2013, Walt Disney Pictures
Live action
Rating: PG
Approx. 129 mins.
THE STORY:
Oz (James Franco), a travelling magician slash womanizer slash small-time con man, is caught up in a tornado that delivers him into the magical land of Oz. The residents immediately take him for the wizard prophesied by the late king, and he does nothing to correct them. He also finds himself the object of witch Theodora's (Mila Kunis) affections.
Things become complicated when Theodora's sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), is revealed to be the wicked witch she has been warning others about. She poisons her sister both figuratively and literally, turning her into a hag mired in jealousy over Oz's inconsistency.
Oz teams up with good witch Glinda (Michelle Williams), Finley the flying monkey (Zach Braff) and a china doll (Joey King) to lead the residents of Oz against the 2 wicked witches. He ends up surprising even himself with his strength of character and capacity for good.
Things become complicated when Theodora's sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), is revealed to be the wicked witch she has been warning others about. She poisons her sister both figuratively and literally, turning her into a hag mired in jealousy over Oz's inconsistency.
Oz teams up with good witch Glinda (Michelle Williams), Finley the flying monkey (Zach Braff) and a china doll (Joey King) to lead the residents of Oz against the 2 wicked witches. He ends up surprising even himself with his strength of character and capacity for good.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- damn
VIOLENCE:
- lots of fighting, aggression and menace, but no one actually dies
- frequent mentions of killing and unsuccessful attempts
TEACHING POINTS:
- good triumphs over evil
- belief brings power
- if you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself
THE UPSHOT:
I think attempting to make a prequel to (what I, at least, consider to be) one of the greatest films ever made is a bit of a losing proposition. The special effects were impressive and the aspects that pay homage to their forbear (the intensely saturated colour, the origination myths established for many elements of The Wizard of Oz, etc.) are nice. But that's it.
The acting is mediocre-- James Franco seems completely miscast, Mila Kunis is just plain irritating, Michelle Williams is just OK-- and the script could have used some editing. But what really bothered me was the reduction of the Wicked Witch to a woman made evil and ugly mostly through jealousy. It seems over-simplistic and on the misogynistic side.
Without the W of O association, the screenplay would probably never have made it beyond the page. And that wouldn't be the worst thing on earth.
The acting is mediocre-- James Franco seems completely miscast, Mila Kunis is just plain irritating, Michelle Williams is just OK-- and the script could have used some editing. But what really bothered me was the reduction of the Wicked Witch to a woman made evil and ugly mostly through jealousy. It seems over-simplistic and on the misogynistic side.
Without the W of O association, the screenplay would probably never have made it beyond the page. And that wouldn't be the worst thing on earth.
2.5/5
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