As a seasoned moviegoer with over four decades of cinema-watching under my belt, I must say that the early buzz surrounding “Wicked” has me absolutely giddy with anticipation! Having seen my fair share of flops and successes, I’ve learned to take early reviews with a grain of salt, but the consistent praise for “Wicked” is truly heartening.
The prospects for this movie to perform exceptionally well at the box office in November have significantly increased, potentially allowing it to defy typical laws of physics and fly high. Although we haven’t received an official Rotten Tomatoes score yet for its Broadway musical adaptation, some early responses on social media following a preliminary screening have already started circulating – and they suggest that the movie might avoid repeating the disastrous big-screen version of Cats‘s poor performance.
Among several eagerly awaited films yet to premiere in cinemas as the year ends, “Wicked” stands out as a formidable contender, ready to engage in an epic clash with Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” scheduled for release on the same day. The competition has intensified due to both films receiving positive critical acclaim. Remarkably, the movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande holds its own against the Roman epic, tit-for-tat.
John M.Chu has divided the film into two separate installments, with the first part released this year encompassing the initial half of the stage production, reaching its climax with the legendary Broadway number “Defying Gravity“. Similar to the original stage show, Chu mentioned that translating the story to the screen posed a challenge in terms of replicating the iconic melody. This factor significantly influenced the decision for a two-part release. However, concerns were raised that the first film, spanning an impressive 160 minutes, might contain excessive filler, potentially making it lengthy and tedious. Fortunately, these concerns appear to be unwarranted.
What Are Early Reactions Saying About Wicked?
Despite limited feedback thus far, everyone who’s seen the movie has been overwhelmingly positive about it. Kicking off the chorus of praise is Simon Thompson, who describes the film as a dazzling display that sparkles and captivates on the big screen, a truly magical sight. Lead actresses Erivo and Grande deliver standout performances. However, he points out that those who are skeptical about musicals won’t likely be swayed by this film either way, but it will certainly delight ” devoted fans of Oz.
As per Clayton Davis of Variety, not only do the two main actors deliver strong performances, but Ariana Grande is perfectly suited for her role as Glinda, and Erivo brings a unique touch to Elphaba with her captivating singing voice. This sentiment is echoed by another Variety writer, Jazz Tangcay.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have given us a musical work of art that surpasses even our highest expectations.
One of Variety’s writers, Katcy Stephan, joined the chorus of acclaim by labeling the movie as a true masterpiece. Notably, she singled out director Chu for his exceptional vision that seamlessly orchestrated the making of the film. In her words:
Jon M. Chu added so much new life to the story that I can see why it needed to be 2 parts! Well worth the 20-year wait.
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2024-10-31 01:06