“Oz the Great and Powerful,” released on March 8, kept the essence of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” but steered slightly away from the original plot line. Instead of the focus being on Dorothy, the focus was on the Wizard of Oz.
The movie was supposed to depict what Oz was like before Dorothy’s house fell on the wicked witch.
When circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is taken away from Kansas by an intense twister, the “great and powerful Oz” finds that he is among the Land of Oz.
He meets three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) and informs them that he is the wizard the prophecy has foretold.
The witches are not convinced, seeing through his egotistical mannerisms. Oscar is infatuated with the riches that the wizard is supposed to inherit once he frees the people of Oz, but is reluctant to help when he learns that he must defeat the Wicked Witch and save the people of Oz.
Director Sam Raimi brought life back into the Land of Oz with vibrancy and “Oz the Great and Powerful” raked in an estimated $80.3 million in the box office on its debut weekend.
The movie had a lot of funny moments, and the theater-goers were laughing from time to time.
Although the movie is rated PG 13, children should not be taken to see this film. While there is no foul language or sexual content, the plot line is too complex for children to understand.
The movie was well executed, but the plot seemed to drag on.
“I liked the movie, but I was kind of expecting more towards the end. It definitely left us hanging; maybe there will be a sequel,” said Ana Torres, an audience member.
Torres may be right. According to MTV and other sources, there is speculation of a sequel to the Great and Powerful Oz.
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arivera6@ramapo.edu
