In 1939, audiences watched as a wide-eyed Judy GarlandAn American actress and singer who was born in 1922 and died in 1969. She achieved international stardom. stepped out of the black-and-white wreckage of her farmhouse, yapping dog in tow, and arrived in the Land of Oz, a dreamland of spectacular technicolour.

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in KansasA landlocked state in the midwestern USA. anymore!" she said, marvelling at the winding pathways, road of yellow bricks, tall green vines and lotus flowers.

It is one of the most famous movie moments of all time. And it contributes to the enduring influence of The Wizard of Oz, which sparked numerous spinoffs in the 85 years since its debut.

Cut to its most recent incarnation: Wicked, a Hollywood blockbuster expected to smash the box office worldwide this winter. The UK will see its cinema release today.

It is the first half of a planned two-part adaptation of the hit musical Wicked, penned by Stephen Schwartz, which debuted in 2003 and has been a staple of the West End since then.

In the run-up to its release, there have been Wicked cocktails, cosmetics and even Crocs. The stars, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana GrandeAn American pop star born in 1993. as Glinda, had a cameo at the Summer Olympics and their teary interviews have gone repeatedly viral.¹

But is there substance behind all the sequins? Alternately written as childhood fairy tale and adult parableA story told with a moral or spiritual purpose., it is rich with themes to appeal to people of all ages.

Sacred sisterhood. The central theme of Wicked is the relationship between glitzy Glinda, who will become Glinda the Good, and outsider Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West. Starting out at odds, the two girls quickly bond, developing heartfelt respect for one another. But their relationship is complex, and they are painfully torn apart by conflicting values and a shared love interest.

Vice and virtue. Elphaba, a misunderstood outcast with bright green skin, was written as the villain in the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its film adaptation. But Wicked suggests that she is merely misunderstood. Though she is labelled "wicked" for her actions, Elphaba has her own moral code: challenging the corrupt system of power in Oz.

Lasting legacy. The Wicked universe has a rich history which extends far beyond the musical's booming two-decade run: from Schwartz's musical to where it all began, L Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Wicked nods to this theme of legacy: whilst Elphaba strives to redefine her family's legacy, Glinda becomes preoccupied with the legacy that power can leave behind.

Power and repression. Abuse of power is a major theme in Wicked, as the Wizard seeks to subjugateForcefully bring under control. sentientAble to perceive or feel things. animals and uses his secret police to implement a system of totalitarianWhen a political system or leader requires complete subservience to the state. In a totalitarian system, people are not allowed to express their own opinions. repression. PropagandaInformation, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint. , too, figures heavily, with much of Oz's population brainwashed into total awe of the Wizard, who only Elphaba sees is a fraud.

Blind bigotry. Elphaba faces relentless discriminationWhen people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age. throughout her life. Her green skin marks her as different to others. When she begins to challenge the status quoA Latin phrase referring to the current or present situation., bigotryPrejudice towards a certain group, and an unwillingness to change your mind. from others means that none of her objections to power are taken seriously, and she is demonised.

Does the movie have an important message?

Yes: There are many important themes in Wicked. From more light-hearted explorations of the value of female friendship, to serious debates about the nature of power and control, it is a feast for the intellectual mind.

No: Wicked has been marketed mostly to children, with themed dolls and children's clothes appearing on shelves. Its themes will not go beyond the bounds of a simple childhood fable built to show "right" and "wrong" without any nuance.

Or... Do not allow yourself to be deceived that Wicked is a work of art. It is built to be unchallenging and uncritical. To attract the largest possible audiences in an increasingly polarised world, moviemakers have to be morally equivocalUncertain or ambiguous. It comes from the Latin words "aequus" (equal) and "vocare" (to call)., playing to both sides without making any serious points.