LAMORINDA WEEKLY | "OZ the Great and Powerful"


Photo courtesy Walt Disney Pictures

First of all let's get one thing straight - "Oz the Great and Powerful" is not a remake of the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz," but it could be referred to as a prequel. It is an original screenplay by co-writers Mitchell Kapner ("Romeo Must Die") and David Lindsay-Abaire ("Robots," "Rise of the Guardians") that uses L. Frank Baum's nine books about the Land of Oz as a character base for who the wizard is and how he became the wizard of Oz.

Is "Oz the Great and Powerful" a classic like the 1939 movie? No. Are the witches as memorable as Billie Burke (Glinda) and Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch of the West)? No.

Is "Oz the Great and Powerful" an entertaining family film? Yes.

The movie opens (in black and white on half a screen) at a traveling carnival in Kansas where the audience is introduced to Oscar Diggs, a womanizing con artist portrayed by Palo Alto native and Oscar nominee James Franco ("127 Hours"). We quickly learn that he will become the great wizard, as he is chased out of the carnival and swished away in a hot air balloon that lands in Oz. Upon his arrival the screen changes to color and goes to wide screen, which is a nice cinematic touch.

Along Digg's journey through Oz he meets several characters including three witches portrayed by three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams ("My Week with Marilyn," "Blue Valentine," "Brokeback Mountain"), Oscar winner Rachel Weisz ("The Constant Gardener") and Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis ("Black Swan"), all of whom do a fine job. But it is the monkey Finley (Zach Braff, "Scrubs") who steals the scenes with his comedic timing.

Everyone will fall in love with Finley, who is forever indebted to the wizard. The other new character that will steal your heart is China Girl - played by Joey King ("Ramona and Beezus"). All the characters in Oz play a role in transforming Diggs into the great and powerful wizard.

"Oz the Great and Powerful" is directed by Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man"). The special effects and costumes are amazing, and will have you believing that you are in another magical place. The film is rated PG but I do have to warn you that the evil flying monkeys and the wicked witches will make you, the little ones, and grannies jump in a few scenes.

If you take the stroll down the yellow brick road with an open mind that this is an original story and not a remake, you will enjoy this movie!

Derek Zemrak is a Film Critic, Film Producer and Founder of the California Independent Film Festival. You can follow Derek on Twitter @zemrak for the latest Hollywood news. Derek is the host of Real to Reel on TRadioV.com live at 6 p.m. every Tuesday.