Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Oz The Great and Powerful

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Oz The Great and Powerful - Review

Oz The Great and Powerful
(2013 - March 8)
Adventure | Family | Fantasy
2 hrs. 10 min.

Rated: PG-13
Grade: B+

Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Mitchell Kapner (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), L. Frank Baum (novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")

Stars: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz | See full cast and crew

Disney's fantastical adventure "Oz The Great and Powerful," directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking-that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well. When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard-and just maybe into a better man as well. -- (C) Walt Disney

If you read my review of Jack The Giant Slayer you may recall that I said when I first saw the previews, I thought this film looks like it could be a great family film, a classic, and I was eager to see it but feared it was going to be a disappointment. My impression about Jack The Giant Slayer was right and I had the same impression about Oz the Great and Powerful, after seeing its trailers. I'm sorry to report that I was right about this film as well.

Oz the Great and Powerful falls short of the 1939 original in warmth, innocence, charm and most certainly in songs, however, it is most certainly a serviceable family film but when stacked up against a cinematic masterpiece like The Wizard of Oz serviceable simply isn't good enough. Taking on the monumental task of producing a prequel to and icon, one of the most beloved films of all time is indeed a very tall order. Oz the Great and Powerful seemed, for me, to take a long time to get going, but then in retrospect, so did The Wizard of Oz, so I guess that's not a fatal flaw.

I saw the 3D version and it was OK but director Sam Raimi, who directed not only the original Spiderman Trilogy but also the Evil Dead series, uses the 3D like he is still directing a horror film, with scare tactics like spears rain down into the audience.

And then there is one of my pet peeves, stupidity and continuity errors. While the tornado is whisking Oscar 'Oz' Diggs away from Kansas to the land of Oz, his hot air balloon basket is riddled with splintered 2 x 4s (a scary 3D effect where Oscar barely escapes being skewered, more horror movie 3D effects) but in the next scene the projectiles are all gone and there is no sign of the holes in the wicker basket...AARG! Although the subsequent scene of weightless is really quite effective. At any rate, I doubt that you will miss much if you choose to see the 2D version and you'll get to go home with a couple more bucks in your pocket.

Visually, I thought the Dr. Suess type Curly Q mountains and the innumerable waterfalls and natural arches of this latest incarnation of the land of Oz were just a bit too ludicrous and distracted from the mood. In fact, pretty much most of the CGI of Oz looked like just that...CGI, it is very reminiscent of the old painted backdrops from the sound stage era of the Hollywood studios that produced the original The Wizard of Oz.

I also had a bit of a problem with some of the performances. James Franco's (Oz) toothy grins worked very well for the 1905 carnival huckster buy got old very quickly once he arrived in Oz. It takes the entire film before you start to care anything about him. Mila Kunis (Theodora) seemed out of her element and plastic. Her eventual transition into her green makeup was awful, she looked silly rather than frightening. When you are portraying the younger version of Margaret Hamilton, an iconic character that everyone recognizes, the epitome of the scary witch, why change what isn't broken.

Same problem with Michelle Williams (Glinda), she had none of the charm, warmth or class or Billie Burke nor did she have Glinda the Good Witch's signature curly blonde hair, aside from the fact that her acting rang hollow and flat. At least Rachel Weisz (Evenora) is a clean slate so they could pretty much do whatever they wanted with her character.

Since there is no Lion, Scarecrow or Tin Man in this story the Wizard needs some companions to help him on his journey to destroy the wicked witch and fulfill the prophecy...enter Zach Braff (Finley) and Joey King (China Girl).

By way of puppetry and CGI images they are two of the better performances. Several of the small supporting roles were every bit as strong as the starring roles.

Up to this point I have been quite critical of the film but all of that said, it is a good film, a good family film and and entertaining film. It just doesn't measure up to the classic film it is supposed to be introducing. It is much better than the very forgettable Return to Oz (also from Disney) staring Fairuza Balk and Nicol Williamson.

Oz the Great and Powerful does get kudos for being profanity and sex free. In my opinion it is a bit too cerebral and perhaps a tiny bit too scary for the really small children.

If the Judy Garland classic had never been made you would most likely expect that this film would become a classic, but it will more likely become a soon forgotten footnote to the original.