"Oz the Great and Powerful" - directed by Sam Raimi
It was only about fifteen minutes into this film when I started to wonder if this had ever been a Tim Burton project.
It's easy to see "Alice In Wonderland" in "Oz the Great and Powerful".
The source material is similar of course but the look of Sam Raimi's film is very, very Burtonesque.
In fact- I would suggest that he outdoes him.
This is one lush, vibrant movie.
After the opening 4:3 aspect ratio black and white introductory scenes set in a 1905 Kansas carnival I was waiting for the screen to open up and for the colour to spill in and when it does it is beautiful.
The always ravishing Mila Kunis enters wearing rich red attire, her similarly coloured lips dominating attention only when her famously pretty eyes don't.
If you're not a fan of Kunis like most of the world's population going in you will be within ten minutes of her appearance here.
Her flawless face, tight leather pants and almost inappropriately S&M-ish boots combining to great effect.
But for all of Mila's undeniable visual splendour it is the land of Oz itself that has had the most attention bestowed upon it.
If James Cameron had based "Avatar" on a Dr Seuss book he might have created a world like this.
It is green and filled to the horizon with trees, mountains, waterfalls and fluffy white clouds but they have a twist (sometimes literally) that renders them fantastical.
The yellow brick road and the Emerald City are here but the plant life and some of the creatures are terrifically realised.
I particularly liked the toothy little fairies that whistle as they hover around the waterlogged James Franco when he first arrives in the land.
Best of all is the tiny China Doll that we first see with legs shattered around her.
It is a striking image- the tiny girl glistening with a tear on each cheek as she looks forlornly at her broken limbs.
It serves as a constant reminder throughout the rest of the film that this is a fragile character.
We have seen her real life counterpart in the opening scenes - a young girl in a wheelchair begging Oz the Magician to fix her legs.
Of course he can't - he's a phony wizard.
A con-man.
That's the basis of the story - can a self centred man who only knows greed and deception redeem himself by putting the interests of others before his own?
It's a great idea handled less effectively than I had hoped.
It seems as if director Sam Raimi was torn between delivering a kid friendly flick and one that handles lofty adult issues.
When we first see Oz (James Franco) in his black and white carnival scenes he is tricking a young woman (Mad Mens' lovely Abigail Spencer) into not only working for free as his assistant but it is implied into his bed as well.
Oz is a cad and a bounder to use the lingo of of the day.
He breaks hearts and empties wallets- or at least tries.
By the time he takes the fateful hot air balloon trip that will see him sent by way of tornado to the land of Oz (a fantastic sequence) we know his faults and none of his potential attributes.
By setting this film up as a redemption story the filmmakers have set themselves a lofty goal that they don't fully pull off.
There simply isn't enough done with the character to convince that he has undergone the transformation from con-man to hero.
It is very unevenly handled.
Very early on he rescues the flying monkey Finley (fine voice work from Zach Braff) and repairs the broken China Girl.
Admittedly the former is to impress Mila Kunis' Theodora but still- his character seems to have undergone something of a change long before the plot would have begun driving it.
I admit that picking on character development is a bit pointless for an effects spectacle movie largely aimed at children but dammit "Hugo" nails the balance perfectly as does "Labyrinth" and many others.
It was made more noticeable to me by virtue of the acting talent involved.
In particular Michelle Williams as the good witch Glinda.
Williams is always amazing and it is no surprise to find her delivering the best performance.
Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis are no slouches and James Franco does a fine job with what he is given but heavyweights such as these deserve more to do.
My advice is to do from the start what I decided to do after about an hour.
Kick back and just soak up the visuals.
There is enough imagination in the design and skill in the execution that this one counts as a carnival ride in its own right.
The ride the rapids scene is one of the most effective uses of 3D that I have seen and the battle scenes near the end are a treat.
If you can get past the clumsy build up in the middle you should have a good time.
The creature design is a joy and the voice work all involved suitably matches it.
I loved the China Girl and Finley the monkey is a brilliant digital character.
Some familiar Raimi favourites crop up as always (Brother Ted and of course Bruce Campbell)
There's plenty to enjoy.
This is an undeniably well made movie that is nonetheless ultimately unsatisfying.
It is far, far better than "Alice In Wonderland" but I suspect that it won't make a quarter of that woeful flicks final box office tally.
It's easy to see "Alice In Wonderland" in "Oz the Great and Powerful".
The source material is similar of course but the look of Sam Raimi's film is very, very Burtonesque.
In fact- I would suggest that he outdoes him.
This is one lush, vibrant movie.
After the opening 4:3 aspect ratio black and white introductory scenes set in a 1905 Kansas carnival I was waiting for the screen to open up and for the colour to spill in and when it does it is beautiful.
The always ravishing Mila Kunis enters wearing rich red attire, her similarly coloured lips dominating attention only when her famously pretty eyes don't.
If you're not a fan of Kunis like most of the world's population going in you will be within ten minutes of her appearance here.
Her flawless face, tight leather pants and almost inappropriately S&M-ish boots combining to great effect.
But for all of Mila's undeniable visual splendour it is the land of Oz itself that has had the most attention bestowed upon it.
If James Cameron had based "Avatar" on a Dr Seuss book he might have created a world like this.
It is green and filled to the horizon with trees, mountains, waterfalls and fluffy white clouds but they have a twist (sometimes literally) that renders them fantastical.
The yellow brick road and the Emerald City are here but the plant life and some of the creatures are terrifically realised.
Best of all is the tiny China Doll that we first see with legs shattered around her.
It is a striking image- the tiny girl glistening with a tear on each cheek as she looks forlornly at her broken limbs.
It serves as a constant reminder throughout the rest of the film that this is a fragile character.
We have seen her real life counterpart in the opening scenes - a young girl in a wheelchair begging Oz the Magician to fix her legs.
Of course he can't - he's a phony wizard.
A con-man.
That's the basis of the story - can a self centred man who only knows greed and deception redeem himself by putting the interests of others before his own?
It's a great idea handled less effectively than I had hoped.
It seems as if director Sam Raimi was torn between delivering a kid friendly flick and one that handles lofty adult issues.
When we first see Oz (James Franco) in his black and white carnival scenes he is tricking a young woman (Mad Mens' lovely Abigail Spencer) into not only working for free as his assistant but it is implied into his bed as well.
 |
| Finley (voiced by Zach Braff) and the vicious, whistling fairy |
He breaks hearts and empties wallets- or at least tries.
By the time he takes the fateful hot air balloon trip that will see him sent by way of tornado to the land of Oz (a fantastic sequence) we know his faults and none of his potential attributes.
By setting this film up as a redemption story the filmmakers have set themselves a lofty goal that they don't fully pull off.
There simply isn't enough done with the character to convince that he has undergone the transformation from con-man to hero.
It is very unevenly handled.
 |
| The China Girl - superb |
Admittedly the former is to impress Mila Kunis' Theodora but still- his character seems to have undergone something of a change long before the plot would have begun driving it.
I admit that picking on character development is a bit pointless for an effects spectacle movie largely aimed at children but dammit "Hugo" nails the balance perfectly as does "Labyrinth" and many others.
It was made more noticeable to me by virtue of the acting talent involved.
In particular Michelle Williams as the good witch Glinda.
Williams is always amazing and it is no surprise to find her delivering the best performance.
Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis are no slouches and James Franco does a fine job with what he is given but heavyweights such as these deserve more to do.
My advice is to do from the start what I decided to do after about an hour.
Kick back and just soak up the visuals.
There is enough imagination in the design and skill in the execution that this one counts as a carnival ride in its own right.
The ride the rapids scene is one of the most effective uses of 3D that I have seen and the battle scenes near the end are a treat.
 |
| Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz |
The creature design is a joy and the voice work all involved suitably matches it.
I loved the China Girl and Finley the monkey is a brilliant digital character.
Some familiar Raimi favourites crop up as always (Brother Ted and of course Bruce Campbell)
There's plenty to enjoy.
This is an undeniably well made movie that is nonetheless ultimately unsatisfying.
It is far, far better than "Alice In Wonderland" but I suspect that it won't make a quarter of that woeful flicks final box office tally.
| Rated | PG for fantasy scares |
| Running Time: | 130 minutes (2hrs, 4 mins without end credits ) |
| Starring: |
| James Franco | --- Oz |
| Mila Kunis | --- Theodora |
| Rachel Weisz | --- Evanora |
| Michelle Williams | --- Annie / Glinda |
| Zach Braff | --- Frank / Finley |
| Bill Cobbs | --- Master Tinker |
| Joey King | --- Wheelchair Girl / China Girl |
| Tony Cox | --- Knuck |
| Bruce Campbell | --- Winkie Gate Keeper |
| Ted Raimi | --- Skeptic |
| Abigail Spencer | --- May |
No comments:
Post a Comment