As a child, I remember the classic Wizard of Oz being shown regularly on TV. I was amazed when the black and white sequence eventually turned colour. It was released the same year my mum was born in 1939.
My daughter raved about “Wicked” when it was released in cinemas last year so I finally watched it a few months later on digital streaming, I thought it was okay and perhaps a bit silly but I appreciated its popularity.
As a major film event, I booked in advance. I looked forward to the second film’s storyline potentially converging more closely with the classic 1939 film. The dynamics between the two leads battling good and evil would also be fascinating to watch.
Our local Cineworld was showing many performances, but I’d heard general criticism about its length and perhaps not being as good as the first film. Opinions were also divided; some enjoyed and raved about it while others, like my daughter who saw it before me, were disappointed.
Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda) returned as expected, along with my favourite Madam Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh. This time they’re grappling with the aftermath of the first film and Glinda and Elphaba leading separate lives. They’re questioning who and what truly constitutes good and evil and their characters are undergoing significant transformations. Reality dawns on them that they might need to act and behave as Oz expects.
Personally, I found this an old-school cinematic masterpiece of storytelling. The characters were explored with masterful scripting, music and acting. I enjoyed how the story connected with the first Wicked film as expected while also paying homage to the original 1939 film. However, this might be the issue. I suspect those praising this second film are older and younger audiences might miss the original 1939 film’s connections and references. For a younger audience, seeing the 1939 film would definitely be an advantage.
While some found the film too long, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and was pleasantly surprised by the ending with many reveals and surprises. It’s definitely a film I’d want to see again. It’s wonderful to see a film selling out theatres and drawing audiences back to cinemas. I highly recommend this film and unlike many who prefer the first Wicked film, I thought this one was superior. A proper and brilliant ending to the tale. I will definitely be going again to see it.
P.S. I’ve seen some online discussion about the film’s suitability for children. It’s rated PG in the UK. While it’s likely fine for children aged 8 and above, the older they are the better. Some dialogue and musical sequences exploring the characters are quite lengthy and lack action.
Film Rating
5 out of 5 Music
Strength of story/plot
4.5 out of 5
Acting/Performances
4.5 out of 5
Overall
4.5 out of 5
Certification: PG
Running time: 138 minutes
Screening type: 2D
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