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Anyone see Wicked?

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Having seen the play years ago I was going into the movie expecting to be disappointed but ended up being blown away by the end.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are perfect in these roles. I can't say too much without spoiling the movie or part 2 but the entire cast have been spot on so far. The sets and how they translated everything to a movie has been great so far.
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
Having seen the play years ago I was going into the movie expecting to be disappointed but ended up being blown away by the end.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are perfect in these roles. I can't say too much without spoiling the movie or part 2 but the entire cast have been spot on so far. The sets and how they translated everything to a movie has been great so far.

Haven't seen it yet. Doubt you're going to get much positive feedback the way the other thread has been going.
 

Doom85

Member
I honestly can’t decide between Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Deadpool and Wolverine, and Wicked as my personal favorite film of the year (though Sonic 3 and Nosferatu are coming out soon). I’m not much of a Broadway musical person, but I did like the play when I saw it years ago, but I loved this movie version.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
My wife saw it and spent 30 minutes trying to explain it to me. Total nonsense! Now I know how she feels when I'm telling her the plot to a James Bond film :p
It's a multiverse type of story for sure, but it is pretty neat how they fit it all together with what happens in the wizard of oz.
 
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Doom85

Member
My wife saw it and spent 30 minutes trying to explain it to me. Total nonsense! Now I know how she feels when I'm telling her the plot to a James Bond film :p

“So it’s off to the casino!”
“Hold up, but if Bond fails, they’ll have given terrorists millions of dollars!”
“Well, yes, in fact several characters will point this out.”
“So, there’s like, what, three, maybe four players in this card game?”
“Actually, I think it’s about a dozen or so.”
“What?! That’s ridiculously dangerous! This Bond movie seems ridiculous, can we pick one of the more grounded, realistic entries?”
“……this is one of the more grounded, realistic entries…”

(no hate, I love the Craig Bond films even Quantum and Spectre to a much lesser degree, but boy are the plots often slightly silly even if they aren’t as cartoon-ish as certain Bond eras)
 
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Cohetedor

Member
Saw it a few days ago with family, thought they could have easily trimmed an hour off the nearly 3 hour runtime. The movie drags horribly. Thought it funny not a single preview or trailer mentioned it's only part one.
 

Doom85

Member
It's a multiverse type of story for sure, but it is pretty neat how they fit it all together with what happens in the wizard of oz.

IIRC, the Wicked book, and the Wicked play/film, incorporate elements from the original Oz books and the original Wizard of Oz film (that differed from the books in various ways) so that it doesn’t neatly fit into either continuity. Since I know some might not like the idea of Wicked, that lets it stand in its own continuity as opposed to being a retcon to the original Oz books or movie (or Return to Oz, for those who were traumatized by that “let’s make a horror movie for kids!” film as a child).
 

Doom85

Member
I saw Transformers One, I’m good.

Definitely need to check this one out, the marketing team really dropped the ball on that film. Between this, Rise of the Beasts (hey, I liked it, sure we should have got way more Maximal focus, but at least most of the Autobots got significant focus unlike the Bay films), and I know the new IDW Transformers comics apparently slap so I need to check those out, the Transformers IP has had some worthwhile stuff to enjoy the last few years.
 
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ManaByte

Gold Member
Definitely need to check this one out, the marketing team really dropped the ball on that film. Between this, Rise Beasts (hey, I liked it, sure we should have got way more Maximal focus, but at least most of the Autobots got significant focus unlike the Bay films), and I know the new IDW Transformers comics apparently slap so I need to check those out, the Transformers IP has had some worthwhile stuff to enjoy the last few years.

Transformers One is Wicked for Transformers fans without the singing.
 

.hacked

Member
Total date movie, maybe this weekend?

I have never seen anything related to Wicked. I did get ex wife tickets one year for her bday and she went with her gal pals. Seems appropriate to see the movie with the new girlfriend at some point.
 

Doom85

Member
I have never seen anything related to Wicked.

Wicked specifically, or Oz in general?

This movie (Part 1) I would say can probably be followed fine if one hasn’t seen the original Wizard of Oz film, even if certain moments will be less impactful if you don’t know the full context, but IIRC the second half of the Wicked play (which the Part 2 film will cover) will expect you to have seen the Wizard of Oz film.
 

.hacked

Member
Wicked specifically, or Oz in general?

This movie (Part 1) I would say can probably be followed fine if one hasn’t seen the original Wizard of Oz film, even if certain moments will be less impactful if you don’t know the full context, but IIRC the second half of the Wicked play (which the Part 2 film will cover) will expect you to have seen the Wizard of Oz film.


I know wizard of Oz, just haven’t seen nor listened to anything Wicked. I am game, sure the music is good.
 

Rran

Member
I've seen the play a couple times. It's quite good, but not really up there with my favorites. It's a fun origin story with some laughs and decent music. There are a few standout songs but the second act is really lacking in them, and while the Wizard of Oz tie-ins are fun, they don't really make any sense at all if you stop and think about them. But it's a good show overall and I'd recommend it to musical fans.

I haven't seen the movie because I think it's super lame that it's only one act. Forget that. If they can put epics like Les Miserables into a single movie, they can do it for friggin' Wicked. The plot isn't anywhere near complex enough to require two full films and I fear that stretching Act 1 out into 2.5 hours is going to really try my patience.

So I saw Best Christmas Pageant Ever instead. I loved it.
 
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Lunarorbit

Member
Actually saw the play about a month and a half ago so I have no desire to see the movie. It was good but a little long. Had no idea the movie was part 1 which is absolutely ridiculous.
 

Doom85

Member
My kid chose Moana over Wicked, and for that I am grateful.

My sister and her husband felt the exact opposite (since I’ve not seen Moana 2 yet). Loved Wicked, but saw Moana 2 and told me, “it’s just the first movie but now the songs suck and the jokes are meh.” Considering the film’s story was supposed to simply be a pilot for a D+ series but was repurposed into a theatrical sequel, I’m not surprised the quality wasn’t where it should be.
 

SJRB

Gold Member
Gdd6U4EXEAAud7e
 
Watched it with the wife last week
I found it entertaining but super vanilla
Way, way, way too long
The singers are good but aren't Menzel and Chenoweth. I don't like Newphaba's take on the songs.
The DEI overtones are mild but are there ("She's a perfectly acceptable color").
My wife loved it. It's basically a fantasy chick flick
 

YCoCg

Gold Member
“So it’s off to the casino!”
“Hold up, but if Bond fails, they’ll have given terrorists millions of dollars!”
“Well, yes, in fact several characters will point this out.”
“So, there’s like, what, three, maybe four players in this card game?”
“Actually, I think it’s about a dozen or so.”
“What?! That’s ridiculously dangerous! This Bond movie seems ridiculous, can we pick one of the more grounded, realistic entries?”
“……this is one of the more grounded, realistic entries…”

(no hate, I love the Craig Bond films even Quantum and Spectre to a much lesser degree, but boy are the plots often slightly silly even if they aren’t as cartoon-ish as certain Bond eras)
And when it comes to summarising No Time To Die:
"So, have you played Metal Gear Solid?"
 

daffyduck

Member
Having seen the play years ago I was going into the movie expecting to be disappointed but ended up being blown away by the end.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are perfect in these roles. I can't say too much without spoiling the movie or part 2…
Can you at least say what the hand holding in the press tour was about? Does it figure in to the movie?
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
I just read that almost every song was recorded live while filming to retain the improve and emotional aspect of the original play. If anyone here has ever been in a band or been in a musical you will realize the level of singing while acting is crazy in this.

and no its not full of DEI \ woke stuff its spot on to the original and that is spot to book written in 1995.

You can have a good message about being different without it being woke and you can have different races of people in a movie without it being "DEI". The cast is absolutely perfect. Everyone gives a superior performance.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Can you at least say what the hand holding in the press tour was about? Does it figure in to the movie?
You mean the actors holding hands? That's just because they are such fans of the original that its very emotional talking about their experiences. The two main actors had to audition for the parts. Ariana Grande talks about how she is such a fan that she didnt even get an invite but pushed hard for an audition.

The movie really doesn't add anything new form the play. They don't become lesbians or anything. in fact.. They fight over a boy *gasp*
 

Locutus

Member
I understand the impulse to hate this movie because of the lead actresses, but this is a great film. If you have any tolerance at all for musicals, you should check it out. It will get a ton of Oscar nominations and they are deserved.

It turns out you can have a hate boner for Cynthia Erivo and still acknowledge that she did great work in this movie
 
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Trilobit

Member
I love Jeff Goldblum, but I think I won't be seeing this one. I don't doubt it's good, even Critical Drinker was positive, but I don't have the patience to sit down with this kind of film for nearly 3 hours.
 

TGO

Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
IIRC, the Wicked book, and the Wicked play/film, incorporate elements from the original Oz books and the original Wizard of Oz film (that differed from the books in various ways) so that it doesn’t neatly fit into either continuity. Since I know some might not like the idea of Wicked, that lets it stand in its own continuity as opposed to being a retcon to the original Oz books or movie (or Return to Oz, for those who were traumatized by that “let’s make a horror movie for kids!” film as a child).
This is where I sit, the whole story has me going
Confused James Franco GIF


The James Franco gif is actually just by coincidence but on the subject, I do prefer that one and thinks it fits better with the original film, and it's actually canon.
Wicked I consider a completely different universe altogether

I also thing it does a better job at humanising Theodora( The Wicked Witch of the West)
Who goes Elphaba in Wicked, which further shows they're not the same
 
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