Quad Dog said:

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So instead they cast a 31 and a 37 year old?

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Yes. Who look much younger. Especially Ariana Grande. If you don't think 30somethings can play 20 year olds, please reference BH90210 and Stranger Things.

Saw it tonight with fam of huge musical theatre fans. It was meh for us. Was moved more by the James Franco Oz movie. I can see it appealing to those who know nothing other than the Wizard of Oz, but I've seen everything, and it was a yawner for me.

Have you seen the stage version?

Yeah, just like we've seen stage versions of all other shows that have been adapted…phantom, les mis, etc. Just a miss for us in terms of chemistry and flow.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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I find the Grande and Ervivo press tour deeply unsettling. It feels like a caricature of the worst theatre kids you knew in college. (source: was a theatre kid)

I haven't seen it yet and I really want to wait until its released to streaming. It seems like a hot cocoa heated blanket experience to me.

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I don't watch anything that would allow me to consume their press tour. What's been weird about it?

Edit:nm. Read the rest of the thread

Wicked soundtrack debuts at #2 on Billboard charts
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/wicked-soundtrack-historic-debut-billboard-200-1235841793/

Last time a movie soundtrack debuted in the top 5 was Chicago at #4 in 2003.

Today, we're holding space.

121 years ago today, the Wright Brothers paved the way for NASA to defy gravity.

Whether here on Earth or as we explore other worlds, there's no aerospace without aero. ✈️ 🫱🏻‍🫲 🚀

Learn more: https://t.co/rM2w05pgWs pic.twitter.com/UHjdNLzs50

— NASA Langley Research Center (@NASA_Langley) December 17, 2024

Saw it this weekend and thought it was fine. The singing was top-notch. Staging was amazing. Story is meh. My personal biggest issue was the length. There was at LEAST 40 minutes of "easy cuts" which wouldn't have changed the story at all. Easy example: no need for 3 "Gaa-Linda" with Prof Goat. 2 would have had the same impact.

I'm seen the musical and thought it was "fine" as well.

I'm a big wicked fan and this was fantastic.

it was pretty good. I like the stage play better, but still.

Biggest downside to my viewing was the underpowered projector.

The film Erivo and Grande all nominated for Golden Globes.

Looks like they were shut out of everything at the GG other than the new blockbuster award

As a reminder, if you live near an Alamo Dratthouse, this is the last week of the Wicked Singalong showing, which is really fun to do. I took my girls after New Year's.

https://drafthouse.com/event/sing-along-wicked

My daughter went to see it with some friends yesterday. She loved it.

Honest question: How does this movie jive with the fact that all of the events in Oz in the Wizard of Oz (everything that isn't sepia toned) happen in Dorthy's head after she is concussed by a flying window pane? Do the events of Wicked happen in Dorthy's head too? How does the character of Elphaba in Wicked connect to her basis of Almira Gulch (who literally wants to murder a dog) in the original Wizard of Oz?

You're really over thinking it.

This musical is based on a novel. All of Oz is real in the novel, its sequels, and the musical, and this movie. Dorothy's role is tiny.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(Maguire_novel)

We rented it at home the other night, and really enjoyed it. We purchased a nice, 4K laser projector and 135" screen as a family Christmas gift this year, so it was kind of our first test into having big movies at home.

My daughter and I watched it over the weekend. I saw it on Broadway, so no surprises for me. Daughter had seen some youtube snippets and song videos, so it was a surprise for her.

We were both pretty blown away. She said it is the best movie she's ever seen and the best movie in the history of movies ever. I'm not quite on board with that, but I did love it.

Agree with everyone that Grande was perfect. I had some laugh-out-loud moments with her delivery of lines and mannerisms.

I also loved the Elphaba portrayal. I've seen (and soundtrack heard) Idina and saw the first touring cast in Houston (Stephanie J. Block). All were a bit different and all were great. I think I put Idina third now.

Watched this with my wife and daughter the other night. They saw it in the theater and raved about it. I enjoyed every minute of it. Elphaba's dance scene was the only weird part to me, otherwise it was great, and I hate musicals. Enjoyed trying to pick up on all the Easter eggs from the original Oz. Can't wait for the sequel

I really didn't want to like this movie because of the absolute cringe press tour but I've been watching it with my daughters and won't lie, I have really been enjoying it.

Lol

Am I alone in thinking the name change is dumb? Still excited though.

rhutton125 said:

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Am I alone in thinking the name change is dumb? Still excited though.

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Feels like nobody is going to call it that who goes to see it. I agree, nothing wrong with Wicked Part 2.

I'm not going to the theater in '26 saying "I need 2 tickets for Avengers: Doomsday" either.

Trailer for Part 2 came out yesterday

Plot and acting are good, songs all sound alike so far.

Finally watched Wicked... I don't get the hype. Bleh.

I didn't find a single song to be interesting or a standout.

Lathspell said:

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Finally watched Wicked... I don't get the hype. Bleh.

I didn't find a single song to be interesting or a standout.

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He's WICKED!!!! KILL HIM!!!!


I'm kidding. I didn't like it either but I have 3 ladies in my house and they love this stuff. I could rock defining gravity at karaoke if I had to!

The first half of the new movie was sort of a mess, mostly complicated by pretty bad acting by the girl who plays Nessa and giving us zero explanation of why she and studly Munchkin Bok were in love for 30 minutes at the Oz Dust Ball Room but now he's still pining over Glinda and she's acting like she's 70 when she's probably 25.

The second half was much better, mostly because Grande and Ervivo have such lovely chemistry both singing and acting together. Was fun the way they incorporated Dorothy without showing her face and making her the butt of several jokes.

The last 2 big numbers ' No Good Deed' - and "Changed for Good' were both show-stoppers, but of course, nothing can touch Defying Gravity from Part I. I find "Wicked" a lot like my other favorite musical "Phantom of the Opera" in that all the bangers are in the first half. Maybe that's a musical trope and I just don't know enough about them to realize that's always the case.

Regardless, "For Good" is just gorgeous and I would imagine zero acting required for Grande / Ervivo who, despite the Internet mocking, seem like 2 people who found each other at random and really love each other. took my girls to see the movie thursday night and they were very smitten by the end.

Thing made $69 m on Thursday/Friday alone. I'm surprised other movies didn't copy its genius strategy from last year and debut the week before Thanksgiving. I'm sure it will crush $500m given the first hit $415ish.