Jean

UNEXPECTEDLY CAPTURED MY EYES AND SOUL! I have seen this film twice (first was in 3D and second was in IMAX) and rewatched some of the scenes many times. I recommend seeing it in IMAX/Ultra AVX for the larger screen and vivid colours. I was required to take three elective classes in college and took film for all of them. I have seen countless films ever since I was a kid and this is my first time writing a movie review. I have heard of the Wizard of Oz movies but had no idea about the Wicked so, this was my introduction to the world of Wicked. I read some of the newest reviews here and I could not agree with them more. I feel that words are not enough to describe the emotions I felt after leaving the movie theatre. Cynthia and Ariana gave their souls into playing Elphaba and Glinda (the Gah is silent). You could feel their dedication and passion to portray their characters' depth, nuances and complexities. The execution of their characters' journey, growth and interaction was intricately thought-out. While some reviewers pointed out that the movie was slow for them, I believe it was the right touch of directing and storytelling because it allowed us not to rush but to embrace the film organically. In fact, I cherished every second of it because a lot of thoughts went into directing and filming each scene. I do not usually get excited for musicals but I appreciate it when there is a well-executed story (includes a social justice that does not come off as an obligation to appease but because the character deeply cares), live and beautiful vocals - showcasing their vocal prowess without overpowering each other, and excellent portrayal of characters. I decided to watch this film because a friend of mine raved about it and she is the type of person that watches a lot of films but does not easily give 5 stars. There are a few scenes that brought tears to my eyes. I could speak more of this but this would give away spoilers and I want every viewer to have their own experience. Some of the scenes were intelligently filmed like you are seeing a raw and vulnerable moment that makes you connected to the pain and sufferings that the main character has endured. I applaud different actresses who played Elphaba since each one brings a different flavour to the role. In my humble opinion, the OGs laid the foundation and thus, rightfully deserved all the recognition and accolades but let us also praise Cynthia and Ariana for respecting the classic and yet adding their own unique take on the characters. Idina is a theatre giant but I prefer Cythia's take on Elphaba. Cynthia walked on the path that Idina has cemented and took it to the next level. Like Idina, Kristin has built the pillars for Glinda, but Ariana embodied the role of Glinda just as good. Lastly, social justice was one of the highlights of this film that I resonate deeply with. This film touched my core when it comes to soulful friendships, society's ideology, social justice, structure of deceitful leadership, manipulation and pain of betrayal, and staying true to your values even if the whole whole is against you. The costumes, sound and production designs, camera work and editing, etc. were all carefully planned and executed. Director John Chu and the rest of the staff are all commendable and you could feel the passion and determination into making Wicked Part 1 as one of the most spectacular, relatable, moving and life-changing films of all time.