who Agatha Harkness is
That’s exactly what she was saying multiple times.
@@vs5133 Thank you! I’ve known about her for years before she even showed up in the MCU because of that show. The OP doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Grace's point about WW, Barbie, and Agatha was that the cast in each of those projects really inhabited their characters. She's not directly comparing those three projects against each other.
Witches have always been a powerful representation of feminine gravitas. It's been there as a counterpart to Superheroes all along.
That’s what I was thinking when she said that. What about Practical Magic, The Craft, Charmed?
I’m more inclined to see it now. Reading that it is a blend of the book and musical. Having read the book and seen the broadway musical. I enjoyed the musical. But the book is just such an interesting world that needed to be fleshed out. Very encouraging.
I’m glad you called out Peter Dinklage and how the movie also didn’t bother to cast little people for the Munchkin roles.
In the book and stage musical the munchkins are not said to to be little people
@@Hal-x7l Correct, they were reimagined in the book and musical just to be people from Munchkin Land but people unfamiliar with those are going to wonder why they aren't Little people actors.
Also, and small correction, there have been other black Elphaba’s before (as well as Glinda’s). The current Elphaba on the west end is Black. There hasn’t been a principal black Elphaba on Broadway though, just understudies.
Alexia Khadime was the first black woman to play the role of elphaba in the west end coming after Kerry Ellis in the UK and has returned to the role and is the current elphaba in the west end
Have not seen the film yet, but yes, the play is VERY message heavy. The Wizard and his role in Oz, especially
I will say, while your points about Peter Dinklage and the munchkins is something that I do agree with.. Gregory Maguire establishes in the book that munchkins actually vary in size - and that it’s actually a misconception in Oz that all munchkins are short. Having said that though, I would’ve loved to see little people cast as munchkins as well.
This movie is about friendship not feminism.
Its about both!! it is not mutually exclusive to one!
@ I respectfully disagree. It’s about a complex friendship and navigating that while being faced with issues. They are two female characters, yes. However, the story is about their friendship not feminism.
@@AlextheComicHoarder - Again, respectfully, it is about both!
@ how so? Is every movie with two male leads masculine? It can be feminine without it being the theme of the movie or musical. Just because there are two feminine/female characters doesn’t make it a main theme. The theme is two female characters who have opposite upbringing and social status find and navigate a complex friendship. Other than being two female characters what is the basis for the claim that the main themes of the movie are femininity and friendship? The second one I get. Rocky is a masculine movie, but that’s not the theme. It’s an underdog story. That’s the theme.
@ honestly, probably not worth arguing over. I’m for sure going to enjoy it either way. Hope you have a good one.
Black women are going to relate to the wicked witch of the West? Why? Being judged by your looks or the color of your skin seems like one of the last things they would want. This seems like it might have been better as a Baz Luhrmann style musical.
For me Galinda reminds me of masking (perfectionism, social pleasing, emphasis on materialism and external appearance), building up to the point that she drifts so far from her core, even actively suppresses it because of cognitive dissonance, that she internalises her superficial 'front' and gets cornered by her opportunistic path. It goes so far that it's bordering on covert narcissism that she exaggerates to the outside but we see that she actually has a heart and cares but feels like she cannot show it to others & herself.
Elphaba starts with masking as well but in an opposite way: to protect herself she hardens, suppresses her feelings and drive to the point that it appears as though she doesn't care what people think of her and that she doesn't need anybody and that opening up makes you vulnerable. She's unmasking slowly and but due to events retreats again but in a more conscious, empowered, authentic way at least at first. That choice gives her a lot but costs a lot as well. It along with circumstances corners her as well, where she feels like she has no choice then to follow the path/act through but now also is aware of the disconnect with her true self + a kind of mourning of what she could have been when she had more favorable circumstances, validating support, experiences and upbringing where she got a brief taste of at Shiz eventually. That taste makes it even harder to turn away from ❤
She has in common with Galinda that she deep down does care deeply, also feels like she cannot show it but covers up with a different, antisocial mask.🎉
Deep down they are much more alike than meets the eye, perhaps they even don't realize it themselves. That + their opposite coping is both the reason why they connect and cannot stand each other simultaneously.
Ariana Grande received criticism ever since she started dating the guy who plays Boq after his wife just gave birth to their first child. His wife was left with a newborn baby to raise alone while he pranced around with Ariana. Not a good look.
get over it
@Eren3505 This is the type of attitude Grace was alluding to I'm sure
the internet has been cruel to her LOOOONG before that
@@yolo8283 Ariana has a long history
@@deadpool-s3sno
If you thought it was too political in part one (it’s always been there and that’s part of the fabric of the story) you’ll have complaints for part two.
I’d say the movie goes deeper with the fascism/dictatorship theme and revising/erasing history theme than the musical. It’s in the show, but the movie fleshes it out much greater. Honestly, it was slightly chilling to see the present day parallels within the film.
You know it’s a good movie when Grace tears up during the review.
Nah, she teared up during the Endgame review.
The book and the musical are very political and the book in particular is very dark and reflects a lot of social issues in America.
No they aren't
Not about US no. The book just wants to show another side to both women
The book was VERY political and the themes of Wicked have always had some discussion of race so hearing it speaking on Feminism doesn’t sulfide me, but I hope it hasn’t moved from that race discussion. As a black theater kid the casting of Cynthia is important and if we can remember the discourse of the little mermaid (Funny how no one’s dragging Cynthia’s casting like they did Halle Bailey? Would it be the same if Cynthia had been cast as Glinda?). I’m excited for the film and I hope it’s done right, it’s always been for the outcasts and I think Wicked is at its best when it leans into that.
If Cynthia was playing Glinda...There would be boycotts on Broadway and all over the country. It would be hell
Grace this is NOT the first time a black woman has played Elphaba
There have been black understudies and standbys, but there has only been one black woman (Alexia Khadime) to lead a production of Wicked. That was 15 years ago on the West End. We’ve had more women of color play Glinda than we have had as Elphaba!
Alexia Khadime is currently leading the West End company in the UK but has been the only full-time Elphaba in the history of this show. The others have only been understudies/standbys unfortunately.
I saw Wicked on Broadway for the first in 2018 and was blown away by how timely the messages were.
The messaging has always been there - from the book to the stage show and as a result the movie. The movie couldn’t be faithful to the source material if it didn’t include the messaging- particularly the political aspects 😊
What I am terrified about is that watching the musical I know that Act 1 is MILES better than Act 2
The stage musical is message-heavy, as were the books; come to think of it, the original Oz books had some messaging to it, too.
Calling the rest of the Wicked soundtrack generic broadway it’s like… welcome to Wicked.
Grace the outfit is so good 😭🫶🏻 we love the look
I can't believe we have to wait until mid-December for Wicked to hit certain parts of Europe. I needs it now!
It's releasing end of Nov in Belgium 😉
I am from Greece the movie releases here in the first week of December 😢
@@fotiskogias3764 I actually wish I had your release date because here in N. America, the release being so early hits students and teachers right in the height of exams and project grading. This is one of the toughest, most crammed parts of our year so a lot of us don't have the time or energy to go out to see a movie when we'd like to.
I saw the movie last night and I’m still trying to process how good it was 🥹💚 seeing it again tomorrow night!!
The book series is the original source. It's definitely worth a read, and should be considered when discussing the film's messaging.
I don’t think you can compare either the Democrat or Republican parties of the time in which Walt Disney lived and would have supported them to today. But considering one still holds to, even if in a nominal way, to the ideals of traditional family ideals, I have no doubt in my mind that Walt would be more closely aligned with republicans of today. Though again, neither are what they once were when he was alive, but both at least at one point agreed on basic fundamentals that sadly the Democrats have largely abandoned.
I saw it yesterday and wouldn’t change a thing.
I have seen the broadway multiple times and they did an amazing job adapting it to film.
Democrats aren’t what they were in Disney’s day.
This musical, story and just overall music has helped me so much during some dark times in my life. Never thought I'd see the day where it was going to be adapted and see a review from you Grace 😀🙏 can't wait for this to come out. Weird release strategy for Universal again.. only comes out 4th december in European countries.
Oh boy, it part one is super message heavy, just you wait. Act 2 focuses heavily on the media and propaganda and how they paint people as villains. Mob mentality, etc.
Wonderful review Grace! Yes, the original Wicked musical is very message heavy, but that’s what a lot of diehard fans love about it. Sugar does indeed help the medicine go down.
I'm so sad and angry that I have to wait till the 4th of December to go watch this in theatre. Makes no sense that most European countries have to wait 2 more weeks. 🤦🏼♀️😪
I think what’s also so disheartening about this story is that Elphaba dealt with being treated horribly and differently just because of the color of skin and the only time people started treated her with respect and looking at her is once they realized how powerful she is. Galinda didn’t start treating her nicely until she did a favor for her. Madam & The Wizard used her. And then she’s expected to just go with the flow and do what everyone wants when they don’t see her for who she truly is. Everyone around her is wicked except for the “Wicked Witch” herself.
the only thing i could think of when watching this film was how hard Elphaba fought for injustice and in the end got painted as the villain and how real that is in our current world today especially the United States.
Wicked has ALWAYS been a political piece. Those lines have stayed the same since its' premiere in 2003, it just happens to be as relevant as ever now in 2024. Thanks for your review, Grace! Can't wait for your spoiler video!
The messaging is definitely in the musical, but the book is infamously heavy handed messaging. Infamous because he takes on several huge topics and looses control of them (the book is pretty poorly written).
There is virtually no added material to the movie, it is just extended. All the lyrics, politics, and I'd say 85% of the dialogue is the same.
20:03 Grace discovering the boiling hatred of stan twitter is so funny to me. I'm new-ish to the space as a swiftie and it’s genuinely so upsetting to see women and queer men constantly dragging down these objectively talented women. I'm so glad Ariana will inevitably be recognized for this role during awards season, I hope it'll be a wake up call to some of these horribly hateful twitter users 😂
A few of my friends have said they don’t wanna see it because of Cynthia and how problematic she has been. She amazing but I cannot help but agree, but I’m still gonna see it 😂
Grace- all I'll say about the politics and the original musical is: Bush Administration. It has always had a political angle but maybe it's more obvious now than in the past because of where we are vs 2003.
the problem w/ agatha was it was marketed as a spinoff show of a niche character, it would’ve done much better if it was told from the perspective of someone more on the level of wanda in terms of popularity
18:40 Alexia Khadime, the current Elphaba in the West End, is the first black actress to play Elphaba. She had two short stints between 2008 and 2010, and has been the full-time West End Elphaba since March 2023.
And since then there has been a Galinda played by a black actress. I saw Alexia and she was brilliant.
@@acmc7 yes! Lucy St. Louis, the current Glinda in the West End production. And earlier today someone else commented that their current Fiyero is played by a black actor as well.
I appreciate Grace’s passion for this film. Thank you for the review. I'm not the audience for Wicked but I'm here for Grace’s reviews.
Thanks @grace. I don't always see eye to eye with you but I have mad respect for you and your work.
Cynthia's interviews on this were preachy which concerns me
Award chances?! Ohhhh I looooved it. The cape. The nod to the OG’s. 😢😢😢😢😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
My favourite songs in Wicked are Defying Gravity and No Good Deed. The latter is in part 2.
Elphaba is relatable to everyone? Well the musical made me feel that way but Cynthia did not.
You already watched it??
@MidnightRaindrops Her interviews gatekeeping the character
y'all are so weird. got over it. MOVE ON.
grow up
@@deadpool-s3s so you didn’t watch the movie then
I'm very excited to see this movie. This was my first play that I got to actually see on broadway as a kid. There's no way I won't see it.
I was really going through it today.Grace , thank you for keeping me going❤
im a progressive and a feminist and im sick of hearing it already not even 5 minutes in. cant we just talk about the MOVIE
That is what the movie (the book and the muscal) is about maybe educate yourself before saying somehting stupid!
You can't claim to be progressive and a feminist but in the same sentence say you're sick of talking about it ... That makes no sense. Grace gives very thoughtful and thought provoking reviews and Wicked is about feminism and female unity, as well as progressiveness. I can see the frustration with talking about so many things through that lense, but if it frustrates you so much, maybe you shouldn't claim to be progressive and feminist...🩷💚
You're in for a treat Grace with Act II next year. The broadway is coming back to Los Angeles. It's so good and looking forward to this. If I remember correctly the broadway also had those themes pretty much in there. I'm planning to read the books next.
In the musical, Elfaba was a very powerful female character written right! Incredibly powerful, but had to learn to use it wisely and yield her abilities for the sake of doing what is truly good.
"I have some concerns that the original would not compete with the homage..." Um, Grace you do realise 'Wicked' is essentially fan fiction right? I mean very high quality fanfiction but still it is kind of surreal hearing her talking about the 'original' apparently without irony when we are discussing the movie adaptation of a musical that was adapted from a book that was itself a retelling of another book.
just waittt until part 2 you’ll be blown away
Ariana Grande is getting hate recently because of her personal life.
GRACE! Loved this. And if THIS is how you responded to that LAST SONG before the "intermission" - you're going to NEED year to get ready for the FINALE of this show. It'll REWRITE your heart! I cannot wait for friday. My boyf and I are doing a double feature this day: this and Glad. 2!
I loved _The Wizard of Oz_ and the books in the Oz series like _Marvelous Land of Oz_ and _Ozma of Oz. Marvelous_ was written to be a musical stage play sequel, and I think it would be a good movie. I am attracted to adaptations of the Oz stories, like _Tin Man (2007)_ though somewhat on-guard when they change the stories, like _Wicked_ does. I'm still not sure whether I want to see it, but probably will to see what it has to say.
Can’t believe I was in London next to where the premier was taking place and didn’t head there 😂 was with friends and was wondering why there was so much wicked merch everywhere 😅
I’m kinda over the politics talk. Don’t care what side. I’m tired.
It goes hand and hand with why people watch these days
@ I know. And I don’t know what’s to make of it. I can’t imagine my life being 100% political, even if I agreed. It’s tiring, it’s one sided; I just can’t anymore
Why can't we have multiple Glinda and Elphaba!?
Making this a 2 parter is bizzare. There is only one good song in part 2, how are they gonna even pull that off without any good music?
Dumb decisions. Hardcore conservative and trump supporter, but I’ve always loved wicked since I was a kid. I think it has broad appeal.
Keep crying. Dune perfectly executed a 2 parter..
@ dune had plenty of story left on the bone.
Wicked has one good song left in its catalogue 😂
Why does you being hardcore conservative matter at all in regards to liking Wicked?
Saw the movie at a fan screening last night and I loved it! It’s a love letter to musical theatre, Broadway, and theatre kids ❤
It’s always been a message heavy story, going back to the even darker, more political book upon which the musical is based.
i recently just rewatched THE WIZ; which is currently FREE to watch on YT movies; it was so full of nostalgia I rewatched it back to back. ❤️❤️❤️
Politics is living rent free is Grace’s head😅
Maybe I don’t recall the musical being heavy feministic because it was a different era in our culture but if it was it definitely was subtle - or at least didn’t spend time painting the wizard as anything