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.

I almost went to see it today but decided to do something else instead. I was planning to go see it but, now that I know it's in two parts, I'll wait for the second part to come out and watch the first part at the same time. I didn't know it was in two parts before I read this thread.

I thought it didn’t rely much on CGI? That’s only what I have read….

Big musicals fan. Fell asleep during Wicked. Bored and underwhelmed. So not fussed about the films!

I thought they had barely used CGI too tbh. At the very very beginning there's some CGI people (my pet peeve) but otherwise I was pretty impressed with how natural it is.

Maybe it's just really good and I didn't notice?

But I hope you have a great time - I absolutely LOVED it, and I was sceptical that it would be as good as the stage show. Ariana Grande especially was a really great surprise, I don't know much about her (I'm quite old) so thought a pop star casting would be a bit cringy but she totally nailed it.

Im with the non fans of Wicked. Going to send the kids alone but I've sat through the show so many times with various kids and friends and despise it.

Yep me too,

Same!

I didn’t enjoy the theatre show much either, but that was more to do with the appalling sound design than the actual show.
But I was surprised by how much I liked the film. Very surprised at how good Ariana Grande is acting comedy, and Johnathon Bailey is excellent at cheesy. The singing is also brilliant. I didn’t realise it would be basically a comedy, but it was done well. Overall really enjoyable and entertaining, despite not having gone in with high hopes.

I saw it yesterday. The cinema was pretty full and and the audience were clearly fans of the stage show (loads of kids, sparkly outfits, endless toilet trips.) Many applauded at the end!

It's a very long film which they've padded out a fair bit. It's visually stunning and the performances are outstanding.

I went with a friend who has never seen the stage show and she was baffled to begin with but ultimately enjoyed it lots. I have seen the stage show and thoroughly enjoyed the film.

OP, your questions and observations may be answered in part 2! If this was the stage show, we're currently in the interval queuing for the toilet, humming Defying Gravity and wishing we had an ice cream!

I was about to say the same! Although I don't like the film of Les Mis.

And the cameos are a nice touch for diehard Wicked fans.

No, I agree, the film was appalling .Russell Crowe murdering my favourite song (that should only, ever, be sung by Philip Quast) was so upsetting.

I thought it was incredible. Visually stunning, brilliant cast, funny, sad, thought provoking. I know the original stage recording well and thought I would be disappointed if they had messed around with that too much, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was mainly true to the original with a few twists. It’s a long film, and I tend to get bored and fidget in the cinema, but I barely moved for the duration and was a bit sad when it ended as I could have gone straight into part 2.

AG started out as a comic actor.

I saw it last night also, and the audience applauded at the end - mind you, the cinema was filled with theatre kids who attend the local stage school.

I loved it, but I've read the books and enjoyed the stage show and enjoyed them.

But if people clap for them then it would be normal to clap at the end in a cinema, but it's not.

So I don't people clap for them on the rare occasions they clap at the end of a film, no

Clapping at the end of a film is expressing shared enjoyment in the film. the audience are clapping the film together connecting their experiences.

It's a bit like the spontaneous clapping when the plane lands after a bumpy flight. A collective expression of relief & gratitude to the pilot & flight staff.

I could have clapped for relief it was over at the end of Wicked. 🧙🏻‍♀️

Well not really - the programmers attending is generally a festival/event thing. And whilst applause is unusual it's not unknown, although I suppose it also depends on the cinema; I go to my local independents rather than the chains.

I think the last new release film I was in where people applauded at the end was Barbie. All the screenings over the opening weekend were sold out and people were just enjoying themselves (and showing their appreciation accordingly) but yes, I doubt the same was happening at Cineworld.

Why?

It's clearly a thread talking about the film wicked. Are we not allowed to discuss a film?

Most posters here have read the book, seen the show & the film.

If I don't want to know something about a film I don't read threads about it.

Plus asking a question is not the plot spoiler. The people pointing out my question is a spoiler are the spoilers.

@RobinEllacotStrike because it was a bit of a sneaky comment in my opinion.
Anyway Mumsnet will decide whether or not to delete.

OP, you’re not meant to like Glinda. All the students are meant to be shallow. And it’s only half the story so no story will be forgotten about - just picked back up in the second half. I haven’t seen the film yet but I love the stage show.

When I've heard applause, it's not been at an event or festival so I still agree with my post

And I believe mine have been at a chain anyway

I think the cinemas near us would be classed as chains

Well my dd would disagree with you. She saw it last night & said it was one of the best films she's ever seen. Her & her friend were crying afterwards (in a good way)

Oh ok well I guess that reason makes more sense although I still think it's weird