GAL APPROVED! What To See This Weekend: Wicked and Gladiator II!
By The DivaGals | November 22, 2024 | Celebrity & Culture
Wicked Defies Gravity
It’s one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and it’s finally here! Wicked, the prequel to The Wizard of Oz, tells the story of Elphaba and how the Wicked Witch of the West became “wicked.” In this book turned Broadway musical turned movie adaptation, Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba. Having a Black woman star and the titular role takes the movie to another level. The themes of being othered, shunned and discounted parallel the plights that Black women have faced over the centuries. Despite this, Elphaba rises to her greatest potential even when others would hold her back. Director Jon M. Chu drenches his film with vivid shades of pink, green and all the rainbow colors. This story is about transformation, civil action and love (we have a feeling in Wicked, Part 2, Elphaba gets the guy!). Tap into your unlimited potential and see Wicked, now playing in theaters.
Gladiator II Slays All
We love it when Denzel Washington plays it good, but we are gaga when he plays it oh-so-bad! He stars as Macrinus in Gladiator 2, the sequel to the first film over 20 years ago. A former gladiator, Macrinus has risen to the ranks of gladiator wrangler, and now he sends Rome’s captives into the brutal Gladiator ring to fight for him. Washington, dressed in his toga finest, plays a character who is ruthless in his mission and will stop at nothing to claim ultimate power. This is a must-see for those who loved the lore and gore of the first film. For the rest of us, seeing this silver-haired Adonis in action is worth the price of admission! Gladiator II, now playing in theaters.
Photo credit: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
