ALEXANDRA ALCALA / ASST. A&C EDITOR

This past month, the movie “Wicked” hit the cinemas and caught the media’s attention with press tours, beauty product collaborations and interviews. The newest film is based on the Broadway musical which precedes the plot of “The Wizard of Oz.” The musical shows the life of  two witches, Glinda and Elphaba, and how they first met each other, years before Dorothy ever entered Oz. 

Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the film has amassed a high rating of 8.1/10 on IMDb and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes after a short week of being released. The release day was certainly popular as the film grossed  over  $112 million  on  that day alone. USD students have been taking some time off  from studying to watch the  movie.

“I had no expectations before watching the film  because I had never seen the musical,”  USD sophomore Nathalie Diazgranados said. “Before going to the movie theatre, I watched the interviews from the press tour and they gave me a little insight about what to expect plot-wise, but I had no expectations.”

Everything the film did to catch the viewers’ attention before the actual release day paid off. The cast participated in an international press tour, meeting with different TV and social media channels to share more about their experiences while filming “Wicked.” 

“I was expecting an amazing vocal range from the actresses, which I found while watching the movie,” USD sophomore Xitlali Pedraza-Payta said. “I thought the film was amazing. It was super cool to see the outcome of their hard work over the past months.”

While the storyline had a lot of people  intrigued, USD students   agreed  that   the  musical  aspect  of  the  film  really showed off the actress’s range. Grande is  famously known for  her  long  career in both acting and singing. Similarly, Erivo started her singing and acting career around the same years as Grande. Erivo has performed more in movies and Broadway shows than Grande, who largely releases albums.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande pictured behind the scenes of the new Hollywood hit, ‘Wicked.’ Photo Courtesy of @broadway.4me/Instagram

“I had heard of the musical prior to watching the movie,” Diazgranados said. “I was told by many friends how great the stage production was, so I was excited to watch it for that reason. Overall, I really enjoyed watching the film. I think they did a great job of bringing the characters alive. I feel as though there was never a dull moment in the film. Although the movie was long, it truly did not feel like it. The music and the singing was beautiful, and I genuinely cannot believe that a lot of the actors sang live during the filming of the movie.”

An aspect that stood out  to many was  the  difficult live singing during scenes that simultaneously included stunts and choreography.  Reflective of the actual Broadway performance of “Wicked,” many students have praised the intricate skills it took for the actresses to combine all of these elements. 

“I enjoyed seeing Elphaba fly on her broom while being able to sing so beautifully,” Pedraza-Payta said. “The scene was very magical and just added more sentiment to the whole storyline itself.”

This  celebrated moment is the “Defying Gravity” scene and is the moment where Erivo performs the song, one of the most popular tracks in the musical. The beloved song has been enhanced in the film production because of the  developments made in modern technology that is reflected in today’s cinema. The adaptation to the screen has made the scene stick out to many students.

“A highlight of  the movie for me  was  the ‘Defying  Gravity’ sequence,” Diazgranados said. “The way it was shot, combined with the intense emotion of the moment, made it truly breathtaking. I think Cynthia Erivo did a wonderful job. This part of the film was filled with action and for me, personally, it was very emotional. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to your beliefs even when people in positions  of  power try to sway your actions. I think this scene serves as a message for many who watch the film.”

Musicals  have  been  a  part  of the  entertainment  industry  for quite some  time. However they  can cause  some discourse  among   audiences  as   some  people do not  enjoy  them as much  as   others.  Diazgranados explained how her family faced this dilemma over Thanksgiving break.

“I would say that I do enjoy musicals,” Diazgranados said. “I think that with time they have grown   on  me. I  went  to  watch  the movie with my mom who really  is  not a  fan of   musicals, but   after  watching,  she  fell in  love with the movie and its message.”

For many people, musicals might  not  be  their  preferred  form   of   entertainment.  However,  it   seems  that USD students took advantage of their latest break to wacy the newest take on “Wicked,” which has brought up many positive reactions.  The topics touched upon in the storyline really stand out in the movie — the friendship and trust between Glinda and Elphaba, the prejudice they suffer, goodness versus wickedness as well as privilege and apathy. These different themes really shine and, most importantly, help the audience connect with the characters on the screen.

The film is the highest grossing Broadway adaptation in history, making $455 million worldwide so far. Photo Courtesy of @broadwaysf/Instagram