One key thing the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz proved is that movie magic and magic in movies go hand-in-hand. This might be a mild spoiler, but most of us know by now that the actual wizard of Oz was never a real wizard, but a con-artist who used machines and gimmicks to wow the inhabitants of Oz into submission. It's also an interestingly insightful reflection on filmmaking itself, with the filmmakers fulfilling the exact same role as the wizard; they use camera tricks, elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects to bring the fantasy to life before the audience, and trick us all into believing that Oz can be a real place with real people. Even though the film is incredibly fake-looking and laughably cheesy, it's become cemented as an endearing classic in American cinema; it's an impressive feat that this 70+ year old classic still captures audiences' imaginations.
Obviously, nothing can top the 1939 Wizard of Oz. The 2013 prequel, Oz: The Great and Powerful, follows into the modern trend of taking classic fairy tales and giving them an epic-scale treatment (along the same lines as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and yesteryear's Snow White and the Huntsman). It is on that level that O:TGAP should be evaluated; it's a big, large-scale remix of the classic Wizard of Oz elements with a massive CGI spectacle.
The most critical of audiences probably won't be impressed, but I personally felt that this film is decently entertaining. It has action and peril, especially in the last act; the final battle in Emerald City offers a satisfying climax with plenty of spectacle, but without overdoing things that much. I was thrilled to see the witches fighting, and it was pretty cool. Even though CGI is dispensed liberally throughout the feature with mixed results, it is a visually striking experience at times. There is a lot of silly humor thrown about as well, which may come off as a hit or a miss. Overall, it is a whimsical adventure that made me smile at times, and kept my interest all the way through.
The film's most redeeming quality will be it story. The actual plot is somewhat derivative - it's pretty much the exact same formula as the 2010 Alice in Wonderland - and the story is predictable, especially if you know what happens in the classic Oz film. Still, long-time fans will geek out at all the Wizard of Oz references, and this film does a fine job of establishing the characters and concepts that would ultimately lead up to the original movie. The film has a number of one-dimensional side characters who could have benefited from more development. However, the wizard takes the spotlight throughout, and the film does a great job of establishing his character, showing his growth and development, and ultimately tying in the classic themes of magic, imagination, and belief with the story's pathos. It's not the same meta-theme that went into the old film, but this film uses it in a fashion that supports the story, and makes it just as interesting.
This film features pretty solid and distinctive photography. You can bet that the opening scenes are black-and-white, and rest is color, just like the original film. It even uses a smaller, square aspect ration, until the actual Oz scenes, where the screen expands magically. Some shots are pretty wild, a few shots swung pretty heavily side-to-side, and plenty of other shots reminded me a lot of the Peter Jackson Middle Earth films, thanks to the frequent sweeping and movements. Editing is not bad. Acting is generally satisfying: James Franco won't impress everyone, but I felt his portrayal was appropriately showy and boisterous, and fit the character very well. Mila Kunis is regarded as the odd one out, and I'll admit that she did seem out of place at first, but I enjoyed her performances in the second half. Rachel Weisz is as great as ever, and it's hard not to love Michelle Williams. Writing is not too bad. This production has fine and dandy sets, props, and costumes, which mostly match up well with the original Oz film. Special effects look great in some spots, not so great in others. Music has its moments too.
As expected from a Sam Raimi film, Oz: The Great and Powerful is a bright, colorful, humorous adventure with whimsey and zeal. It comes best recommended to non-discerning popcorn flick fans, families, and Wizard of Oz fans.
4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)
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