The first part of a two-part film, the first half of the storyline lasts a total of three hours, there has never been a film like it evil Feel as long as it has. Director John M. Chu, responsible for such films as in the highlands and popcorn comedy crazy rich asiansIt tells the origin story of two girls, the Wicked Witch of the West and the good Glinda, who will become key characters in the story. The Wizard of Ozone of the most important films of all time. The move was intended to deepen the portrayal of Elphaba, an ostracized but rebellious girl born with green skin, while also fleshing out Glinda’s character Galinda, who He was a nobleman of popular birth and a lifetime of privilege.
The film is very clear about its status as an origin story. You can see how the Wicked Witch of the West got her broomstick, flying monkeys, hat, and how the Wizard of Oz paved the yellow brick road. This movie reveals some of the best unsolved mysteries The Wizard of Ozand determined to extend the running time of each one. However, this isn’t even a complete origin story – the first part of the sequel won’t be available until next year, leaving you feeling equally cheated Traveling through the Spider-Verse feel, and the source material it draws from – Broadway’s 2003 play adds even more color to it The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and begins after the events of the book and movie. Good-hearted Glinda comes to the Munchkin Village to confirm their hopes—that the evil witch of witches is dead—but she’s more than that, and they were once friends. What follows then is Glinda’s point of view; although the narrative is primarily told from Elphaba’s point of view.
I’m envious of those who tried to make the transition from stage to screen, especially this musical, but it almost succeeded, thanks to John M. Chu. Stephen Shwartz’s songs are heartfelt, uplifting and stunning – “Defying Gravity” is the strongest moment of performance, but oddly the most bland – the moment it deploys Rather than delivering the sense of liberation and freedom it needed, it felt like the movie had to end somewhere. It targets big ideas – bullying is a key theme in the first half, but there’s also populism, people’s need for accountability, the demonization of difference and corrupt leaders, which are very superficial but also Very serious. It shows signs of something deeper – lingering just below the surface – using Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West But gave it a Harry Potter style coating. Erivo is fantastic in her role as Elphaba and has incredible chemistry with Ariana Grande, who Grande performs it extremely well and believably shows just how vain her character is – no matter how ridiculous, you’ll buy every second of her unparalleled confidence you get – Chu doesn’t waste any time diving headfirst into a world of madness. , leaving nothing to play with. Grande, in particular, has capitalized on her innate fame as a pop star, which has fallen behind the curve thanks to the huge success of Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Beyonce and Sabrina Carpenter in 2024, although she has released a new album bringing A crowd-pleaser, the gorgeous performance showcased her gift for physical comedy that would make Charlie Chaplin proud – right down to the perfect hair flip. I’d like to see her in more roles, she’s treading that well-trodden path brilliantly.
Her acting talent should earn her all the plaudits – she was able to hold her own in front of the brilliant Erivo; she stole the show in her own way – performing defy gravity Great, if editorial choices mean the execution is somewhat lackluster. Her performance as Elphaba is spot on, she is despised by everyone, her own father, her own sister, and knows she will never have a happy ending. In that world, she’s doomed almost from the start—fateful circumstances that strip Oz of its nostalgic romanticism—and reveal it to be a flawed society that leads to the rise of the evil witch. Remember – evil has to come from somewhere; everyone has a different perspective on it.
The supporting cast is great and charming. Jonathan Bailey is a roguish, Elvis Presley-esque prodigy with the attitude of the “Footloose” protagonist heading toward a guy who can’t dance The small town introduces music. The love triangle feels inevitable but at the same time forced and awkward. Michelle Yeoh was a great instructor and saw potential in Elphaba, but Jeff Goldblum just showed up, did his stunts, and went home. You know what you’re going to get from him, but probably the best thing to take away from his casting is his attempt to pronounce the word “Cineworld” in the billion-dollar marketing plan used to promote the film. Editor’s Choice is the problem, Editor’s Choice. The color grading is stiff and weird, too gloomy and gray, lacking in The Wizard of Oz tints, and Something Called the Yellow Brick Road shouldn’t look boring, but it does. The Emerald City doesn’t seem to live up to its name at all. Where the film succeeds is in bringing the stage play to the screen – you get a few extras like the colorfully named Hinds, a Potter-like school but with its own problems, the animals On the verge of being stripped of a speaking role and demonized. The only animal professor, a goat, talks about the past and why teaching it is so important. this is a proof evil It feels very timely.
you need to see evil Presented in full effect on the big screen, it was dazzling and infectious, winning applause at my screening and everyone seemed to love it (save for one lonely dad, who dozed off and Start snoring), and its effortless charm and spontaneity earned it the risk of choosing a pop star for the lead role; as well as Grande’s performance. However, its length and overindulgence let it down, with the film feeling bloated and overdone, something Peter Jackson might even consider a bit too much. So much time is spent in college, but its structure is the same as what we’ve seen in every teen drama in the past, magical or not – a mean girls structure that doesn’t need to be creative or different. Watching it on the small screen won’t have nearly the same impact, but at the same time, its fans will be watching it over and over again.
Chu’s strength lies in musical numbers. The sets are lavish and exciting, and there’s a reverence for stage musicals – expect cameos – and The Wizard of Oz It’s thick, but a little too broad. The standard Marvel humor is on point but not overbearing, and the humor here feels intentionally overbearing and awkward. But it was also funny – I laughed. I like it. But…do I like it? The key problem is its appearance – dull and lacking in colour. When it is irrefutable The Wizard of OzThe gorgeous, brilliant colors make it one of the best-looking American films ever made.
The film also ends with a “Part One” feel. There is no solution. There is no storyline and no ending. It felt like things were just starting to get interesting and just past the initial stages, they were over, but at three hours, the movie should have felt shorter. The dance sequences had no time to breathe at all and felt rushed and almost to death. The otherworldly nature of Oz doesn’t feel fantastical—they’re supposed to feel real, but rarely do. It’s a high school drama in a different guise, and you’ve seen thousands of high school dramas before – why you should watch it The Wizard of Oz Will it become another one? There’s weird subtext here, but there’s a surface level and more effort put into it by the fans than the filmmakers. Visually it never feels inventive; and the stakes feel forced and empty because you inevitably know where it’s going – there’s no tension – there’s no real plot.
For such a crucial plot point, the oppression of the talking animals is rarely addressed. It feels more dominant than it does for the first hour or so of the film, but then quickly fades away and is forgotten. evil I could have said more about the current state of affairs – this is just a very, very superficial level. Ultimately it’s hard to feel satisfied because without resolution it doesn’t stand on its own as a film, it doesn’t exist as anything other than a setup for a sequel about the aftermath. There’s a more inventive, labyrinthine, brilliant film here that dares to have a sense of fun – and there’s evidence of it; but that’s rare. Too much space is devoted to explaining everything that doesn’t need explanation. The Wizard of OzYes, it’s nice to tell Elphaba’s story, but there’s only so much you can connect the dots. Thankfully, the musical numbers are all certified bebop – nonetheless, it’s still good enough to keep you entertained.
