WICKED - Therapist and Filmmaker Review

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Alan may or may not still agree with the rating he gave the film this morning. I'm _very_ very tired after 2 months of insane amounts of work, and may have been grumpy. I stand by the points I made, but I may have rated too low. Or not. Maybe that's just how I feel. Who even knows anymore. I'm going to bed. -alan

[@Uncle_Smidge]

Go take the AlanSleep. The rest of us will fangirl in your stead. 🤭

[@bryt_knee]

Did Alan write this whole comment starting from third person going into first, and signed his name? 🧐 Understandable that y'all are so tired, enjoy the holidays!

[@faith-by-faith]

This is definitely a "I need sleep" comment. Hope you wake up well-rested.

[@SaucyJTD]

You guys have been doing all kinds of craziness lately. Get the sleep you need and deserve!

[@stingray0987]

Stand by your opinion Alan, I know where you're coming from but only change your score for you and not for others.

[@pjmbyul]

As a major fan of the musical, I am SO glad they split it into two parts. I found it worked brilliantly and actually better than the fast-paced timing of the stage play, which left little room for dialogue and flushed out moments. This Part 1 film included 99% of what's included in Act 1 of the stage production - it's a near exact copy, a truly faithful adaptation, only they were able to flesh out each musical number and each spoken scene while adding a few additional scenes and moments that the stage play was limited to not including. So, I'll have to actually respectfully disagree with the comments about this being a money grab or a forced studio decision. The director and cast have consistently shared it was to tell the story the way only a movie can that a stage play cannot. After having seen the movie, I absolutely cannot imagine them squeezing both acts into one film, unless it was a 5 hour film. I think there's definitely an innocent lack of knowledge from viewers who haven't seen the stage production, but I of course don't blame the assumptions.

[@hjg6892]

also a biased wicked fan, but I agree. I absolutely loved it and I was completely enthralled for the entire 2 hrs and 40 minutes. I thought it was amazingly well done.

[@sevensongs]

I agree. I did feel it was a tad long. They could have cut Sentimental Man and sped up the Wizard parts (sorry, not a Jeff Goldblum fan) and they could have increased the song pace of I'm Not That Girl, which did feel very slow. But honestly? That's it. And that would only have shaved a few minutes. The thing about this show is that the second act is weak (my opinion, obviously) and needs development. There is no way they could have made this a cohesive 3 hour movie because Act II isn't cohesive. It's a series of plot vignettes with only a few of them clearly strung together. Splitting it into two is actually the smart artistic decision because it will allow additions for plot and character development that will make the emotional moments more powerful. (Well, I hope so, anyway!) So I think the choice to cut it into two movies was absolutely the right call even if money weren't a factor.

[@williswareinc]

“you’re at the movies, where are you going?” -kevin costner

[@MusicLoverInTheSky]

This just proves Alan right about how this movie is squarely targeted at fans of the play and how they'll therefore really enjoy it. XD

[@biblegirl]

As a fan of the musical, I don't really feel like there was a ton of padding. The "side stories" are really important for act 2. The only time I felt the length was the balloon bit

[@kairi99roxas]

Exactly, that balloon scene was unnecessary but the rest was awesome!

[@smolbluelady5278]

I totally agree!!

[@Kirby_girl_]

Gotta disagree with Alan. Those were the fastest 2 hours and 40 mins of my life. I’m a huge Ariana Grande fan and a huge Wicked fan (read the book and saw the musical). I loved it. 10/10 for me!

[@Christine_GoBills]

Same!!!

[@heatherbaker2620]

I love when you said it's like the extended LOTR but for Wicked fans. That is 100% spot on! I could have sat there for another 3 hours. I am SOOO glad they didn't leave anything out and extended some scenes. The one change they made made me smile til my face broke (no spoilers. IYKYK).

[@ReganSkye2010]

Just got home from seeing it with my bf. I haven’t seen the stage production but I was absolutely blown away by the film!!! The music, the costumes, the sets?!?! And don’t get me started on the performances. Ariana and Cynthia blew me away, and I couldn’t stop crying at the end. While we were sitting through the credits waiting on the crowd to disperse, I looked at my bf in tears and said “She just wanted to help the animals!” I just know this film is about to be my whole personality for the next month 😂

[@riaglitta]

That's Animals with a capital A ;)

[@mariag7117]

I still have to see the movie, but I've seen the musical, and while I really liked it, I immediately tought that the story had a lot of unexplered potential, especially in the second part. Splitting the story in two movies could do wonders to expand the characters motivations and tragic circumstances!

[@RichardBrennan]

The thing about “the padding” is that it lays the groundwork for the plot of the second movie.

[@turnipcrazy]

Exactly. All the Nessa and Boq scenes don't look that important or vital I'm sure to outsiders, but you need them to set up for the next movie.

[@thehouseofoverthinking]

I loved every second

[@paradisecity0406able]

Looks like a *MAGICAL* time at the movies

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Well played.

[@legallyblonde88158]

As a fan of the musical play, this film was a 10/10 for me. I loved Cynthia (incredible emotion without a word) and was pleasantly surprised with Ariana. SO glad they got mostly good singers and not just people that looked the part

[@kc9music]

Funny thing about Popular is they had a shorten version. Ariana has mentioned in an Australian interview that about 2 days before shooting the scene she had just came back from having Covid and they went to block it, the choreographer and some the other creatives saw the hallway of the set and loved it so they went with the longer version of the song. Cythina is amazing! She is one award from completing EGOT. The wicked characters are actually very important to the neurodivergent community. I have heard that Elphaba represents autism while Glinda represents ADHD.

[@thehouseofoverthinking]

I've read all 14 of the Oz books, all four of the Wicked books, I've met Gregory Maguire and Idina Menzel, I have Oz graphic novels and the Caliber Dark Oz series, have watched all Oz movies there are as well as the Emerald City. And Wicked was a triumph. I'm over the moon with it. You might have felt it was longer than necessary, but remember none of the songs on the soundtrack are that compact on the stage - the soundtrack often contains songs that are spread out a bit when you watch it live. Everything they added made it richer and stronger... I loooove it.

[@kp22kc]

You may know this, (I just found out a couple of weeks ago) but Maguire also has a 2nd trilogy after the Wicked books called the Another Day series about Elphaba's granddaughter Rain. The Brides of, The Oracle of and The Witch of Maracoor and also has a new one called Elphie coming out in March about Elphaba's childhood.

[@thehouseofoverthinking]

@kp22kc thanks for the message - I have the first two Maracoor books but haven't started them yet. Didn't know about Elphie! That could potentially be promising. Have you read the second trilogy? Any good?

[@thehouseofoverthinking]

Oh wait I just see you recently learned of it so maybe you haven't read it :)

[@kp22kc]

@@thehouseofoverthinking I have the Wicked years books, but I've only read Wicked....and found it very difficult. I listened to the audiobook and got more out of it, but I haven't got to the point where I want to read the rest yet. I think once I'm retired (in a few years) I'll be able to concentrate more on them. I think they need a little more concentration than a regular book. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a fan of the way Maguire writes....although I have several of his books.

[@thehouseofoverthinking]

@kp22kc Trust me, I feel you. I fell in love with Maguire through Wicked, then fell out of love as I went through the series. If the success of Wicked was due to his writing style and not the synergy of the characters borrowed, he would have been able to keep up the same level of quality in the rest of the series. I find his style quite alienating, and hard work as you say. I have a video on my channel about the books and which one you SHOULD NEVER read 😁

[@dgurlie-0273]

I love the play so much. The book caught me off guard, but still, I like the premise. When watching the movie and I see all the key characters, I’m sitting there thinking to myself, “Oh, you poor fools. You have no idea what’s going to happen to you.” The first movie was very emotional, but I feel the second movie is going to hit even more. I’m ready for it, but I’m not ready for it.

[@mpet483]

Ohhhhhh boy. Major Wicked fan here, just waiting for my partner to have an Alan experience. They’ve never seen the play and already don’t trust my movie picks! Wish me luck! 😂

[@magicman205]

Trust me, Alan, as a fan of this musical (and the book to a lesser extent,) there is absolutely no reason this movie was the length that it was. I liked this movie but boy did I feel every second of its runtime.

[@h3eartbreak]

As a longtime fan of the stage musical, I will be the first to admit it has a ridiculous pacing problem. They skip through A LOT and there is no room to let things breathe. This was the first time a film longer than two hours flew by for me. The additional time allows for more characterization and tees things up for Act 2/Part 2. I doubt the second film will be nearly as long.

[@dabadeedabadoo]

I saw Wicked earlier today, and while I did love it and have a lot of fun with it, I was also pretty annoyed by how much the songs would stop to allow for dialogue and then start up again. It made it a little difficult to fully immerse myself in the music, because just as it was sucking me in there would be a break. 😅

[@rafaelaveralugo7626]

About the subplots: They were mostly to add more to really important side stories in the play. And I MEAN important. Not gonna spoil, but trust me when I say that Nessa's story is pretty big for both Wicked AND the original fairytale. In my personal opinion, they NAILED it. I do have one complaint: The spliting into two parts, which isn't that bad once you consider you need a bathroom break and you don't wanna miss Defying Gravity; perhaps this year-long intermission IS for the best. The issue, however, is that Act I foreshadows some of Act II, and if you haven't seen the first movie and you go into next years's second movie right away (Don't do that, by the way), you're most likely gonna be lost. I also LOVED Ariana Grande's performance. She was an AMAZING Galinda/Glinda, and the fact that she auditioned several times and didn't get the part before ASTOUNDS me. Finally, as someone who ships Elphaba and Glinda, THIS. THIS MOVIE is GREAT.

[@chowder2260]

Just saw this and absolutely loved it. Was hoping you guys would do a review. I can’t wait to see this on Cinema Therapy 😬

[@Musicgeek475]

I know!! Literally had just seen it when this video came into my notifications, and had been sitting there in the theatre thinking “Oh what Cinema Therapy could do with this!” Everything especially about how Elphaba is treated . . . so much for them to explore and discuss

[@lydialevorson3681]

Hey guys I saw that you reviewed heretic the other day and I was wondering if y’all would ever do a film therapy episode on it. Specifically on the trauma responses the girls have in the film and how they cycle through their methods when one thing doesn’t work

[@blindnerd4871]

I fell personally, from a storytelling perspective, that the runtime was kind of needed. You could've shaved off a few bits here and there, but everything they presented helped move the story, themes, or characters in some way. Maybe I'm just acustomed to long run times, but I didn't have an issue with how long the movie was. What I'm more interested in, is how the second act will be adapted.

[@gabrielpena1371]

I'm on the fence on this film. On one hand, I like wizard of oz. On the other, nothing about the trailers have sold me on this movie and I don't know if I can handle 2 hour 40 minutes musical, especially after hearing Alan's criticism of the pacing.

[@amandahelton4546]

I can agree with some of the scenes in Popular being cut just so that the song itself feels more cohesive because it's a fairly upbeat and comedically placed song. However, the side characters being more fleshed out is something that really works because they play more important roles in the second half. The side stories make sense, and a critique of the musical is that we don't actually get more time with them for the emotional beats to hit in the second half. Time spent on subplots and smaller characters is not wasted if the second half is as well done as the first. And on a side-note, Jonathan Bailey was the most pleasant surprise out of this film. I did not expect him to be terrible, but I did not expect him to be as great as he was.

[@nikkidesu9236]

I'm just glad we are not getting another Into the Woods situation with this adaption. That's why I love that it's two parts.

[@aarien_of_aurolyth]

Honestly, I'm not sure they padded it enough. My only complaint was that the relationships between Glinda and Elphaba and Elphaba and Fieyro still felt as rushed and as crammed in as it has to be in the stage production. One good montage really showing Glinda and Elphaba's relationship as they become friends would have been amazing. That way we could really see how they went from loathing to being unlimited together. That passage of time couldn't really be shown in the stage production, but it could have in the movie. Instead it was one day they loathe each other, the next they start to understand each other and Glinda vows to make Elphaba popular, then the next it's Dr. Dillamond getting taken away and Elphaba and Fieyro start catching feelings for each other, and then Elphaba and Glinda are besties off to the EC. One good montage in between Popular and Dr. Dillamond would have done a lot.

[@katienielsen7532]

I'm so glad you review movies now! Your Wild Robot episode got me to go with my whole family to see it in the theater. And I probably would have been really put out seeing Wicked if I hadn't watched this review first because somehow I missed the fact that this was only a Part 1? That tempers my expectations in some regards and gives me loads more information about what I CAN expect, so thanks a bunch!

[@aidansheehan7777]

You guys better do an episode on this.

[@smalltownpoetry]

I was worried about seeing it because I could never emotionally connect to the wizard of oz nor have I seen the play. But this was spectacular. However, I agree they could have cut the dance scene down about 5 minutes, and I can see an argument being made that the tension between elphaba and fiyero felt forced and it didn't have an emotional payoff. The other thing I will say, completely a personal issue, but I have hearing loss from tinnitus, and arianas high pitch is right in that range so I couldn't understand a word she said in the first song. But at the end of the day, defying gravity made it all worth it 😂

[@kateshively1620]

First, I hope Alan takes his daughter to see the Broadway show soon. Second, I can see where people are complaining about the pacing. I don’t fault anyone for feeling that way about it. But I am a massive Wizard of Oz fan so yes, this was my extended LOTR and I was very happy. I can appreciate a tight edit. But in this case I love that we as an audience are able to sit and breathe through some intense moments with the performers and experience a lot of new exciting moments. If you ever see the Broadway show or read the Wicked novel then you will understand those plot points that seem small now play a huge part in the second half. Thank you for reviewing this one. I wasn’t sure you would. Even though you gave it a lower score than I felt it deserved, I’m still glad you did see it.

[@the8treluver]

Look, I love the show too - but besides some too long establishing shots, extended sequences that didn’t need extending (looking at your Ozdust), and the slower tempo of pretty much every song (even Popular was slowed down), it’s still above average. Now, my showing was cut short as the 4k projector at the Alamo died right after Popular, so when I go back tomorrow and see the rest maybe I’ll feel differently. But it was definitely starting to feel the lack of pace even a little over half way through. Maybe the sing along theatres are going to do will help the pace a bit.

[@andygilly14]

Oh Alan... In reality the studio execs said: You know what... we can make like more than 3 billion $$$$ (maybe 4 billion-ish) ...

[@zainabjilani3701]

I’m on the fence as I enjoyed the musical through the enjoyment of my sisters. They had the book(s?) and fell in love with the musical to the point I know ONLY the two original Broadway actresses and some of the songs because of them. I love Idina(?) Menzel’s voice, and the new actress looks powerful. So….I will probably watch the original Broadway musical before the first part.

[@lovelyspringweather]

Catching it on streaming in chunks was exactly my plan for this movie lol

[@LiorielParx]

I've been a fan for 18 years. Seen it live 3 times. And I agree with you both - a few too many useless pauses and storylines. Some of it was welcome. Some was useless. If the songs themselves weren't awkwardly broken up by the asides it wouldn't be as bad, but they butchered the end of Defying Gravity by adding that whole fall/Unlimited part right before the big show stopping end. Adding in the whole subplot about the Ozdust Ballroom being illegal did absolutely nothing for the show. If they had followed up on this plot and let there be some kind of consequence it may have made sense. But since Mdm Morrible still showed up there to give Galinda her training wand and said nothing about the illegality it felt even more useless. What was the point? So, yeah. Plot points like that detracted from the main storyline and slowed the pacing for literally no reason. The cameos in the middle of One Short Day we're fun. I enjoyed watching the OGs being part of it all and do see why they wanted to add in more information about the Grimmorie BUT that part being sung by the cameos turned it into a bit of a distracting gag? Like, again, it was fun to watch but unless you already knew who they were I imagine that the way they were acting was really confusing. All in all, it kinda felt more like a SNL sketch. That said, I still give it a 9/10. That said, I still

[@LaLayla99]

I believe they added some of the plots/politics from the books so that added to the run time. I am so looking forward to seeing this! ♥️

[@feliciahorne8969]

Alan, I completely agree with you. I have a low tolerance for bad pacing in movies. If you are going to spend the money to make a movie on this scale, maybe editing should be a focus as well? Of course, they are going to make a ton of money on this movie, so what do I know?

[@Mustafa_AhmedPGH]

Woah, I didn't know you guys had a review-review channel! Cool!!

[@williswareinc]

i felt the runtime too but it didn't effect my final impression.

[@WriterusAeternus]

I was bored with the stage play but I am hoping the movie will be more interesting. Besides “Popular” I can’t remember any of the other songs. Didn’t leave much impression. I’ll give it a go since most people like it.

[@kkmmrew]

As a fan since childhood, i walked out of that movie simply BEAMING! there was not a single scene that i thought was added fluff. Everything was simply more fleshed out from the source material and it flowed so seemlessly for everyone I've talked to who knows the musical. I can understand people thinking "oh that's just added for filler" but legitimately, every plot point was already in the musical, they just had time to delve deeper into them.

[@Gamerninja24]

8:16 I guess you could say Alan was Green with envy.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks to Jonathan, Alan, Corinne and Makenna! 🌈 I loved it. I think the extensions added to the overall experience. Yes, the plot is simple and could be told shorter, but (for me) the relationships benefit from the patiently-paced telling. I hope Alan might revise his opinion after seeing the second half.

[@eme.261]

Isn't this movie based not just on the truncated version of the story that the musical told, but the book the musical is based on? As such, judging the timing of the movie against the play seems misguided. Jeff Goldblum may not have a theater voice, but he's a brilliantly unique jazz singer and pianist.

[@cashaetaylor7466]

I didn't even notice the length of time. I never saw the play but i read the book 20 times. When I looked for the time, they were already talking to the Wizard and i was surprised that it was about to go off. However, I love musicals. ❤ so i think it was just about his taste. I never was bored. However, the only scene i had an issue with was Jonathan, but that might be because of how much I love the book. They changed him so much from it.

[@missylks1239]

So, I have not seen the movie (but have seen the musical)..that is the first question I asked myself: If it's two parts, what did they add in to make it so long? (I still don't know as I will be seeing it...next week)

[@kairi99roxas]

I promise it doesn't add much of anything, it lengthens scenes to add emotional weight to them. (The climax is stretched too long, but the rest is about perfect, IMO)

[@gjford1951]

You would probably have given Judy Garland version of A STAR IS BORN 4 out of 10. That might have efficiency. But it misses some point. Some of the repeats in the Bach's oratorio The ST MATTHEW PASSION can be cut also and the piece would be substantially strealined by doing that. You'd get the plot. But you would lose the ecstatic gloriousness of the thing.

[@ethanaxon6662]

I recently watched Lars and the Real Girl and would love to get a therapist’s view on the main character

[@kairi99roxas]

Its not padding, its flushing out characters, and presumably bringing in the book more (the climax had too much padding, but other than that)

[@Christine_GoBills]

I loved it so much and cried multiple times.

[@donm3986]

I was going to like this review, but due to the time spent debating whether the film was 2 hours and 40 minutes or 2 hours and 30 minutes, I cannot. ;) Actually, I did hit the like button.

[@kairi99roxas]

It was amazing!!! I love the musical and love the movie!

[@annedougherty1520]

Absolutely agree with your review overall. I definitely got bored a couple of times. Although, I expected Ariana Grande to be amazing. I've seen her acting before, and she's definitely gotten better with time.

[@rossdax47]

Have had the pleasure to see this on Broadway and at the Denver Center. Love the first act, few things in musical theater touch the power or goose bumps of Defying Gravity at the end of Act One. Act Two is... Meh. So, I'm going into this planning to enjoy the first movie and not worry about the second.

[@bronsonskylibrary]

I was expecting a 7/10 but not a 5 😅

[@wesleywhite4782]

Absolutely loved this movie. The Last song gave me chills.

[@dotunderscore]

I haven’t seen it yet, but from the scenes I’ve seen, it seems like some of the musical numbers are slower than in the stage show? If so, this could be some of the extra run time. I’m really hoping it’s not the case, because I know it’ll drive me nuts.

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

I'd love to hear you guys react to Bonhoefer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin. I just watched it, and it's powerful, though I was a bit disappointed how little Spy and Assassin stuff was in it.

[@evangremlich5775]

Alan is speaking some of my mind here. I don't have a lot of patience for long musicals. Probably my most common complaint about them is that they could lose 20-30 minutes of runtime. My favorite musicals are probably Prince of Egypt and Muppets Christmas Carol, both of which are only like 90 minutes long. I think the only way I'd watch Wicked is if someone invited me along.

[@beautifulbull]

It's Glicked weekend!🤑😎🙌 Please do Gladiator II next!🤞 I don't care what anyone else says...I LOVED IT!!!🥰😍🤩🙌🦈⚔️🛡 #strengthandhonor💜💜💜

[@tonigonzalez1515]

If they were going ro make it 2 1/2 hours anyway they should have just made it 3 hours and done the whole play. Or cut it in two and make it 1 1/2-2 hours. Adding an hour of extra scenes is ridiculous.

[@louilelee9978]

Ariana was brilliant in SNL and that changed my opinion of her from being that girl from nickelodeon

[@donm3986]

The primary argument in this review, restated as it would apply to a famous book trilogy: "The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien was over 1,100 pages, so I'm just going to rate it a 5 out of 10, based on the number of pages."

[@HalloweenYearRound]

"Watching the movie, I get why this is massively POPULAR" I see what you did there Alan 🤣

[@entertainmentlife430]

This movie is fantastic!

[@kpeugh2011]

Can I take my 6 year old to this film? Or should I wait until it comes to Max and let her watch at home?

[@annekeener4119]

Why is everyone surprised Ariana Grande is funny? She killed it in Hairspray Live! as Penny Pringleton, a role that is mostly comedic. She has shown before that she has great comedic timing.

[@arbyswitch5580]

The one guy kind of explained exactly why...a lot of folks don't know her from before she just showed up on the radio they think she's a "studio-produced pop princess". They don't know her bonafides, and that's honestly so real and valid. If I hadn't been a teenage girl who wanted to literally live in the world of Victorious when it was airing, I wouldn't have known about Ariana as an actor either. And I am already aware that she was in 13 on Broadway with Liz Gillies, I used to really really love Ariana Grande (she started doing a few too many things I find personally distasteful, I do not fuck with race-baiters and homewreckers)

[@familystephalski6414]

Alan is clearly wrong. Seen the play twice. Read 'the book'. This is clearly the best iteration.

[@Authorrlee]

THANK YOU ALAN! 100% agree that there was no need for splitting this originally 2 1/2 hour play into 2 movies, when the first movie is as long as the play 🙄 Side note: as we were being seated, the theater attendant kept telling people, “remember, this is not a sing along.” As the lights went down a voice repeated the sentiment then added, “if you disrupt you will be removed.” *Very much appreciated.*

[@TomatenUndZwiebelSuppe]

It's the opposite experience for me, the teenagers sitting beside me keep jeering "WHY DO THEY KEEP SINGING?!" and lots of sarcastic comments along that line. Like girlie pop I understand you might not fully get what's so hyped about musicals, you may feel a bit cringe, but LET OTHERS ENJOY THE MOVIE IN PEACE PLEASE

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

@@TomatenUndZwiebelSuppe I blame the marketing that never once showed the characters singing.

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

@@TomatenUndZwiebelSuppe I'm sorry, if people don't know that Wicked is a BROADWAY MUSICAL, I really don't know what to tell them...

[@LarryGarfieldCrell]

Sounds like it has the same problem as The Hobbit trilogy. (Why have one long movie that's faithful to the one book when your can have three long movies with absurd amounts of filler and a 90 minute battle that you could sleep through?)

[@annabarycka994]

5 / 10 😊😊

[@SaucyJTD]

I've always wanted to see this musical live, but I have never had anyone to go with. I should have just said screw everyone and gone by myself. As someone who has been bullied for how I look, I very much relate to so many of Elphaba's struggles. Seeing her and Galinda become best friends had me in tears multiple times throughout the movie, so perhaps I was blinded by all the things to even notice there was a pacing issue. I'm going with a 9/10 for a silly reason... I must dock it a point in honor of all the books that were stepped on during the library number. My not-so-inner book nerd winced and cried for each book 😂.

[@OtakuAnime01]

Ariana Grande was a child actress on Disney channel before she became a pop star.

[@arbyswitch5580]

Nickelodeon, actually

[@bethanytaylormade]

Any other musical nerds cringing every time they refer to Wicked as a "play" 😂

[@rishisanyal8972]

Is your therapy session green?

[@shanigribben9158]

Alan might need to start running for his life

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

I think you mean Alan :)

[@shanigribben9158]

@ fixed

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

Lol. We all love him too much to harm a golden hair on his head. - Jono

[@Uncle_Smidge]

​@@CinemaTherapyReviews Just his psyche!

[@babak-k6t]

Best video ever.

[@waynechanlok]

Hi guys thanks for the honest review! Personally I’m deeply angered and frustrated by the movie, and the main reason is a moral one so I feel this is an appropriate channel to discuss it and I’m curious about what you guys think. As someone not from the US, I have never seen the play or read the book, and I only know very little about the world of the Wizard of Oz. I thought Galinda is one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever seen, she’s a bully, racist, narcissistic and gaslights Elphaba. Her change of heart to befriend Elphaba is based on a favour / benefit, not genuine respect. Even the song ‘Popular’ is her trying to change Elphaba’s appearance and about being shallow and impressing others, and it completely undermines the film’s supposed message of self acceptance and embracing oneself fearlessly. And towards the end, she is still siding with the Wizard and Madame Morrible even with full knowledge that they’re behind the Nazist animal cruelty scheme. That’s why for me, the emotional core of the bonding between Elphaba and Galinda does not work at all, it feels like the film is trying to create a friendship between an abuser and her victim. I also find how the film handles its themes very dangerous and irresponsible. Throughout the entire movie we keep seeing racism, bullying, Nazism being treated as comedy or minor inconveniences. It’s like the filmmakers are telling the audience to have fun and laugh about a scene when the scene is literally Elphaba being bullied by a Nazist mob. The students are all mindless plot devices that agree with whatever Galinda does, including the change of hearts towards Elphaba, and it makes that scene feel so inauthentic because Elphaba didn’t earn true respect from her peers, they’re just following Galinda like she’s the supreme leader. I would say though they handled the animal discrimination part of the story with enough weight so that part is well handled. Yes, from a technical standpoint this film is clearly made with care and love, but having seen the film a few times (work related reasons), and I’m sure this is absolutely not the intention of the filmmakers, I feel that the movie’s messaging is very problematic. Jonathan I very much agree that the film has a message of “how can you find the courage to stand for what’s right, even if it’ll cost you”, and I’m standing for what I believe is right, as I feel a desperate need to voice out my concerns with what this movie is teaching us subconsciously. Again thanks for the review and can’t wait for the next one!

[@doityourselfa]

i feel like you're not really looking at what the movie is trying to say and just projecting your own insecurities onto it. glinda IS supposed to be unlikable. a huge theme in wicked is about appearances and "goodness". glinda is outwardly beautiful (gold hair, fair skin, pink, the ideal of femininity), but inwardly shallow, cruel and feels herself naturally above all others ("who isn't less fortunate than I?"). popular as a song pretty much strikes the nail on the head "it's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed", and she has the power to navigate this. the dance scene is not her doing something from the goodness of her heart, she has no qualms about embarrassing elphaba until she receives the wand and realises her own cruelty. it's to try and reverse the damage that has already been done. glinda, as a character is always looking to the past, (just look at the poster, it's literally future glinda reaching out to past elphaba). she is a representation of conservatism, of being too late. this is directly contrasted with elphaba who is outwardly green, but has a compassionate and caring personality, as seen by her interaction with nessa and dr dillamond. and beyond that she's insanely gifted. but she speaks out against the status quo, which glinda instead upholds. she represents change for the future, and hope. i disagree that the movie is irresponsible in it's teachings of "racism, bullying, [and] Nazism" because there are scenes where they are given the weight they deserve (dr dillamond's whole thing) but the rest... well glinda and fiyero are never directly affected by these things, they don't treat it seriously because it isn't serious TO THEM. elphaba understands because she too is an outsider, it's been serious to her the whole time, unless it's in regards to the wizard. but her arc in the story is about being disillusioned with the wizard and instead believing in her power to save the animals. you also must remember that the movie has only done act 1, there's a whole other half to the journey the characters have to go on, and glinda at the end is really tragic compared to act 1, you can see some glimpses of this tragedy in the opening number of part 1. the "good" characters are supposed to be villainous and the "wicked" ones are genuine. i don't think you need to hold the audience's hand to help them realise that the fake magician and the tailcoat teacher aren't the good guys, and glinda, who joins them, isn't exactly "good".

[@kittyv4699]

(Havent seen the movie, but i have seen the play and wizard of Oz) My take on why Galinda and Elphaba become good friends is because they both acknowledge and respect how the other possesses something they personally do not have. Elphaba has her pure talent and Galinda has her popularity. And tbf to Galinda.. vs all the other “popular girl” trope characters out there, she is the only one who recognises that popularity is a tool to survive and thrive. She knows she isn’t naturally talented or smart etc so she “needs” to play the popular card in order to make it in their world. You know this by the line in her song “Popular” Celebrated heads of state Or specially great communicators Do they have brains or knowledge? Don’t make me laugh They were popular, please! It’s all about popular It’s not about aptitude It’s the way you’re viewed So it’s very shrewd to be Very very popular like me And also by the very rare moments when she’s alone with Elphaba how she can drop her act and be vulnerable with just her. That’s why they do become sort of “best friends” for a while. Elphaba recognises and respects Galinda’s strategies to make a life for herself, while Galinda is so in awe of how Elphaba, as she slowly realises her natural born talent, doesn’t need to put up an act for people to love her. They both supplement and push each other to become more than what they are. Cant wait to see the movie. I have always enjoyed how obnoxious theatre Galinda was… hoping for the same enjoyment or even more from Ariana’s Glinda

[@naomikelly6466]

get a grip ❤

[@kairi99roxas]

You've only seen half the story, wait for the rest before judging so harshly!

[@s.oftsoap]

I have semi-plans to see it with my mom eventually :3 Also, Alan, despite what an unfortunately loud majority may say, we’re here for honest opinions and ratings. The internet is enough of an opinion bubble, sometimes it needs a little tiny pop to keep some people in check.

[@tomektalk4671]

thumbs down cause you too negative about them introducing stuff cause this is part 1 and you haven't seen part 2

[@wcsearcy]

Ew. Your show as a Zoom call doesn't work. Please get back into the studio ASAP! 6 out of 10.

[@CinemaTherapyReviews]

This is not our main channel. Our main channel is in the studio. This channel we do separately because we live in different states, and this format allows us to review movies when they come out. Two different channels, two different formats.

[@moviemelody2210]

This movie is fantastic and easily the best movie of the year

[@johnwillome1840]

Agree there was too much padding. I told my wife that in the parking lot. Am I the only one who had no idea it was a Part 1? I’ve gone back and looked at the trailers and they don’t indicate it. Fandango didn’t list it as Part 1 either. 🤨

[@chadkent327]

The studio announced it was , so people knew, but none of the marketing material referenced it as part one at all. The trailers even made a point of showing clips from the flash forward at the beginning of the movie (clips of Dorothy and her companions, the witches had after the melting etc.) as if to give the impression that the movie would go past the events of defying gravity. To be frank, the marketing was downright dishonest about it, and I wish marketers would understand people don’t like being tricked, they like it less than knowing ahead of time things they may not enjoy about a product.

[@kelliehorn1082]

Remember that time when The Hobbit movies were 2 movies too long? Yeah... Hollywood might never learn tsk tsk.

[@Morticia147]

It's not my kind of Movie and honestly, with the tantrum the main actress vomitted out - I would watch it only at gun point.

[@flowergal2000]

Loved seeing your review! I hope you goys do a Psychology of a Hero on Elphie and Glinda! 💚🩷 One of the BEST MOVIES of 2024!!! I Loved it!

[@sharpaycutie2]

Yea no 2/3 are not wicked fans 😂 I’m not one but it is FOR wicked fans and their their own club/genre in broadway lol