Why So Blu?

Wicked (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

Since 1939, The Wizard Of Oz has been a great source of entertainment for filmgoers.  Before that the L. Frank Baum novels captured the imaginations of people of all ages too.  As a novel, then stage musical, Wicked has been on the minds of pop culture fans for decades now.  After a long, and as Ariana Grande has said, “unbearable” promotional campaign and a hugely successful theatrical run, the film version of the first part of Wicked has arrived at home! The film was an instant success with audiences and critics, and now we can hold it in our hands! I for one am holding space for this release, and you can read more about it here!

Film:

WICKED, one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, arrives on your screen as a generation-defining cinematic sensation. The untold story of the witches of Oz, WICKED stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet at Shiz University and forge an unlikely friendship – before their lives take different paths following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Their extraordinary adventures will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Wicked is an immersive, cultural celebration you’ll want to experience over and over again!

Wicked begins quite like many films do, at the end.  In the land of Oz, the Wicked Witch has just been announced dead.  As the Munchkins of Oz celebrate the demise, as they proclaim “No One Mourns The Wicked,” a bubble carrying Glinda floats down to dote upon the Munchkins, we do see that Glinda is in fact mournful, and as she goes back to relive the past, we see how it all begins.

Governor and Mrs. Thropp have a loving relationship on the surface, and as they sing their love for one another, Governor Thropp announces he is called away for the evening.  This reveals that Mrs. Thropp has an affair with a travelling salesman, and from the affair Elphaba is born.  The Thropps are shocked when Elphaba is born to find that her skin is green.  Immediately she is met with resentment from her father and is left to be raised by her nanny, a kindly bear.  When Elphaba’s sister Nessarose is born, she too has a birth issue and is unable to walk.  Elphaba’s mother also dies in childbirth, leaving them with Nanny and Governor Thropp, who lavishes love and support on Nessarose but treats Elphaba poorly. When Elphaba becomes upset, something powerful happens, however it’s not something anyone can explain or understand.

Blazing through Elphaba’s childhood, we move to the day Nessarose is due to ship off to Shiz University.  Elphaba is tasked with going with Nessarose to school, and then to come home once she is settled.  On day one, Nessarose immediately shows her independence and Elphaba repels the other students, including Galinda, a tart witch in training, who is sort of a “mean girl.” When Elphaba feels uncomfortable at Shiz at one moment in front of many people, she has a reaction and something magical happens.  Things crumble, fall and shake around everyone and this attracts the attention of Madame Morrible. Morrible asks Governor Thropp if Elphaba can attend school and train with her.  This infuriates Galinda, who wants to attend workshops with Madame Morrible too, but can’t seem to get her attention.

In all of the hullaballoo, Elphaba is forced to be roommates with Galinda.  They hate one another, and they struggle to find ways to get along, constantly needling one another.  Galinda fills the room with clutter and bags and clothing, taking over the space and making it nearly impossible for Elphaba to live in the space.  The whole time Galinda is thriving, Elphaba is shrinking.  We are feeling for her and even feeling her anxieties.  Time passes and Shiz University holds The Ozdust Ball.  Elphaba shows up in a hat that Galinda gives her with fake sincerity.  The crowd laughs and embarrasses her. Taking it all in, Elphaba doesn’t leave. She stays and instead begins to dance in silence.  Finally feeling some empathy and humbling herself for the sake of good, Galinda dances with Elphaba.  Beautifully, this is the moment the pair become friends. Finally, Elphaba has someone in her corner.

Prince Fiyero is another new addition to Oz.  He’s a “bad boy” being kicked out of other schools, but he makes quite the impression at Shiz.  Galinda immediately takes to him and captures his heart.  The pair make quite an item, but Fiyero does not give off the impression of a true companion, because his eyes and hands often wander. He finds his footing at Shiz and shows some depth as he impresses his classmates.  Boq, a kindly munchkin attending Shiz rounds out the core group of the film, and he has a very public crush on Galinda, but she doesn’t give him the time of day.

Time passes and Elphaba finds her popularity growing… She’s Pop-U-Luur you know? And with that and some extensive honing of her magical skills of sorcery, Elphaba is invited to meet the magical Wizard of Oz! Oh, and another development, Galinda in solidarity to an ostracized professor, changes her name to Glinda, which is how he pronounces the name, So there’s that. When the time comes for the big trip to Oz, Elphaba brings Glinda with her, and the two journey together in excitement.  What happens when they arrive? They meet the wizard of course.  But to reveal this to those who haven’t viewed the film would give it all away… In other words – See the film!! PS – The Defining Gravity climax here is a stunning moment…

Now that I’ve laid the main story beats of the Wicked out for you, I will now go on to say that Wickedrepresents exactly what mainstream films should be. I mean in this age or any age.  The film is huge. It moves at a pace that is unbelievable considering the length.  The music plucked straight from the stage show, is still fresh and made new by the exceptional and flawless performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as well as their castmates.  In a smaller role as the wonderful Wizard of Oz, Jeff Goldblum brings his Goldblum-iest charm, and Michelle Yeoh is great as the is-she or isn’t-she possible villain.  We also have smart turns from Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Ethan Slater as Boq.  The other supporting players are noticeable and fabulous too.

Jon M. Chu has shown us before what a good mainstream filmmaker he is, and this film solidifies the fact. Chu delivers something universally likeable here, that includes something for everyone and that feels inviting and special.  The musical numbers don’t come about randomly and fit naturally each time.  The dialogue is great too, with perfect comic timing from Cynthia and Ariana, using their awkward first moments and building on that new friendship as it grows better and better after their emotional dance.  Before you ask, yes, the dance made me cry.

I wrote earlier on how universal Wicked was and it is because of the emotions carried in the film.  We’ve all felt the need to belong.  We’ve all felt the need for a friend.  We’ve all desired a place somewhere where we can be ourselves.  To be included is such a good feeling. I can only imagine that it would be rare to find someone who doesn’t relate to those points.  Wicked fully relates these points to their characters, and we then begin to care deeply for them.

Wicked has been executed perfectly for me.  The sound, the music, the sets, the camera work, the costuming, the casting, the acting… It is pitch perfect.  There is no way to say it better than that.  I went into the film interested and thanks to my friend Rico, I was a little better versed on the subject matter, but now I can confidently say that I am a huge fan of Wicked. This isn’t just a film; it’s a pure cinematic experience. An absolute must see.

Video:

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Layers: BD-100

HDR: Dolby Vision

Clarity/Detail: Can you say wow? Wicked couldn’t possibly look better on 4K UHD Blu-ray.  The film was never going to look bad, mind you. I am just blown away by the detail of Oz and of Shiz.  The school and the interiors of rooms, ballrooms and the Wizards palace are insanely good.  Costuming and make-up are on full display as well. There is no flaw in sight, and I am still just so stunned by the perfection that this triple-layered disc brings to the screen in sparkling Dolby Vision!

Depth: Character spacing is excellent, looking organic even in the most computer-generated moments.  We have no blurry or questionable camera movements to scoff at either.

Black Levels: Blacks are flawless, with Elphaba’s wardrobe and the shadowy moments of the film looking perfect.

Color Reproduction: Oz and Shiz University come to life.  From the fields of flowers to the Emerald city, colors truly pop, looking bright and beautiful.  Glinda’s pink wardrobe and Elphaba’s stunning grin skin are standouts too!

Flesh Tones: Facial detail is great with some of the character makeup looking quite natural too.

Noise/Artifacts: Clean.

Audio:

Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, Spanish, French Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Dynamics: After hearing a very unconvincing mix on the 4K Digital version, The Atmos mix on disc is a killer one.  Clear, wide sound staging, along with deep bass, busy surrounds and some nice overhead moments, this is a reference mix through and through, with great even volume throughout!

Low-Frequency Extension:  Bass pounds for Elphaba’s moments of sorcery, and for the train to Emerald City and the movie’s many musical numbers. The climax is one that rocks the subwoofer as well.

Height: Height effects have the sounds panning the room, especially at the end of the film as there is much flying happening! Other moments include the train to Emerald City, and the Dancing Through Life sequence!

Surround Sound Presentation: Busy moments at school and through Oz keep things going all around you.  Sound effects, crowds, music and ambience fill the sound stage and keep the speakers busy for the whole film.

Dialogue Reproduction: Dialogue and singing is prioritized and beautifully represented in the Atmos mix!

Extras:

Extras for Wicked are extensive and full of depth. The features are full of info and the cast and crew are so enthusiastic that it is beyond clear that everyone who worked the film loved their experience.  This makes the extras even more fun to enjoy.

BONUS FEATURES:

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

Summary:

I was blown away by Wicked. A musical that is based off of a book that became a huge broadway show is now a huge film adaptation.  And what a moment the property is having now.  Well deserved I may add.  Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande do magic here, deserving every award nod or word of recognition they’ve gotten. I have not stopped singing their praises since watching the film.  The music is lively and wonderful. The style is perfect and fantastic.  The pacing is leisurely and lovely.  I cannot get enough of Wicked. I now cannot wait for Wicked: For Good. And now, we have Wicked in 4K on disc for the home.  Get it, because it’s the first reference grade new film we’ve gotten this year on disc, and it’s a stunner all around.  The supplements are fantastic and again, the film is so universal.  You will love it regardless of if you like musicals or not, and what a way to get started with musicals if you don’t like them! Don’t keep reading, get your copy now!!

Get your copy of Wicked HERE

Get the Wicked Collector’s Edition HERE