UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Wicked -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Wicked, being released in 4k UHD by Universal is a gorgeous home theater package.

Based upon books and a Broadway musical, which in turn were based upon now public domain books from early in the last century, I'm pleased to report that it hasn't taken beloved characters and turned them into nihilistic, raping, plundering beasts because they slipped into the public domain.

In their own idiosyncratic ways, these are still (sort of) the characters as created by Baum.

At a reported budget of 150 million and a running time of 160 minutes, it seems to my mind, a huge, noisy, over-produced film. In a word, I hated it. Not as much as I hated The Brutalist, and in a very different way

Spoiler: Spoiler for The Brutalist

(no anal rape)

, but it didn't play for me. From what I've heard, most people seem to like it.

The disc is a gorgeous affair, fully candy-colored and sharp as a tack. As it should be - shot at 6.5k and Panavision optics. Audio is likewise huge, and proscenium filling via Dolby Atmos.

For those who didn't get enough from Wicked, you'll be able to get more of the same as Wicked: For Good is reportedly in post, with the same players.

The slipcover, as created by Universal is beautifully rendered, with layers of reflective base along with beautifully selected colors - and of course, the Wicked logo. Not one for the trash bin.

Image (Dolby Vision)

Forensic - 10
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 10

Worth your attention - If you like the subject

Slipcover rating - 7

Looks like Film - n/a

Recommended


RAH



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https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Ultra...d=1738487114&sprefix=wicked+4k,aps,108&sr=8-1

 

[TravisR]

In a word, I hated it.

I went with a friend this weekend who wanted to see it much more than I did and she ended being lukewarm on it and I actually liked it.

 

[SD_Brian]

huge, noisy, over-produced

I thought the same thing about the Broadway show. It didn't help that the performance I saw had the volume cranked up to 12 (one higher than 11), which distorted all of the dialogue and vocals to the point of being completely unintelligible.

 

[Tino]

Not as much as I hated The Brutalist

Happy to see you agree with me on this terrible film. Can’t wait to read your full review.

 

[battlebeast]

Is there a separate thread to talk about BRUTALIST?

 

[dpippel]

Is there a separate thread to talk about BRUTALIST?

Over in the Movies forum:

The Brutalist (2024)

Title: The Brutalist Tagline: Welcome to America. Genre: Drama Director: Brady Corbet Cast: Adrien Brody,Felicity Jones,Guy Pearce,Joe Alwyn,Raffey Cassidy,Stacy Martin,Emma Laird,Isaach de Bankolé,Alessandro Nivola,Michael Epp,Jonathan Hyde,Peter Polycarpou,Salvatore Sansone,Ariane...

www.hometheaterforum.com

 

[davyblu]

Wow. . .I've enjoyed your reviews and restorations for decades, and this is the first time I've been so blown away on how much I disagree with your opinion on a film...frankly I think it's the best stage-to-screen adaptation since Chicago, and I like the stage show and movie of Wicked better than that one. I'm glad you found the disc looks and sounds great, and I hope you keep up the fabulous work on film restoration and thoughtful reviews (even if I disagree).

 

[Malcolm Bmoor]

WICKED divides opinions. The day after I had free tickets to a preview of the stage version in London I went to the studio where I was working, described how much I hated it, and met violent disagreement from an actress who had already seen it twice. Obviously I'll not be approaching the film.

It seems to me that those who love it are captivated by the juxtaposition with the WIZARD plot, whereas all I experienced were samey, shouty songs during a plot that held no interest.

 

[Jimbo.B]

I remember seeing a documentary of the gestation of the stage show. It followed the show from casting to opening night. After seeing the film I was curious to see the musical but the reviews of the show were really rather tepid. I didn’t think it would last more than a few weeks. I never did see it in the many years when I was working just a couple of blocks away from the theater it was at in Midtown. No one I know who has seen the stage show really loved it. The response has been more MEH!

Why it has become such a wild success I’m not quite sure. I can only assume it is the popularity of The Wizard of Oz and the love of the characters. Having not seen the film but only the trailer it looks wildly overproduced. I’ll reserve judgement on the whole until I see it.

 

[haineshisway]

The show itself was a first - the first to ever appeal to tween girls - THAT is the reason for its success and those tweens who are now parents are the reasons people still LOVE it so. As to the film, I just sat there waiting to find something to enjoy. Not a fan of Ms. Erivo and Ariana Grande is simply doing Ms. Chenoweth without the laughs because - she's not funny. I thought Jeff Goldblum was horrible and that's a first. It's too long, by an hour - the show's first act runs an hour twenty. What I really cannot stand are the FANatics who cannot put up with a single negative comment from anyone. It's absolutely ridiculous.

As to the two big act one numbers - Popular is so over-staged and shot that it lost every single laugh, which is really hard to do. And then Defying Gravity, they keep interrupting the song and have her zooming around like a crazy person so that the number doesn't have the power that it has onstage.

Finally, I saw the very first invited reading of the show. Even then, they knew what audience they were going for, although I don't think anyone could have guessed the fanaticism that would follow. Many songs from that reading went by the wayside - it would take two more attempts to find The Wizard and I. I don't think they ever solved the opening of the show, which has so much exposition coming so fast, but it did get more focused after that reading.

I liked neither show show's choreography or the film's. It's not even choreography, it's gym class. Them's my two centimes. But let me add that Universal has spent so much money shoving this film down people's throats - if it ever becomes public as to just how much that was (rumor has it that it's double the cost of the first film and more than the two films put together - more than Barbie or any other movie in history. And given how fast it got to streaming, I don't happen to think it's made anywhere near what they're saying - especially, the overseas grosses, which are nigh unto impossible to check on. The two films together and the advert budget - this film has to join the billionaires club to break even - Moana 2 did that - this has not.

 

[Erik_H]

I attended the final Broadway preview of "Wicked" in 2003 with moderate expectations as the buzz prior to opening was not great. I enjoyed the leads and the "Oz" backstory (I hadn't read the Maguire book), disappointed that Joel Grey had so little to do as the Wizard, found the music unmemorable apart from "Popular" and Defying Gravity" and the production overproduced (e.g., the large dragon's head above the proscenium). And while Joe Mantello is a superb actor and play director, on the basis of "Wicked" it's not surprising that he has directed many more plays than musicals. Never thought that what I saw 22 years ago would have had such an impact---I agree with the above comment that the previously untapped tween girl demographic is the reason for the success of the stage version. My reaction to the film largely tracked my reaction to the stage version, other than I thought that Jon Chu did a more impressive job with the material than Mantello.

Side note: last summer, I saw the latest collaboration between Kristin Chenoweth and "Wicked" composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, "The Queen of Versailles" (based on the documentary), in its Boston tryout. If this comes to NYC don't expect lightning to strike twice, although Chenoweth was very good and 84 year old F. Murray Abraham as the male lead of a big budget musical was something I never expected to see (he was fine in the role).

 

[JoshZ]

frankly I think it's the best stage-to-screen adaptation since Chicago,

That seems like a pretty low bar to set, IMO.

I enjoyed the leads and the "Oz" backstory (I hadn't read the Maguire book),

I have not seen the Broadway show. I didn't care much for the movie, though my kids did. My wife was tepid on it but became interested enough to try reading the book afterwards. She dropped that quickly, finding it to be a very unpleasant read. She tells me that she cannot fathom how anyone could read it and get the idea that it would make a great family-friendly musical.

 

[Tino]

I don't happen to think it's made anywhere near what they're saying - especially, the overseas grosses

So you think the studio is lying about its grosses because…. ?

It has grossed $718 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Oz film, the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time,

Grosses​

DOMESTIC (65.4%)
$469,931,750
INTERNATIONAL (34.6%)
$248,383,000
WORLDWIDE
$718,314,750

 

[Robert Harris]

Wow. . .I've enjoyed your reviews and restorations for decades, and this is the first time I've been so blown away on how much I disagree with your opinion on a film...frankly I think it's the best stage-to-screen adaptation since Chicago, and I like the stage show and movie of Wicked better than that one. I'm glad you found the disc looks and sounds great, and I hope you keep up the fabulous work on film restoration and thoughtful reviews (even if I disagree).

Nothing wrong with disagreement.

 

[Robert Harris]

The show itself was a first - the first to ever appeal to tween girls - THAT is the reason for its success and those tweens who are now parents are the reasons people still LOVE it so. As to the film, I just sat there waiting to find something to enjoy. Not a fan of Ms. Erivo and Ariana Grande is simply doing Ms. Chenoweth without the laughs because - she's not funny. I thought Jeff Goldblum was horrible and that's a first. It's too long, by an hour - the show's first act runs an hour twenty. What I really cannot stand are the FANatics who cannot put up with a single negative comment from anyone. It's absolutely ridiculous.

As to the two big act one numbers - Popular is so over-staged and shot that it lost every single laugh, which is really hard to do. And then Defying Gravity, they keep interrupting the song and have her zooming around like a crazy person so that the number doesn't have the power that it has onstage.

Finally, I saw the very first invited reading of the show. Even then, they knew what audience they were going for, although I don't think anyone could have guessed the fanaticism that would follow. Many songs from that reading went by the wayside - it would take two more attempts to find The Wizard and I. I don't think they ever solved the opening of the show, which has so much exposition coming so fast, but it did get more focused after that reading.

I liked neither show show's choreography or the film's. It's not even choreography, it's gym class. Them's my two centimes. But let me add that Universal has spent so much money shoving this film down people's throats - if it ever becomes public as to just how much that was (rumor has it that it's double the cost of the first film and more than the two films put together - more than Barbie or any other movie in history. And given how fast it got to streaming, I don't happen to think it's made anywhere near what they're saying - especially, the overseas grosses, which are nigh unto impossible to check on. The two films together and the advert budget - this film has to join the billionaires club to break even - Moana 2 did that - this has not.

Again, we agree.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'm not a big musical fan so I just cancelled my order and not because of anything said in this thread. I figured I'll wait since this is Part 1 of the two movies. I have no interest in the Academy Awards this year so I'm not in a hurry right now. Once Part II comes out then I'll think about it again. Furthermore, if it appears on Peacock during 2025, then I might check it out without any extra expense to see if I like it or not.

 

[trajan007]

I had my doubts first going in to see Wicked. I found the production very impressive and it needs to be seen on the largest screen possible. Some of the best sound technicians in the business worked on this film and it shows.

 

[JoeDoakes]

Wicked, being released in 4k UHD by Universal is a gorgeous home theater package.

Based upon books and a Broadway musical, which in turn were based upon now public domain books from early in the last century, I'm pleased to report that it hasn't taken beloved characters and turned them into nihilistic, raping, plundering beasts because they slipped into the public domain.

In their own idiosyncratic ways, these are still (sort of) the characters as created by Baum.

At a reported budget of 150 million and a running time of 160 minutes, it seems to my mind, a huge, noisy, over-produced film. In a word, I hated it. Not as much as I hated The Brutalist, and in a very different way

Spoiler: Spoiler for The Brutalist

(no anal rape)

, but it didn't play for me. From what I've heard, most people seem to like it.

The disc is a gorgeous affair, fully candy-colored and sharp as a tack. As it should be - shot at 6.5k and Panavision optics. Audio is likewise huge, and proscenium filling via Dolby Atmos.

For those who didn't get enough from Wicked, you'll be able to get more of the same as Wicked: For Good is reportedly in post, with the same players.

The slipcover, as created by Universal is beautifully rendered, with layers of reflective base along with beautifully selected colors - and of course, the Wicked logo. Not one for the trash bin.

Image (Dolby Vision)

Forensic - 10
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 10

Worth your attention - If you like the subject

Slipcover rating - 7

Looks like Film - n/a

Recommended


RAH

I was ok with the film, but definitely it was "overproduced." It's like some of the Marvel films where the producers feel obligated to include hundreds of millions of dollars in indifferently generated CGI. Old Hollywood demanded inspiration to create a different world on film due to the limitations of the materials they had to use. Now that films can do that with the touch of a button, the world is there but the inspiration is lacking.

 

[haineshisway]

So you think the studio is lying about its grosses because…. ?

It has grossed $718 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing Oz film, the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time,

Grosses​

DOMESTIC (65.4%)
$469,931,750
INTERNATIONAL (34.6%)
$248,383,000
WORLDWIDE
$718,314,750

You are drinking the Universal Kool-Aid, I'm afraid The first movie may have cost 150 million, but you can add over 300 million to that figure, so it is nowhere near recouping yet. Why would a studio lie about its overseas grosses? Hmmm. To look good? Because they're almost impossible to verify?

 

[Alexander_Nevermind]

I very much liked this film.