Wicked (Part One)

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Saw this this afternoon and it was absolutely FANTASTISCH. I hate long movies as a rule but the whole thing flew right by for me - not a single wasted scene that felt like a chore, and Ariana's comic timing was terrific. Adored how much they made Jonathan Bailey's big song and dance scene about as bi-coded as they possibly could without ever crossing the line that might have pissed any parents off :disco:

Michelle Yeoh has got to be the most disastrous singer in a musical movie adaptation since Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia though :D
 
Loved it. Ariana Grande was a revelation, and I hope its success gives the proles something to think about DISCRIMINATION!

Had three glasses of smuggled in rosé which hit the spot but weirdly I didn’t shed a single tear though I think that might be because I spent the last week listening to the soundtrack sobbing.
 
I LOVED IT :disco:

My biggest takeaways -

The restructuring of some songs to fit the cinematic take took a bit of getting used to but was easily balanced by the fact that it allowed things the stage version could not... camera close ups, cinematic pauses, that added an extra oomph to certain moments. The obvious being Defying Gravity. I think a second viewing now knowing this would make me enjoy it even more.

Ariana was simply brilliant and was having the time of her life in the role of her life, but Cynthia was the revelation for me. I was surprised by how understated the performance was, and it improved the dynamic with Glinda, made her more sympathetic and layered, and just an all round more interesting performance that made an all round more interesting character.

The overall effect reminded me so much of the classic fantasy movies we grew up with - it was so unashamedly magical. It felt like something that would translate well and last longer than a passing fad. Not all musical adaptations achieve that but it feels like this will.

That ballroom scene... wow. Goosebumps. I think this was the magic trick of the whole film - they could easily have wrapped it up in 2 hours by keeping the pace of the musical going but they spread the story out and it wasn't just the additional book subtext, it was the pacing of some of the more important scenes, like the ballroom. They slowed it right down and let it breathe and it was incredibly powerful. That could have gone the wrong way but it absolutely elevated the film for me.

It's probably a 9/10 because I'm usually a measured cynical bastard, but in the grand sceme of the magic of the franchise and FINALLY seeing it on the screen, I'm giving it a TEN.
 
The overall effect reminded me so much of the classic fantasy movies we grew up with - it was so unashamedly magical. It felt like something that would translate well and last longer than a passing fad. Not all musical adaptations achieve that but it feels like this will.
YES! It's a hackneyed comment, but I really felt like a kid again for some parts of it - and I'm a proper CYNICAL old bastard at the best of times usually with this sort of stuff.
 
I have quietly decided however that no one can be as attractive as Johnathan Bailey without being evil.
He used to be boyfriends with someone who worked at one of my then clients about a decade ago. My colleague had seen him a couple of times in BBC things but didn't recognise him on sight, and so opened with "I think we've maybe met before?", only to get shot down with a cold "we haven't met." and silence thereafter. MEOW
 
I was going to take my niece/great nieces today. Decided yesterday evening and looked for tickets, but couldn't get 4 seats together at any of the 5 screenings at the showcase this afternoon.
 
I have also heard from someone who works in theatre that he's not very nice to the LITTLE PEOPLE (Munchkinland agog).
 
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I find Jonathan Bailey insanely hot in some things in character (not particularly in Wicked, tbh), and in photos. But he loses it massively when he speaks as himself.
 
Look I love him as much as the next loon but Dune had no business winning ANYTHING!
 
AGOG that the miseries at The Guardian gave it 4 stars

Well, they've gone and ruined it.

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I'm sure the article is vaguely interesting but I'm too busy reporting Kate Maltby for HATE CRIMES to actually read it


 
I enjoyed this and nipped it along at a good pace for a 2 ½ hour movie but I couldn’t help feel it was $150m teen movie? (Which I’m not against AT ALL)

Couple of gals ant uni initially hate each other, then they like each other and there’s a love triangle too?
 
I enjoyed this and nipped it along at a good pace for a 2 ½ hour movie but I couldn’t help feel it was $150m teen movie? (Which I’m not against AT ALL)

Couple of gals ant uni initially hate each other, then they like each other and there’s a love triangle too?
Adding you as a co-conspirator to my police report on Kate Maltby.
 
80m second weekend for this domestically, dropping just 29%.

Moana 2 opened with a 5 day total of 221m :disco:
 
My cinema was packed on Friday. The screen I was in was full (screen 1, the biggest) and Wicked was showing on multiple screens. I’ve never been to that cinema and had to park away from the front before.

I was SHOCKED that people did try to clap at the end but were quickly replaced by someone shouting OH COME ON in disgust :D
 
44% is certainly no worse than average for a week two drop is it? I assume box office for all is boosted by Thanksgiving though.
 
That box office total for Moana 2 is insane, already it's taken half of what the first took in its entire box office run.

Disney SAVED.
 
Saw this this afternoon to a packed BFI IMAX (incredible cinema by the way) and I thought it was just about as excellent as a very faithful rendition of the stage show could be. Loved the cast, the production design and how well paced it felt.

Cynth was really great at the acting part, but her vocals lack something for me. Was it @dUb that said her tone was a little bland and lacking? If so, I agree.

Ariana was the standout for me. Funny from start to finish and you got the sense in No One Mourns The Wicked and Defying Gravity that she's really going to shine with the less bubbly Part Two.

JB was perfect for what Fiyero is and Jeff Goldblum was suitably subtly menacing. Michelle Yeoh was enjoyable (brief NOX aside) but not quite as sinister as Morrible can be. Miriam Margolyes (!) made her really quite a terrifying presence in the original London cast.

I'd definitely watch it again and can't wait for a double bill with the two parts next year.
 
Is it too early to start talking about Part 2? :D

I'm curious now that we know they've layered in some more book subtext - What do we think they're going to do with the second half?

Will they expand Dorothy's role in how the story comes together? Will we get to see more of Elpheba as the Wicked Witch within the Dorothy timeline, and meet more of the other Wizard of Oz characters within the Wicked universe?

and

I'm curious if they'll go with the book ending or the musical ending. Probably the musical, but I hope they come up with something a little more interesting. I have no problem with the feelgood ending for the stage, but I always felt it was rushed at the end, and too convenient.
 
Is it too early to start talking about Part 2? :D

I'm curious now that we know they've layered in some more book subtext - What do we think they're going to do with the second half?

Will they expand Dorothy's role in how the story comes together? Will we get to see more of Elpheba as the Wicked Witch within the Dorothy timeline, and meet more of the other Wizard of Oz characters within the Wicked universe?

and

I'm curious if they'll go with the book ending or the musical ending. Probably the musical, but I hope they come up with something a little more interesting. I have no problem with the feelgood ending for the stage, but I always felt it was rushed at the end, and too convenient.
They have someone on horseback riding away from the tower in the very first scene, which I think is safe to assume is Elphaba escaping, so I'm sure she'll survive just like the stage show
 
Nods, winks and cameos I enjoyed:

- The lion cub being put into Elphaba's bicycle basket just like Miss Gulch does to Toto
- The ruby slippers Glinda gets out in Popular
- Stephen Schwartz as the Gatekeeper
- Ben Platt as the teacher that replaces Dillamond (I think)
- Joel Grey as the train driver (I think)
- The smashed wallpiece in Shiz revealing the Animal teachers underneath

I'm sure there's going to be a whole lot more when I watch it again.
 
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