'I watched Wicked: For Good and I'm still wondering if the hype was worth it'

Wicked: For Good has finally hit cinemas , continuing the story from the first movie which was released this time last year and i finally got a chance to go and see it. But was it really worth it? I walked into the cinema with high expectations and I still don't know if they were truly met by the whole film. As a fan of the stage show, I know this half of the story is where the stakes rise, relationships fracture and characters are meant to be pushed emotionally in all different directions, so I expected to leave with my jaw on the floor - but I don't think I did. And while there's no denying the film is visually stunning with amazing vocals from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo , I couldn't help but feel that something was missing. For a filmed marketed as the "big emotional conclusion" I wanted more because if you're going to double the runtime, I want double the depth. There is nothing negative to see in regards to Ariana's performance as Glinda and Cynthia's role as Elphaba, i think it was perfect casting, with two people who have amazing singing voices and great chemistry to play the roles of enemies turned besties. Marissa Bode as Nessa Rose delivers an excellent performance, portraying her in a way which makes you genuinely dislike her character a lot - but her arc felt completely rushed. We know that Nessa has become the mayor of Munchkinland following the death of her and Elphaba's father due to 'shame' and she still loves Boq and can't help but notice him wherever she goes. Yet, beyond these key plot points, their lives remain largely unexplored. This really made me question if the film needed to be split into two parts and if separating and making it almost twice as long as the stage performance was just a cash grab. The turning point for Nessa and Boq is when Boq is turned into the Tin Man. Although Ethan Slater turns into the Tin Man from the original Wizard of Oz four - Dorothy, Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow - for a minuscule amount of time in the film, he truly deserves his flowers for the emotional performance. The way he delivered the line: "I have a personal score to settle with Elph... with the Witch," genuinely sent chills down my spine. It's proof that casting true theatre performers in these roles pays off. They understand how to convey emotion with intensity that makes you feel as though you're right there in the front row of a West End performance and not a freezing cold cinema. The final moments of the film when Elphaba and Glinda perform For Good and the story reaches its emotional climax, truly brought everything together for me. It was powerful, beautifully executed and left me sitting there thinking 'wow... that was worth it." I won't give anything away, because it's a moment that deserves to be watched first hand rather than explained. So, despite a few flaws and the mixed reception from some critics (including myself) I would still wholeheartedly recommend this film to everyone. And if audience reactions are anything to go by, it's clear Wicked: For Good struck a chord with audiences - I only had to glance at my friend's tear streaked face as the credits rolled to see that. And in a surprise it has been confirmed that a prequel is in the works. With Gregory Maguire, the mastermind behind the original Wicked novel, announcing a new prequel all about Glinda. The upcoming book, Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, will explore Glinda's backstory before she became the 'Good Witch' we know today. So if that doesn't show that Wicked is a fan favourite, I don't know what else can.