Review of Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) by Ibraheem M — 20 Feb 2015

James Franco makes an unappealing lead in this children's fantasy. His delivery of lines is dull and lifeless and his characterisation is almost non-existent. He is over-shadowed by both Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz who play a pair of witches who are out to take over the land of Oz for themselves.

Michelle Williams takes the role of Glinda, the good witch, but she, like Franco, is forgettable and limp. Almost like Bridget Jones in a flowing dress. I did find one scene to be particularly well done, involving a living china doll who is broken by the witches minions.

She is glued back together by Franco's character Oscar in what is actually a very moving little segment of the film. Sadly, this is something of a pearl in the mud that surrounds it. Too much of what is on the screen feels like a rip-off of other, better films.

Notably the climatic battle between Weisz and Williams which is like a girly version of the battle between Ian McKellen's Gandalf and Christopher Lee's Saruman in The Fellowship of the Ring. There are some gaudy visuals and nice little references to the 1930s musical but this tale is neither dark enough to scare nor magical enough to enchant and really isn't up to the standard set by the Judy Garland classic.