Storming the theaters with intense, emotional musical numbers, incredible effects, spectacular acting, and larger-than-life sets, Wicked has truly captured the hearts of many. Adapted from the original stage production, it stayed true to the storyline, character development, and music throughout the film, delving even deeper into the emotions, trials, and triumphs of the characters in ways that can only be captured on screen. The film is 2 hours and 40 minutes long and worth every second and cent. It spans, according to the original stage musical’s timeline, from the opening number to intermission, ending with the show-stopping number “Defying Gravity.” Part Two will be released next Thanksgiving.

As someone who has loved Wicked since I was very young and saw the movie and play within days of each other, I’ve found that both are magnificent and yet incredibly different from one another. Besides the obvious factor of stage versus studio, they appeal to different audiences in several ways.

Wicked is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, from the Wizard of Oz, and her relationship with Glinda the Good Witch. It follows Elphaba, the witch, throughout her life as she is bullied and looked down upon because of the repulsive green color of her skin, a consequence of a green elixir that her mother drank. When she and the incredibly popular and naive Galinda are made roommates, they immediately hate one another, prompting the song “What is This Feeling,” where they express the loathing they feel for each other’s tastes and personalities. Of course, the entire rest of the school sides with Galinda. Elphaba does have one thing going for her, however. She has a strange talent, a magic that is connected to her bursts of outrage and passion, and the professor of magic takes her as a student in private classes, much to the envy of Galinda. She tells Elphaba that she has a good chance of getting an audience with the Wizard of Oz, Elphaba’s idol since birth. Soon enough, Prince Fiyero comes to their university, and both girls fall for him almost immediately. Of course, Galinda, being the most popular, attracts his attention first, leaving Elphaba scolding herself for dreaming that she could ever be loved. Despite the bad blood between the girls, they manage to become friends in the number “Dancing Through Life,” moving the plot forward into a story about the priceless relationships between friends that can last through thick and thin.

The stage performance features incredible sets with turning gears, outstanding acrobatics, and vocal ranges that go through the roof in numbers like “Defying Gravity,” “No One Mourns the Wicked,” and “The Wizard and I,” with “Defying Gravity” winning a spot on most lists of the top hardest Broadway songs to sing. Within the performance, dazzling lights make it seem as if Elphaba is literally flying before the eyes of the audience, and the turning, constantly moving, and changing set is breathtakingly complex, a true work of art. In addition, each costume is designed to be whimsical and true to the weirdness of Oz captured in the original Wizard of Oz. The storyline moves quickly, from their time at school to Elphaba’s reign of terror to her eventual death by melting in the water thrown by Dorothy. Each line is intentional, each scene is essential, and each song brilliantly illustrates the power of the story.

The movie adaptation, starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda, is able to extend many of these scenes and make them more personal and emotionally heavy with close-up shots and changing scenery. The number “Dancing Through Life,” for example, is brought to a whole new level than the stage production. This scene marks the change in Galinda, where she realizes that she’s been cruel to her roommate, and through intense, emotional music, spectacular acting, and beautiful shots that emphasize the hurt and healing of the moment, the two girls begin to see each other as deeply human. This kind of cinemagraphic artistry beautifully captures the elements of this essential scene, something that the stage production has not been able to achieve to this level of perfection. The movie moves much slower than the play is able and therefore gives more time to the audience to really know the characters. Additionally, a much larger array of sets and costumes is displayed, each true to the style of Oz, shown in the musical, but amplified to fit many different settings.

At first, I was skeptical of the movie, since film adaptations of beloved musicals in the past have not always lived up to the standards of the show. However, I was blown away by the first part of this two-part series. I’m no expert on filmmaking, but I love Wicked, and every song, while slightly different from the track I listen to of the original Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, was breathtaking, bringing a whole new life to the story. I had goosebumps the entire time and absolutely fell in love with the people on screen. The settings were gorgeous, the acting was flawless, the music was terrific, and the magic of the story I worried would be lost was brought to life in a whole new way. I would recommend Wicked to everyone, whether you’ve seen the stage production or not. Come learn to defy gravity!