Wicked (2024) 4K Blu-ray Review

A must have for fans
4

Summary

Wicked looks and sounds fantastic on 4K so if you’re a fan then this is well worth adding to the collection especially with the multiple hours worth of special features.

Plot: Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

Review: I’m aware I’m not the target demographic for Wicked; I haven’t read the book or seen the stage version, so this is just a review for the movie as a standalone. Musicals aren’t normally my kind of movies, but there are some I enjoy (The Greatest Showman is my favourite with High Society a close second) and as Wicked was a huge smash at the box office I was curious to check it out. I’m no stranger to The Wizard of Oz having seen that movie growing up however, my introduction was Return to Oz which scarred me for life.

Wicked is 2 hours and 40 minutes and although it feels its length I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it from a visual standpoint and some of the songs were catchy… but not many. Ariana Grande almost steals the show as Galinda, the “good” witch who is forced to share a room with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo); a pariah due to her green skin. The two don’t get along at first and even sing about how much they despise each other.

Galinda is all about her social status and how she is perceived by everyone, just wanting to be popular. She doesn’t show any real potential as a witch but Elphaba quickly shows that she has genuine talent. The two slowly begin to bond and Elphaba becomes popular due to Galinda helping her; Elphaba was never really interested in it however, as she has been ostracized most of her life due to her appearance and used to taking care of herself.

Cynthia Erivo makes Elphaba appealing and sympathetic with Grande providing much of the humour as the status obsessed Galinda. The performances all round are impressive, but I really loved the visuals so any fan of the fantasy genre will likely eat this up. The songs do get a bit much for my tastes and I doubt this is something I would watch again and yet, I’ll probably watch part 2 when it comes out in a matter of months.

The special features are some of the best I’ve seen in recent times with hours’ worth of entertainment:

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

o Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda

? Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.

o Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero

? Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.

o Toss Toss

? Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.

o Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest

? The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.

o Elphaba’s Promise

? Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.

o Train Platform Farewell

? Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.

o 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.

o Train Ride to Emerald City

? Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.

o In the Emerald City

? The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.

o 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

The picture and sound quality of the 4K are faultless and it’s never looked better; a film which relies on its visual effects and music needs to be top quality and this is.

Overall, Wicked on 4K looks and sounds incredible with its vibrant colours and plentiful songs jumping off the screen; even if you’re not a fan of musicals this is still worth watching once due to the performances and some catchy songs.