Oz the Great and Powerful

 

Now this is more like it.  Oz the Great and Powerful is pretty much everything that last weekend's disappointing Jack the Giant Slayer wasn't.  Not only are its effects stunning, but it also shows some real imagination in their design.  And while the plot is nothing new, I found it kind of engaging.  There is a sense of fun here that I found missing from Jack.  The effects and the world it creates serve a purpose, and are not just for show.  Of the many recent blockbuster films inspired by children's stories, this is easily my favorite, with last year's Snow White and the Huntsman close behind.

The movie serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.  This is not a new idea, as anyone who has read Gregory Maguire's wonderful novel, Wicked, or the Broadway musical that was made out of it knows.  However, while Maguire's story told the events from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West, this film gives us the story from the Wizard himself.  We get to see how a small time circus magician and con artist named Oscar (Oz to his friends) came to the magical land of Oz, and how he achieved the status of power he held when Dorothy eventually arrived years later.  We see how he created his illusions, we see how the Wicked Witch came to be, and we even get to see some parts of Oz that we haven't seen in past film adaptations, like a city that was once comprised entirely out of living porcelain glass China dolls (until the evil flying monkeys came and destroyed all but one of its inhabitants).

James Franco plays the man who will eventually be the Wizard, Oscar "Oz" Diggs.  With his wide toothy grin and snake oil charm, Franco is a surprisingly good fit for the character.  I've heard other people say he's miscast, but he didn't strike me as such.  He brings a certain theatrical style that the character needs.  He's a womanizing circus magician as the film opens.  In a clever nod to the 1939 film, director Sam Raimi shoots the opening scenes in black and white (complete with a smaller scale-sized screen), and then switches to color and full screen once Oscar arrives at his mystical destination.  In another reference to that earlier film, the people that surround him at the circus will play different roles once he arrives in Oz.  The woman who truly owns his heart, but is engaged to be married to a man with the last name of "Gale" (played by Michelle Williams), appears as Glenda the Good in Oz.  Even Oscar's long-suffering assistant at the circus (Zach Braff) is reimagined as a timid flying monkey who accompanies him on his adventures.

And just how does Oscar wind up in Oz?  When his womanizing ways catch up with him and he ends up angering the circus Strong Man, he must make a quick escape in a hot air balloon.  A storm cuts his flight short, and once the balloon is sucked into a violent tornado, he finds himself transported to the mystical kingdom.  Once there, he is immediately thrown in the middle of a conflict of three witch sisters who are fighting for control of the Emerald City.  There's the previously mentioned Glenda, as well as her two sisters; the scheming Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and the naive Theodora (Mila Kunis).  Of these three, one of them will eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West that we all know.  And since we can obviously rule out Glenda, that gives us two choices, and it's really quite easy to figure it out as the plot plays out.

But it's not figuring out the plot that's the fun part of this movie, anyway.  It's the charming way the story is told, and the fact that even with a $200 million budget, Sam Raimi has not lost any of his edge, or his enthusiasm for the strange.  For once, this doesn't feel like a talented director selling out for a bloated blockbuster.  All of his trademarks are here, from the bizarre horror elements and weird creatures (though obviously toned down considerably for the younger kids), right down to the expected cameo by Bruce Campbell.  He also doesn't fall down a lot of the pitfalls that similar special effects spectaculars sink into.  For example, even though the film provides Oscar with two CG comic relief sidekicks (the previously mentioned flying monkey, and a living China doll), they are likable, not odious or obnoxious.  Not only are the effects used to bring the characters to life second to none, but the voice acting by Zach Braff and Joey King respectively are filled with humor and charm.

Oz the Great and Powerful is that rare blockbuster that just feels alive.  The characters have personality, and the world they inhabit has obviously been crafted with care by the set designers and special effects artists.  There are obviously plenty of nods to the 1939 film, but since this movie was made by Disney, and that earlier film is currently owned by Warner Bros., the filmmakers were forced to create their own unique spin on some of the more iconic images.  In a way, this is a blessing in disguise, as it allows us to see a different interpretation on some familiar material.  This is easily the most beautiful looking movie of 2013 so far.  I saw the film in traditional 2D, which is vibrant and colorful.  I can't comment on how good the 3D is, but there are a number of scenes where it looks like it could actually be useful.  I'd have to hear if it is worth it, but I just may consider seeking of the 3D version, and seeing how it stacks up.

 

So often when a talented director gets attached to a big project like their, they lose their personality and just make a shallow commercial product.  Raimi has successfully bucked the trend, and given us a devilish and quite entertaining little fantasy.  It doesn't reinvent the genre, but no one said it had to.  It's just incredibly fun, a wonder to look at, and simply joyful.

See the movie times in your area or buy the DVD at Amazon.com!

 

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