There are spoilers throughout this article for “Wicked.”
“Wicked” started as a book and was then turned into a famous musical in 2003. It is based upon characters in “The Wizard of Oz” and a deeper look into why they are who they are. In the original Broadway production, Kristin Chenoweth played Glinda the Good Witch and Idina Menzel played Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
The story of the movie and musical is divided into two parts, the first part being before Dorothy comes into Oz and the second part taking place when Dorothy is sent to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. “Wicked” examines the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and why she is the way she is.
The movie adaptation begins as the musical does, going through Galinda and Elphaba’s rivalry to friendship through their college years at Shiz that grows as the story continues, ending as Elphaba becomes a fugitive in the land of Oz as the first act in the musical does.
The movie was amazing with the astounding CGI making the world of Oz come to life. Some of my personal favorite places in the movie were the Emerald City and the library. The set looked so beautiful with a wacky setting full of loops and odd shapes throughout the architecture from the dorm rooms to the library to the Emerald City.
From Elphaba’s curvy glasses to Glinda’s dress in the dorm room while singing “Popular,” the clothing selection is full of shapes and colors. Like the costume of the citizens in the Capital of “The Hunger Games,” the clothing is loopy and quirky. Clothes can also show off the personalities of characters. Glinda’s iconic pink shows that she likes to bring attention to herself. Elphaba likes black clothing to try and stay in the shadows, doing the opposite and not wanting to draw attention to herself.
Some people did not like that they had to wait until 2025 for the next movie. I prefer the movie to be divided into halves. The musical itself is around three hours while the first movie was two and a half, but the movie also gives the ability to grow with the characters. The directors of the movie wanted every song in the musical. The movie is the time it is because of adding all the songs in the first act including more dialogue than the musical. The chronological order of the complete story is the first act of the musical, then the movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” which happens throughout the second act.
There were some fun easter eggs throughout that made my mouth drop. For some who do not know, easter eggs are scenes or things in a film, game, or pieces of media that can be references to people, quotes or other media pieces. Some of these easter eggs were Kritsin Chenoweth and Idiana Menzel, the original Glinda, and Elphaba, as a cameo in one of the only parts of the movie that was not a part of the musical talking about how there was a prophecy that there would be a magic user to save Oz.
The creator of all the music in the musical and movie, Stephan Schwartz, makes a cameo as well as the guard to let Elphaba and Glinda see the wizard. When Elphaba freaks out, she breaks a stone picture that reveals a group of animal people that suggestively used to work and possibly started the school before being chased out as Professor Dilamond explains. Lastly, Glinda pulls out bright red heels before clicking them together like Dorthy does in the original movie. There are so many more but there are too many to name.
Speaking of Stephan Schwartz, the songs in the movie were perfect. The choreography was both weird yet amazing how all of the ensemble danced in complete sync. The most amazing part would have to be the library with the spinning bookshelves. The songs were also live performances which is unlike normal movie musicals where the music is pre recorded and the actors lip sync to the singing.
The movie was amazing and absolutely magical. I cannot wait to see how the second act is next year in 2025.