Oz the Great and Powerful 2013 is a delightful and breathtaking depiction of the enchanted kingdom. The story uncovers the origin of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. It is a well written tale that explains the relationship of the three witches and their struggle for power and control of the kingdom of Oz.
Rated PG. Run time: 2 hrs. 7min. Scifi/Fantasy. Now showing at: CineArts @ Santana Row, San Jose; Century Cinemas 16, Mountain View; and AMC Mercado 20, Santa Clara.
Writers: Mitchell Kapner (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay).
Director: Sam Raimi. Produced by: Joe Rother, and written by David Linday-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner. Stars: James Franco as Oscar Diggs, Mila Kunis as Theodora.
Rachel Weisz as Evanora, and Michelle Williams as Glinda. Film score by Danny Elfman.
Plot:
Oscar Diggs (Oz) is a magician in a traveling circus who dreams of fame and fortune. He uses his charm and beguiling nature to lure attractive women into assisting him. That is until the circus strongman (Tim Holmes) learns that Oz has flirted with his wife. The strongman vows to tear him limb from limb. A storm approaches as Oz flies to escape the strongman’s wrath.
Oz is whisked away in a hot air balloon straight into the eye of a tornado. Fragments from the raging whirlwind threaten to tear the balloon apart. Oz shouts a promise to be a better person if he be allowed to survive the ordeal. When the storm subsides, he discovers that he has been transported from the windblown Kansas landscape to the magical Land of Oz.
In Oz, he meets a witch called Theodora (Mila Kunis). She believes him to be the great and powerful wizard whose coming was foretold. She tells him that he was sent to save her people by overthrowing a “Wicked Witch” who killed their king. In doing so, he will become the new king of Oz. Oz flirts with her as he did the other women, and she too is taken in by his charms. Theodora believes that he loves her, and intends to take her for his queen.
On the way to the Emerald City, they come across a flying monkey named Finley (Zach Braff). Finley pledges a life debt to Oscar for saving him from a lion.
When Oz reaches the Emerald City, he meets Theodora's sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), who is not convinced that he is the great and powerful wizard. She tempts him with the riches of the kingdom, but tells him that the task to become king will not be easy as he first must destroy Glinda (Michelle Williams), the witch who killed their king (or did she?)
Now Oz must keep his promise by gaining the trust of his new friends, and using all of his cunning and craft to save the kingdom.
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