Oz: The Great and Powerful

Oz: The Great and Powerful is brimming with magic and boasts splendid entertainment. It is a visual marvel in the vein of the revisionist film version of Alice in Wonderland (which I hopelessly adored). The 3D gimmicks that threaten to touch our corneas are ever-present but are matched in equal measure with inventiveness that excavates the depths of the screen. Most notably, I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of wit in this film and the heart that is revealed near the end, which are great magic tricks as any. If you are a sucker for fantasy films like me, this is nothing short of a spectacular adventure.

Suspension of disbelief. Forget the cinematic terminology for a moment and let's just talk about belief. We all have a belief system. What we see with our eyes open is what we choose to believe, the rest is all hokum (I wonder why). Naturally, the movie screen and its many pleasures can be experienced only with our eyes open. Strangely enough none of what is on screen is real. It is faked. This doesn't bother us much as most films imitate life and skew the illusion. When it comes to fantasy films (more so than any other genre) there is indeed a clash in our belief system. The screen is an optical illusion and to top this, what is projected on it is surreal. No way would we believe that, would we?

The work of a filmmaker becomes increasingly difficult since he has to make a good film and work tenfold with your belief system. The children are easy, it is the adults who have seen too much life and reality that decide to reject everything they don't believe (in). I believe, to successfully enjoy a fantasy film you do not need suspension of disbelief, all you need is belief. This is something Oscar believes in too.

James Franco plays Oscar Diggs, a magician from Kansas who wants to do great things, fondly called Oz. After his Oscar hosting debacle, this is strange redemption for the actor. He has the charm and the humor but it works better when emotion isn't compromised. Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams are the witches in the land of Oz. I'll leave you to sift the good from the bad.

The Wizard of Oz (1939) is undeniably one of the most iconic American films. Judy Garland is Dorothy and Over the Rainbow is one of my favorite songs of all time. The only thing that annoys the hell out of me whenever I watch the film are the munchkins. I burst into a ludicrous bout of laughter when the film acknowledges my irritation. When a character mentions he can make a scarecrow, Oz replies “That'll come in handy”. The characters of the Scarecrow, Tin-Man, the Lion and the Wicked Witch were all reflections of the people Dorothy knew in her life in Kansas. This film has a few characters (Michelle Williams, Zach Braff and the girl who can't walk), which find a place in the world of Oz. The best homage comes in the form of the switch from black and white to color just like in the original. The aspect ratio of the screen (from 1.37:1 square) also shifts (to 2.35:1 widescreen) but do notice the fire (and other things) leaping out to the black borders aided by the playful 3D. The hot air balloon is given more footage. It is these little visual nods and verbal nudges to the original film, while it keeps the originality in tact, which makes this film special. Always aware of it, never competing with it, certainly not ridiculing it and mostly embracing it.

Peter Jackson, Tim Burton and Sam Raimi all began their careers in the 80s and have been devout fantasy aficionados constantly unearthing humor in the darkness. It only make sense that they are behind some of the biggest Hollywood films of the new century. Not just in terms of the budgets or scale but also box office. I have enjoyed Raimi's first two Spider-Man films but what I identify him as, is the man who made horror films funny, especially the Evil Dead sequels. I'm almost certain Oz is meant to be Raimi's alter-ego. The magician as the filmmaker. The Thomas Edison references, mentioning the often-broken cinematic rule “Never work with kids or animals” and the eventual plot point of the third act which has much to do with the magic and illusion of cinema.

The single best scene in the film is the one where Oz discovers China Girl, a wee little thing made of porcelain. A situation set up in the reality section of the film, is paid off in full-blown fantasy. The alarming thing to note is the sensitivity of the scene coupled with the seamless use of CGI. This is rarely seen in mainstream Hollywood blockbusters.

Oz: The Great and Powerful is not what you might expect it to be, it isn't great or powerful. I don't think it was ever meant to be. What it is destined to be is Oz: The Good and Wonderful. For a film like this you need to be a believer, others might choose to be the sourpuss. Although I can't imagine why you wouldn't put a smile on your face.

A prequel of sorts to 1939's 'Wizard of Oz', Sam Riami's 'Oz the Great and Powerful' tells the story of how Oz became the great wizard. It's a handsomely mounted production with the most picturesque of vistas recalling the Lord of the Rings films. It has enough whimsical elements that add a bit of Monty Python by the way of Alice in Wonderland, this unfortunately renders the film to be forever in comparison mode to other productions that have come before it. The final product is by no means bad but far too derivative to stand on its own merit.

Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a dour and unpopular magician who's perennially rude and in trouble with everyone around him. Fate and a tornado brings him to a magical land where he over a period of time becomes the hope to fight against evil. Three witches rule the roost, Glinda the Good (Michelle Williams), Evanora the Enchantress (Rachel Weisz) and her little sister Theodora (Mila Kunis). Being set in the time before 'The Wizard of Oz' there are plenty of origin stories and appearances and by the time the credits roll, almost everyone and everything has been mentioned at least once.

Plenty of 'Wizard of Oz' references are modified slightly since the makers don't have the rights to play around officially with the original. That doesn't stop the Lion, the flying monkeys and other from showing up though.

The pace is lively the imagery astounding in places, plus the 3D actually accentuates the happenings onscreen. The effects too are as good as they get and Raimi's trademark dark humour shows up in the most unexpected of manner. What's missing however is a story that is, for the lack of a better word, enchanting.

Oz will be enjoyed by a younger audience but it'll probably never reach the iconic heights of 'The Wizard of Oz', still worth a watch on the big screen for the amazing scenery.

Sam Raimi is back after a gap of 3 years since 'Drag me to hell' to a film that is pure Tim Burton territory. People who complain about “ kuch 3d jaisa nahi tha” will be happy because Raimi goes old school 3D, of things flying at you.

Oz (James Franco) is a small time carnival magician. One day stuck in his hot air balloon a tornado takes him to the magical land of Oz. Mistaken to be the prophesied wizard who will free the people of Emerald city from the evil witch, Oz goes through an unwilling journey to find the greatness and power that lies within him.

This was my first experience of Dolby Atmos sound. To know more about it check out this cool video http://www.dolby.com/in/en/professional/technology/cinema/dolby-atmos-video.html I felt this wasn't the right film for it. Except one or two scenes I wasn't blown by the experience.

The story offers nothing new in terms of re inventing the story of The Wizard of Oz and the over stretched lackluster screenplay by Mitchell Kapner (The whole nine yards) and David Lindsay - Abaire (Rabbit Hole)doesn't help make it an engaging and magical ride which was expected of it. The script straddles between catering to the kids and the adults. At 90 mins it would have been a roller coaster ride. Mila Kunis, Rachael Weisz and Michelle Williams are completely wasted so if you are thinking of going for this kind of eye candy, stay away!

The 3D is fun and the visuals are awe inspiring. Just for that I recommend a visit to the theatre.

Word of mouth - This Oz is not so great and powerful. The wizardry is only in the visuals, not in the story telling.

Rating - *** (Above Average)

Ticket Meter - worth 200 bucks

You sit through the mindboggling visuals and aweinspiring CGI in some briliant 3D as The Oz opens its first act, waiting anEd hoping that sometime soon, the actual story would kick in. Sadly, while the story does kick in, it lacks the requisite enchantment to actually match the brilliant graphics and imagination on display. The Oz is at best a ride through fairy land for kids.

Oz is a dour magician cum con man who chases women, works in a travelling circus and dreams of being the next Houdini or Eddisson. While escaping from his circus he lands in Oz, a magical land captured by the wicked Witch who has banished the actual residents of the land along with her benovelent witch sister. Oz finds the people believing him to e the wizard from a prophecy who would come and free them. It is then upto Oz to find in himself the courage to not run away from the scene and actually stand up to the challenge thrown at him.

Riami retains a lot of the original Oz references from the 1939 classic, despite not having rights to prequel the franchise, making a smartly set prequel. Keeping in with the fantastical nature of Oz's world, the visuals take many a liberty to some magnificent effect- so flowers of rubies bloom of leaves of emrald, bell shaped flowers ring welcoming Oz and bubbles are the means to escape an imminent danger. The witches too are aided by menacing flying baboons and an some interesting magical powers. All of this, aided by 3D, makes for some wonderful watching.

What does disappoint is the actual lack of imagination in the story itself. The screenplay can be easily and rightly accused of being too flat and too simple for a film being made in todays times- recreating an era of film making gone by doesnt literally mean unlayering a screenplay so full of opportunity.

Riami adds a beautiful mirroring element to Oz's real life and the fantastical world he enters post his baloon flight, yet the metaphor is so lightly usitlized that it almost goes unnoticed. And then there is the wierd oddity of having a brilliant cast and being unable to elicit anything close to a decent performance from any of them.

Reachel and Mila seem to be having a fun time playing evil withces, though one does wish they were made a little more scarier than pretty. Franco on the other hand comes across as unsure of himself- a tad too young and too modern to pull off a character that more aptly suited a Depp or Downey Jr. He is smug, sauve, inhibited and trying too hard to be charming throughout, never letting the character of Oz milk the audience sympathy. A more stronger lead perhaps would have helped.

Having said this, Oz is not a bad film at all. The flying monkey, the China girl, some wry Riami trademark humor and captivating visuals amaze, while the 3D is used effectively to deliver some really enchanting thrills, While it would definitely be a treat for kids, on the lines of Alice in Wonderland, it would never appeal to the adults like an LOTR did. Catch it once nonetheless, it is an experience.