#frank baum

HELLLLOOOOOOO!!!!!! Calling alllllll twoz fans, The Ozmozing fanzine interest check is officially open!! This interest check closes on the 31st of may!!

( for sake of general data please only complete the interest check once :)) )

I know them two Cynthia and Ariana did it… I just cannot prove it.

Plot: As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.

Last year’s Wicked was a genuine surprise to most of us, including fans of the original Broadway musical and casual moviegoers. Heck, the only reason I went to see the first one was because my wife dragged me a few years back to watch the stage show on the West End, so it only made sense for her to drag me to the movie adaptation. So it speaks volumes that I enjoyed the first film so much that this time I ended up dragging my own self to see the sequel, as my wife is currently boycotting cinemas due to the terrible audience etiquette these days, which I totally agree, people in cinemas are so rude, loud and entitled. That being said, I have an Odeon Limitless pass which grants me access to unlimited monthly cinema visits, so would be a shame to let that go to waste, so off I went to watch Wicked For Good, which as a title really pees me off, as the first one was titled Part One, so for this not to be called Part Two seems like a weird slap to the face. Weird in that it was obviously not intended to offend anyone, yet here I am - offended. But I’m not here to judge the title, but more so the final motion picture product itself.

Wicked For Good is not as good as the first film. Yet it isn’t entirely the movie’s fault, as it is based off the second half of the stage production, and it is a fairly agreed sentiment amongst fans of the musical that he first half before the intermission is better than the second. However the second half is also the shorted half, yet this movie sequel still clocks at over 2 hours and has obviously tried to stretch out a narrative that was pretty weak as is to a longer piece of dullness. And it shows.

The songs are much more weaker in this one, and I hardly recall any of the numbers compared to the first film that had banger after banger with ‘What Is This Feeling?’ a personal favourite. The story is sort of pointless, as not a lot happens aside from very forced connections to the original The Wizard of Oz, however even that serves as a disservice and undermining Dorothy as a character, since in the original Oz she was a very strong and determined persona who showcased great courage, leadership and persistence, yet here she’s a whiny girl who’s face isn’t even shown and is played for a pawn most of the movie. Highly doubt that Frank Baum would approve.

The two that do still hold this thing together are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who’s chemistry (sexual?) and passion for their respective roles shines in every scene. You can tell how much they love playing these characters, and add to that their fantastic vocals - it’s a match made in heaven. Grande in particular gets a bit more focus in this one, and whilst in the first film she was played more for laughs as the ditsy whimsical popular girl, in here she has to deal with darker more dramatic moments and she handles them really well. Jonathan Bailey by the way as Fiero also makes a notable turn. But you know who doesn’t? Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh. Bless her, but she ain’t crouching no hidden dragons as Madame Morrible. Her line delivery is so wooden and monotone, and may be one of the worst miscasts of the last decade. Also, why would you hire someone who can’t sing in a musical film? That’s just nuts! Hey, at least Jeff Goldblum seems to be having fun.

I didn’t hate watching Wicked For Good. There are some dance numbers and moments where Cynthia and Ariana are near enough about to boink the living fudge out of one another if they weren’t limited by the film’s age rating, but otherwise it’s very much a downgrade on the first film, but again it’s a mix of creative choices and the weak source material. Oh, and Michelle Yeoh sucks in this… not sure if I mentioned that already.

Overall score: 5/10

"Behind the magic of The Wizard of Oz lies a story of Jewish pain, hope, and creativity—from its antisemitic author to the Jewish artists who transformed it into an immortal anthem of longing for home.

Visitors to Las Vegas are raving about The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, an immersive experience that reimagines the beloved film with cutting-edge special effects—a life-size tornado, flying objects, and a fresh soundtrack. “Who hasn’t wanted to walk down that Yellow Brick Road themselves?” asks Oscar-nominated producer Jane Rosenthal, who helped bring this dazzling new version to life.

Judaism permeates much of Rosenthal’s work.  Her latest project introduces The Wizard of Oz to a new generation of theatre-goers, some of whom may be surprised to learn that the film was created largely by Jewish artists—and is infused with Jewish themes."