‘Oz the Great and Powerful’, which is a
prequel to L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, and also an
unofficial prequel to the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, is about a small-time
magician, Oscar Diggs/Wizard of Oz, who arrives in an enchanted land and is
expected to save it from the ‘wicked’ witches.
Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time
circus magician with a dubious reputation, is hurled away in a hot air balloon
from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz.
At this enchanted land, he encounters three
witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle
Williams). As the lone hope of the trouble-struck people of Oz, Oscar, the
newly anointed Wizard must find out who is good and who is evil before time runs
out.
The film has brilliant visuals. The way the
transformation from the black and white visuals of Kansas to the vibrant ‘Land
of Oz’ takes place, is highly praiseworthy. The performances are not quite
top-notch. At times, the lead actors do end up looking a bit like caricatures.
The biggest let-down of the film is the sluggish screenplay. The 3D too,
flatters to deceive. Even kids may not find this fare too entertaining.
The film doesn’t live up to its name!
Shivom Oza
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