A Spellbinding Conclusion: Wicked: Part Two
Wicked: Part Two explores the tragic story of Elphaba, the future fate of which would be the Wicked Witch of the West, against the background of the fight against the regime set by the Wizard. Besides the main character, there is another character, Glinda, who has become ‘Glinda the Good’ and now has to face the reality of the society. In this sequel, these different narratives have been perfectly woven, establishing themes such as friendship, power and destiny. It brings out issues of appearance and reality, and tries to emancipate the real self from the shackles of what others want it to be. It has a playful feel as it is set in Oz but has the rebellion and coming of age themes running through it.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande do a good job portraying Elphaba and Glinda in the musical. Some of the moments they share display great chemistry, which makes their rather tumultuous rapport believable. Jeff Goldblum, as the Wizard, adds a charismatic layer of menace, while Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey shine in their supporting roles.
Jon M. Chus direction brings a visionary spectacle to Wicked: Part Two. He maintains specificity and emotion in each character arc while translating the large scale of the stage to the large scale of a movie, evoking the magic of the music, much like the stage production.
The music and song continues to shine courtesy of Maestro Schwartz. They are not just songs and dances; they are powerful avenues of storytelling which further the plot with emotionally charged songs and heterophonic lyrics.
The mise-en-scene perfectly does justice to the colourful and magical world of Oz, contrasting the ‘glamour’ of the colourful terrain of Oz with the ‘grim’ narrative of the story. The visuals are lush and evocative, immersing the viewer in an otherworldly experience.
Production design in Wicked: Part Two is grandiose and full of details, creating a rich and very theatrical Oz which takes its viewer inside and offers several winks to the backstage. They act as a spectacle where in scenes that call for Elphaba to perform her magical powers are effectively captured.
As for the editing, it is done in such a way that it does not hinder the flow of the story and the songs which are incorporated lavishly. Every cut has purpose and adds to the storytelling and dramatic experience.
The drama’s complex and profound narrative is made possible by the film’s carefully allotted pacing. Certain scenes may feel leisurely, but they contribute to an overall richer narrative tapestry.
Dialogues in Wicked: Most of the episodes in Part Two are rather incisive and correspond to the characters’ development and personal conflicts. These are reminiscences of themes present in the original musical film which is complemented with spirit of mature reflections.
What can be stated here is that while the film is a great spectacle with excellent cast and visuals some may find the pacing to be just a tad uneven. Certain scenes could benefit from a tighter edit to maintain rhythm, especially during more introspective moments.
Wicked: Part Two is a beautiful finale to the cherished narrative and further develops its characters’ themes of identity and fate. It stays in our memory as a bright and powerful example of magic music and touching story which is always a good vibe and very agreeably perception for every viewer, even if he did not watch the first part of the movie.
