If you are an anxious person like me, or just have a desire to be in control of everything, you may be someone who watches the same movies and shows over and over again. I am guilty of watching my three favourites on repeat all year long. Knowing exactly what is going to happen provides me with a sense of comfort.
I guess some people like the thrill of the edge of your seat, what’s going to happen next, action thriller vibe. I, however, get my fill of the “what if, what’s next” thinking in my day-to-day life thanks to the unending thread of anxiety rolling through my head. In fact, I can stir up this feeling any time I please. I simply have to create a very unlikely worst-case scenario and convince myself it will absolutely 100% happen.
A fine example of this took place the last time I was on a plane. Someone stood up and began to walk towards the front of the plane with quite a lot of purpose. And within the 15 seconds it took for them to reach the bathroom, I had convinced myself they were headed to knock out the pilots and hijack the plane. They probably just really had to pee, but man, did I get myself from totally fine to anxiety level 11 in 2 seconds flat. Who needs a thriller movie when I have constant access to the ability to make my heart race and my armpits sweat profusely through my shirt like that? Thus, the edge-of-my-seat feeling is not something I look for in movies.
When I watch a movie, I want to be shown all the wonderful things the world has to offer. Like love and laughter. I don’t need something to make me feel sad, mad, or scared. My real life does a very good job of that on its own. I want something that will make me feel all warm and cozy inside or have me laughing my head off. That is why I tend to stick to romantic comedies and kid-friendly movies. Although on a specific type of day, I love a good coming-of-age movie.
Now that you know my taste in movies, let’s get to my review of Wicked: For Good. PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN WICKED: FOR GOOD STOP READING HERE…you’ve been warned. This is also a content warning. This review includes talk of death and suffering (both human and animal) that may be triggering to some readers. Please proceed at your own discretion.
Okay, now without further ado, my Wicked: For Good review.
The movie is objectively incredible. The sets are visually stunning! The tulip field is still my favourite, and I am so glad they were able to bring it back for the second movie! The costumes made the character development come to life. Specifically, when Glinda puts on that black cloak, you know it’s about to go down. And how beautiful was her wedding dress! The way the filmmakers tied up every loose end, like the green bottle at the end, ARE WE KIDDING?!? SO GOOD! Created a sort of Celtic knot, showcasing how the three movies (Wicked, Wicked: For Good, and The Wizard of Oz) are deeply woven and interconnected. Plus, the appearance of iconic props and direct references to previous films resolved any lingering questions we may have had, in a perfect pink-and-green bow! No one can argue that it is a truly wonderful movie. “They call me wonderful…” The music was so great, too! My favourite song was by far “For Good”.
That being said, this is not an objective rating; it is my own subjective review. (If you don’t know the difference…look it up). Personally, I am very glad I saw it, but I never want to see the first ⅔ of it again. I thoroughly enjoyed the last third (from “For Good” onward), but the rest was frankly just too intense and too dark for my liking. Now, there were parts I did enjoy in the first ⅔. Such as when Elphaba finds the animals Oz hid and really gives it to him. That scene got me so hype, I was like “YOU GO GIRL! YOU TELL HIM SISTER!” But the scenes with Nessa were all too scary for me. Same with the ones where the Scarecrow and the Tin Man came to be. I did indeed close my eyes for both those parts as well as the part with the house flying around.
Certain scenes were definitely distressing, and from a mental health perspective, I think it could be triggering content for many. My heart cannot handle seeing animals harmed, much less humans. So all the scenes of suffering really struck a chord with me, and not in a way I enjoyed. So, if you are someone who finds any of those things triggering (Heart attack-like reenactments, animal abuse, human hangings, and tornadoes), my suggestion would be to wait until you can rent/purchase or stream the movie, and then you can skip ahead if needed. I found myself wishing I could do the same at times.
That being said, once “For Good” started, I cried like a freaking baby for a lot of the remaining movie. The way Fiyero, Glinda, and Elphaba all took turns betraying each other, yet their willingness to put it all on the line to help one another truly captured the complexity of human relationships and stood as a great reminder that impact and intent can be very different, and it is important to set our feelings aside and analyze both when possible. The themes of sacrifice and forgiveness helped this love triangle unfold beautifully. I loved the ending, and as I said before, the way they tied it all together was truly remarkable. Although I didn’t enjoy how the scarecrow and tin man came to be, I loved getting to put it all together.
Overall, I believe Wicked: For Good is a film that offers something for everyone! It combines action, drama, romance, visually stunning sets, humor (though I wish there were more), exceptional costumes, thought-provoking dark themes, outstanding music, hidden political commentary, and important lessons that feel relevant today into one marvellous crescendo of all things Oz-ly!
My review and recommendations stem from both an appreciation of its artistic achievements. Such as the remarkable writing, acting, and singing, and my personal response to its content. This experience highlighted how essential it is for viewers to be mindful of their emotional and psychological limits when engaging with films that contain intense themes. Reflecting on how the movie affected me, I encourage you to consider your comfort levels and triggers before you view it. By considering your well-being, you can create a viewing experience that allows you to fully appreciate and enjoy the film’s remarkable elements while also supporting your mental health boundaries.
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Until Next Time, My Friends!
P.S. I’m proud of you 😉