Review of Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) by Adrian Z — 25 Jan 2014

Sam Raimi's Disney fueled prequel to The Wizard of Oz (the book, not the MGM musical) is mostly emotionally hollow, and takes some time to really kick into gear, but once it does - particularly when Mila Kunis undergoes her fantastic transformation from jilted lover Theodora to the scenery chewing Wicked Witch of the West we all love to hate, and Oz (played appropriately well by James Franco) assumes the responsibility he has been entrusted with - the film becomes as exciting and engaging as one would hope.

Oz's final "performance" is, in fact, very enjoyable. Oz's virtual companions in his adventure are noteworthy: the frail but lovely China girl (Joey King, who makes the character sweet and dainty), and Finley, an endearing, amusing flying monkey that gives Oz his unconditional loyalty (Zach Braff, who provides great voice over).

Not quiet the memorably charming lion, tin man, scarecrow trio of the old MGM movie, but pretty close considering they are CG characters. Michelle Williams, on the other hand, as Oz's damsel in distress is nothing special, and she is not CG! Visually and aurally, Oz shares much with Tim Burton's Alice, also another project that saw Disney studios updating a classic literary work.

However, world building requires much CG effects, and the landscapes of Oz, although pretty, sometimes become too patently artificial. Thankfully, even though Oz belongs to a genre one would not have associated with Raimi until now, the director does cheekily include some of his trademark shots and tricks: kinetic zooms, the comic book style montage.

scary characters bursting into shot, etc. Probably not a movie for the ages, but sufficiently worthwhile nonetheless.