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Wicked came out just in time for my birthday last year, and I've just been to see Wicked: For Good for this year's birthday (which isn't till Thursday but I went to see it today because I'll be working Thursday_. I don't seem to have written anything last year, but I was blown away by the first movie, and I was just as blown away by part two.
It suffered somewhat from padding in the early parts, because the second act of a musical is never as long as the first act, though I liked the new songs added for each of the girls. But as it went on, both girls and Fiyero got their chance to shine and I absolutely adored the chemistry between all three of them.
I thought Ariana Grande was absolutely incredible in both movies, not just vocally but as an actress. So many teeny tiny emotions flitting across her face, showing her inner conflict and her growth as a character. I'm not so in love with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba - she doesn't quite feel right for the part, to me, though I can't say why - but she's certainly an extremely accomplished actress and a great singer. And I fell in love with Jonathan Bailey way back in Doctor Who Time Heist though I haven't seen him in anything else. (Well, apparently I saw him in Broadchurch and Hooten and the Lady but I don't remember!) Great acting from him too, and the few bits of singing he got in this one were great too.
I loved how much thought had gone into every tiny detail of both movies. Every shot, every beat, every glance, every note. I have never before seen a screen adaptation of a stage musical that was so very, very well done.
About the only thing I didn't love was the CGI animals, which looked okay singly but very bad en masse. Still, that was a very small part of the show so I'll let it go.
I've loved Wicked ever since I first bought the CD back in 2008 when I was rehearsing Godspell (also by Stephen Schwartz). I went to see the West End production for my 39th birthday in 2011 and loved it and have always meant to go and see it again but never got around to it. But this pair of movies take the whole thing to another level. Giving the rather frantic stage show room to breathe, and time to make clear the backstories and references, and just enjoy every tiny moment of the shifting relationships and characters that the whole story is about.
It suffered somewhat from padding in the early parts, because the second act of a musical is never as long as the first act, though I liked the new songs added for each of the girls. But as it went on, both girls and Fiyero got their chance to shine and I absolutely adored the chemistry between all three of them.
I thought Ariana Grande was absolutely incredible in both movies, not just vocally but as an actress. So many teeny tiny emotions flitting across her face, showing her inner conflict and her growth as a character. I'm not so in love with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba - she doesn't quite feel right for the part, to me, though I can't say why - but she's certainly an extremely accomplished actress and a great singer. And I fell in love with Jonathan Bailey way back in Doctor Who Time Heist though I haven't seen him in anything else. (Well, apparently I saw him in Broadchurch and Hooten and the Lady but I don't remember!) Great acting from him too, and the few bits of singing he got in this one were great too.
I loved how much thought had gone into every tiny detail of both movies. Every shot, every beat, every glance, every note. I have never before seen a screen adaptation of a stage musical that was so very, very well done.
About the only thing I didn't love was the CGI animals, which looked okay singly but very bad en masse. Still, that was a very small part of the show so I'll let it go.
I've loved Wicked ever since I first bought the CD back in 2008 when I was rehearsing Godspell (also by Stephen Schwartz). I went to see the West End production for my 39th birthday in 2011 and loved it and have always meant to go and see it again but never got around to it. But this pair of movies take the whole thing to another level. Giving the rather frantic stage show room to breathe, and time to make clear the backstories and references, and just enjoy every tiny moment of the shifting relationships and characters that the whole story is about.
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