Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 78

[Janaenae]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 4:02pm

Well apparently review embargo lifts November 19th... that's not a great sign. They must be anticipating mixed or negative reviews. Maybe their critic showings weren't very good. Then again, if the film gets mixed reviews, it will be perfectly in the spirit of the stage show. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 4:18pm

Janaenae said: "Well apparently review embargo lifts November 19th... that's not a great sign. They must be anticipating mixed or negative reviews. Maybe their critic showings weren't very good. Then again, if the film gets mixed reviews, it will be perfectly in the spirit of the stage show. "

I mean - a film review embargo lifting a few days prior to opening is no longer the red flag it used to be. JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's reviews began popping up over a month before its theatrical release, and we all saw how that turned out.  Sometimes it's better to hedge your bets and lift the embargo closer to the release date.  I think they're doing the smart thing here.  It's not like they're holding the reviews until opening day or not holding critics' screenings at all. 

Updated On: 10/30/24 at 04:18 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 4:22pm

If it does get mixed reviews just like the show did, then it would be an interesting case of "history repeating itself". But if it does get good/very positive reviews, then we can all be delightfully surprised by it. Regardless of the reviews, I'm so excited to finally see this movie during its opening weekend.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 5:11pm

Looked at a ticket for the Amazon Prime early screening. They are doing it at my theater in the immersive theater for 25 bucks. I don't need to see it that bad. Will wait and do a cheaper matinee. There appears to be a few seats left for the opening weekend here.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 6:43pm

TotallyEffed said: "Dropping in to note that Hedwig and the AngryInch had live singing in the film all the way back in 2001, to spectacular effect."

Wasn’t Bette’s Gypsy sung live in 1993?

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 7:40pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Janaenae said: "Well apparently review embargo lifts November 19th... that's not a great sign. They must be anticipating mixed or negative reviews. Maybe their critic showings weren't very good.Then again, if the film gets mixed reviews, it will be perfectly in the spirit of the stage show."

I mean - a film review embargo lifting a few days prior to opening is no longer the red flag it used to be.JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's reviews began popping up over a month before its theatrical release, and we all saw how that turned out. Sometimesit's better to hedge your betsand lift the embargo closer to the release date. I think they're doing the smart thing here. It's not like they're holding the reviews until opening day or not holding critics'screenings at all."

This isn't an accurate comparison. Joker 2's reviews were out there because it was premiered at a film festival. You cannot embargo film festival reviews. I am skeptical of Wicked; mostly because In the Heights was such a slog. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 7:58pm

babyjunegem said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Janaenae said: "Well apparently review embargo lifts November 19th... that's not a great sign. They must be anticipating mixed or negative reviews. Maybe their critic showings weren't very good.Then again, if the film gets mixed reviews, it will be perfectly in the spirit of the stage show."

I mean - a film review embargo lifting a few days prior to opening is no longer the red flag it used to be.JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's reviews began popping up over a month before its theatrical release, and we all saw how that turned out. Sometimesit's better to hedge your betsand lift the embargo closer to the release date. I think they're doing the smart thing here. It's not like they're holding the reviews until opening day or not holding critics'screenings at all."

This isn't an accurate comparison. Joker 2's reviews were out there because it was premiered at a film festival. You cannot embargo film festival reviews. I am skeptical of Wicked;mostly because In the Heights was such a slog."

I concede that it may not be the best apples to apples comparison but there are various other films that have followed this model that haven’t premiered at festivals.

Also, you personally may have thought ITH was a slog, but there’s no arguing that it got great reviews.  So, by your logic, another inaccurate comparison. 

Updated On: 10/30/24 at 07:58 PM

[veronicamae]

Posted: 10/30/24 at 11:33pm

Rentaholic2 said: "How does the movie begin? Is there any sort of framing device, time clock dragon business, Wizard of Oz reference, etc.?"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

It opens with a fly-over toward Munchkinland (that's when we see Dorothy et al on the yellow brick road) and right into No One Mourns the Wicked. No time dragon clock. The title screen uses the same (or similar) font that The Wizard of Oz film used on its title screen, and it says WICKED part 1 overlaid the Oz fly-over footage. Enter townspeople celebrating and Glinda arriving in her bubble. Once she starts the story of Elphaba's life we get more new things from her birth and early childhood.

 

[sherie_worshipper]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 4:31am

You’re misremembering it a bit, which is actually a great thing, because the opening is so much better than what you described. Seriously, guys, the movie will be here in three weeks. Don’t ruin your experience by asking for spoilers.

[Ensemble1706612804]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 12:40pm

Was there anything new anything new/different about fiyero’s character/his arc? and if so what was it? 

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 1:33pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "babyjunegem said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Janaenae said: "Well apparently review embargo lifts November 19th... that's not a great sign. They must be anticipating mixed or negative reviews. Maybe their critic showings weren't very good.Then again, if the film gets mixed reviews, it will be perfectly in the spirit of the stage show."

I mean - a film review embargo lifting a few days prior to opening is no longer the red flag it used to be.JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's reviews began popping up over a month before its theatrical release, and we all saw how that turned out. Sometimesit's better to hedge your betsand lift the embargo closer to the release date. I think they're doing the smart thing here. It's not like they're holding the reviews until opening day or not holding critics'screenings at all."

This isn't an accurate comparison. Joker 2's reviews were out there because it was premiered at a film festival. You cannot embargo film festival reviews. I am skeptical of Wicked;mostly because In the Heights was such a slog."

I concedethat it may not be the best apples to apples comparison but there are various other films that have followed this model that haven’t premiered at festivals.

Also, you personally may have thought ITH was a slog, but there’s no arguing that it got great reviews.So, by your logic, another inaccurate comparison."

You can be snarky all you want, but I was explaining why Joker's reviews have been out there for so long, despite being mediocre. I have no idea why Wicked's are being held. It could go either way. Clearly there's no interest in a festival premiere.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 2:15pm

sherie_worshipper said: "You’re misremembering it a bit, which is actually a great thing, because the opening is so much better than what you described. Seriously, guys, the movie will be here in three weeks. Don’t ruin your experience by asking for spoilers."

Ha! I love this. It was all very overwhelming.

[NormasTurban]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 2:39pm

Were there any other cameos beside the obvious two we all know about?

[BentleyB]

Posted: 10/31/24 at 3:09pm

Plannietink08 said: "TotallyEffed said: "Dropping in to note that Hedwig and the AngryInch had live singing in the film all the way back in 2001, to spectacular effect."

Wasn’t Bette’s Gypsy sung live in 1993?"

Yes.  It was a big deal that they did that.  There was a clip of them singing “Wherever We Go” several different times live, I think it was an extra on the DVD version I had years ago.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 3:41pm

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture has high praise for the performances, production design, and musical numbers, but also criticizes some "hazy visuals" and the long runtime

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 4:08pm

Is it worth re-reading the book before seeing it? Did they include more than just "padding" in the movie?

I just grabbed a ticket for a matinee on the 21st.

Updated On: 11/1/24 at 04:08 PM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 11/1/24 at 6:51pm

Ariana Grande revealed in the Sentimental Men podcast that she originally auditioned for both Elphaba AND Glinda.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 12:48am

Wow, Ariana was willing to be Elphaba! It's hard for me to see her as that character. Also, in an interview a long time ago, when asked what Wicked part she would want to be, she did say Glinda.

Did the original MGM Wizard of Oz also get mixed reviews, or just not a huge audience in its first release?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 12:55am

When rumor was going around that Grande was attached, I thought she was going to possibly be Elphaba. So glad she got the Galinda role. Just from the clips so far I can see her snagging at least a Golden Globe. JMO

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 6:30am

uncageg said: "Just from the clips so far I can see her snagging at least a Golden Globe."

I don't know. The Globes for the most part haven't really gone for wins like that in recent years.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 8:49am

MagicalMusical said: "Wow, Ariana was willing to be Elphaba! It's hard for me to see her as that character. Also, in an interview a long time ago, when asked what Wicked part she would want to be, she did say Glinda.

Did the original MGM Wizard of Oz also get mixed reviews, or just not a huge audience in its first release?"

I’m sure it wasn’t a huge success and it wasn’t until reruns on TV that it became the icon that it is. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/2/24 at 9:02am

THE WIZARD OF OZ did decently on its original 1939 release but did make money on its 1949 re-release. It wasn’t a colossal blockbuster. It started becoming the classic it is today when it made its debut on TV in 1956. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 3:26pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "uncageg said: "Just from the clips so far I can see her snagging at least a Golden Globe."

I don't know. The Globes for the most part haven't really gone for wins like that in recent years."

 

I meant to include "At least a nomination". I think she will at least get nominated.

 

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 11/5/24 at 12:32am

Thank you guys for the info about The Wizard of Oz. It is hard to believe what many consider to be the best or one of the best films of all time was not an icon till the '50s. But it did get nominated for Best Picture and snagged a few music Oscar wins.

Ariana and Cynthia will probably get Globe nominations, but the win is the real test.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/5/24 at 2:07am

LOL at them giving Boq the last name Woodsman. Subtle, guys.