Are you a good movie? Or a bad movie?

Liv Dunleavy and Ronnie Chiu-Lin / THE GATEPOST

By Antonio Machado Copy Editor It has been quite a few clock ticks since the world became “obsessulated” with “Wicked” last year, leaving everyone looking toward the western sky, waiting to see what would happen next. Now, 12 tide turns since the Wicked Witch took off, “Wicked: For Good” has been released in theaters, serving as an adaptation of the second act of the stage musical and continuing the story of the first film. Once again directed by Jon Chu, the movie is an absolute marvel. A visual step up from the first film’s innocent beiges, beautiful sets are colored with every shade of the rainbow - and at times, the entire rainbow itself. The shift to a more enhanced color palette symbolizes the shift to a much more matured, darker tone in the story. Where “Wicked” was about character choices, “For Good” is about consequences. Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande) now serves as a political figurehead, a beacon of hope for the Ozian people in their fight against the Wicked Witch of the West, who Glinda knows as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). In her campaign to expose the Wizard and free the Animals from their torment, Elphaba struggles to defy the gravity of political propaganda and is faced with the turmoil of going against her old friends and new gingham-patterned enemies. Contemporary does not begin to describe the political messaging of this film, and it’s incredibly important for a blockbuster of this magnitude to be so unadulterated in its loathing of fascism. However, although the messaging is at the forefront of the story, it is always second to Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship. These characters are the dream roles of countless theater kids, and the proper casting of them was imperative to the success of these films - so thank goodness for Grande and Erivo because there is absolutely nobody else in this world who could’ve done what they did here. Toto, I’ve a feeling she’s not just a pop star anymore because Ariana Grande’s performance in this film is nothing short of “astoundifying.” Where Galinda (with a Ga) was a beautiful touch of comedic relief in the first movie, Glinda is the bleeding heart of this one. Every second she is on screen is heart-wrenching. Grande has an innate understanding of being a public figure and suffering countless tragedies within a bubble of success, and she draws upon those experiences to let audiences truly see the suffering Glinda through the opalescent surface. The first half of the story allowed audiences to witness the tender heart underneath the Wicked Witch, revealing a woman scorned by the world for the color of her skin. And in this movie, we see that tenderness melt under waves of rage Elphaba endures. Erivo is able to convey so much with simply just her eyes. Rebellion has not freed her from her oppression, but instead bestowed upon her a tremendous melancholy. Her tornado of anger commands the screen because of the very subtle hurt that rests within the eye of the storm. In every scene where the pair are apart, the absence of either one is felt, and it makes the moments in which they are united so much more special - and oftentimes, so much more upsetting. It is nearly impossible to leave this film without shedding a tear at the beautiful (and partially improvised) closing number, “For Good.” Unlike the first film where musical numbers were major ensemble pieces, upbeat and eye-catching, “For Good’s” music is introspective, touching, and intimate - every number unveiling a new layer to the characters the world grew so fond of. “No Good Deed” caused multiple audiences to erupt in applause. Emmy, GRAMMY, and Tony winner Erivo can sing, no doubt about it, but to roar in anguish with such a polished sound is not something that can be taught - she truly is magic. As one of the biggest modern-day pop stars, Grande is not unfamiliar with breaking down on camera, so when she spends a majority of “Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier” in a single-take close-up shot at the verge of breaking down, it feels natural - and she sounds amazing. The film is not without faults. It struggles to find its pacing and begins to fall apart if you think of it too much as an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz,” but those are inescapable issues baked into the source material. “Wicked: For Good” is a film with a tangible love poured into it, made by and for fans of the source material. Chu had the courage to adapt this behemoth and he poured his heart into it - as did all of the performers. This is not just a film, but an experience - one that anyone with a brain would enjoy. Rating: A- I’m off to see ‘Wicked,’ the wonderful ‘Wicked: For Good’