The long and winding road to a new version of “The Wizard of Oz” has finally come to an end. “Oz The Great and Powerful” is a worthy prequel to the original first released 74 years ago.
This Walt Disney Pictures film holds the viewers’ attention with an even pace through two hours plus, respectable performances turned in by the actors, great special effects in 3D, and numerous nods to the original Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer classic. This was in spite of legal straights Disney had to navigate, such as avoiding references to key characteristics of the 1939 movie, now owned by Warner Bros. Pictures.
James Franco and Michelle Williams were good choices for the top roles of Oscar Diggs and Glinda, respectively. They played it light and good humored, not too heavy, as this is a children’s story, after all. Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz are good fits as the two sisters who cause trouble for the land of Oz. The supporting cast includes Zach Braff, Joey King, Tim Holmes, Bill Cobbs, Tony Cox, Abigail Spencer, and Bruce Campbell.
Director Sam Raimi (“For Love of the Game” 1999), screenwriters Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, and producer Joe Roth did well in crafting this prequel to one of the most beloved films of all time. The very watchable “Oz The Great and Powerful” is well worth another trip down the yellow brick road, courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)
cinema
My Review
The long and winding road to a new version of “The Wizard of Oz” has finally come to an end. “Oz The Great and Powerful” is a worthy prequel to the original first released 74 years ago.
This Walt Disney Pictures film holds the viewers’ attention with an even pace through two hours plus, respectable performances turned in by the actors, great special effects in 3D, and numerous nods to the original Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer classic. This was in spite of legal straights Disney had to navigate, such as avoiding references to key characteristics of the 1939 movie, now owned by Warner Bros. Pictures.
James Franco and Michelle Williams were good choices for the top roles of Oscar Diggs and Glinda, respectively. They played it light and good humored, not too heavy, as this is a children’s story, after all. Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz are good fits as the two sisters who cause trouble for the land of Oz. The supporting cast includes Zach Braff, Joey King, Tim Holmes, Bill Cobbs, Tony Cox, Abigail Spencer, and Bruce Campbell.
Director Sam Raimi (“For Love of the Game” 1999), screenwriters Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, and producer Joe Roth did well in crafting this prequel to one of the most beloved films of all time. The very watchable “Oz The Great and Powerful” is well worth another trip down the yellow brick road, courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.