‘‘Wicked’ was released over Thanksgiving week. As the name suggests,” Wicked” is the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and how her upbringing and relationship with Galinda, the Good Witch, affected how we meet her in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The movie is based on the 2003 Broadway musical of the same name, which is loosely based on the 1995 book written by Gregory Maguire.
Like most people, I was intrigued by the large amount of promotion this movie has gained. My mom and I went on Thanksgiving day to see the movie at Bridge Street’s Cinemark. From the opening scene alone, I was hooked. In fact, I have seen the movie one more time since then.
The movie answers some of our questions regarding the characters we know and love; Why is Elphaba considered wicked? How did Elphaba and Galinda know each other? While these questions are answered in part one, part two will be released around the same time next year. The movie is in the form of a musical, with songs from the original Broadway production as well as new scenes added for the dramatic effect.
The movie begins in Munchkin Land, with the Munchkins celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba. From here, we’re introduced to Glinda, who comes down from her bubble. Glinda explains to a curious resident of Munchkin land how she knew Elphaba and our story officially begins. We’re taken back to Shiz University, a school for magic and advanced sciences, where our two witches first met. Galinda is a spoiled girl who comes from a prestigious family, hence why she was able to get into Shiz.
Nessa Rose, Elphaba’s younger sister, is introduced as a student at Shiz. Their father, the mayor of Munchkin Land, tells Elphaba to watch over her sister, as Nessa is disabled in a wheelchair. A mishap happens in the quad over Nessa’s independence and Elphaba’s powers are finally in full force. From here, our main characters are introduced and their relationships begin to blossom.
The hardships of Elphaba are explored as well as how her character develops throughout the movie. It was comforting to see real-life experiences throughout her character, as I’ve experienced some of the same things she has. I think the message behind her character and the development she goes through is what makes the movie so enjoyable. All Elphaba aside, Galinda is a character I see myself in, and I think teenagers, especially, should go see Wicked for the important message it brings to the big screen.
I couldn’t help but sing along to well-known songs like “Popular”, “Defying Gravity” and “No One Mourns the Wicked”. The scenes are well-written and overall emotional for a person who thoroughly enjoys musical theater.
Going into this movie, I was skeptical if it was going to do the musical and book justice. But after seeing the movie twice, I would recommend it to someone who is a fan of The Wizard of Oz and the Broadway musical, as well as fans who are just learning about the story. From the visuals to the soundtrack and amazing vocals from cast members Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Wicked is one of those movies that has hype for all the right reasons. If you have yet to watch the movie I recommend doing so while it’s still in theaters, as the experience is unmatched.
