So I've been to see WICKED and .... [Spoiler warning added by MNHQ]

[RobinEllacotStrike]

It's one of the worst films I've ever seen.

I've not seen the stage show.

All the characters are horrible & one dimensional. Even the green one - she's the most likeable & developed character & they still managed to make her flat & boring.

They threw all the CGI possible at it and it left me feeling very empty. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Glinda is awful. Absolutely awful but we are meant to like her cause of all the rich blond & pink. Dreadful.

The costumes were fabulous though gotta hand them that. Probably an Oscar for costumes.

I feel empty & sad after seeing that film.

My daughters loved it. They now think I'm the worst.

Four of us went to see it last night, including DD14. None of us liked it. I honestly thought it would never end! And nobody clapped at the end. FWIW I didn’t like Les Mis either so maybe I should have heeded advice upthread

the connection between those disliking both Les Mis & Wicked is interesting.

Also how are some Wicked showings full of clappers, and some (like mine) had no clapping, but sighs of relief at the end?

Yes, it's strange. My showing had clappers - apart from me.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are getting on my nerves with their ott emotions around this film. And we're going to go through it all again next year too.*

Seen it twice now, first one no clappers, second one many clappers.

The new singalong screenings start next week 😀🤣

Read the book @RobinEllacotStrike If you hated the musical/film you’ll probably enjoy it. It’s brilliant, deep, poignant and evocative. There’s no defying gravity moment for Elphaba- it’s the story of her struggle against totalitarianism when she wakes up to the genocide of the Animals, and her slow, heartbreaking descent into madness.

I honestly am baffled that anyone could read that book and create something so trite and vacuous. I’d never recommend the book to someone who enjoyed the musical though.

Both Les Mis and Wicked have broad underlying themes of the injustices in life though. So maybe that's why some people don't like them? Because it makes them uncomfortable being confronted by that and prefer more happy shows? Nothing wrong with that, I hasten to add.

Les Mis is about how hard life was for many during the early years of the19th Century - and many unfairness's. It is also about redemption too and hope, that in the future things will be better for ALL people. How it ends depends on your view about God and whether He exists too. If you don't, then the ending is sad - but if you do it is a very happy uplifting ending

Wicked is also about injustice, but in a different way. Prejudice and the exclusion of those who are 'different' figures heavily in this. Elphaba, to begin with because she is green and then as she grows up, she fights for injustice and what she believes is the right thing to do when she sees things which are wrong. She stands up for others and finds herself shunned for that too. She eventually decides that people are always going to think she is bad, because things go wrong for her when she tries to help others and her spells don't have their intended effect.

Glinda isn't actually 'nice' at all she is spoiled and has a very shallow, superficial attitude to life and to other people, at the start. But she is popular ( don't we all know people like this in real life) - and learns a lot from Elphaba. And the two do become good friends eventually

I think it probably hasn't helped for those who don't like the film, that it is only half of the story.

I can’t bear Wizard of Oz - I’ve never been able to watch it all the way through - but love the stage show and this film of Wicked. Must be my green side coming out in me lol

@Silvers11 wrote "Both Les Mis and Wicked have broad underlying themes of the injustices in life though. So maybe that's why some people don't like them? Because it makes them uncomfortable being confronted by that and prefer more happy shows?"

This is actually quite funny because it suggests that Wicked has darker themes about discrimination etc that we don't want to see. In my case this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, if I was to think about it, I think it is outrageous to suggest that this puerile piece of incredibly expensive froth sets itself up as being focused on important themes. I have "enjoyed" or rather admired serious theatre shows that don't just touch on those themes but really explore them as well as creating art. So, nah. This isn't it. But there's no need to go looking for a reason why we didn't like it. We just didn't think it was that good. We all like different things.

How they got the musical from that book is beyond me, Stephen Schwartz is a genius! 🤣

Absolutely silence when I went to see it.

Except for my involuntary squeek at the surprise cameos in the emerald city.

I've seen the show, read the book, watched the film.

Each time I hated it.

The show was shit and boring and I love musicals.

The book I had to stop reading as it was graphic and disturbing in places (I read it pre show and was trying to familiarise myself with the plot in advance)

The film wasn't any better although I do think Ariana Grande was good as Glinda. Not briliant but nethertheless she may still win an Oscar (if she wasn't AG and just some unknown, she wouldn't) Cynthia was utter shite.

I did notice the cameos - they were probably the best thing in a poor film.

I had been hoping to like the film because I hated the Mamma Mia stage show but loved the films.

Goodness me. I'm a MASSIVE fan of the musical and the film.

The book is a big bag of wank. DH took me to see the musical, for the first time, in 2021. I was in awe and thought it was the best thing I had ever seen. Because I enjoyed it so much, someone thought that the book would be a lovely Christmas gift for me. They got me the whole fucking series (there are 4 of them). It's taken me 3 years to get halfway through the first one. I keep picking it up and then leaving it but I hate not finishing a book once I've started. And I feel guilty because they were a gift.

So yeah, if you hated the musical - you might enjoy the book! 😁

This is me too.

As an aside I am intrigued by clappers and non clappers at film screenings. Clapping at the end of a film screening is just not a thing at the cinemas I frequent, however good the film is.

I remember there was definitely clapping at the end of Greatest Showman and I think I joined in but there wasn’t any clapping at the end of Wicked either of the times I’ve been. I’m going the sing along one next time, wonder if there will be clapping then?

Couldn't agree more!

A group of us went to see it yesterday. I loved it and could have watched Part 2 straight after, thought the 2 main actresses were excellent especially Ariana Grande, though I didn't think much of the songs. Others in the group thought it was too long and boring in parts. So many differing views.

I said upthread that when I saw it I felt like Scrooge because the people I was with loved it. It turns out that one of them actually didn't like it at all! She told me over Christmas that she hated the songs (apart from Gravity) and that she found it interminable and couldn't wait for it to end.

I loved it, I've seen it twice and was completely captivated throughout. Ariana Grande was great, so funny! Cynthia Erivo gave a touching performance and sings so beautifully, you can hear every word and she has a lovely voice. How on earth was she 'shite' as a pp claims? All the actors were good, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, etc. And it was gorgeous visually.
I have discovered it's coming out to buy digitally from tomorrow (seems very soon, it's still popular in the cinema?), so I might treat myself.

I also really enjoyed the book, although I appreciate that it has a different, much darker vibe.

The book is fucking terrible IMO. I read it at least 10 years ago. It put me off seeing the musical and then the film, I have however since seen both and enjoyed them a lot.

I haven't seen the stage show either. I thought the film was ... kind of OK. I know some people really love the stage show but remember this film is only the first half, up to the interval, so I will reserve judgement till I see pt2.

You've deeply misunderstood if you think the characters are supposed to be likable. Glinda is definitely not supposed to be likable and neither are most of the other characters. Possible exception of Boq and Dr Dillamond (the goat). Even Elphaba is a complex and not entirely sympathetic character - this is after all supposed to be the story of how she came to be the "wicked witch" in the wizard of oz - being a mixture of skewed perceptions and misunderstandings combined with the genuine misanthopy that develops from.a lifetime of rejection.

My daughter has seen it 3 times now and is currently singing along to the soundtrack.
I join in with the "Popu......lar. La La La La" which is annoying apparently.

You boldly created a safe space for her to be honest at last @VictoriaSpungecake 😂😂😂

Late to the party here I finally caught it tonight (cinema was full).

never seen the stage musical but I thought it was absolutely incredible. Especially the two leads. I knew Cynthia Erivo is a legend but Ariana Grande was perfectly cast. Just gutted I have to wait a year for part 2!

it's got one good song