Oz, The Great and Powerful - Warning Track Power by SHINYGOODGUY

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Oz, The Great and Powerful - Warning Track Power

POSTED BY: SHINYGOODGUY
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 14:06
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Tuesday, March 12, 2013 9:41 AM

When I first heard that James Franco would be the title character in the movie Oz, The Great and Powerful, I thought it was a casting mistake. Why not RDJ or DiCaprio, or maybe even Justin Timberlake. I was somewhat disappointed because I didn't think he could pull it off.

I was half right.

Oz was a long fly ball that made it to the warning track. And because he fell short of the fences in the outfield there was a bit of a let down in the film's overall energy. Don't get me wrong Riami did his best to pay homage to the 1939 Classic, but no, it never quite captured my imagination. It was entertaining and often funny, but it never quite reached it's potential.

There is somewhat of a love story between Oscar (Oz, the Wizard) and Theadora (the lovely Mila Kunis, she could do much better than Ashton Kutcher - what a maroon) who is the younger sister of Evanora, who is in charge of keeping the throne warm for the prophesied Wizard. Their brief encounter was set up properly but it quickly fizzled out, as he was sent on a wild goose chase by Evanora setting up the premise of the movie. I'm not sure if they were closely following the story in the book, but it seemed rather simplistic. As I always say, it's the story that drives any film.

To me, Kunis's talents were wasted here. She was fabulous (she's keeps getting better each time I see her - also, she is stunningly beautiful in this picture), but it felt like the material failed to meet her level of intensity. It was like sending a Shakespearean actor to do Sesame Street.
Franco was bearly able to keep up. Michelle Williams, as Glinda, also was not given enough of a juicy role to sink her teeth into, she was good but she's capable of so much more. Of the three witches Rachel Weisz, as Evanora, was by far the best of the three ladies. Overall the script could have gone further, although it was enjoyable enough. Franco was just the right amount of con artist and sideshow phony, but something didn't quite click with the other characters.

The set pieces and computer animation were quite seamless and often times spectacular. The pacing of the movie clicked along but it still felt as though it was moving slowly at times. There were, for me, moments of brilliance as the film paid it's respects to the original (as I understand it none of the signature pieces could be used such as the OH - EE - UM chant of the witches guards, the Ruby slippers or any of the songs from the original). But we do find out about the origins of the Wicked Witches and how Oz became the Wizard Deluxe. Still though, I had great fun, in spite of the minor flaws. This could have been so much more in the hands of a more skilled fantasy director, but I think that it will set records and will not be challenged until the release of Iron Man 3 and Catching Fire later this year.

But please do go, you'll have fun. The kiddies will like it too.

SGG

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013 1:04 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
But please do go, you'll have fun.
SGG

Nope. I'll wait for the DVD or forget it all together.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013 1:54 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht

I'm not much of an Oz fan, it was okay when I was little (the books not the movie) but I wasn't that interested in this. But now maybe I'll go if its a proper fantasy movie and not just for kiddos. I hate going to the theater though because its so spendy these days. :(

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013 1:51 PM

SHINYGOODGUY

It was mixed feelings for me, but it did pay tribute to the original, only thing I wish it was given to someone with more storytelling skills. It was good, but not great.

So sure, wait for the video.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
But please do go, you'll have fun.
SGG

Nope. I'll wait for the DVD or forget it all together.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013 2:06 PM

SHINYGOODGUY

Yeah, I get what you mean, some of these movies completely cater to the kiddies in the audience and adults suffer the consequences. It is entertaining with some minor flaws, but you won't pull your hair out with boredom. It does have some brilliant moments, but few and far in between.

But it did, at times, have the feel of the original but director Raimi could not sustain it throughout. Good try, but the leftfielder caught it at the warning track........

The movies are headed to disaster if the family can't afford to go anymore.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by RionaEire:
I'm not much of an Oz fan, it was okay when I was little (the books not the movie) but I wasn't that interested in this. But now maybe I'll go if its a proper fantasy movie and not just for kiddos. I hate going to the theater though because its so spendy these days. :(

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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