Oz the Great and Powerful is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi and based on L. Frank Baum's Oz novels and set 20 years before the events of the original novel and the first movie. The film stars James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis, with Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Joey King and Tony Cox.
When shady circus magician, Oscar Diggs is hurled away from Kansas into the Wonderful Land of Oz, he thinks that fame and fortune are his for the taking. However, three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda, remain unconvinced that Oscar is the great wizard that the inhabitants of Oz need and expect. Reluctantly drawn into Oz's epic problems, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it's too late.
Good Qualities
The whole idea of making a prequel film about how Oz the Wizard arrived at the Land of Oz based on what he told her in the original book and the first movie is a great and interesting one.
Beautiful visuals and well-rendered CGI of the Land of Oz and the creatures.
Likable and entertaining characters, like Oscar, Glinda, Finley and China Girl.
The costumes are very nice.
The film uses that traditional aspect from the first film where is starts in black & white and fullscreen and when we get to Oz, the film changes to color and widescreen.
Some wonderful and emotional moments, like where Oscar glues China Girl's legs back together and another scene where the characters ride in Glinda's bubbles to her kingdom.
Excellent soundtrack by Danny Elfman.
Evanora is a decent villain.
The story is somewhat decently written, and it does capture the spirit of not only The Wizard of Oz, but also to an extent Return to Oz.
The third act is outstanding.
Top-notched acting. James Franco plays a decent performance as Oscar Diggs.
There are somewhat clever cameos of the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. There's also one from Annie Gale, who is intended to be the mother of Dorothy Gale, the main character of the Oz franchise.
Great character development.
Neat directing from Sam Raimi.
Bad Qualities
The film builds up the "Liar Revealed" cliche, making the story predictable.
In some terms, the CGI feels cartoonish and unconvincing.
The story can feel too similar to Army of Darkness.
They're are some scenes that might be too disturbing for family audiences, though not as scary as in Return To Oz.
Theodora is a bland character, and when she becomes the Wicked Witch, she's too over the top and has a ridiculous design. On top of that, the reveal that Theodora, the Wicked Witch of the West, turned evil because she was a young girl who was dumped by her crush, was absolutely panned by most fans, who deem this a ridiculous origin for one of cinema's most renowed villains and mostly prefer the depiction of the Wicked Witch's origins from the Broadway musical Wicked.
