As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I must say that both “Dune” and “Wicked” have left indelible marks on my cinematic journey. While “Wicked” offers a captivating musical tale with memorable characters and iconic songs, “Dune” delves into a grandiose, visually stunning sci-fi epic that demands your attention.
The musical “Wicked” has been making headlines worldwide, rapidly climbing the box office rankings and garnering numerous award nominations and victories. This popular entertainment is not only adored by audiences but also praised by critics and award organizations. Remarkably, it’s managed to overshadow the initial leader in its category, “Dune: Part Two,” which was the much-anticipated sequel to the 2021 release “Dune.” Similar to “Wicked” and “Dune,” the original “Dune” was a box office sensation and a critical success, earning 10 Academy Award nominations and six wins.
It’s quite fitting that these two films, “Wicked” and “Dune,” share many similarities. Both are adaptations from much-loved books, although “Wicked” is based more on the stage musical rather than the 1995 novel. Just as viewers were previously introduced to their fantastical worlds through other media, these movies take us further into their enchanting realms. These films make an intriguing pair, as “Wicked” challenges our perceptions of villains by transforming one of literature’s most notorious antagonists into a protagonist, while “Dune” explores the dark side of heroism and saviors, revealing how such roles can lead to corruption. Furthermore, both films have chosen to divide their sprawling narratives into two parts, with each part being longer than typical films – “Dune” lasts for 2 hours and 35 minutes, while “Wicked” runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes.
As a devoted fan, I find myself deeply moved by the way “Wicked” and “Dune” have been divided into two parts. What sets “Wicked” apart for me is that its conclusion feels fully realized and complete, while “Dune” leaves me with the sensation of merely having watched half a movie. Here’s why I believe “Wicked” delivers a more satisfying first installment:
“Defying Gravity” Gives Elphaba a Complete Arc
The practice of splitting a story into two movies is nothing new. Quentin Tarantino famously split Kill Bill into two volumes. In the 2010s, the trend of splitting the final book into a long-running franchise became the standard, as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay all got two entries. In 2017, Andy Muschietti boldly decided to take Stephen King’s It, whose book typically averages over 1000 pages, and split it into two movies, with Chapter One focusing on the kid-centric story and Chapter Two following the adult plot. The key to splitting off a story effectively is finding a moment in the narrative that marks a clear turning point but also feels like the culmination of a storyline.
Wicked successfully does this by having the film climax with Elphaba “becoming” the Wicked Witch of the West. Wicked has an advantage as it is less splitting up a book and more a stage play with two acts, so the cut-off point was clearer for the filmmaker. Yet that still means the stage adaptation had to look at the book and find the right cut-off point to end Act 1 of the story, and they found it at the moment she not only meets but defies The Wizard of Oz. The decision to end “Defying Gravity” works because it is the culmination of Elphaba’s arc up to that point in the story. Elphaba has been mocked, criticized, and made to feel different for the entire story up to this point, and she finally decides to speak up for herself and what she believes in. After so long of being afraid of her power, the film culminates in her embracing it.
In the world of “Wicked”, the play and movie primarily revolve around Elphaba’s complex relationship with Galinda (Glinda the Good Witch), encompassing rivalry and friendship. The emotional farewell between these characters in the finale sets a tragic tone for their story, but this is balanced by the anthemic song “Defying Gravity”. Remarkably, if a sequel titled ‘Wicked – Part Two’ never materializes, ‘Wicked’ could comfortably function as a prequel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, because it wraps up its own narrative while aligning with what we anticipate will follow. Contrastingly, the conclusion of “Dune” does not share this self-containment, leaving us in suspense for potential future installments.
Dune Feels Like a Set Up For Another Movie
The majority of the running time in the film ‘Dune’ is spent establishing the planet of Arrakis and the science fiction elements of the series, using dialogue and visuals to convey its vastness and the terrifying power of the sandworms, such as an early scene. Around the halfway mark, the Harkonnens launch an attack on Arrakis with the aim of eliminating House Atreides. The finale unfolds when Paul Atreides joins the Fremen, among them Chani, a character Paul has had visions about throughout the movie. In the end, Paul Atreides overcomes the Fremen warrior Jamis, employing combat skills learned earlier in the film, intending to unite with the Fremen and bring tranquility to Arrakis. As the story draws to a close, nearly two and a half hours later, Chani tells Paul, “This is just the start,” signaling the end of the movie and the promise of more adventures to come.
In simpler terms, the movie “Dune” focuses heavily on setting up and explaining its world, often at the expense of character development and action. This is necessary for the sequel, but it makes “Dune” seem less balanced compared to the second part. While each part stands alone, they are meant to be watched together as one complete story. Unlike other epic films like “Lord of the Rings,” “Dune” feels more like a teaser or advertisement for the next installment.
In the promotion for Dune, characters like Zendaya’s Chani were heavily emphasized even though she didn’t have a significant role until the end of the movie, implying a more substantial part in Part Two. The film also contained a scene where Paul had a prophetic vision of a future holy war fought in his name, hinting at events yet to unfold in both Dune: Part Two and Dune: Messiah. However, this could have been less misleading if Warner Bros. hadn’t included these striking visuals in the film’s trailers, as audiences were being sold a movie that didn’t fully encompass what was shown in the previews at the time. In contrast, Wicked featured only a brief glimpse of the future, and no major scenes from its marketing campaign were not included in the final film. The only instance where this occurred was when a promotional shot showed Dorothy, The Scarecrow, the Tinman, and The Cowardly Lion meeting the Wizard of Oz, which did not appear in the finished movie. Essentially, Dune had to utilize imagery from future stories to help market the initial film.
To put it simply, the conclusion of Dune seemed somewhat underwhelming since the time invested in its resolution merely covered half of the tale, concentrating mainly on establishing the world and visuals instead of the characters. In contrast, Wicked wrapped up its story around its primary character’s journey. Although Wicked is five minutes longer than Dune, it doesn’t feel prolonged, but rather complete, with the prospect of a sequel feeling more captivating than essential.
Dune Might Have the Last Laugh
In contrast to “Wicked” potentially serving as “Part One” more effectively than “Dune,” the sci-fi movie possesses a significant advantage. Since a substantial portion of “Dune” was dedicated to establishing its world and conflict, “Dune: Part Two” immediately delves deeper into its themes at a faster pace compared to the first part. The sequel benefits greatly from the foundation laid by “Dune,” as when Paul ultimately decides to wage war across the galaxy, the audience feels the immense weight behind this decision, having witnessed this young boy, initially guided by good intentions, abandon the woman he loved for power’s sake.
In a different phrasing, the statement could read: “If Dune’s first half is heavily loaded with build-up for an impressive sequel, Wicked could face the opposite issue. Although Wicked boasts a massive fanbase, one of its most frequent criticisms is that Act One contains the show’s two most memorable songs, ‘Popular’ and ‘Defying Gravity.’ This means that while Act Two will still feature beloved tracks, it may require additional content to keep up. It has been confirmed that original Wicked songwriter Stephen Schwartz is composing new music for Part Two. In other words, Wicked might present its best parts in Act One, potentially leaving Act Two at a disadvantage compared to the first act.
This statement doesn’t imply that “Wicked – Part Two” will be a letdown. In fact, there is a wealth of captivating narrative content for the sequel, focusing on Elpaba’s sister Nessarose’s transformation into The Wicked Witch of the East and its connection to the events seen in “The Wizard of Oz“. High expectations are set for “Wicked – Part Two“, which can be both a boon and a challenge, as it must not only meet those elevated standards but also deliver a satisfying conclusion with an ending that is as powerful as “Defying Gravity”.
2025 promises an exciting comparison between the stories told in “Wicked” and “Wicked – Part Two,” set against the backdrop of “Dune” and “Dune – Part Two.” You can catch “Wicked” at your local theater, while both “Dune” movies are available for streaming on Max.
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2024-12-07 20:33