REVIEW | Wicked: For Good Will Leave You on the Edge of Your Seat
Photo Credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures via IMDB
Last year, the popular movie Wicked was released in theatres. Now, to finish the unlimited masterpiece, the sequel, Wicked: For Good, directed by Jon M. Chu, was released in theatres on Nov. 21.
Throughout the series of events that occur, the movie unfolds the truth and the backstories of every character, including the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, while also finding out what truly happened the day Dorothy’s house landed in Oz. The plot consists of twists in the storyline containing a love triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero, exploring topics of confrontation, friendship, prejudice, and revealing the truth behind Oz and the Wizard. All of this, including key elements of emotional scenes that include songs like “For Good,” “Girl In The Bubble,” and “No Good Deed,” will for sure bring a tear to your eye.
I really enjoyed this movie and its overall jaw-dropping plot. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time. The film is a full emotional rollercoaster, showcasing themes such as good vs. evil, which I've never been so intrigued by. Usually, a kid’s movie about a bad witch and a good witch can be cliché. But this one expressed more mature themes, which made me think about the movie in a more intense way. The tears and laughs in the movie couldn't have been expressed without such a perfect cast.
The cast of this movie is so emotionally and lovingly tied together in a complementary way that I can’t even imagine having it be any different. All of the characters, especially Elphaba and Glinda, had such a beautiful amount of character development. The acting was realistic and well-played, making the characters more down-to-earth and emotional. The cast just fit into their roles like a glove, which made it feel very authentic, and added so much empathy to the storyline. They captured true human emotions and reality.
The special effects, especially, added so much dimension and magic to the whole film. Watching it would make you think that Oz is a real place. The set designs are so stunning and filled with vibrant colours, intricate details, and beautiful scenery. Even the smallest detail, such as a leaf, had such detailed, ornate designs. The crew involved with this movie clearly had a lot of patience with the time they spent on making this project.
The movie expressed darker themes, so naturally, the palette is darker, likewise with the music. As the plot escalates, the music gets more intense, embodying sentimentality and power. The music highlighted personal growth and empowerment in many of the characters. For example, with Glinda’s song, “Girl in the Bubble,” she discovers that she is more than just popularity and ignorance. “For Good” is also an emotionally deep song, revealing how someone you love can change you for good.
Overall, Wicked: For Good was so eye-catching to me, and its themes made me feel so many things at once: nostalgic, shocked, excited, sad, scared, happy, and in many ways, empowered by their words of inspiration. The cast was so well-balanced and played their roles spot on. The camera angles and movement created an element of eeriness that made me anxious about what was to happen next. Everything in this film was more than I had anticipated, and I will watch it again.