Tag Archives: musical

I have a big announcement to make. Since 1999, my favorite movie has been The Matrix. In fact, I have referenced the scene in which Neo can read the code at the end of the movie 7 times in my blog. Well, 8 times if you include this post.

In addition, its themes of how we are destroying the earth, the rise of AI, the power of our thoughts in shaping our reality, and the importance of letting go of our fears so that we can fly are additional reasons for why I love this movie.

Moreover, from a cinematic perspective, the choreography of the fight scenes is still amazing. The chemistry between Neo and Trinity is palpable. This was the first movie to use the 365 degree camera, which made the special effects revolutionary and still entertaining to this day, despite all of the advances in CGI.

The movie Wicked shares many similarities to The Matrix.

The reasons that I now have to bump Wicked up to #1 are fourfold:

1. There were more choreographed scenes in Wicked.
2. In the genre of musicals turned into movies,
   • the singing in Wicked is as good as the musical. Unlike Les Miserables, which also had A list actors, but they did not match the vocal powers of the singers in any musical version and was therefore a disappointment to most Les Miz fans.
   • The choreography was better than in the musical Wicked, because on Broadway you have to be able to sing, dance, and act, while a movie can pick people who are just great dancers.
   • The chorus was larger, since movies can have a bigger cast.
   • The orchestra was much larger than what an orchestra pit under the stage of a theater can hold.
   • (I realize these subcategories are cheating in terms of saying the reasons are fourfold, but they all refer to musicals turned movies and therefore need to be grouped together.)
3. The sequel Wicked: For Good is even better than the original, and Wicked, Part 1 was awesome! The Matrix, on the other hand, far outshined the other movies in The Matrix Trilogy. Although The Matrix Resurrections is my second favorite movie because it is the most similar to the original movie and also adds the theme of alternative universes, in which there are 3:
   • The universe in which Neo has created a popular video game called The Matrix and Trinity is a soccer mom.
   • The universe of the original Matrix
   • The universe in which the new Agent is controlling Earth, which is a different Matrix.
4. While those who have freed themselves from the Matrix are clearly neurodivergent, the movie Wicked has become a tribute to neurodivergence.
   • It has a diverse cast.
   • It highlights the ways in which people who are different are ridiculed, bullied, traumatized, and terrorized.
   • Neurodivergent people are turned into villains while the true evil people mask as heroes who are doing good for their communities.
   • Neurodivergent people have compassion for other people, animals, plants, and the earth instead of being motivated by self-interest.
   • Neurodivergent people feel compelled to do what’s right, even if it means risking their lives.
   • Neurodivergent people tell the truth, sometimes bluntly, even if their honesty will be used against them.
   • (Again, sort of cheating, but for the same reason.)

The movie Wicked is a proclamation that neurodivergence (differently wired brains) is not only good, but it actually makes the world a better place. We cannot evolve without neurospicy people who push us to be better versions of ourselves and of what humanity can be, if we let them. So thanks to everyone involved in the making of Wicked. And for reminding us that the neurospicy people of the world truly add flavor to what would otherwise be a bland existence.