An imaginative mix of live-action and CGI that pays homage to the iconic images and timeless sense of wonder in the classic The Wizard of Oz without being too deferential.
Disney spent more than $200 million on this special effects film, and while the pacing and the visuals captivate, it's really James Franco's performance as the Wizard and an abundance of allusions to the 1939 classic that make it fun.
This is most definitely a 'Sam Raimi film,' filled with shots and camera techniques he perfected in the Evil Dead pictures before bringing them to the mainstream.
For as high it soars in its opening twenty-five minutes, its midsection falls just as flat, before its director takes back the reigns in time for an exceptional finale.
Let us take a moment to praise two great and surprisingly powerful characters: a winged monkey and a wee girl made out of china. Because so much human wonder resides in these two creations of make-up, puppetry, digital effects and lovely performances.
Francesca Rudkin
New Zealand Herald
June 01, 2016
Visually, Oz: The Great and Powerful is a delight that caters to all ages.
Oz the Great and Powerful is entirely serviceable family entertainment. Problem is, serviceable doesn't quite cut it when you're talking about the magical land of Oz.
Aside from a trio of witches that can hold its own with Eastwick's in the dishiness department, Oz the Great and Powerful is a peculiarly joyless occasion.
While the movie looks great and kicks into satisfying high gear as it heads toward the last act...the tinhorn feeling of the bulk...leaves one yearning for another trip down the yellow brick road-the one first glimpsed by audiences in 1939.
The script just isn't that compelling. The film looks pretty great, but it's ultimately flash over substance; a boredom recipe for anyone over the age of 6.
