Wicked Film Review: Oz Prequel

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Post on Nov 22, 2024

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Wicked Film Review: A Whimsical, Yet Uneven, Oz Prequel

Hey everyone! So, I finally saw Wicked, the movie prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and wow, what a trip down the yellow brick road – or, I guess, more like a purple one, considering the whole Elphaba/Wicked Witch storyline. I've been a huge Wizard of Oz fan since I was a kid, so I had high expectations, you know? Like, higher than the tallest poppy in Munchkinland high. And honestly, it was a mixed bag.

First Impressions: Shiny, but a little shallow?

The visuals were absolutely stunning. Seriously, the costumes, the sets, the CGI – it was all amazing. They really captured that whimsical, fantastical Oz vibe. I mean, the flying monkeys? Epic. The whole thing felt super polished, like they threw every dollar they could find at the production. Which, honestly? I appreciated that. I'm a sucker for a good production design.

But... and this is a big but... I felt like some of the emotional depth was missing. It felt a little… superficial at times. Like they were so focused on making it look amazing, they forgot to fully develop some of the characters' motivations. I know, I know, it’s a musical, but still!

The Songs: A Hit or Miss?

The soundtrack, okay, the soundtrack was another mixed bag. Some songs were absolute bangers – instantly catchy tunes I found myself humming even days later. Others... well, let's just say they didn't quite stick. There were a few that felt a bit forced, you know? Like they were trying too hard to be "meaningful" instead of letting the story breathe. It’s a common problem with movie musicals, I think.

I kept waiting for a song to hit me like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead" did when I was a kid, but it didn't really happen. Maybe I was asking for too much, comparing it to an absolute classic. But hey, I'm allowed to have my nostalgia-fueled expectations, right?

Elphaba & Galinda: A Complicated Friendship

The dynamic between Elphaba and Galinda was probably the strongest part of the movie. I'm a sucker for a good frenemy relationship. Their contrasting personalities made for some really interesting scenes. I totally bought their complex friendship – the ups and downs, the love and hate, the whole shebang. That chemistry was strong.

But I feel like the film could have explored their individual struggles a bit more. This is something I struggle with in most movie musicals: the plot often rushes the character development.

My biggest gripe? Pacing!

The pacing felt a little off. Sometimes it felt rushed, other times it dragged. There were moments where I was practically bouncing in my seat with anticipation, only to be followed by a long, drawn-out scene that kind of killed the momentum. It's a tough balancing act for a film like this – trying to cram a complex story into a reasonable runtime. And they didn’t quite pull it off, in my opinion.

Final Verdict?

Overall, Wicked was a visually stunning and entertaining movie with some killer performances, particularly from the leads. But it lacked a certain emotional depth for me that it really needed. It's a good movie – a really good-looking movie – but not a great movie. Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you're a fan of musicals or the Wizard of Oz lore. But go in with realistic expectations. Don't expect it to completely blow you away. It is, however, a movie I will probably watch again at some point. It was worth it to see the amazing special effects!