Wicked

Rating:
Summary: Aspires to be like a good DePalma film and fails.
Review: After seeing this straight-to-DVD title, I can easily understand why it was not given a theatrical release. It aspires to be like a good Brian DePalma film, with generous helping of ultra-dark comedy, a labyrinth, thriller/mystery plot, and odd camera angles. Unfortunately, the comedy is not funny, there is no suspense, and the direction appears to be that of a director whose skill never made it past film-school level. One of the main problems is that the protagonist's relationship with an advesary does a complete 180 degree-turn with little to no explanation/rationalization (you'll understand when and if - heaven forbid - you sit through this film). The only thing to really recommend the title is a decent performance from the then-unknown Julia Stiles in her debut but, again, the uninspired direction sinks the film at every turn. Stiles has stated in print that this was her favorite film role. Logical, really, as her acting far outshines every other spect of the movie but, if I were her, I'd try to bury this film by any means possible. I was especially disappointed as director Michael Steinberg co-directed a film I greatly admire: "The Waterdance," a drama starring Eric Stoltz as a paraplegic. Then it all came into focus when I looked up the filmography of the "Waterdance" directors: co-writer/co-director Neal Jimenez (a real-life paraplegic) was responsible for the brilliant "River's Edge" while the only other creative endeavor Steinberg undertook was as one of many co-writers on the painful "Sleep With Me." So, if you like "Waterdance," seek of other Jimenez written films. If you like Julia Stiles, try "State and Main" or "Ten Things I Hate About You." If you like sloppy thrillers which look like they were made for basic cable, by all means, endure "Wicked."

Rating:
Summary: The name 'Julia Stiles' drew me in first...
Review: Alone, at night, remote in hand......flipping to see what I could catch on cable that started within the next '15 minutes'. Only thing on was a movie called 'Wicked'. What caught me eye was the name 'Julia Stiles'. Big movie name with a movie title I had never heard. I wondered if it was a movie from when she was younger. First scene...Julia as a pre-teen. So, I knew it couldn't have been an old movie. You can read all the other reviews on what the movie is about. Was it good.....yep. Was it bad.....yep. Did I change the channel....nope. The movie held me for reasons unknown. Movies are meant to tell a story and give you entertainment. Whether that entertainment is in the form of muder, incest and adultury....doesn't matter. It's a story. I liked the movie. Why?...not sure. I just liked it. What I really liked is the soundtrack...which I can't find. Awesome sexy, disturbed music. Anyhow...would I buy the movie?......YES.

Rating:
Summary: The name 'Julia Stiles' drew me in first...
Review: Alone, at night, remote in hand......flipping to see what I could catch on cable that started within the next '15 minutes'. Only thing on was a movie called 'Wicked'. What caught my eye was the name 'Julia Stiles'. Big movie name with a movie title I had never heard of. I wondered if it was a movie from when she was younger. First scene...Julia as a pre-teen. So, I knew it couldn't have been an old movie. You can read all the other reviews on what the movie is about. Was it good.....yep. Was it bad.....yep. Did I change the channel....nope. The movie held me for reasons unknown. Movies are meant to tell a story and give you entertainment. Whether that entertainment is in the form of muder, incest and adultury....doesn't matter. It's a story. I liked the movie. Why?...not sure. I just liked it. What I really liked is the soundtrack...which I can't find. Awesome sexy, disturbed music. Anyhow...would I buy the movie?......YES. Would I let a pre-teen watch it....no.

Rating:
Summary: Good stuff, Maynard...
Review: Babelicious Julia Stiles plays a very naughty girl in this flick. That's reason enough to like it--do you really need to know anything else? ;)

Rating:
Summary: great cover...
Review: great cover, but some movies should never be made.

Rating:
Summary: Aspires to be like a good DePalma film and fails.
Review: I admit: the only reason I rented this movie was because of Julia Stiles' picture on the back of the DVD cover, looking unspeakably sultry and irresistible. I expected "Wicked" to be a cheesy B-movie, and it is. However, it's a good one at that; I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

"Wicked"'s main plot revoles around a highly dysfunctional family in that morass we call the American Suburbia. The mother is mysteriously murdered one morning, and there are a variety of suspects like a good B-level whodunit movie, with even a cheesy detective included. However, as the father's oldest daughter begins to reveal the true depth of her obsession with her father by gradually seeking to replace her deceased mother, the murder because somewhat of a sideshow.

Julia Stiles smoulders like never before as the über-sultry, forbidden jailbait sex-goddess obsessed with her father. She eerily dons her mother's gowns, cooks for her father, and eventually seduces him (who could resist? Honestly?) Eventually Ellie (Stiles) becomes increasingly more obsessed and evil as she gets into a power struggle with Lena, her father's new girlfriend. Julia Stile's performance, and the unfolding of the plot, is both grandly disturbing and breathlessly exciting to watch. The movie leaves you feeling very uneasy. The director obviously tried to go for a more dark comedy tone, but I was just disturbed period.

...

Rating:
Summary: Must-see for Julia Styles fans
Review: I admit: the only reason I rented this movie was because of Julia Stiles' picture on the back of the DVD cover, looking unspeakably sultry and irresistible. I expected "Wicked" to be a cheesy B-movie, and it is. However, it's a good one at that; I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

"Wicked"'s main plot revoles around a highly dysfunctional family in that morass we call the American Suburbia. The mother is mysteriously murdered one morning, and there are a variety of suspects like a good B-level whodunit movie, with even a cheesy detective included. However, as the father's oldest daughter begins to reveal the true depth of her obsession with her father by gradually seeking to replace her deceased mother, the murder because somewhat of a sideshow.

Julia Stiles smoulders like never before as the über-sultry, forbidden jailbait sex-goddess obsessed with her father. She eerily dons her mother's gowns, cooks for her father, and eventually seduces him (who could resist? Honestly?) Eventually Ellie (Stiles) becomes increasingly more obsessed and evil as she gets into a power struggle with Lena, her father's new girlfriend. Julia Stile's performance, and the unfolding of the plot, is both grandly disturbing and breathlessly exciting to watch. The movie leaves you feeling very uneasy. The director obviously tried to go for a more dark comedy tone, but I was just disturbed period.

...

Rating:
Summary: pretty wicked
Review: I am not a movie critic, and I will not talk about the technicalities that make this film.

A lot of people say this movie is a type B film, but besides the multimillion dollar production this movie isn't any different that mainstream films, like "The Mummy Returns," "Planet Of The Apes," "Rush Hour 2," "Star Wars Episode 2: Attack Of the Clones," and who knows what else they might come up with next. Movies that have people rushing to the theater all over the United States. When it comes to cheesy and predictable, I don't think you can top these movies. This movie "Wicked," is vulgar disrespectful, and hateful, that's better than most movies that come tumbling down the tube these days.

Rating:
Summary: Poor material
Review: I don't even know why I am spesnding time to even rate this film when clearly, I don't like it at all --- Maybe that's why I am doing this..to convince future audience that it is not worth their time & money.

Rating:
Summary: The ending ruined it for me. How do I rate it?
Review: I enjoyed this movie right to the end. But then I felt really ripped off. I have to give it credit for the entire movie keeping me watching. But I have to subtract for the fact that the ending ruined the whole viewing experience and left me angered with the writer, producer, director, and studio. If the ending had been different, I would have given it a 5. As it stands, I feel quite generous to rate it a three.