Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 91

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 2:08pm

OharaFosseWolfe888 said: "TheatreFan4 said: "This was a perfectly good movie, that was a good half hour too long. For a movie that left the first act virtually unchanged only "expanded" it wasn't expanded well, just padded out. Anyone talking Oscars for anything but production design is high on their own supply. Defying Gravity was impeccably filmed, I applaud them for that. Going back to being a teenager in 2008 baulking at how it'd come off on film as nothing special, they did pull it off.

No One Mourns The Wicked should have been done at night tho."

Just replying to save for when Oscar nominations come out for Performances lol...."

LOL. I am guaranteeing it 7 nominations. If Chu gets in (I don't think he will) and Erivo gets in (I think she has a shot for  nom), then it goes to 9. It will miss film editing, cinematography, supporting actor, and adapted screenplay.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 2:32pm

There hasn't been a movie musical that got this much praise and strong reviews since Chicago. It's been that long unfortunately. So many fell just short (The Color Purple, West Side Story, Les Mis, Hairspray). And there's been plenty of flops(Rent, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Phantom, The Producers).

Updated On: 11/24/24 at 02:32 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 2:32pm

March 31, 2025 can't come sooner: 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 2:42pm

ACL2006 said: "There hasn't been a movie musical that got this much praise and strong reviews since Chicago. It's been that long unfortunately. So many fell just short (The Color Purple, West Side Story, Les Mis, Hairspray). And there's been plenty of flops(Rent, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Phantom, The Producers)."


I liked West Side Story better than Wicked, I didn’t understand the mixed reviews.

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 3:01pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "March 31, 2025 can't come sooner:

"

Can they fix the color before this is released?

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 4:40pm

For anyone who's already seen this, especially those who have seen it in different formats, which do you recommend for a first viewing:  2D, 3D, IMAX, 4DX? And would any of these formats lessen the probability of experiencing some of the lighting and color issues which have been discussed? I would think 4DX would be great fun, but perhaps too distracting for a first viewing?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 4:43pm

theatretenor2 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "March 31, 2025 can't come sooner:

"

Can they fix the color before this is released?"


I wish they could fix the lighting. I have no idea why you’d shoot “The Wizard and I” in flat, white lighting. Imagine if that song had been shot while the sun was going down at Shiz, with a sky of purples and oranges and pinks? Instead she runs out into a washed out field of bone dry hay and an overcast sky. Missed opportunity.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 4:47pm

SisterGeorge said: "For anyone who's already seen this, especially those who have seen it in different formats, which do you recommend for a first viewing:2D, 3D, IMAX, 4DX? And would any of theseformats lessen the probability of experiencing some of the lighting and color issues which have been discussed? I would think 4DX would be great fun, but perhapstoo distracting for a first viewing?"

From reading social media.. the more important question seems to be what kind of sound your getting.  I saw it at the DGA in Los Angeles and it was Dolby Atmos .  It was fabulous.  Stay away from 4DX.  You don't need your chair moving or water being sprayed at you.  I heard its fab in IMAX.  But just check on what sound option they are offering.  On the Tok people seem to be complaining about the Laser screenings at AMC.  

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 5:21pm

SisterGeorge said: "For anyone who's already seen this, especially those who have seen it in different formats, which do you recommend for a first viewing:2D, 3D, IMAX, 4DX? And would any of theseformats lessen the probability of experiencing some of the lighting and color issues which have been discussed? I would think 4DX would be great fun, but perhapstoo distracting for a first viewing?"

I'd recommend IMAX.  The 3D was done post filming which usually means it's not great, and with people complaining about the desaturated colours and darkness, this is just accentuated in 3D

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 5:23pm

ACL2006 said: "There hasn't been a movie musical that got this much praise and strong reviews since Chicago. It's been that long unfortunately. So many fell just short (The Color Purple, West Side Story, Les Mis, Hairspray). And there's been plenty of flops(Rent, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Phantom, The Producers)."

Technically Phantom was a hit pulling in 155 mill internationally--similar numbers (and budget) to Sweeney Todd. 

I did find this bit of info was interesting: "Wicked went on to debut to $114 million domestically and $164.2 million worldwide, topping the box office. It was the largest domestic opening ever for a film based on a Broadway musical, surpassing the $31 million opening of Into the Woods (2014)."

[Plannietink08]

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

SisterGeorge said: "For anyone who's already seen this, especially those who have seen it in different formats, which do you recommend for a first viewing:2D, 3D, IMAX, 4DX? And would any of theseformats lessen the probability of experiencing some of the lighting and color issues which have been discussed? I would think 4DX would be great fun, but perhapstoo distracting for a first viewing?"


I saw it in 4DX 3D and honestly it wasn’t worth it. The seats moved with the choreography and it was distracting most of the time. 

[EricMontreal22]

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

Plannietink08 said: "
I saw it in 4DX 3D and honestly it wasn’t worth it. The seats moved with the choreography and it was distracting most of the time."

Thanks--I was really curious just how much movement they did.  I mean obviously for the flying, but...  Wow, the dancing too?

 

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 5:39pm

I've seen the film 3 times since last Wednesday and have tickets to see it again tomorrow morning.  All showings have been at our local Cinemark.  First time was the Wednesday night Special Advance Screening in IMAX (2D) ... 2nd time was Thursday, this time in their XD auditorium (2D) ... 3rd time was on at 8:00 am, once again in their XD auditorium, this time in 3D (side note ... I was the only person in the auditorium for that showing ... can't beat a "Private Showing"   LOL)  The 3D really didn't enhance the experience all that much in my opinion but I was curious enough to check it out.  Tomorrow's 4th time is also in the XD auditorium (2D).  The film was playing on several other screens in the complex but I opted for the IMAX and the XD auditoriums for all my viewings as I wanted to experience it on the largest screens.  The picture and sound quality was excellent for all my viewings ... no complaints from me!!  For those who haven't seen it yet you have a real treat instore for you and if I can hazard a guess you'll be back for a 2nd and possibly more viewings after that.  I just pre-ordered the Blu Ray on Amazon!!  :-)

[Voter]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 5:41pm

theatretenor2 said: "OharaFosseWolfe888 said: "TheatreFan4 said: "This was a perfectly good movie, that was a good half hour too long. For a movie that left the first act virtually unchanged only "expanded" it wasn't expanded well, just padded out. Anyone talking Oscars for anything but production design is high on their own supply. Defying Gravity was impeccably filmed, I applaud them for that. Going back to being a teenager in 2008 baulking at how it'd come off on film as nothing special, they did pull it off.

No One Mourns The Wicked should have been done at night tho."

Just replying to save for when Oscar nominations come out for Performances lol...."

LOL. I am guaranteeing it 7 nominations. If Chu gets in (I don't think he will) and Erivo gets in (I think she has a shot fornom), then it goes to 9. It will miss film editing, cinematography, supporting actor, and adapted screenplay."

If it gets into Visual Effects or Film Editing that's a joke. I think it's being overestimated at the moment.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 6:04pm

I think people are being too bullish on its Oscar chances- and that isn't a comment on the quality of the film, but rather on the Academy's preferences. And let's not forget we are in the film's honeymoon phase- there will be inevitable backlash to some degree as more people see it and weigh in.

Updated On: 11/24/24 at 06:04 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 6:32pm

Updated On: 11/24/24 at 06:32 PM

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 8:19pm

I’ll say this though,

Everyone who has never seen the broadway show who I talked to said they didn’t care for it and mentioned the length and the music as a big reason why.

This might be more of a gift for the theatre fans.


 

Updated On: 11/24/24 at 08:19 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 8:30pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "I’ll say this though,

Everyone who has never seen the broadway show who I talked to said they didn’tcare for it and mentioned the length and the music as a big reason why.

This might be more of a gift for the theatre fans.


"

Well given its box office numbers, I'm pretty sure a lot of people who hadn't seen the stage version at least went... 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 8:42pm

Someone transport me back 21years, please.

Was the show a sensation from day one? Was it predicted to still be running two decades later?

Why didn’t the movie happen sooner?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 9:04pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Someone transport me back 21years, please.

Was the show a sensation from day one? Was it predicted to still be running two decades later?

Why didn’t the movie happen sooner?"

It got a fairly negative review from Ben Brantley in the NYTimes and it lost the Tony Award for Best Musical to AVENUE Q (a show that was very much of its time and probably feels a little cringe/dated nowadays...but I haven't seen it in ten years). Some people thought WICKED was style over substance.

It had its fans from day one and it caught on more rapidly as time went on, especially with the cast album and with women & girls (one of Broadway's most reliable audience bases). A combo of score, story, production value, and I.P.

No sane producer expects any show to run 20 years or even 5 years. Those types of hits are so rare and Broadway is a precarious place.

The movie languished with Stephen Daldry signed on as director for years. Many release dates were announced and they came and went. Once Daldry left and Jon Chu came on, it was fast tracked. I got the impression that Universal and Marc Platt weren't in much of a hurry while the stage production was doing so well and everyone profiting from it. Universal's LES MIS had an even longer time between its stage premiere and film, and that film did quite well (WICKED will do better).

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 9:24pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Someone transport me back 21years, please.

Was the show a sensation from day one? Was it predicted to still be running two decades later?

Why didn’t the movie happen sooner?"

Despite the mixed reviews the show was pretty much a hit right off the bat. It hit its first million dollar week within a month of opening, and that was at the time when its top ticket price was $100. Within the first couple weeks of 2004 it raised its top ticket price to $240 and by that March it began selling out consistently and for several years there were only a small handful of weeks where it wasn’t at 100% capacity, and even those weeks were all in the upper 90%

Universal didn’t seem to be in a huge rush to push the film version, so it languished in development for quite some time. I’m sure Disney beating them to the punch with the release of Oz the Great and Powerful also cooled things down, as they wouldn’t want to compete directly with a different take on an Oz prequel. Surprisingly Disney never went forward with the announced sequel to that (it also got tepid reviews, but did well enough at the box office that most people assumed it would happen)

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 9:43pm

Thanks, Ermengarde and AEA. That is interesting to read. I wonder what the Daldry version would have been like, but oh well, it all worked out eventually.

[rg7759]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 9:55pm

Can they fix the color before this is released?"


I wish they could fix the lighting. I have no idea why you’d shoot “The Wizard and I” in flat, whitelighting. Imagine if that song had been shot while the sun was going down at Shiz, with a sky of purples and oranges and pinks? Instead she runs out into a washed out field of bone dry hay and an overcast sky. Missed opportunity."

Imagine how we would have ripped it to shreds for wizard and I having the same exact lighting as defying gravity. This is seriously what people are complaining about?

Just out of sheer boredom?

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 9:56pm

ACL2006 said: "There hasn't been a movie musical that got this much praise and strong reviews since Chicago. It's been that long unfortunately. So many fell just short (The Color Purple, West Side Story, Les Mis, Hairspray). And there's been plenty of flops(Rent, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Phantom, The Producers)."

La La Land won 6 Oscars, not even counting the one it only won for 5 minutes. It made $472 million in theaters against a $30 million dollar budget. Plus Disney animated movie musicals like Moana and Encanto are extremely critically acclaimed. 

There are beloved movie musicals in the recent past, just less so with the stage to screen adaptations. 

[TotallyEffed]

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

rg7759 said: "
Can they fix the color before this is released?"


I wish they could fix the lighting. I have no idea why you’d shoot “The Wizard and I” in flat, whitelighting. Imagine if that song had been shot while the sun was going down at Shiz, with a sky of purples and oranges and pinks? Instead she runs out into a washed out field of bone dry hay and an overcast sky. Missed opportunity."

Imagine how we would have ripped it to shreds for wizard and I having the same exact lighting as defying gravity. This is seriously what people are complaining about?

Just out of sheer boredom?"

 

I didn’t realize only positive comments were allowed in this thread.