Tonight my husband and I saw The Great and Powerful Oz because it has been a while since we've gone to movies and both really wanted to see this. WARNING: This might contain spoilers for anyone who didn't already put a lot of the pieces together just by watching the previews.
I make an effort to never read movie reviews. This practice allows me to enjoy or despise films on my terms. Unfortunately, I scrolled across this review by Chris Vognar in my Twitter feed the other day and had to read on.
First and foremost: if you are going to see this movie, cough up the extra dough to see it in 3D. The fact that films feel obligated to provide a 3D version sickens me. Literally. 3D triggers my migraines for some reason, and I am ill for hours after the movie is over. Besides, I believe charging for a pair of glasses that I can't even keep (and are no longer that cool one lens blue/one lens red combo) is more ludicrous than the $11 the theaters get away with charging me for a regular-D ticket. However, there are many images and scenes in this film that were only put in because they would look cool in 3D. I hate that. I prefer 3D to be organic. If the twister had been in 3D? Cool. The witches flying around? Sure. But so many superfluous parts only existed to make me think, "Wow. I bet that's cool in 3D. Too bad 3D gives me a headache."
Second: don't have unreasonable expectations. No part of me thought this would be a groundbreaking film. I had two objectives-figure out how Oz and the witches all fit together PD (that's Pre-Dorothy) and to see pretty colors and scenery. As long as those are the only two things a person has in mind when going to see this film, s/he will not be disappointed.
Third: James Franco will always be James Franco. Good news is he's kind of pretty. (Side note: his little bro Dave is FAR cuter.)
Fourth: Raimi does a descent job incorporating both the original novel and iconic film. So purists will appreciate that.
Fifth: the pacing is sort of awkward. The timeline didn't really seem to jive with me. Really Theodora? You're going to fall for Oz's insincere charm the minute you meet him and then get angry when it turns out he isn't really in love with you? Oh, is it already time for the wicked witch to become the wicked witch of the west? And it's that "easy?" Um okay. I just didn't feel like the characters interacted enough with each other on intimate enough levels to spark such hate/anger/jealousy. By the way IT IS SO OBVIOUS what is going to spur the transformation of the wicked witch of the west. I called it the minute Theodora got excited about being the queen to Oz's king while he just sort of looked at her like, "I just wanted a little somethin' somethin' not an eternal lifetime bond." Sigh.
Sixth: the little nods to the original characters are pretty cool and some not as obvious as others. Annie, Oz's one true love, visits him while he's still in Kansas to let him know she's been asked by John Gale to marry him. Anyone remember Dorothy's last name? Anyone? Anyone? And of course sweet Annie is wearing a Gingham dress. AND Michelle Williams plays both Annie and Glinda (guess who Oz actually falls in love with while in Oz). Viewers also learn why the cowardly lion is cowardly, how the scarecrow probably came about, and why Oz has to pretend to be some monstrosity. Now, I don't recall the Tin Man being tied into this film. I think I might have missed it, but my husband doesn't recall it either.
Seventh: Danny Elfman wrote the musical score. I'm always down with that.
Overall, my husband and I gave the film a "meh." Finley the friendly flying monkey was great (but then again when is Zach Braff NOT great), but other than that I really didn't feel attached to any characters or invested in their heroic journeys. And there were some things still left unanswered that I suppose we are just meant to figure out on our own. No mention of any type of special shoes was included (I know that there is a copyright on the ruby slippers but the novel still had magic shoes).
In the end, I wouldn't say I was disappointed but probably won't see it again until it is on cable and only if nothing else is on to watch.
