Movie Review - Oz: The Great and Powerful

Well as it stands, this is my first official movie review!

Oz: The Great and Powerful
Staring
James Franco - Oz
Mila Kunis - Theodora
Rachel Weisz - Evanora
Michelle Williams - Glinda/Annie
Zach Braff - Finley/Frank

The movie opens much as you would expect from a Oz movie, black and white and in a letter box aspect ratio. Oz is a failing magician in a traveling circus. He is played off as some sort of playboy of the circus, always trying to find the next girl. It seems that he would use the same story over and over to get attention from the women of the circus. I feel that this would have been discovered early on in his career with the circus, however, there is no indication that it was happening for his entire time traveling. After a performance with a attempt of a tear jerker with Oz being asked by a little girl to fix her legs so she can walk, saying that she believed in him. Oz is visited by a woman from the town near by, Annie. Yes it is that Annie. After she talks with Oz about their past relationship, one of the circus folk comes after Oz, due to his playboy nature. We are left with Oz escaping in a hot air balloon that is being drawn into a twister. End opening act.

Now that Oz was in the land of Oz, the screen opens to full wide and we get a blast of color. Something that people may or may not know about the Oz stories by Frank Baum, color is a very important aspect. Depending on the color of clothing, cities, and other things in the world, you can obtain a quick understanding of the surroundings. With me knowing this, I was no surprised by many of the "twists" in the story. But I am sure the average movie buff will still have a surprise waiting for them. After meeting with Theodora, being taken to the Emerald City, and being twisted by Evanora, Oz leaves to try and kill the bad witch.

The little girl that could not walk from the opening returns as a china doll that has broken legs. Oz is sure quick to fix the broken legs with glue. Seeming putting closure to that side story.

Spoilers ahead















As it turns out, the bad witch is Evanora. This is quickly reveled when she give a apple of all things to her sister Theodora. It turns her into the green witch that we have seen in the original movie.

Oz is left to retake the city and save the land of Oz. After faking his death, he uses a machine to make him self appear as a face in smoke.

All is good after a few words are exchanged and the two evil witches leave.















End Spoilers






Oz does not return to our world, but stays to offer wishes to the people of Oz.








This movie is a kids movie for sure. It would appeal to adults as well or anyone who is a fan of Frank Baum, as this is one of his original stories. The repetitive of lines about being good and great, the worn out coming of age story, and the attempt to put to much of The Wizard of Oz into the movie made for a slight disappointment. This movie is its own story, it should not and can not be compared to The Wizard of Oz.
All in all I would give it a 7 out of 10. This would be a movie I would buy on DVD or Blu-ray but not see in theaters again.