I was fully skeptical of the decision to split Wicked into two parts, especially after seeing the run time, but I'm more than willing to admit I was dead wrong!!! Wicked Part 1 is a triumph, and the fastest two and a half hours of my life. The film was so well-paced, vibrant, and stunning. I couldn't look away from the screen the entire time. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and I'm so excited for Part 2!!!!
Yep. I had never seen the play, but I went to see this last night! When I saw "part one" I said "you gotta be kidding me, this again? Why do we have to split everything into two parts??" When it ended, I had to eat those words!!! This felt SO worthy of being two long movies to fully explore the characters and the setting.
Someone said that in 10 years we’ll be able to trace an entire generation of gays back to Jonathan Bailey’s performance in Dancing Through Life. And they could not be more accurate.
that entire performance is the definition of Cee U Next Tuesday (just read the capital letters) that i would not be shocked should it spawn an entire generation of gays
Cynthia's interpretation of Elphaba is THE standout for me in a movie full of amazing performances and craftsmanship. I cannot wait to see what she brings to the rest of her material.
She's so good that the Oz dust ballroom scene will probably be enough for Oscar voters to give her the Oscar. There's no doubt that she has more in her in part too. But it's safe to say that the standing ovation this film had received is giving it clear front runner status. I can see this winning a lucky number 13 awards. Maybe, we'll see what happens, but for now it's a front runner.
Find this comment v much funny, kinda like how Kristin was favored to be the standout but Idina Menzel really stood out. I’d say more ppl were ariane favored here but all 4 women are amazing just history repeatin
@@AntsTheaterCorner2698 I find it baffling that Oscar predictors are not predicting her. She had the most emotional scenes and had one of the best performances of the year.
I'll never forget the look of pure betrayal and hurt and disgust in her eyes when she finds out what the Wizard and Morrible really doing. Truly heartbreaking.
@@12345678abracadabraactually those 2 gave one a chance to breathe imo and they knew for those two songs the songs themselves are the most important part. I personally thought his holding back with these two showed a great maturity as a director. Not every song needs to be bombastic imo.
I found both The Wizard and I and I'm Not That Girl to be highly focused and very rewarding performances. I found their staging to support what the performer and the song itself were bringing. Elphaba defensively cautiously restrains her emotions throughout her life and the show. In The Wizard and I we got to see what the child Elphpaba is like when no one else was watching. She allowed herself to indulge and play in hope in this number. That was clearly evoked. I'm Not That Girl - the resignation and lack of self pity in this number was heartbreaking. Basically, if the song works and does what it's supposed to do, don't distract from it or overlay your own creative interpretation: just place it in a space where it can breathe and leave it alone.
Many people have said that as children, they were freaked out over the flying monkeys in the 1939 film; imagine how they might have reacted to the monkeys in this version.
That was me as a young child being scared by the dark elements in the original, The Wizard of Oz. I finally saw Wicked today, it was incredible worthy of all the hype; it was not as dark as the original, but the cruelty/scapegoating might be distressing to the very young kids.
@@tmz85to be fair, a lot of the darker aspects of wicked are in part two. there probably won't be a lot of physical horror, but the theme will definitely be darker
My wife is one of these people - when that scene happened I had to hold her hand through it because I could tell she was reliving some childhood trauma
YES to Jonathan's Fiyero! I fell for him too when I never cared for the role prior! I walked into the movie very doubtful and walked out feeling like I watched the Broadway show for the first time again. Absolutely in awe and thrilled. I also left the theatre as a new Ariana Grande stan. 😂
My mother's favorite song from the show is "For Good" and she can't even think of the song without crying. You best believe I saw her wiping away tears with every instance of the lietmotif
@@notevenastar I chose "For Good" as my school graduation song, so it's tied to something extremely emotional for us both. I just hope I can see Part 2 with her, given that we live over 1,000 miles apart
The Ozdust Ballroom scene had me balling😭😭😭 I keep thinking maybe I was just high, but hearing you say that was your favorite part makes me feel better
Watching Part 1 in theatres yesterday, I was stunned at how it felt like the newest entry to the canon of beloved movie musicals. Like how Labyrinth is both a cult classic and a family favorite film from the 80s, Wicked felt like a 2020 version and representative of how wonderful movie musicals can be.
I saw wicked years ago at the Kennedy Center and loved it. I saw the movie a few days ago and I loved it. I intend to see it again. I cannot wait to see part 2.
The casting was perfection: Ariana was born to play Glinda and her comedic yet heartfelt performance was impeccable! 💖Cynthia really brought the heart , depth & range needed to portray Elphaba…every time she was on the screen I was emotionally invested💚The cinematography, choreography, costumes, score, script & overall direction was MAGNIFICENT. I’m so happy my favorite musical has been adapted by people who CARE & LOVE the material!!!! 💚💖💚🧹. My only disappointment is that we have to wait another year for the explosive second half 😭😭😭
I may be alone in this perspective, but I was more impressed by Ariana’s performance. My good Lord, she completely KILLED it. She gave me nuance, comedic timing and emotional performances throughout the entire two. I want her to get the Oscar nomination and win. Like Kristin said, “it’s Glinda’s time.”
I too was absolutely blown away by how phenomenonal she was. I mean, everyone was great, and it's possible my feelings are influenced by the fact that she was the one I was the most skeptical of when the casting was announced. I feel like I owe her a handwritten apology 😂. She is truly the successor to Kristen, and I can tell how much she (and Cynthia) love this musical and the songs. I had low expectations initially, but after seeing it yesterday, I am still soaking in my feels this morning. I intend to see it at least two more times. 10/10, what an incredible treasure.
I found it hard to see Galinda and not Ariana if that makes sense. Not really her fault, but I think it would have been nice to see the role ho to someone who wasn’t so well-known. I’m not a big fan of her though, so that could be my own bias, but she did great in the role regardless
Not only did they absolutely nail part 1 they did it in such way I actually find it a lot more immersive then the stage show which I always find hard to understand what’s happening at some scenes
Saw it on Saturday, it was spellbinding. Long-time fan here, first heard in 2007, saw in London in 2009. Saw the UK Tour recently. This film was everything and I was crying in the overture it was just so beautiful 💚 and no one mourns the wicked has never gone that hard, it was perfect 💚💚💚 I think it was 500% worth the wait, the visuals alone wouldn't have been what they are if it had been "wicked 2010".
I don't know what it is, but somehow, every single choice they made for this adaptation seemed to be perfect. It's like they understood perfectly what to keep, what to make grander, what to add in, and what to leave out.
What makes this movie as good as it is is the passion of everyone involved. It's everyones fond memories of the originals and knowledge of its roots (WoO and Wicked the musical), the active effort to pay homage to it, and so much more. It truly wows me how amazing movies are, especially well-done movie musicals. They are truly one of the best shows of talent
Jeff Goldblum is a national treasure!! more importantly, Cynthia and Arianna NAILED IT! i thought the cameos where great, i heard a bit of "somewhere over the rainbow" snuck into some of the muscial motif near the beginning, which was cute. Wicked was truly a Wicked exiperice as someone who has never seen the show however heard the songs, and is a fan of Oz. this made me want to read the book and watch the musical. I honestly cannot wait for next year.
I've never been so excited for a movie like I was with this... it's so relieving that it was WELL DONE, and the adaptation was perfect in my opinion. I am now more and more excited for part 2...
My favorite moment was Jeff Goldblum’s delightful “The Great Dictator” moment in the diorama where he briefly bounces the moon like Chaplin does the balloon globe. Also, John Powell arranged the songs for the film and Atmajian orchestrated those arrangements. Powell is well known for his extremely detailed mock-ups, so he did much of the heavy lifting for the adapting of the songs.
Great video, as always! Thanks for the work you do for this community. I was particularly impressed with No One Mourns the Wicked. I've always found the first notes of the Broadway recording incredibly powerful, but the arrangement for the movie took it to 11 and I was immediately in tears. Pair that with the set/script choices, how deliberately Ariana moves Glinda through the Munchkinland square, and the attention to featuring her vocals in the final chorus (her "she died alone" in particular) just pierces right through me, every time. I can't stop listening to it on the soundtrack. I also love that Shiz has a dress code, but every piece of clothing is an option for every student of every gender. I wonder if you can spot every possible combination on one extra or another!
At the end of the film, I had happy tears. I said to my sister, “I have been waiting for this moment for 20 years.” They’ve taken the musical and elevated it for the screen. The entire movie is so clearly a labor of love.
I just saw the play 3 weeks ago in Portland and was absolutely stunned when they ended it at intermission in the movie. Gravity makes me cry not out of sadness but the power of it and delivery just overwhelms me and I sob. Impeccable, delightful and perfection! So happy they were able to pull this off the set design was perfect, total perfection!
Having the story in two parts will also help Universal gauge its viability for an expanded universe. I’d love to see film adaptations of Maguire’s sequels or a miniseries based on his follow up trilogy.
I was truly surprised at how good it was, even the parts that I had minor qualms with were small enough that it couldn’t override my love. Now just to wait for the extended cut on DVD…
SPOILER ALERT....when I saw Idina and Kristin were in the movie (something I had DESPERATELY hoped for) I squeeled like a child, and cried like a baby. KUDOS to all involved in keeping this a secret for so long !
Just recently discovered your channel after seeing Wicked as someone who only watched the Wizard of Oz once and never saw the musical. So I went in completely blind and I was fascinated by so much. And after watching the video where you broke down the politics of Wicked, I was impressed to have the same lingering questions as you which is to say, I really hope they don't shy away from the political beats they showcased and I hope they use the space a movie can bring that a musical may not be able to achieve with such a rich story. Either way, as someone who has never really dove too deep into musicals or anything, I can see and feel the magic and the appeal of WIcked. And while I may have wished to be in the know much sooner, I'm just happy I got to enjoy it at all.
I actually found the year that Elphaba and Glinda went to college , it was in the year of 1925 . The prequel to the original Wizard of Oz . The show had a lot of references from the original movie . If this Wicked is Popular lar , with in the next 10 years could Wicked becomes a sequel ? The tin woodsman rusts himself with rain for example . Could Dorothy rescue the travelers by deserving rewards from the Wizard of Oz ? I like to see how the past becomes the present one day .
There are a LOT of things that totally blew me out about this movie, but I feel like we don't tak enough about that opening! Like... The little bit of lore in form of text in the begining, giving epic fantasy, then the echoes of Glinda's and the Ozian's lines while the camera pans to the hat. I was already having a physical reaction from all of that when the orchestra hit me right in the face and I was BAWLING! P.S.: PART TWO SPOILER, If there's anyone who happens to not know the plot. I do think the person on the horseback is Elphaba off to meet Fyero.
Maybe it’s fiyero himself also the beginning of the movie is my favorite part im so obsessed with how they filmed that part really brought the opening of the musical to life
@@pseudonymous9153 Oh, that makes sense. I'm from Brazil, and everyone her know what The Wizard of Oz, but it is not nearly as burnt into everyone's memory as in the US
holy shit I just realized what makes Ariana and Cynthia’s friendship so special and (seemingly) fulfilling. they both have equal interest and excitement in each other; they are both equally invested in being each other’s friend.
I agree with everything. I, too, am curious about Miss Coddle. Something about her suggest something darker beneath her cheery presentation and I think she'll factor in some darker moments in Part 2.
I’ve never read the book or seen the stage show & didn’t know what the story was (I purposefully didn’t watch trailers), I saw the movie on the weekend & thought it was brilliant. I was very surprised by the 2 leads & thought they were amazing. I loved the look and feel of the movie & my favorite scenes were Elohba’s birth, the Prince’s arrival, Popular & the Wizard behind the sheet on the map. One criticism, I think I needed more interaction between Elphaba & the animals. Overall amazing movie.
Great video! In regards to part one, I really enjoyed the new runs and riffs added to the songs! Leading up the movie, I was very skeptical about their adaptations of the music. Especially, after only hearing the end of Cynthia's Defying Gravity. However, the way I interpreted the choices they made with the music, is kinda of just like Hollywood vs. Broadway. Everything seemingly has to be "bigger" and "better" when brought to the big screen, I guess for marketing reasons??? Not really sure why, but I feel like I can see a trend.
I literally happy gasped when Elphaba accidentally uncovered the school Animal art, felt like a wonderful example of soft world building that I keep thinking about. I really hope they do the Animals justice in the next movie, like the biggest flaw from the musical I thought was how the Animals situations were very much unresolved with Glindas rise to power and hope they resolve that in the next movie.
Keep in mind, this is coming from an OG Wicked skeptic that celebrated Avenue Q’s Tony like it was the Super Bowl…I really liked a lot of the movie and am very intrigued by what Part 2 could bring. Erivo was phenomenal, Ari’s work was far more layered than I initially gave her credit for, and they really brought the Animal plot into focus in a way the stage show barely tries. That said, I have to disagree on the Ozdust scene - that silent dance felt about 15 minutes too long by itself. I’m a massive fan of word-less storytelling, but it accomplished its storytelling goals maybe a full 60 seconds faster than they think it did. And the choreography throughout the film felt weirdly hyperactive and intensely subdivided, tho it did make it clear they’re moving in ways that are foreign to our world, so I guess you can say it was effective. On the whole though I very much enjoyed it, and if it becomes the first movie musical to make a billion dollars, it will be worthy of it!
I am truly glad that there are two movies. I will wait for part two's release in a couple years to see part one. I prefer to not follow the money carrot.
Loved the movie and love this breakdown 💚 fyi the clock of the time dragon was also referenced as a clock at Shiz - just after the wizard and I scene. As a book fan I got a little flutter there 💓
I really enjoyed the movie , and never seen the musical or read the book. I was so enthralled that when the movie ended it felt like only a short time had passed. The only criticism I had is with Arianna’s operatic song at the beginning as I couldn’t understand the lyrics - but I like the choice of having her adult voice be different compared to her time at Shiz.
I wasn’t familiar with either lead (I knew Grande was a pop singer but couldn’t name a song and wouldn’t have recognized her). Amazing lead performances-separate and together. I can’t see Elphaba played by a white woman again.
Jeff Goldblum just plays Jeff Goldblum but you dont hire Jeff Goldblum to play something that is not Jeff Goldblum, so I'm very happy knowing that Jeff Goldblum was the wizard, that he did a very good Jeff Goldblum with the role.
For the second movie, I’m so looking forward to seeing which ending they decide to adapt (I think it may be the original ending where she joins the professor). I’m also so excited to watch Ariana and Cynthia sing For Good!!
Am singling this commentary out while also noting it isn't alone in remarking on the political narrative in context of present day -- recall that Maguire's book is now close to 30 years old. The adaptation to stage musical production emerged in the early/mid 2000s. The political narrative as it appears in the film only gives more clarity to what was already present in the text of the book and (less so) theatrical production. That it reads in context of current events only points (a) to the timelessness of those themes and (b) the extent to which those themes remain relevant vs. being some forced effort at contemporary political commentary on the part of the filmmakers.
6:32 honestly, I feel like this is one of those “everything happens for a reason” moments. Stephen Daldry is clearly an amazing director, I mean The Crown blew it out of the water for me. and obviously none of us have any way of knowing what Wicked would’ve been like with him at the helm, it may have been even better, or maybe it would’ve been a total flop, who’s to say? but the timeline we are living in right now has Jon M Chu as the director and after watching several in depth interviews with him about this movie, I think he was PERFECT, just as Ariana and Cynthia were perfect.
The major, major MAJOR problem with the runtime of Wicked Act 1 is that it's just past the comfortable length of time I can sit before the human bladder decides it needs to be relieved. Otherwise no notes.
Wicked Pt. 1 works phenomenally as a stand alone movie. If this was the only movie we got, then we would still have a complete film. Wicked 2 will be more like a sequel to the first one, and less as a second part. It helps that the second act runs concurrently with the Wizard of Oz while the first half is pure prequel.
Breaking into two was a good idea. Film and stage are different mediums, and requires different touches. If it was one long movie, defying gravity would have felt like a false end.
Ariana will be 75 and still look like she's 16. I thought maybe Cynthia would be too mature to be a student (the whole Grease effect), but with the makeup she looks perfect. Jeff Goldblum was born to play the Wizard at some point in his life, and I'm glad he finally got the chance. Looking forward to seeing this movie after never being able to watch the stage show.
I thought the movie was excellent! One of my big takeaways was in the Dancing through Life section - particularly how the movie shows Nessa's reactions to Elphaba dancing alone. In the stage show and first movie watch, I think all my focus was on Elphaba and just feeling that dread and sadness for her. But in my second movie watch, I felt a lot of disdain for Nessa as the camera shows her perspective a few times - she silently watches alongside all the jeering and laughing, only speaking up to say "I can't watch" while continuing to let Elphaba be humiliated. Those little cuts were excellent storytelling on their relationship (that Elphaba has had to stand up for Nessa and has been treated more as her keeper than her sister...but Nessa would never do the same or perhaps would rather not be associated with her at all). I'm looking forward to seeing that dynamic play out in Act 2/the sequel.
I appreciate the tempo of the songs in the movie. They were nicely paced. I saw a couple of clips from the Broadway show and the tempo was a but fast BUT understandable since they had to fit the 2 parts in 2hrs and 30 mins (if I'm not mistaken)
Imagine if cats didn’t swap wicked. We would have a different director, probably different cast, the movie coulda been one part. Curious what woulda happened
On my way to 3rd time movie! Saw the stag production 47 times in every city I visited over 20 + years……… my licence plate of course ELPHABA first a green VW beetle 4cars later its a black SUV Convertible and people stop me saying didn’t you used to drive a green beetle…. 14 year old girls swarm me in it😂❤️
considering so much effort into promoting this movie and the hype, i think it was a smart choice they split it into two and would make more money that way
I cannot ever just get enough of popular's middle verses, did they have brains or knowledge makes me want to be glinder, don't make me laugh...necessarily my fav part, and millions per cent satisfying, even with that liiiiiiittle change. But totally million times did not noticed the animal mural at Shiz! Probably because of the quality of the copy I watched, wich describes how Elphaba is the soul of a big part of my heart.
As someone who very much enjoyed the novel and was actually a bit disappointed by the stage play, I really enjoyed this movie and felt like it really did service to the original book with the expanded dialogue and added scenes. The decision to split the movie in two was the right one - the stage play was extremely briskly paced and that would not have worked for a single movie.
I am very very surprised to report this movie was underwhelming… Ariana was very good as Glinda, Cynthia sings beautifully and emoted so movingly but the rest left me and my viewing party cold. Won’t be going to the movies for the second part that’s for sure 😢
I feel like once part 2 comes out it’s going to become a tradition for a lot of people to watch both . These are definitely destined to be cult classics.
As soon as they announced it as two movies, I was relieved. Part 1 is proof that they’re remedying all the issues I have with the stage musical. A big one being: it’s too rushed
It was from the initial teaser that came out in February. I think a lot of people were wondering why she was in the trailer, confused if that was in one or part two.
As someone who has not seen the stage musical, I loved the movie. I knew some of the songs but never realised defying gravity was just before the interval. At the end of the day they needed to tell the story to normies like me who went in blind and expected cohesive story and not a stage musical disguised as a movie.
I hadn’t seen the musical before the movie- just read the book and heard the soundtrack. I thought the movie was awesome. It’s been awhile since I read the book, but I remember it being more dark than fun. I’m glad we got this instead of a gloomy tv series though.
I have seen wicked pt 1 twice now, and I think every minute of screentime was necessary. While it is long, it did extra set up that is needed to make pt 2 transcend the original second act, and all of the stuff with Elphaba's childhood is so beautiful. All of the additions to me are transcendant and make the text richer than act 1 of the stage musical.
To follow up on my original comment from this morning. Giving wicked pt 1 the room to breathe instead of trying to cram it all into one film produced the greatest movie musical I’ve ever seen
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I was fully skeptical of the decision to split Wicked into two parts, especially after seeing the run time, but I'm more than willing to admit I was dead wrong!!! Wicked Part 1 is a triumph, and the fastest two and a half hours of my life. The film was so well-paced, vibrant, and stunning. I couldn't look away from the screen the entire time. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and I'm so excited for Part 2!!!!
Absolutely agree!!! I was “oh god another oh we need two parts like twilight that was not needed”. Nope. 2 parts is so essential based on part 1 alone
Me, too! ❤
Yep. I had never seen the play, but I went to see this last night! When I saw "part one" I said "you gotta be kidding me, this again? Why do we have to split everything into two parts??"
When it ended, I had to eat those words!!! This felt SO worthy of being two long movies to fully explore the characters and the setting.
I think expanding the runtime actually helped the story in my opinion. It gave moments time to breathe.
It was almost 3 hours that felt no longer than act 1 of a typical 2 act musical it’s an absolute triumph
Someone said that in 10 years we’ll be able to trace an entire generation of gays back to Jonathan Bailey’s performance in Dancing Through Life. And they could not be more accurate.
I wish he could have been my gay awakening lol
that entire performance was so particularly slutty (loved it) i would NOT be shocked if an entire generation managed to just come from it alone
that entire performance is the definition of Cee U Next Tuesday (just read the capital letters) that i would not be shocked should it spawn an entire generation of gays
@@akiyori your comment is the definition of a bigoted C U next tuesday
There was a whole shot of his ass and legs laying on a table. They knew what was up.
Cynthia's interpretation of Elphaba is THE standout for me in a movie full of amazing performances and craftsmanship. I cannot wait to see what she brings to the rest of her material.
She's so good that the Oz dust ballroom scene will probably be enough for Oscar voters to give her the Oscar. There's no doubt that she has more in her in part too. But it's safe to say that the standing ovation this film had received is giving it clear front runner status. I can see this winning a lucky number 13 awards. Maybe, we'll see what happens, but for now it's a front runner.
Find this comment v much funny, kinda like how Kristin was favored to be the standout but Idina Menzel really stood out. I’d say more ppl were ariane favored here but all 4 women are amazing just history repeatin
@@AntsTheaterCorner2698 I find it baffling that Oscar predictors are not predicting her. She had the most emotional scenes and had one of the best performances of the year.
Hopefully not. She can't sing, can't act, and can't even dance a little.
I'll never forget the look of pure betrayal and hurt and disgust in her eyes when she finds out what the Wizard and Morrible really doing. Truly heartbreaking.
I'm glad they went with Jon M Chu. I think his more bombastic style fits much more perfectly with the universe of wicked.
and yet the wizard and i and im not that girl was the most boringly staged and lit
@@12345678abracadabra The Wizard and I was all right. I liked the kaleidoscope effect. But yeah, I'm Not That Girl was very high school production.
@@12345678abracadabra yeah it was boring 😂
@@12345678abracadabraactually those 2 gave one a chance to breathe imo and they knew for those two songs the songs themselves are the most important part. I personally thought his holding back with these two showed a great maturity as a director. Not every song needs to be bombastic imo.
I found both The Wizard and I and I'm Not That Girl to be highly focused and very rewarding performances. I found their staging to support what the performer and the song itself were bringing. Elphaba defensively cautiously restrains her emotions throughout her life and the show. In The Wizard and I we got to see what the child Elphpaba is like when no one else was watching. She allowed herself to indulge and play in hope in this number. That was clearly evoked. I'm Not That Girl - the resignation and lack of self pity in this number was heartbreaking. Basically, if the song works and does what it's supposed to do, don't distract from it or overlay your own creative interpretation: just place it in a space where it can breathe and leave it alone.
Many people have said that as children, they were freaked out over the flying monkeys in the 1939 film; imagine how they might have reacted to the monkeys in this version.
That was me as a young child being scared by the dark elements in the original, The Wizard of Oz. I finally saw Wicked today, it was incredible worthy of all the hype; it was not as dark as the original, but the cruelty/scapegoating might be distressing to the very young kids.
@@tmz85to be fair, a lot of the darker aspects of wicked are in part two. there probably won't be a lot of physical horror, but the theme will definitely be darker
My wife is one of these people - when that scene happened I had to hold her hand through it because I could tell she was reliving some childhood trauma
YES to Jonathan's Fiyero! I fell for him too when I never cared for the role prior! I walked into the movie very doubtful and walked out feeling like I watched the Broadway show for the first time again. Absolutely in awe and thrilled. I also left the theatre as a new Ariana Grande stan. 😂
The For Good leitmotifs had me in TEARS.
My mother's favorite song from the show is "For Good" and she can't even think of the song without crying. You best believe I saw her wiping away tears with every instance of the lietmotif
@ That is so beautiful. I’m so happy you got to see it with her. UGH. My heart 🥺
@@notevenastar I chose "For Good" as my school graduation song, so it's tied to something extremely emotional for us both. I just hope I can see Part 2 with her, given that we live over 1,000 miles apart
The Ozdust Ballroom scene had me balling😭😭😭
I keep thinking maybe I was just high, but hearing you say that was your favorite part makes me feel better
Yesss, I wept like a baby during that scene.
No bc I was two drinks deep at that point and BAWLING
@@theboringkaren I wish my girlfriend would come and see it with me
don't worry i flooded the cinema with tears during that scene
You were BALLING during that scene? They let you bring balls into the theater?
Watching Part 1 in theatres yesterday, I was stunned at how it felt like the newest entry to the canon of beloved movie musicals. Like how Labyrinth is both a cult classic and a family favorite film from the 80s, Wicked felt like a 2020 version and representative of how wonderful movie musicals can be.
I was so happy to see a musical get THIS much money thrown at it. Most of them for the past decade or so have felt like the studio hedging its bets
While Labyrinth became a cult classic, it was an abysmal box office flop. Wicked is not. Wicked is going past a billion
I cannot wait for For Good. That song kills me and cynthias voice is so beautiful i know im gonna bawl my eyes out
I saw wicked years ago at the Kennedy Center and loved it. I saw the movie a few days ago and I loved it. I intend to see it again. I cannot wait to see part 2.
The casting was perfection: Ariana was born to play Glinda and her comedic yet heartfelt performance was impeccable! 💖Cynthia really brought the heart , depth & range needed to portray Elphaba…every time she was on the screen I was emotionally invested💚The cinematography, choreography, costumes, score, script & overall direction was MAGNIFICENT. I’m so happy my favorite musical has been adapted by people who CARE & LOVE the material!!!! 💚💖💚🧹. My only disappointment is that we have to wait another year for the explosive second half 😭😭😭
16:40 - I also noticed the old crest being unearthed and was wowed by that small detail. John Chu is a genius.
I may be alone in this perspective, but I was more impressed by Ariana’s performance. My good Lord, she completely KILLED it. She gave me nuance, comedic timing and emotional performances throughout the entire two. I want her to get the Oscar nomination and win. Like Kristin said, “it’s Glinda’s time.”
I too was absolutely blown away by how phenomenonal she was. I mean, everyone was great, and it's possible my feelings are influenced by the fact that she was the one I was the most skeptical of when the casting was announced. I feel like I owe her a handwritten apology 😂. She is truly the successor to Kristen, and I can tell how much she (and Cynthia) love this musical and the songs. I had low expectations initially, but after seeing it yesterday, I am still soaking in my feels this morning. I intend to see it at least two more times. 10/10, what an incredible treasure.
The hair flip was hilarious. I was laughing so much when I did not even expect it to be that funny. She was absolutely perfect!
I found it hard to see Galinda and not Ariana if that makes sense. Not really her fault, but I think it would have been nice to see the role ho to someone who wasn’t so well-known. I’m not a big fan of her though, so that could be my own bias, but she did great in the role regardless
Not only did they absolutely nail part 1 they did it in such way I actually find it a lot more immersive then the stage show which I always find hard to understand what’s happening at some scenes
Saw this movie twice already- and still cried at defying gravity. Such an ode to the fans
I wouldn't expect anything less but an amazing movie from the director responsible for the wedding scene at Crazy Rich Asians.
Saw it on Saturday, it was spellbinding. Long-time fan here, first heard in 2007, saw in London in 2009. Saw the UK Tour recently. This film was everything and I was crying in the overture it was just so beautiful 💚 and no one mourns the wicked has never gone that hard, it was perfect 💚💚💚 I think it was 500% worth the wait, the visuals alone wouldn't have been what they are if it had been "wicked 2010".
I don't know what it is, but somehow, every single choice they made for this adaptation seemed to be perfect. It's like they understood perfectly what to keep, what to make grander, what to add in, and what to leave out.
What makes this movie as good as it is is the passion of everyone involved. It's everyones fond memories of the originals and knowledge of its roots (WoO and Wicked the musical), the active effort to pay homage to it, and so much more. It truly wows me how amazing movies are, especially well-done movie musicals. They are truly one of the best shows of talent
I love that you ABSOLUTELY know what you’re talking about, or that at the very least, you actually made your research!
Jeff Goldblum is a national treasure!! more importantly, Cynthia and Arianna NAILED IT! i thought the cameos where great, i heard a bit of "somewhere over the rainbow" snuck into some of the muscial motif near the beginning, which was cute. Wicked was truly a Wicked exiperice as someone who has never seen the show however heard the songs, and is a fan of Oz. this made me want to read the book and watch the musical. I honestly cannot wait for next year.
The first three notes of Somewhere Over the Rainbow are the notes sung by Elphaba: “unlimited.”
@@kenjones3551 yup.
I've never been so excited for a movie like I was with this... it's so relieving that it was WELL DONE, and the adaptation was perfect in my opinion. I am now more and more excited for part 2...
My favorite moment was Jeff Goldblum’s delightful “The Great Dictator” moment in the diorama where he briefly bounces the moon like Chaplin does the balloon globe. Also, John Powell arranged the songs for the film and Atmajian orchestrated those arrangements. Powell is well known for his extremely detailed mock-ups, so he did much of the heavy lifting for the adapting of the songs.
Great video, as always! Thanks for the work you do for this community.
I was particularly impressed with No One Mourns the Wicked. I've always found the first notes of the Broadway recording incredibly powerful, but the arrangement for the movie took it to 11 and I was immediately in tears. Pair that with the set/script choices, how deliberately Ariana moves Glinda through the Munchkinland square, and the attention to featuring her vocals in the final chorus (her "she died alone" in particular) just pierces right through me, every time. I can't stop listening to it on the soundtrack.
I also love that Shiz has a dress code, but every piece of clothing is an option for every student of every gender. I wonder if you can spot every possible combination on one extra or another!
Absolutely enjoyed Wicked. The 2 hours 40 minutes felt like only 1.5 hours. Totally immersive. Glad it's 2 movies. Can't wait for Part 2.
I’m most looking forward to how they expand between each song in part 2. In the musical it all seems to happen so fast that some of it loses impact.
Bowen Yang at the end is truly the cherry on top 😂😂😂
This was the best movie ever! I can’t wait to see it again!
At the end of the film, I had happy tears. I said to my sister, “I have been waiting for this moment for 20 years.” They’ve taken the musical and elevated it for the screen. The entire movie is so clearly a labor of love.
ive been waiting for this one😭😭
16:20 Thank Oz we didn't get James Corden, or it would've been such a joke
I just saw the play 3 weeks ago in Portland and was absolutely stunned when they ended it at intermission in the movie. Gravity makes me cry not out of sadness but the power of it and delivery just overwhelms me and I sob. Impeccable, delightful and perfection! So happy they were able to pull this off the set design was perfect, total perfection!
Having the story in two parts will also help Universal gauge its viability for an expanded universe. I’d love to see film adaptations of Maguire’s sequels or a miniseries based on his follow up trilogy.
That 2019 cats remake was truly DREADFUL. I among many others I know refuse to acknowledge that cats remake.
I was truly surprised at how good it was, even the parts that I had minor qualms with were small enough that it couldn’t override my love. Now just to wait for the extended cut on DVD…
Wait I was literally sitting at the front of the theatre in your shot of the premiere 😂😂😂 im one row below tho so you can’t see me.
SPOILER ALERT....when I saw Idina and Kristin were in the movie (something I had DESPERATELY hoped for) I squeeled like a child, and cried like a baby. KUDOS to all involved in keeping this a secret for so long !
Just recently discovered your channel after seeing Wicked as someone who only watched the Wizard of Oz once and never saw the musical. So I went in completely blind and I was fascinated by so much. And after watching the video where you broke down the politics of Wicked, I was impressed to have the same lingering questions as you which is to say, I really hope they don't shy away from the political beats they showcased and I hope they use the space a movie can bring that a musical may not be able to achieve with such a rich story.
Either way, as someone who has never really dove too deep into musicals or anything, I can see and feel the magic and the appeal of WIcked. And while I may have wished to be in the know much sooner, I'm just happy I got to enjoy it at all.
Still firmly believe wicked pt 2 expands on oz lore and we will have a WCU
I actually found the year that Elphaba and Glinda went to college , it was in the year of 1925 . The prequel to the original Wizard of Oz . The show had a lot of references from the original movie . If this Wicked is Popular lar , with in the next 10 years could Wicked becomes a sequel ? The tin woodsman rusts himself with rain for example . Could Dorothy rescue the travelers by deserving rewards from the Wizard of Oz ? I like to see how the past becomes the present one day .
There are a LOT of things that totally blew me out about this movie, but I feel like we don't tak enough about that opening! Like... The little bit of lore in form of text in the begining, giving epic fantasy, then the echoes of Glinda's and the Ozian's lines while the camera pans to the hat. I was already having a physical reaction from all of that when the orchestra hit me right in the face and I was BAWLING!
P.S.: PART TWO SPOILER, If there's anyone who happens to not know the plot.
I do think the person on the horseback is Elphaba off to meet Fyero.
Maybe it’s fiyero himself also the beginning of the movie is my favorite part im so obsessed with how they filmed that part really brought the opening of the musical to life
@MarcusMartn They sure did.
But Isn't Fyero with Dorothy and the others by then?
I think there was only a text screen loredump in countries without prior knowledge of The Wizard of Oz.
@@pseudonymous9153 Oh, that makes sense. I'm from Brazil, and everyone her know what The Wizard of Oz, but it is not nearly as burnt into everyone's memory as in the US
holy shit I just realized what makes Ariana and Cynthia’s friendship so special and (seemingly) fulfilling. they both have equal interest and excitement in each other; they are both equally invested in being each other’s friend.
Yeah, this is a Cinematography oscar right here.
I agree with everything. I, too, am curious about Miss Coddle. Something about her suggest something darker beneath her cheery presentation and I think she'll factor in some darker moments in Part 2.
I also wonder why they would cast such a talented singer and have her in a minor role!
@@mariaelenamattone5221 Part 2 will have new songs so its possible she could factor into at least one of them
Yackle?? 🤔 If the clock of the Time Dragon comes back.....
I’ve never read the book or seen the stage show & didn’t know what the story was (I purposefully didn’t watch trailers), I saw the movie on the weekend & thought it was brilliant. I was very surprised by the 2 leads & thought they were amazing. I loved the look and feel of the movie & my favorite scenes were Elohba’s birth, the Prince’s arrival, Popular & the Wizard behind the sheet on the map. One criticism, I think I needed more interaction between Elphaba & the animals.
Overall amazing movie.
Great video!
In regards to part one, I really enjoyed the new runs and riffs added to the songs! Leading up the movie, I was very skeptical about their adaptations of the music. Especially, after only hearing the end of Cynthia's Defying Gravity. However, the way I interpreted the choices they made with the music, is kinda of just like Hollywood vs. Broadway. Everything seemingly has to be "bigger" and "better" when brought to the big screen, I guess for marketing reasons??? Not really sure why, but I feel like I can see a trend.
I literally happy gasped when Elphaba accidentally uncovered the school Animal art, felt like a wonderful example of soft world building that I keep thinking about. I really hope they do the Animals justice in the next movie, like the biggest flaw from the musical I thought was how the Animals situations were very much unresolved with Glindas rise to power and hope they resolve that in the next movie.
people often forget Ariana started on broadway and with acting, everyone was amazing!
Keep in mind, this is coming from an OG Wicked skeptic that celebrated Avenue Q’s Tony like it was the Super Bowl…I really liked a lot of the movie and am very intrigued by what Part 2 could bring. Erivo was phenomenal, Ari’s work was far more layered than I initially gave her credit for, and they really brought the Animal plot into focus in a way the stage show barely tries. That said, I have to disagree on the Ozdust scene - that silent dance felt about 15 minutes too long by itself. I’m a massive fan of word-less storytelling, but it accomplished its storytelling goals maybe a full 60 seconds faster than they think it did. And the choreography throughout the film felt weirdly hyperactive and intensely subdivided, tho it did make it clear they’re moving in ways that are foreign to our world, so I guess you can say it was effective.
On the whole though I very much enjoyed it, and if it becomes the first movie musical to make a billion dollars, it will be worthy of it!
"...weirdly hyperactive and intensely subdivided" = all movie choreography these days!
The Ozdust scene WAS too long.
I am truly glad that there are two movies. I will wait for part two's release in a couple years to see part one.
I prefer to not follow the money carrot.
Loved the movie and love this breakdown 💚 fyi the clock of the time dragon was also referenced as a clock at Shiz - just after the wizard and I scene. As a book fan I got a little flutter there 💓
👀👀👀
I really enjoyed the movie , and never seen the musical or read the book. I was so enthralled that when the movie ended it felt like only a short time had passed. The only criticism I had is with Arianna’s operatic song at the beginning as I couldn’t understand the lyrics - but I like the choice of having her adult voice be different compared to her time at Shiz.
It was AMAZING and I wanna see again. Maybe in 3D
I wasn’t familiar with either lead (I knew Grande was a pop singer but couldn’t name a song and wouldn’t have recognized her). Amazing lead performances-separate and together. I can’t see Elphaba played by a white woman again.
I took myself to see it and Wicked the movie is Phenomenal
We see a shot of a clock with a metal dragon wrapped around it after Popular. Not sure if there will be more on the time dragon clock.
Jeff Goldblum just plays Jeff Goldblum but you dont hire Jeff Goldblum to play something that is not Jeff Goldblum, so I'm very happy knowing that Jeff Goldblum was the wizard, that he did a very good Jeff Goldblum with the role.
For the second movie, I’m so looking forward to seeing which ending they decide to adapt (I think it may be the original ending where she joins the professor). I’m also so excited to watch Ariana and Cynthia sing For Good!!
Am singling this commentary out while also noting it isn't alone in remarking on the political narrative in context of present day -- recall that Maguire's book is now close to 30 years old. The adaptation to stage musical production emerged in the early/mid 2000s. The political narrative as it appears in the film only gives more clarity to what was already present in the text of the book and (less so) theatrical production. That it reads in context of current events only points (a) to the timelessness of those themes and (b) the extent to which those themes remain relevant vs. being some forced effort at contemporary political commentary on the part of the filmmakers.
6:32 honestly, I feel like this is one of those “everything happens for a reason” moments. Stephen Daldry is clearly an amazing director, I mean The Crown blew it out of the water for me. and obviously none of us have any way of knowing what Wicked would’ve been like with him at the helm, it may have been even better, or maybe it would’ve been a total flop, who’s to say? but the timeline we are living in right now has Jon M Chu as the director and after watching several in depth interviews with him about this movie, I think he was PERFECT, just as Ariana and Cynthia were perfect.
The major, major MAJOR problem with the runtime of Wicked Act 1 is that it's just past the comfortable length of time I can sit before the human bladder decides it needs to be relieved. Otherwise no notes.
Wicked Pt. 1 works phenomenally as a stand alone movie. If this was the only movie we got, then we would still have a complete film. Wicked 2 will be more like a sequel to the first one, and less as a second part. It helps that the second act runs concurrently with the Wizard of Oz while the first half is pure prequel.
I love that they got John Powell to work on the score. After all, who scores flying scenes better than he does?
Breaking into two was a good idea. Film and stage are different mediums, and requires different touches. If it was one long movie, defying gravity would have felt like a false end.
It's been so long since I read the book which I thought was very clever. I also loved the musical. Glad they did it well.
I dont even like musicals, nor was a huge Oz fan, but this movie was so good, im completely obsessed with the universe now
Ariana will be 75 and still look like she's 16. I thought maybe Cynthia would be too mature to be a student (the whole Grease effect), but with the makeup she looks perfect. Jeff Goldblum was born to play the Wizard at some point in his life, and I'm glad he finally got the chance. Looking forward to seeing this movie after never being able to watch the stage show.
I have to go see it again!
Was it worth the wait? YES.
The one in the horse might be Elphaba riding Fiyero’s horse, escaping through Fiyero’s help.
I thought the movie was excellent! One of my big takeaways was in the Dancing through Life section - particularly how the movie shows Nessa's reactions to Elphaba dancing alone. In the stage show and first movie watch, I think all my focus was on Elphaba and just feeling that dread and sadness for her. But in my second movie watch, I felt a lot of disdain for Nessa as the camera shows her perspective a few times - she silently watches alongside all the jeering and laughing, only speaking up to say "I can't watch" while continuing to let Elphaba be humiliated. Those little cuts were excellent storytelling on their relationship (that Elphaba has had to stand up for Nessa and has been treated more as her keeper than her sister...but Nessa would never do the same or perhaps would rather not be associated with her at all). I'm looking forward to seeing that dynamic play out in Act 2/the sequel.
I’m really looking forward towards crying during “For Good” in the next film 😊
I appreciate the tempo of the songs in the movie. They were nicely paced. I saw a couple of clips from the Broadway show and the tempo was a but fast BUT understandable since they had to fit the 2 parts in 2hrs and 30 mins (if I'm not mistaken)
Imagine if cats didn’t swap wicked. We would have a different director, probably different cast, the movie coulda been one part. Curious what woulda happened
On my way to 3rd time movie! Saw the stag production 47 times in every city I visited over 20 + years……… my licence plate of course ELPHABA first a green VW beetle 4cars later its a black SUV Convertible and people stop me saying didn’t you used to drive a green beetle…. 14 year old girls swarm me in it😂❤️
Omg I was right that you could hear For Good in there! I thought I was stretching 😂
i need more wicked content PLEASE
considering so much effort into promoting this movie and the hype, i think it was a smart choice they split it into two and would make more money that way
Who was that on the horse in beginning of the movie leaving the castle? Fiyero maybe
I cannot ever just get enough of popular's middle verses, did they have brains or knowledge makes me want to be glinder, don't make me laugh...necessarily my fav part, and millions per cent satisfying, even with that liiiiiiittle change. But totally million times did not noticed the animal mural at Shiz! Probably because of the quality of the copy I watched, wich describes how Elphaba is the soul of a big part of my heart.
I’m see old wicked in the new wicked and all of them is my favorite part and wait part 2 of wicked
I still loved Cats and had seen it 3 times. I get it that everyone hates it. But man I loved it.
Incredible movie!
(15:01) How are we still pronouncing Michelle Yeoh’s last name incorrectly at this stage in her career ?🤔😄
I think Wicked needed to be two parts and The Hunger Games Mockingjay also needed to be two parts. those movies were great
Wicked IS two parts….part two comes out next November
Worth the price of the ticket and then some!!! If you haven’t gotten to see the play life… the price of the movie ticket is a STEAL!
As someone who very much enjoyed the novel and was actually a bit disappointed by the stage play, I really enjoyed this movie and felt like it really did service to the original book with the expanded dialogue and added scenes. The decision to split the movie in two was the right one - the stage play was extremely briskly paced and that would not have worked for a single movie.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I got the song stuck in my😊 and this is what the reason is closing clothing
I am very very surprised to report this movie was underwhelming… Ariana was very good as Glinda, Cynthia sings beautifully and emoted so movingly but the rest left me and my viewing party cold. Won’t be going to the movies for the second part that’s for sure 😢
I like that it was long. I could've watched it for 4 hours.
I feel like once part 2 comes out it’s going to become a tradition for a lot of people to watch both . These are definitely destined to be cult classics.
As soon as they announced it as two movies, I was relieved. Part 1 is proof that they’re remedying all the issues I have with the stage musical. A big one being: it’s too rushed
They ate and left no crumbs
21:01 Where is that clip of Dorothy and the gang?
It was from the initial teaser that came out in February. I think a lot of people were wondering why she was in the trailer, confused if that was in one or part two.
As someone who has not seen the stage musical, I loved the movie. I knew some of the songs but never realised defying gravity was just before the interval.
At the end of the day they needed to tell the story to normies like me who went in blind and expected cohesive story and not a stage musical disguised as a movie.
I am looking forward to the new two songs
I hadn’t seen the musical before the movie- just read the book and heard the soundtrack. I thought the movie was awesome. It’s been awhile since I read the book, but I remember it being more dark than fun. I’m glad we got this instead of a gloomy tv series though.
I have seen wicked pt 1 twice now, and I think every minute of screentime was necessary. While it is long, it did extra set up that is needed to make pt 2 transcend the original second act, and all of the stuff with Elphaba's childhood is so beautiful. All of the additions to me are transcendant and make the text richer than act 1 of the stage musical.
To follow up on my original comment from this morning. Giving wicked pt 1 the room to breathe instead of trying to cram it all into one film produced the greatest movie musical I’ve ever seen
In the clips of the show when you discuss recently seeing it again there is a gorgeous boy playing Fyero. Any idea who he is, please?
I believe that’s Ashley Parker Angel.
it is Jonathan Bailey (from Bridgerton as Anthony)