The Film
Does the director of the original Spider-Man trilogy have enough superpowers left in the tank to deliver an in-depth backstory for our beloved Wizard of Oz? Oz isn't the only one that's great and powerful; director Sam Raimi deserves props as well.
Because when it was first announced that the creator of The Evil Dead franchise would be putting his quirky mark on The Wizard of Oz, it didn't sit well with a lot of people. However, Oz the Great and Powerful offers an interesting peek at the semi-magical man -- and is quite a feast for the senses to boot.
Designed as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the film pulls back the curtain to explain how this mortal man became the wonderful Wizard of Oz. When we first meet Oscar "Oz" Diggs (James Franco), he's a bit of a phony -- much like we see in the 1939 film. However, he certainly has his share of powers. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to possess the power to talk his way out of a pummeling, so he sets off in a hot air balloon that just happens to be headed straight for a Kansas tornado.
Sound familiar? Of course, anyone seeing this film is probably familiar with Dorothy, Toto and the rest of the iconic film. If that's the case, expect to see quite a few similarities.
At 130 minutes, Oz the Great and Powerful is a bit long, but has a ton of eye candy to keep you entertained. It also helps that the film is filled with famous faces (and voices). Rachel Weisz makes for a wicked Evanora, the Wicked Witch of the East, while Michelle Williams is enchanting as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. Mila Kunis is pretty surprising as Theodora, who (spoiler alert!) goes on to become the Wicked Witch of the West. The one performance that's not 100-percent perfect is Franco, who comes off like he's on the Pineapple Express to Oz. He's decent, but it would have been better with Robert Downey, Jr. -- as would most movies!
Want to conjure up a little extra magic for this movie? Check out Joe Lozito's theatrical review of Oz the Great and Powerful.
The Picture
Even during the film's opening 1.33:1 black-and-white moments, Oz is pretty powerful indeed. The image is sharp, with great contrast and nice overall detail. The tornado offers a lot of crazy pop-out moments, showing off the debris caught up in the storm. Of course, when the film adds color and goes to a 2.40:1 image, it's truly an eye-popping adventure. The colors are absolutely stunning. Also worth noting is that Oz is a movie that's made for 3D -- and is definitely worth the upgrade. The 3D viewing experience is excellent, thanks to River Fairies, flying monkeys, fireballs, and all sorts of cool, creative imagery. Also, the characters are just as colorful as the scenery. It's really a feast for the eyeballs.
The Sound
Disney matches the stunning visuals up with an equally impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Dialogue is always clear, whether it's coming out of Oz, the witches, flying monkey Finley or the Munchkins. However, it's all of the wonderful effects that make this such a bold, immersive track. The tornado is a very powerful moment, filling the soundfield with wind and great directional effects. From there, the Land of Oz is busting with cackling witches, marching armies, flying monkeys and fireworks. It pairs wonderfully with the image, as well as the content.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Oz the Great and Powerful is a grand adventure, albeit a long one. For the most part, it's well acted, directed, and more importantly, really cool looking. Now, that's not to say it will become a classic like the 1939 musical. However, it is a gorgeous, entertaining movie that's made for 3D viewing. Despite the lack of extras, the 3D image and audio make this the powerful, more worthy purchase.
Product Details
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