Movie: Oz The Great And Powerful
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunas, Michelle Williams and Zac Braff
Rating: ***1/2
Without an iota of doubt, I can confidently say that Sam Raimi, popularly known for a bevy of films, has very likely made one of the best 3D films this year. It’s not extraordinary or majestic, but simply a visual treat for one and all. It’s a story that deals with conflict between good versus evil and greed versus morality.
Films with some important lessons are always a treat to watch besides their entertaining factors. Most importantly, if these lessons are worth being incorporated into our lives, then it’s an added advantage. “Oz The Great And Powerful” has a set of lessons worth being embraced.
One of the lessons is about the three ups in life – show up, keep up and shut up, while the other is “when we believe, anything is possible”.
Set in 1905 on the outskirts of Kansas, the story focuses on Oscar, played by Franco, a carnival magician. Thanks to his skills, he can hypnotize his audience and pretty girls alike. However, Oscars runs for his life when an overtly jealous and angry boyfriend of one of the girls he charms wants to kill him. He hops onto a hot air balloon and is taken away by a swirling tornado to the land of OZ.
Filled with blooming flowers, river fairies, flying baboons, porcelain dolls, and witches that reside in Emerald City, land of Oz is a mystical fairyland. Here Oscar meets the three beautiful and powerful witches – Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), all masqueraded with ulterior motives.
In Oz, Oscar has a bigger responsibility to shoulder. He has to turn into the savior wizard to free the people from the clutches of the evil witch.
Franco as the con man with great timing for humor slips into the role of the sly wizard with slick, and sleazy charm. Of the three witches, Mila Kunis struggles to leave an impact despite portraying two different shades in her character.
Rachel Weisz excels in her role with cold ambition, while Michelle Williams as Glinda sweeps us off our feet with impeccable beauty and kindness.
The film radiates with characters such as the china doll (beautifully voiced by Joey King) and Finlay the flying monkey (voiced by Zach Braff) who pledges his eternal servitude to Oz. Not only these characters fit suitably into the narrative, but also pave way to moments filled with humor and emotions. Scenes between James and Finley are some of the best entertaining moments of the film, while ones with the china doll initially are heartwarming.
The script comes with no surprises. It’s the same old story of a wizard in Oz, but with a little twist in the tale, which works in the favor of the film. It’s about how to wrong the right and who is good and evil. What is interesting is the fact that one can’t ignore the little valuable messages that come our way during the course of the film!
Apart from this, director Sam Raimi’s passion to put together this thin, simplistic story with abundant care and precision is amply clear.
The 3D-lensed imagery that produces a crystal clear, multidimensional experience is worth the money and time on this film.