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.

just too long by over an hour!! Costumes were great, casting was really great, set even with the AI was sumptuous and nice to look at, and some of the messaging was good (populism, racism, the environment, diversity) but my goodness, where was the editing, so so SO much padding. Cinema showing started at 3, got out at 6! and in that time, Elphaba goes to college and realises she has magic powers. That is it. Lives are lived and a whole civil war takes place in a film made many years ago which is just slightly longer and feels a lot shorter. It would have been so much better if a third of it had been cut.

I went to see Wicked yesterday and thought it was absolute perfection!

I've seen it on the West End twice and thought it was the best thing I've ever seen. I've been eagerly anticipating the film since I heard it was going to be made years ago and have been obsessed with the music forever.

I was mesmerised by the film. The songs, the costumes, the set, the choreography, the VOICES! I had really high hopes for it (I like stuff Jon M. Chu has done before - I absolutely love In The Heights). I thought that I'd be disappointed but it really did not disappoint. It's my new favourite film. 10/10.

I think that the only downside to it is that I have to wait a whole year for part 2!

Totally agree. The stage version is done and dusted in this time and is so much better for it. Wicked is my all time fave but this was too long for me, bordering on a bit boring. I didn’t realise it ended on Defying Gravity and was actually panicking I had to sit there for the whole of act 2!

😂 All these posters saying that it should have been cut short 😮. I didn't want it to end! I could have easily sat there for another two hours!

I am generally not a huge film watcher but I really liked it. Have never seen the stage show and knew very little about it beforehand. For me there was lots of symbolism and parallels to current moods and attitudes of some demographics, but we are a family of mixed heritage and notice and pick up on being underestimated, judged and not included on a daily basis. I imagine some of this may not resonate with everyone, but it should.

I loved it as well - yes, I thought it lost pace in the middle, but it picked up for the end and the last 20 mins were perfection. I was so pleasantly surprised by Ariana Grande, I'd been a bit of a doubter when I heard she was cast, but she was excellent. Cynthia Eviro was perfectly fine - not the best Elphaba I've heard, but I liked her. Totally love the cameos, which I wasn't expecting at all (I hadn't read up on in much in advance).

If it wasn't for the padding in the middle, I'd happily go and see it again.

Hated the stage show and the film was even worse.

I really enjoyed the stage musical both years ago and recently, bit not sure I want to go and watch half of it, with actors old enough to be the characters parents. Well, nearly They're meant to be young adults / high school or college age. I don't doubt their brilliance in the movie, but they're all in their 30s

I’m angry with this comment but I’ll allow you to have it!

I won’t be watching Wicked. The part one, the stupid press associated with it! I’m watching the show next year and can’t wait. Hopefully the actors in that can be less tiresome. (I adore AG, she’s part of my kids growing up but it’s all been too much)

Me too!

You really haven’t got it. I’ve seen the stage show in double figures, regionally, West End and Broadway. I was expecting to hate the film. I didn’t. I didn’t care for the portrayal of Elphaba, but thought Ariana Grande was outstanding. The story is a multi-layered tale of prejudice, power, sacrifice and friendship. The film did this justice and was a visual feast.

I have seen it on stage and loved it. I went to see the film yesterday and thought it was fabulous, costumes, sets, dancing and singing. Brilliant. A feast for the eyes.

I agree. Les Mis - made me so miserable, a bloody waste of a good night out. So overhyped. And the critics have savaged Wicked. Said its hopelessly miscast and exhausting to watch! And don't get me started on Moulin Rouge...🫢

I'm with you @RobinEllacotStrike . Haven't seen the cinema version but the stage show was utter dross and it was so long. It was the worst thing I had ever seen apart from Les Mis which gave it a run for its money. Hell will freeze over before I go and see Wicked at the cinema.

You were expecting not to be made miserable by Les Miserables?

Also I think the critical response to Wicked has been pretty good over all?

I'm sure someone's has said but it's only half the stage show, so the second half where the characters redeem themselves and the plot with the animals resolves. I was looking forward to it to til I realised it was in two parts, I see why but meh, can't be bothered to just watch half the story.

Saw it yesterday with daughter and 11 year old granddaughter who have both seen the stage show. They both preferred the stage show but still loved the film.
I couldn't get my head around why anyone would make a show about what happened BEFORE The Wizard of oz, which has never been a favourite of mine. Quite contrived I thought. I didn't know the music apart from 'Defying gravity' ( the other songs still don't seem up to much to me)
However it was wonderful to look at and the performances were great especially the 2 young witches. Elpheba is a wonderful character and I'm really rooting for her in the final scenes!
I think I'll go and see it again on my own as little grandson was bored and difficult throughout. He had wanted to come but its a long film and not really his thing!
It was lovely to see it at the cinema, but it's a very expensive afternoon out for a family, I think.

If the film is awful then believe me it is truly reflective of the stage show.

i look back and cannot understand why we stayed for the second half.

I thought I was alone! Absolutely Les Mis on stage is meh. I just didn't get the hype at all.
And didn't a reviewer of Wicked the stage show say "the only thing wicked about Wicked is the title"? Not seen it to judge for myself and definitely not interested in the film. Off to Gladiator myself.

My sentiments exactly about the stage show so thanks for the heads up! I was going to see the film tomorrow hoping I would get to see what all the fuss is about. I won't bother now. I loved the book👌

@Needmorelego The train was real. But the interior scenes were filmed on another set.
We saw the film and loved it!
All of the scenes in Glinda's bedroom were filmed first and then that set dismantled to make other scenes. 'Popular' was the very first of all.
When filming was finished the yellow brick road was dismantled and every crew and cast member was given a yellow brick as a souvenir. It's rubber!
Interestingly, some of the scrolls that my daughter made (in the bookcases shown in the lecture theatre) were then sold to another film. My daughter is currently working on that and has seen her own work catch up with her.

@PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle your daughter has a bloody brilliant job 💚🩷

@Needmorelego I'll second that! She loves it. She has very long days and a 2 hour commute. But she gets to walk around Munchkinland and Shiz University. She said everyone on set was friendly, including Ariane Grande and Jeff Goldblum, who made sure that they talked to everyone there.
Wish there was a 'take your mother to work day'!

The scared lion cub becomes the no courage lion 🥰🥰🥰 I thought it was brilliant but I also love the stage show too, there are a lot more twists involved and it's very cleverly done.

I saw it and it is awful. From start to finish it’s awful and couldn’t believe it was only half of what was in the musical. I’ve seethe musical twice so imo avoid the film and go see the musical instead. Don’t fall for all the guff because it’s a terrible film and terrible acting