HERES A REVIEW ABOUT WICKED FROM A 12 YEAR OLD BOY FROM THE PHILIPPINES! (Spoiler Free)
And yes I am a theater kid.
Alright, so letโs dive into Wicked. When I first heard about this movie, I thought, โOh no, not another musical-turned-movie disaster.โ And when they announced Ariana Grande as Glinda? Iโll admit, I was pretty skeptical. But honestly, Iโm thrilled to say I was wrong. Ariana absolutely nailed it. Sheโs funny, charming, and somehow hits those crazy high notes while still making you feel all the emotions. Sheโs officially my Glinda.
Now, letโs talk about the runtime. The original musical runs about two and a half hours, right? Well, this movie is also two and a half hours, but it only covers the first act. When I heard that, I thought, โWait, how is this going to work?โ But hereโs the twistโit totally works. The pacing is fantastic. The story flows so smoothly that I didnโt even notice the time flying by. They really took their time developing the characters and allowing the world of Oz to breathe. It never felt rushed, nor did it drag, which is quite an achievement.
Can we discuss the performances? Because WOW. The entire cast really delivered. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba is just... perfection. Her voice is breathtaking, and she brings so much depth to every scene. And Ariana? Not only does she have the vocal chops for Glinda, but she also captured the humor and heart of the character beautifully. What I appreciate is that they actually cast people who can singโand not just sing, but sing live. Yes, LIVE. I was a bit nervous about that initially, but hearing it in the movie? Absolutely incredible. Arianaโs live vocals were outstanding, adding a raw, emotional quality to the songs that you just canโt replicate with pre-recorded tracks.
Now, letโs talk about the lighting. Because, uh... what happened there? Some scenes were fineโPopular, for example, had fun, creative lighting that really added to the vibe. But then you get to something like Dancing Through Life, and itโs like they cranked the brightness up to 1000. My poor eyeballs were begging for mercy. And donโt even get me started on The Wizard and I. Itโs one of the most iconic songs, and the visuals were just... meh. Cynthiaโs singing her heart out, and the backdrop looks like they forgot to decorate. It made the scene feel kind of empty, which is a shame because that song deserves more.
BUTTT...
Visually, the movie is a treat for the eyes. They kept the CGI to a minimum and focused on practical effects, which honestly makes the world of Oz feel so much more authentic. The sets, the costumes, the colorsโeverything is just gorgeous. There were moments when I thought, "I MIGHT REWATCH THIS AGAIN OMG"