“Jack the Giant Slayer” and “Oz the Great and Powerful”

The old story of Jack and the Beanstalk is retold in a new and exciting way in “Jack the Giant Slayer” however, this story falls short of the greatness that it could have been. “Oz” on the other hand, delivered a fun, creative story that truly blends well with “The Wizard of Oz.” Giants and large battles come together in “Jack” to attempt to bring excitement and hold together a storyline that unfortunately is lacking far beyond any amount of battles or gore could assist with. The violence, especially concerning the giants, was unnecessarily brutal and gross. The story needed a lot of improvement and it seemed thrown together overall instead of a well thought out idea. This made for an almost laughable film, with regret for spending the money in the first place. It's unfortunate for an actor like Ewan McGregor, a very talented actor but one who seems to land himself in poor films time and time again. Nicholas Hoult plays his part well but has a much better character in Warm Bodies. “Oz” steals the stage and brings back some hope lost in the Hollywood sea of poor quality films. It answers many questions that people have had for years with “The Wizard of Oz” and does not leave room for added unnecessary story that many other directors may have wanted to add. It is a beautifully made tale, the CG graphics play well with the storyline and at no point feel like overkill. It's family friendly, imaginative, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You won't want the movie to end! James Franco and Mila Kunis bring an unforgettable performance that won't soon be forgotten. From the start of the movie, which is in black and white (just like the “The Wizard of Oz”), to the end – you'll love this movie!