What it lacks, rather like Oscar himself, is any authentic magic: the script’s post-‘Shrek’ wisecracks feel especially out of place, and the over-processed digital landscapes can’t match the beauty of handmade Hollywood artifice. From its engaging black-and-white prologue, introducing James Franco as Oscar, a shyster Kansas conjuror set for a very unexpected journey, to the widened aspect ratio and saturated Technicolor-style palette as he’s carried to Oz by a familiar-looking tornado, Raimi’s film is far more in thrall to the Hollywood classic than the more subversive ‘Return to Oz’ was.Īs Oscar is mistakenly embraced by the people of Oz as their long-awaited leader, charged with settling the battle between good (as represented by Michelle Williams’s wholesome witch Glinda) and evil (vampishly wielded by Rachel Weisz’s Evanora), he’s effectively a smart-arse stand-in for Dorothy, with the film treading a story path as indebted to the original as its explicitly referential production design. The good news, then, is that Sam Raimi’s long, lavish, somewhat lumbering prequel is a more respectful retread than we might have expected from the studio behind Tim Burton’s hideous, near sacrilegious ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Such is the cultural landmark status of MGM’s 1939 ‘The Wizard of Oz’ that any attempt to adjoin it on screen, however laudable, seems a fool’s errand from the get-go.
#WIZARD OF OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL CAST MOVIE#
For us moviegoers, it's a movie home called "Oz," and it remains a wonderful place to travel to for a couple of fresh, fantasy-filled hours.It’s been 28 years since Disney last followed the Yellow Brick Road – and given the critical and commercial whipping endured by 1985’s tangled, terrifying ‘Return to Oz’, you can hardly blame them for being cautious.
If "Oz the Great and Powerful" proves anything, it's that there's still no place like home. From a soul-stirring standpoint, the movie doesn't have a "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" song moment that will instantly bring you to tears, but you should still get ready for those 3D to get steamed up during a touching scene near the conclusion of the film. Oz the Great and Powerful: video interview with James Franco, Michelle Williams and Sam Raimi Sam Raimis prequel to The Wizard of Oz sees a sideshow trickster blown in a hot air balloon from his. While "Oz the Great and Powerful" ventures into dark territory, it's an exhilarating ride nonetheless. The wicked witches are, well, wicked, too, and in one case, in her cursed state, reminds you of the deadite witch that Raimi's pal, Bruce Campbell (who appears in "Oz" in a cameo), fended off at the end of their classic horror comedy "Army of Darkness." To go soft would have been doing Baum's and the original "Oz" film's legacy a disservice.Īfter all, this is a film for kids of all ages, in particular the ones who were, yes, frightened by those same winged monkeys growing up. While rated PG, "Oz the Great and Powerful," like "The Wizard of Oz," has its share of frightening moments, and it's a relief that Raimi didn't pull back on the harnesses of his winged baboons to not frighten any potential audience members. Interview: James Franco talks 'Oz the Great and Powerful' The performances are two shining examples of the film's great balance between its characters and fantastic special effects. The characters put furthest on the limb are the ones brought to life through motion capture: Finley (Zach Braff), Oscar's winged monkey assistant, and China Girl (Joey King), a living porcelain doll who brings a great deal of heart to the film. Essentially, they play their roles as such as if they were actors in 1939, and from that perspective, they fit the bill perfectly. The movie itself was a curious blend of animation, CGI, and live-action performances. A little over-the-top when the situation calls for it, he also shows surprising depth in some scenes. Under the direction of Raimi, the actors are clearly trying to capture a feeling - and it's either of innocent, hunky dory movie types, or just straight-up, wicked villains. That said, I thought he did well in 'Oz the Great and Powerful' as a shady, second-rate carnival magician who suddenly finds himself in a fantastical situation. The acting in the film is as good as to be expected, even though none of its celebrated cast really give deep, introspective performances. Here the third dimension works beautifully, as the director uses it not only for depth, but for all its gimmicky glory, as fireworks shoot of the screen and various objects appear to floating right in front of your eyes.
Painting one of the most impressive pictures of a big-screen fantasyland in the last year, Raimi has a handle on what he wants in "Oz the Great and Powerful," right from the dizzying opening title sequence that immediately puts to proper use the over-used and most-often failing medium of 3D.
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