thefultonizer

Overall A unique film in that it is a fun watch but lacks in so much mainly on the visual part. Which I think is unfortunately the main part of a film adaptation. The majority of vocals where incredible and for me Ariana really stole the show but Cynthia is biting at her heels. I think my enjoyment would have been increased significantly if I had not seen the stage show and loved it so much. Also please cut 30 minutes off as it just isn't needed, especially at the start because I was getting bored after about 25 minutes as nothing interesting was happening. I came to hear the songs and get the story of Wicked that's all I need. Add in little bits here and there but a full extra hour was not needed.

6/10 Enjoyable and a fun watch but too damn long with way too much wrong visually for me to fully invest.

Visuals Set design was amazing World design was near perfect except The Emerald City during One Short Day felt like a set Colour grading was shambolic and made it look so grey and flat It just seemed like they had plonked a camera in and started filming, everything was in focus all the time. Give me CINEMATIC SHOTS!!

Some of the big song numbers felt truly bland, I kept waiting to be wowed, punched in the face with a visual treat and it just didn't happen The Wizard and I and Dancing Through Life being by far the worst contenders. Both looked like they where filmed without any care or thought. The whole library sequence was barely visible.

Pacing The first 30 mins lost me and I don't think I ever recovered, there was way too long between No One Mourns the Wicked and The Wizard and I.

I understand they wanted to add in as much context as possible but wow a good 15 mins could have been cut out here I felt like I was sitting through a slog of a film after that which is disappointing because there are some genuinely great moments.

Music/Songs No One Mourns the Wicked felt a little lackluster tbh, I wanted to be blown out my seat and that just didn't happen, it has never been a favourite song in the show but even listen to the soundtrack it sounds better. Something felt off with the audio levels imo. Ariana's vocals where excellent although I am fiercely not a fan of the opt-up at the end. *SPOILER* Why did Elphabas dad sound so awful? The auto tune on Jeff Goldblum to make him in tune and sound younger was working OVERTIME!

Dear Old Shiz is barely even a song, it was just there. It happened, let's move on.

The Wizard and I... Wow just wow, Cynthia can sing! I have many issues with this song in the film but none are to do with her singing or the music, it was perfect. Michelle Yeoh on the other hand, stick to acting please and thanks!

What is this Feeling? Is probably one of my favourite musical numbers in any musical film adaptation. Funny, beautiful sung and orchestrated and the choreography was amazing. Cynthia and Ariana are powerhouses at playing their respective roles and it is so obvious why they where cast. Their bond shines through is this song and their voices compliment each other so well.

Something Bad is a perfect name for this song. If it wasn't on the soundtrack I would have completely forgotten about this scene altogether. Peter Dinklage has a surprisingly decent voice though.

Dancing Through Life is everything that a musical number should and shouldn't be in a film adaptation. Extended to fit with the films theme of elongating everyone's time sitting in the theatre. The music and choreography where amazing, everyone's vocals stood out where they should and it was just great however visually for the first half of the song it's barely visible due to the brightest light coming in from the outside. I honestly don't know what made them edit the film this way but it really ruined most of this song for me. The Ozdust scene was great though. Cynthia and Ariana had me close to tears which I suspect was the desired affect. Johnathan Bailey is one sexy mf and has the charm and charisma to pull of this character however he seemed less dumb and more just wanting to be a bad student which I thought was an odd choice but a 30+ year old man playing a dumb teeneager probably wouldn't have worked as well.

Popular suffers from the same fate as the rest of the film visually but Ariana's perfect portrayal of Glinda made this endlessly watchable and of course her vocals are exceptional. The opt-ups are pleasantly welcomed here as well.

I'm Not That Girl was another semi let down although it isn't even on my radar in the stage show so I don't really have an opinion on it. I think I just don't really like the song that much. However Cynthia yet again has the VOCALS! But as before visually it's a massive let down.

One Short Day is one of my favourites in the stage show and this version did not disappoint. This extended version works with the film perfectly to give a little backstory to The Wizard plus it being performed by Kristen and Idina made it that much better. The vocals where all punchy enough and it just felt right. Unfortunately it did look like they where in a big set in a field somewhere in England which really took me out of it. I was slowly starting to check out due to the immense runtime but this song did draw me back in which I am so glad about because I felt it made my enjoyment of what was to come that much better.

A Sentimental Man wasn't really a song in this adaptation unfortunately and Jeff Goldblum seemed to just be playing himself which he does so often these days. It was uninspired and forgetful.

Defying Gravity really is a show stopper. Ariana and Cynthia for the first half of the song create an amazing whirlwind of vocal power and as the climax of the film it was outstanding. Cynthia really knew what she was doing and knew exactly how she wanted to perform this song. My main issue with this and it is a minor one but why start dialogue just before the climax of the song! Fair enough we need it for the kind of cliffhanger ending but it really takes us out of the incredible sorry being told by Cynthia.

It takes a lot for an episode of TV to make me feel what this episode made me feel. I watch so much TV these days that very rarely do I sit hooked to every line.

From the first 5 minutes I was drawn in to the mystery. Which I honestly didn't think was going to happen since this season has had so many ups and downs.

The ensemble cast truly excelled in ways that reminded me of old Dr Who.

I've been watching this show since I was 7 and every part of this episode reminded me of why I love it so much and why I keep coming back after the dud episodes.

RTD has done something unique and special with this season and it shows in this episode. He knows how to create a very slow build mystery that gives little to no detail throughout but pays off massively.

I am so glad he didn't bring back the same old monsters we are used to (The Master, Cybermen, Daleks etc). We needed something fresh that we haven't seen in a long time and this episode provided that. I am genuinely excited for the next episode something I haven't felt since RTDs first era.

Started well and kept me hooked the whole way through but I just don't understand the ending? There was too many unanswered questions.

What was the reveal? Like what actually happened? Why did everyone run away from the woman? The Doctor knew about that prime minister so is that still going to happen? Was there a curse and if so what actually was it? Who is Mad Jack? Was he dead and came back? Or did he just not exist and breaking the circle created him and created that timeline?

I'm glad RTD is stepping into the supernatural though instead of always keeping the reveal "oh it was this random alien."

Too many unanswered questions to be a 10/10 but honestly such a solid episode.