With a cast of some well-known actors and an established director in Sam Raimi, “Oz the Great and Powerful” had the potential to bring in big box-office numbers, as well as provide fans of the “Oz” story a well-developed movie. Where “Oz the Great and Powerful” will probably not do too badly at the box office, the movie is a bit off of the mark in its execution. “Oz the Great and Powerful” holds some dazzling special effects once Oz enters Oz, but it is not nearly as enthralling in 2D. This is most definitely a movie that needs to be seen in 3D to get the full effect, but it is not really worth the extra few bucks.
“Oz the Great and Powerful” focuses on Oz, a small-time magician who arrives in an enchanted land and is forced to decide if he will be a good man or a great one. The story is, of course, based off the characters of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” “Oz the Great and Powerful” is a story set before “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
The movie does have some humorous parts that will entertain the viewer. The younger audience will most likely find more enjoyment in it than the adult viewers. However, fans of Oz may revel in the fact that more tales of Oz are up on the big screen again. The storyline is done fine, with a script by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire that is at times a bit over the top, but overall is acceptable. The acting of Franco, Kunis, Williams and Weisz is intentionally over the top, so it is forgivable.
The real miss of the film is the lack of emotional attachment that is made to Oz himself. He is not all that likeable until the very end and it makes it a bit hard to connect. This will not be a major issue for the younger audience. However, for the older crowd, the movie is a little too over done at times without a likeable lead to help the progression. The movie does not provide quite enough aspects to entice the viewer in really wanting to continue the task of watching the bit too long two hour and ten minute flick.
Grade: C
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