Jon M. Chu’s musical movie “Wicked: Part One” is out of this world, and is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. The film is one of two films planned for the “Wicked” storyline and it follows the events that happen in the first act of the musical of the same name.
The film follows its main characters Elphaba and Glinda; Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo), who is doubted and mistaken due to her green skin and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande), who is well-liked and popular within their school.
Upon their arrival to the prestigious Shiz University, Elphaba and Glinda become rivals due to their differences but become friends after Elphaba does Glinda a huge favor. When Elphaba finds out that the animals of Oz are being taken and silenced, she and Glinda travel to meet the Wizard of Oz. However, they discover the Wizard is an evil mastermind. Elphaba wants no association with the Wizard and as a result, is villainized, gaining her label as “The Wicked Witch of the West.”
This movie is amazing. It has its surprises, its emotional scenes, and bone chilling scenes. Erivo and Grande’s performances did their characters justice, and I loved how they differentiated their song performances from the Broadway versions of their songs.
Specifically, the scene of “Defying Gravity” was a very important moment. The scene was made for audience members to relate to the character of Elphaba and Erivo made the scene very emotional. The ending riff is the most powerful of the movie with very moving cinematography; Elphaba, with a long flowy cape, flying in the air with stormy clouds in the background. 
Grande perfectly hits the notes in “No One Mourns the Wicked,” the opening song of the movie. She graciously floats through the notes as if anyone could do it—not a lot of people could do it. She captures the emotions of faking a smile but also being sad about losing her best friend who she assumes to be dead.
“Wicked: Part One” is definitely on the better end of recent musical movies released. With strong principal casting of Erivo, Grande, alongside others such as Jonathan Bailey (portraying Fiyero), Michelle Yeoh (portraying Madame Morrible), and Jeff Goldblum (portraying the Wizard), I’m excited to see “Wicked: Part Two,” consisting of all of the second act, which comes out next November.
