Oz The Great & Powerful

It’s difficult to be a prequel for one of the greatest fantasy films of all-time. Made in 1939, “The Wizard Of Oz” eventually became one of the most beloved classics in the history of film. It won a couple of Oscars and did fairly well at the Box Office but it wasn’t until it it was shown on televisions across America in 1956 that it became the clear-cut success that it is. After decades of attempting a few successors to the King, FINALLY Disney has gotten it somewhat right.

Despite some glaringly ugly reviews from critics in print such as Rolling Stone (Peter Travers RIPPED it apart!) and The Boston Globe (Ty Burr thought it had its moments), I have to be perfectly honest when I say this film is exactly what it’s OTHER CGI counterparts is not…a brilliant concoction of entertainment that actually fills the shoes that have been left for it. Where “Alice In Wonderland” was completely heartless, I found this movie to have a little spirit. Where “Sucker Punch” was a video-gamers wet dream, this movie incorporates action without letting it take over the film. And there have been a slew of other films that have taken CGI to a level that dampens the fun but not in this case. In my opinion (and everyone is allowed theirs), “Oz The Great & Powerful” is everything that a modern day director could have given us without sucking the life out of the franchise.

If there are any arguments for discussion, let’s start with James Franco as the lead character. Honestly, I didn’t think he would fit the bill. As a philanderer and a hoax, this particular character needed to be dealt with in a cautious way. Make him too goofy and the kids wouldn’t buy him as “the Great & Powerful,” make him too smarmy and it would turn off the parents. Franco balances them both and, although I didn’t find this to be his best role, I thought he did a pretty good job considering the character.

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t seen the movie…skip this next paragraph…

The 3 witches are headed by the fantastic Michelle Williams as Glinda The Good. She channels the original (Billie Burke) to a tee (without the odd vocal style that Burke brought to the character) and is the heart of the movie. Rachel Weisz is fantastic as Evanora. She makes the eldest witch her own and gives her just the right dash of evil. She’s beautifully wicked and she was a perfect choice for this role. Finally, the stunning & talented Mila Kunis, who is, sad to say, sorely miscast as the youngest sister, Theodora. I really love Mila. She is a great actress and has a bubbly personality but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t grasp her as this character and when she becomes the Wicked Witch, I just felt like she just wasn’t big enough to be her. It’s not that she doesn’t do a decent job, and there’s a scene where she once again makes an appearance in Munchkinland that is top notch, but overall…the Wicked Witch is such an iconic character, I would have liked to see a different actress give it a go.

SPOILER ALERT OVER!

Other things to note: the CGI land of Oz is spectacular in 3D, there’s a scene with the Munchkins that is hysterical, I LOVED the character of China Girl (a little CGI character that becomes one of the gang when her town is wiped out by the winged monkeys), there are a few references to beloved Frank Baum characters that make short appearances and really give this film a boost, the beginning of the movie is excellent (black & white and shot in 4×3) and I really enjoyed the ending. Some were saying that there were too many endings but I didn’t get that at all. I thought it all wrapped up neatly and answered many questions that I would have had about these characters that would later appear in “The Wizard Of Oz.”

Overall, I think as far as where we are in film today and when attempting to back pedal to tell a story that is linked to a film that is over 60 years its predecessor, director Sam Raimi has done Frank L. Baum proud and directed a movie that is entertaining and faithful without becoming a complete graphics mess. It could have easily been a disaster but I’m happy to say it is not at all…and in the big budget world of modern filmmaking, where giving an effects-laden film heart is becoming more & more difficult, Raimi and the Disney machine have cranked out one that might also someday be seen as a “classic.”

Overall Rating: B+

The Bourne Legacy

Ok…I gotta be honest here…I’ve seen ALL of the Bourne movies and I can’t tell you the difference between #1 and #3. I’m not sure exactly what the hell is going on in this series but here’s what I am gathering from this one…the government is looking to enhance soldiers to make “super soldiers” for the military and a small group of them have been taking certain meds in order to make that happen. Jason Bourne was one of them but there were more. Now the series is taking a different direction and focusing on Aaron Cross (Renner), who finds himself on the run when the government decides to shut down the program. Needless to say, he must run…and run fast several times…in order to survive. Along the way, he enlists the aid of a scientist to keep him alive and, in the process, many people get the living snot beat out of them…including Cross.

You would think I would grow tired of this genre of movie. It’s been done many times over and I can’t say that this film is any different than the previous 3 thrillers that hold its namesake and were just as exciting to watch as this one. But I have to admit…as long as the hero is likable (and he is), the heroine is attractive (and she is) and the action is off the hook intense (which it is!), then I dig these types of action movies! Sure…the plot can be convoluted. I mean, we ARE talking conspiracy here people! But in the end, it’s all a bunch of mumbo jumbo that is just a precursor to the ass kicking action that you KNOW is gonna take place. It helps that everyone in this movie is a qualified actor. Renner is top notch as Cross, Rachel Weisz is great as the scientist who helps him stay alive and Ed Norton, Scott Glenn and Stacey Keach are equally as good as the bad CIA guys who want Cross more dead than alive.

Is it better than the first three? I’ll leave that for you to decide. But if you liked the previous Bourne movies, I guarantee you’ll probably enjoy this one as well.

Overall Rating: B