Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire
Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, and Mila Kunis
‘Powerful Prequel’
I love it when movies surprise me. When they accomplish rare things that haven’t been done before or bring spark to a genre. After all, it is exciting when one’s low expectations for a film somehow vanish when they see it.
A prequel to 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz”, “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a very well-made and entertaining fantasy film. Although it has a rather simplistic story, the execution of the film is more effective than what one would expect from any other movie of its type.
The film follows Oz (James Franco), a magician who dreams of becoming a great man. When he is transported to a magical land, he must save its people from a terror on the loose.
As much as the title emphasizes that this film is great and powerful, it really isn’t. A fine film that is enjoyable in its ways but nothing close to the standard set by its title. Going, however, by the feats reached by fantasy movies these days, “Oz the Great and Powerful” rises above the occasion. It is strung together impressively by a devoted director and an excellent cast.
Sam Raimi, the director of the Spider-Man trilogy, is the last person I would have expected to pull of magic in this genre. He just seemed like an odd choice, due to his filmography which consisted of nothing but horror and action films. However, I was truly mistaken. With “Oz the Great and Powerful”, Raimi proves that he can not only make a fantasy film, but he can also make an admirable one. This talent displays him as an undeniably versatile director.
Two of the most important things that every fantasy film needs are visual appeal and a great story. This film has both, and one never seems to overpower the other, which is a rarity in movies of this type. “Oz” is visually breathtaking, creating a world that despite lacking originality, turns out to be quite memorable. The colors and vibrancy of the setting contribute towards the movie’s visuals tremendously. Yet what really sets this film apart from other ones in the genre is its transition from black-and-white to color. The movie begins in 4:3 aspect ratio with black-and-white format, expanding later on into the everyday ratio used in movies with color. It is a clever decision that is pulled of impressively; a real joy to watch when you’ve never seen such a thing happen.
The script is like a car on a rather rocky road. In other words, it has ups and downs. Fortunately, though, there are more good things to say about it than bad. Something that I didn’t expect to be so charming was the dialogue in this film. It’s sharp, funny, and quite witty. Much of the interactions between characters are entertaining to watch because of the strength of the dialogue. And then there are the characters themselves who are mostly interesting and even fascinating. Yet here is where the problems start to kick in: some are really not. Oz, the lead character of the movie, is unsurprisingly dynamic, whereas the movie’s witches are poorly established and dull.
For a cast filled with excellent actors, what could possibly go wrong? Well, as I mentioned, the script doesn’t have entirely developed characters, which creates challenges for some cast members. There are actors that excel due to their captivating characters, while on the other hand there are those that don’t.
James Franco is great in the lead role. He has just the right amount of charisma and likability as an actor, to pull of the performance. Apparently, Franco was the last choice for playing this role; before him Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp. I would’ve been interested in what they could do with this role, but Franco was top-notch. I have to say it would be hard to imagine anyone else playing the character.
Michelle Williams, Rachael Weisz, and Mila Kunis are passable in supporting roles. All three are talented actresses for sure, but there is just not enough development to their characters.
Unique characters in the film include Finley (a flying monkey) and a cute China doll played exuberantly by the actors in the cast.
Overall, the movie doesn’t live up to the high standard set by its title, but it’s still enjoyable entertainment for kids. Better than what you would expect from a film in the genre.
The Film Buff 
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