Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

A small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.

Director:

 Sam Raimi

Writers:

 Mitchell Kapner (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire(screenplay)

Stars:

 James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz

Storyline

Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when 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 and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well. 

User Reviews

Since Oz The Great And Powerful is a big budget special-effects film by Walt Disney Pictures it's been advertised for a long time. The trailer made me interested, and I was looking forward to watching the film. In the interviews director Sam Raimi and the cast mentioned that the film was made with 3D cameras. The 3D is used very well, but it's also clear from the beginning that a lot of effort was put into making the film look dazzling. The computer-generated imagery is very impressive. Not everything looks perfect but the CGI characters look almost realistic. Of note is the little China Girl voiced well by Joey King, the girl who played a young Talia al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). The China Girl is a visual wonder and one of the most interesting characters. The whole cast is solid. James Franco, playing Oscar "Oz" Diggs, smiles a bit too many times but he's charming and compassionate in the role. Rachel Weisz as Evanora is beautiful and cunning while Mila Kunis sure can cackle in her striking costume as Theodora. Michelle Williams was a good choice to play Glinda because she comes off as well-meaning, knowing and sincere. Although well cast the film still suffers because there a a bit too many characters. It would have been better if there were two witches instead of three. The script, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner, should have been better too. American author L. Frank Baum wrote thirteen novel sequels after The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, so it shouldn't have been a problem to pick material from the rich mythology that he created. Raimi plays it safe by making the film similar to Victor Fleming's great The Wizard Of Oz (1939). The film's opening sequence is presented in black-and-white, transitioning into color when the protagonist arrives in Oz. But Raimi is an excellent director so there's no shortage of spectacle. Danny Elfman composed a forgettable score, but at least Mariah Carey's song Almost Home is a return to form for the singer-songwriter. Despite its shortcomings Oz The Great And Powerful is still a wondrous entertaining fantasy adventure that adults and especially children will enjoy. I recommend it.