Wicked - Blu-ray Review

Movie
While I usually poo-poo books or films that act as an “Elseworlds” tale on classic literature, I cannot deny the impact that Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” novels have had for Baum’s original The Wizard of Oz series. I remember being 14 years old back when the book came out, and in the subsequent years between 1996 and 2000 it took the world by storm. I was working during high school at a local used bookstore, and I remember everyone and their mother coming in to get hold of them. They were never Oprah Book Club level of frantic to get them. However, I still remember every single person between the ages of about 24-50 literally BEGGING us for any copies we had behind the counter. I’m a notorious contrarian, so much like the Harry Potter phase, I completely ignored the books and the Broadway play simply because everyone else liked it so much. Fast forward to my very late 20s and I was gifted a set of the 4 books (there are 3 books loosely based upon Maguire’s works that exist in another land, but I’m only including the official “Wicked” series) and binge-read them after getting very sick for a few weeks. I ended up loving them to death and decided I needed to go see the Broadway play. The only thing was, I was NOT expecting the play to be so radically different than the books. Much like how the Baum’s books were to the iconic 1939 film, Wicked the Musical was night and day different than the written books. To sum it up lightly, the books are very heavy and dark, weighing in on complex moral and political issues in Oz rather than being a lighthearted romance/adventure story. Initially, I was a tad put off as I LOVED the dark, morose, nature of the books, and decided I didn’t like the play. But as the years go on I have come to appreciate how delightful the play is (I had my “everything has to be dark and grim” phase back in my late 20s and early 30s, cuz Christopher Nolan fever was still running high back then.

All that to say, I have some serious respect for what Christopher Maguire and the Broadway production has done to the Wizard of Oz franchise. While my initial thought process was that it would simply be a flash in the pan, It’s going 30 years strong and showing NO signs of slowing down at all. The play is one of the most celebrated plays of the last 50 years, garnering rave reviews across the board by pretty much everyone you meet. The books are still probably the best part of Maguire’s contribution, but when I heard that we were going to be getting a live-action musical version of the Broadway Play I IMMEDIATELY was on board. I had a bit of trepidation due to the actor controversy surrounding both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, but I was still hopeful going into my home viewing (yes, I missed the theatrical run) and came about MORE than satisfied.

The story picks up directly after Dorothy has melted the Wicked Witch of the West from the original book, with Galinda (Ariana Grande) coming in to inform the people of Oz that the evil witch has been defeated. But not everything is as it seems. While the people of Oz are celebrating the fact that the witch is gone, Galinda remembers back years and years ago when she first met the Witch at University. Back then she was a snobby self-obsessed primadonna, with the world existing only to pamper her every whim. There she meets young Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a sort of familial outcast with green skin and an awkward temper. At first, their relationship is as rocky as you can guess, with Galinda trying to one-up and put down her outcast roommate, but as time goes on the two form a strangely odd friendship. Both girls want to study magic, but Elphaba’s raw talent puts her at the head of her class and ostracizes her from everyone.

However, things seem to be turning up when the magic teacher Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) instigates communication with the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). Suddenly Elphaba is plucked from the group and given a one-way ticket to the Emerald City where she and Galinda get to meet the man behind the mask (so to speak). But as is common knowledge, not everything is as it seems. Everything she has been led to believe instantly is revealed to be a lie, and while she may be seen as “evil” or “different” due to her appearance, those around her happen to harbor more darkness and evil inside than anyone would like to admit.
First off, this film happens to be “Part One” of the original play (even though as a film this story is already nearly as long as the Broadway Play), with the second half of the story coming to theaters later this year 2025. Now, I want to gush and rave for just a short while, and for good reason. I was always a huge fan of the show, and I wondered how much of that would translate to a live-action film. But somehow everyone involved absolutely exceeded my expectations. This is a tour-d-force production that thrives on excess and overabundance of style. The tale itself takes the original Wizard of Oz and turns it on its head, revealing very quickly that everything told in the ancient tale was simply told through the eyes of an unreliable narrator. Everything you know about Elphaba, Galinda, and even the Wizard, is thrown out and turned topsy turvy as Galinda lets the audience in on the secret story of politics, aggression, and propaganda repeated so many times that it is truth. This was attempted a while ago with Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent movies, but not NEARLY so well done. I can rarely sit through a three-hour film in one sitting without browsing my phone a bit, but let me tell you that I don’t think I breathed more than a few times during the entire 2-hour and 40-minute runtime.

The story itself is great, but it’s really the production behind it and the actors that make Wicked absolutely superb. The set pieces and lavish costume design is big, bold, and absolutely in your face. The songs are lighthearted and catchy to the core, and frankly, somehow manages to translate from play to feature film with ease. That being said, this is Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s film to the core. Everyone involved is fantastic, but those two women are mesmerizing. Ariana was not my top choice for Galinda, but she somehow managed to really surprise me. She has this arrogant, opinionated, and pampered persona down pat, yet manages to bring out JUST the right amount of sweetness and empathy as the film goes on. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, this still pales in comparison to Cynthia Erivo. I know that she’s the titular character, but make no mistake that she absolutely steals every single scene she’s in and it’s not even close. She adds a rich sense of warmth and compassion to the character, in ways that even the Broadway actress I saw roughly 10 years ago pull out. She’s regal, warm, inviting, and yet so vulnerable and kind in everything she does. I simply could not take my eyes off of her.




Rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.




Video:

As I mentioned in my 4K UHD review, Wicked screams “Big, bold, excessive colors and over indulgent set pieces”. This still holds true in the 1080p Blu-ray disc, albeit nowhere close to the incredible image that the 2160p disc has to enjoy. The film showcases a veritable cornucopia of resplendent colors and shades of pink, green, black and every color in between. Fine details are fantastic, showing off every little bit of nuance humanely possible in Blu-ray form. I did notice a little bit of banding and black crush in the darker scenes (something that 4K disc handles a good bit better I noticed), but on the other hand the obvious seams where the CGI meets practical effects is less obvious on the Blu-ray. Most likely due to the lower resolution sort of smoothing things out a bit. All in all, the 4K disc is easily the one you really want, but the Blu-ray is no slouch either.







Audio:

I had no doubt in my mind that Universal was going to give the white glove treatment to the Dolby Atmos track, and I was not let down in the slightest. This is an incredibly immersive and engaging audio track that is the very definition of “almost perfect”. Vocal clarity is razor sharp, and the surrounds and overheads are absolutely alive with the musical numbers. The last 30 minutes of the film take it to new heights, with Elphaba’s infamous escape scene using every single channel in my home theater to its max. Those swooshes as she flys across the screen can be heard from every angle she moves, and the bass is perfectly thunderous. One thing that I really appreciate about this mix is how much it is balanced for music. So many blockbusters (as much as I love it) can be over aggressive with the low end, forgoing balance for shock and awe. However, this is incredibly well balanced, mixing solidly aggressive bass to accentuate the more action oriented bits, and more moderate levels for the music. Everything is silken to the ears, and luckily for us, Universal has put the same audio mix on both the Blu-ray and the 4K UHD, so no matter which version you get you’ll still get the same great audio.





Extras:

• SING ALONG - ALTERNATE FEATURE-LENGTH VERSION – Rejoicify, it's your turn to sing your way through Oz! Sing-along to all of your favorite Wicked songs as you join Elphaba and Glinda on their magical journey.
•DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES
-- Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda - Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.
-- Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero - Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
-- Toss Toss - Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
-- Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest - The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
-- Elphaba's Promise - Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
-- Train Platform Farewell - Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.
-- Boq & Elphaba Talk - Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
-- Train Ride to Emerald City- Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
-- In the Emerald City - The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.
--Palace Monkeys Chase - Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.
•MAKING WICKED – Return to Oz for a fantastic behind-the-scenes journey with this expansive look inside the characters, choreography, and creativity that make up the movie's unforgettable world.
•WELCOME TO SHIZ – Unlimited imagination, couture fashion, and spectacular production design come together at Shiz University, providing a place for performers and viewers to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Designed from details in L. Frank Baum's books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
•A WICKED LEGACY –Take delight in the cast and filmmakers sharing personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production, and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the movie. Also highlighted are the iconic cameos that pay tribute to the cultural phenomenon that became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
•THE WONDERFUL WIZARD – Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City for an in-depth look at the infamous Wizard of Oz. Inside the palace's throne room, the Wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to peer at his character's magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who details how the Wizard's massive robotic head comes to life.
•FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JON M. CHU
•FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH STARS CYNTHIA ERIVO AND ARIANA GRANDE







I doubt you can’t guess what rating I’m going to give this film, but needless to say, I was blown away. This was the feel-good movie of 2024 that hit ALL of the right notes. Universal’s Blu-ray release is superb (albeit not as great as the stunning 4K UHD disc), giving us the 2-hour and 40-minute theatrical cut, as well as a Sing-a-long version as well. Extras are more than copious, and I’m left frustratingly waiting another 9 months before we get the completion of the story. I’m usually very critical of modern-day musicals, but this...this is what I feel I have been waiting for. HIGHLY recommended.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh
Directed by: John M. Chu
Written by: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), French, Spanish DD+ 7.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Studio: Universal Studios
Rated: PG
Runtime: 160 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: February 4th, 2025

Thanks for the review. I only saw the oz movie and read only the original book by Frank Baum so I was not aware of the new series adaption by Gregory Maguire and his books (wicked, son of a witch, A lion among men, out of oz) so seeing the trailer for this was a surprise for me. I didn't see it in theater since it was part 1 and I didn't want to wait a year for part 2.

I will check it out once both parts are available so that I can see in one sitting.

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This movie is fantastic, from the cast to the music and story. I would definitely watch it again.