Wicked: For Good, the second half of the two-part film adaptation, arrives with a very specific challenge. Fans of the musical know this well: Act II has always been the weaker half.
After the big songs and grand moments of the first act, the story traditionally slows down, becomes more serious, and relies heavily on plot mechanics. The first film captured the excitement of Act I perfectly – this one has the harder job.
The result is a film that is often moving, consistently well-performed and visually impressive – but also, at times, uneven. While it delivers a proper ending to the story of Elphaba and Glinda, it also exposes the same structural issues the musical has carried for two decades.
More serious, more grounded
The shift in tone is noticeable from the start. Where the first film is bright, energetic and full of discovery, Wicked: For Good opens on a heavier note. Oz is less whimsical and more troubled. The stakes are clearer: Elphaba is an outlaw, Glinda is coming to terms with her public role, and the Wizard’s regime is tightening its grip.
This tonal change works in favour of the story, and director Jon M Chu focuses on character motivations and the emotional cost of the choices made in the earlier film.
The political tensions, which can feel rushed on stage, get more room to develop here: you understand what Elphaba is fighting against, having been banished from Oz, and why Glinda is torn between public perception and loyalty to her friend.
Despite facing more demanding character arcs in this installation, both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver exceptionally well.
Erivo plays Elphaba with restraint and clarity, and her vocals are powerful without being too showy. As in the first film, what stands out is her control – she communicates anger, disappointment and loneliness without tipping into melodrama. Her scenes in the woods, in particular, give Elphaba a sense of isolation that the stage version rarely conveys.
But it’s Grande who truly impresses. Her performance as Glinda is much stronger and more complex in Wicked: For Good. While the pop star still brings in the character’s bubbly charm, Grande is now confronted with material that leans into Glinda’s guilt, doubt and internal tension.
Chu makes use of Grande’s expressive face masterfully – the camera lingers just long enough to capture the shifts in her emotional state. It gives Glinda more depth and makes her eventual decisions feel earned.
Together, the pair carry the film. Whenever the pacing slows or the plot becomes overly dense, their dynamic keeps things engaging.
For me, one of the biggest questions was whether cinema could fix Act II’s reputation. The answer remains mixed.
Positively, the emotional beats are clearer. The film explains the political downfall of Oz more directly, and the relationships, especially between Glinda, Elphaba and Fiyero, are more developed. Several scenes that can feel rushed on stage have become easier to follow.
But the film still slows down noticeably in the middle. After a strong opening stretch, it begins to circle the same emotional points without much momentum. Some musical numbers, while well-performed, don’t significantly lift the energy. This is an issue audiences often have with the stage version, and the film only partly solves it.
The new songs are fine but not standout. They fill narrative gaps, but can’t quite compete with the Act I classics – which is more a reflection of the material itself rather than the adaptation.
Where the film succeeds
What cinema gives Wicked that the stage never could is room. Oz looks fuller and more textured – the Emerald City has a polished but uneasy shine, while the landscapes surrounding it feel harsher and more isolated. These visuals let the plot’s political themes settle more naturally.
The musical numbers benefit most from the cinematic medium. Particularly in No Good Deed, the tight shots and CGI-supported visuals make the scene sharper and more immediate than the stage version.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Most importantly, For Good, the titular song, sticks the proverbial landing. The song has always been a key emotional moment, but the film makes it even more intimate. The camera stays close, allowing the performances, particularly Grande’s shift between guilt and acceptance, to land more strongly. It’s restrained but affecting, and it becomes the emotional high point of the film.
Ultimately, Wicked: For Good is a thoughtful and well-crafted ending to the two-part adaptation. It doesn’t fix every issue embedded in the musical’s second act, but it improves emotional clarity and gives the characters more dimension.
It’s less engaging than the first film, but offers a meaningful and satisfying conclusion to one of musical theatre’s most enduring stories.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
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Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Results:
2.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: AZ Dhabyan, Adam McLean (jockey), Saleha Al Ghurair (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.
Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
3.15pm: Conditions (PA) Dh60,000 2,000m.
Winner: Hareer Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,700m.
Winner: Kenz Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh 200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
4.45pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m.
Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Supercharged%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20400hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20430Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPurpl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarl%20Naim%2C%20Wissam%20Ghorra%2C%20Jean-Marie%20Khoueir%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHub71%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20Beirut%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Specs:
The Specs:
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 444bhp
Torque: 600Nm
Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT
On sale: now.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
