An astounding looking movie from its 1930s-style movie titles and black and white, narrow-screen start to its glorious widescreen, colour images in the land of Oz , this is an utterly ravishing and beguiling extravaganza. It’s a visual assault on the eyeballs that continually gets you saying ‘how did they do it?’ and ‘how could they afford it?’
Amazing sets, costumes, photography and CGI, these will all have to be properly honoured at next year’s Oscars. So, there is no doubt about the technical triumph. It is the best Disney’s $200 million can buy, brilliantly deployed by surprise director Sam (The Evil Dead) Raimi.
And how good is James Franco? Killer smile, cheesy grin and fine comedy skills firmly to the fore, Franco is a total charismatic delight as Oscar Diggs, the circus conjurer showman, who gets chased out of Kansas in 1905, making his escape in a hot-air balloon, only to be afflicted by a tornado, but landing up in the land of Oz, where he’s hailed as the wizard who’s going to save the sweet folks there from the wicked witch sisters and their evil flying monkeys (oooh, scary!).
Then Michelle Williams does extremely well in the always pretty vapid role of Glinda the good witch, who knows Franco’s not the real deal wizard-wise, but detects he has a well-hidden inner goodness that can save them all. Mila Kunis (Theodora, Wicked Witch of the West) and Rachel Weisz (Evanora) have a field day in trying to upstage each other as Oz’s resident Queen of Mean.
Though, even so, much more outrageous camping around would be better. They never etch themselves into movie history like Margaret Hamilton did in The Wizard of Oz. This is a big, fat lip-smacking moment all actors dream of, why not grab it?
It’s unfortunate that the long running time of two hours ten minutes does the film the disservice of exposing the slightness of the corny, old-fashioned story, based on L Frank Baum’s revered originals. It makes the Dolby 3D glasses seem to weigh heavy on the nose and your bottom shift restlessly on your seat.
There are several talky scenes around an hour or so into the movie where you want to shout ‘Get on with it!’ Raimi is maybe too besotted with the material, and needed to get the cutting scissors out. Twenty minutes shorter would be loads better, especially for the impatient kids who are the target audience.
Talking of which, who is the audience? Old-movie buffs? Will today’s too-savvy kids go for it? Maybe they will and their mums should certainly love it. The film has bucketloads of charm and is an admirable civilised treat, but I can’t see many blokes liking it much. ‘Let’s get in a few beers and check out Oz’, I don’t think so. Maybe dads will take their young daughters.
Usual suspect Danny Elfman is a shoo-in for the vintage-style score, and makes a thoroughly brilliant job of it, but why, oh why, didn’t they let him compose, say, three musical numbers for the movie? This would have both cheered and broken things up when it was all getting a bit dull and samey. The only musical number is frustratingly cut off short by Franco (though, to be fair, it isn’t much good). And, beware, there’s dreadful song called Almost Home performed by Mariah Carey to endure.
It’s probably the film’s finest achievement that it honours and stays true to the spirit of the original books and the1939 evergreen classic The Wizard of Oz. Yet the Munchkins and people of Oz are strangely sidelined, with little screen time, and the china doll (voice of Joey King) and the talking, flying monkey (voice of Zach Braff) make boring, borderline annoying companions for Franco along the yellow brick road.
They are nowhere in the league of Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man from the old movie. They’re just not. And where, oh where, is Dorothy? Lost somewhere over the rainbow, I suppose.
In the event, the movie was a stonking great success, taking $235 million at the US at the box office, pretty much guaranteeing a sequel, with loads more of L Frank Baum’s books to raid.
http://derekwinnert.com/the-wizard-of-oz-classic-film-review-14/
© Derek Winnert 2013 Movie Review
Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com
Fantastic websites…
we came across a awesome site you may perhaps delight in. Require a look if you’d like…
Go through was captivating, remain in contact…
remember to stop by the sites we stick to, which includes this a particular, as it signifies our picks with the online…
penis enhancement…
[…]please go to the sites we adhere to, such as this one particular, because it represents our picks from the web[…]…
Web sites we feel you ought to see…
even if internet websites we backlink to beneath are noticeably not similar to ours, we feel they may be essentially truly worth a undergo, so have a look…
Cambridgeshire wedding photographer…
an example of our prospects a brief even while in the past preferred the next web page…
Great internet site…
The specifics outlined in the publish are a several for the highly best readily available…
loans with no credit checks…
[…]always a massive fan of linking to bloggers that I adore but do not get a good deal of link adore from[…]…
Its hard to find good help…
I am constantnly proclaiming that its hard to get quality help, but here is…
paleo breakfast recipes…
[…]check below, are some completely unrelated web sites to ours, having said that, they’re most trustworthy sources that we use[…]…
Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your hard work.
Cool online sites…
we arrived throughout a cool blog you might have fun with. Consider a look if you would like…
Awesome web site…
the time to read through or explore the website content or web pages we now have linked to down below the…
World-wide Site visitors Machine critique…
please pay a visit to the world wide web webpages we follow, similar to this a single individual, because it represents our picks from your website…
Salvador Cochrum…
we arrived across a interesting blog which you will get enjoyment in. Take a look for as soon as you want…
Definitely, Apple’s instance…
Definitely, Apple’s instance retail store is by way of distance. It’s a really variety of all kinds with programs versus a fairly sorrowful choice a handful for the purpose of Zune. Microsof company is applications, specially in the realm of exercises,…
Sources…
check out below, are a few wholly unrelated web-sites to ours, however, there’re most reliable sources that we use…
Great blog…
the time to go through or see the subject material or websites we now have related to under the…
Some truly drugs superb blog posts pharmacy web site , appreciate it for contribution.
Congratulations for posting…
Congratulations for posting such a useful blog. Your blog isn’t only informative but also extremely artistic too. There usually are extremely couple of individuals who can write not so easy articles that creatively. Keep up the good writing !!…
penomet review…
[…]Here are several of the internet sites we recommend for our visitors[…]…
Its hard to find good help…
I am constantnly saying that its hard to procure good help, but here is…
Sites we assume it’s best to see…
despite the fact that web sites we backlink to beneath are significantly not linked to ours, we come to feel they can be really value a endure, so have got a look…
Swiftest option to burn off stomach fats fast…
Nearly every once within a whenever we opt for blogs that we look at. Detailed underneath are the most recent websites that we opt for…
This is the source of the vitamins and hair growth, it is not at all coconut oil hair growth work if you have concerns about any type of beneficial help from our daily diet.
sex awesome things here. I¡¦m very glad to look your article. Thank you a lot and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
whois database download…
[…]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]…
Recommeneded internet sites…
The following are some within the webpages we encourage for our guests…
Blogs ou should be looking at…
Listed here really is a Wonderful Blog site You could possibly Obtain Unique that we Inspire You…
Fantastic websites…
we arrived throughout a wonderful online site that you just may well relish. Just take a look if you want…
Awesome internet sites…
we came throughout a interesting web site which you could savor. Require a glance in order for you…
Cambridgeshire wedding ceremony photographer…
an example of our readers a short despite the fact that ago preferred the subsequent websites…
corporate finance courses…
Really and as I have not thought about cash loans and corporate finance courses….
Whispering Misty…
So sorry you can expect to skip the workshop!…
Fascinating web-sites…
we arrived across a fascinating internet site that you simply may appreciate. Acquire a glance if you would like…
Salvador Cochrum…
we came throughout a nice site which you will just take joy in. Take a research any time you want…
Sources…
[…]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[…]……
Internet Post…
The knowledge talked about inside post are some of the best readily available…
Sources…
examine below, are some entirely unrelated internet websites to ours, in spite of this, they can be most dependable sources that we use…
Awesome post, hey…
Whats up are using WordPress for your blog platform? I�m new to the blog world but I�m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!…
I keep listening to the newscast talk about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?
hotels in delhi near vasant kunj…
[…]The data mentioned inside the post are a few of the top available […]…
Great work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the net. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again!
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day right here today, so I just took to messing round on the internet and observed…
Weblogs ou will need to be browsing…
Listed here is really a Wonderful Blog You might See Interesting that we Persuade You…
Guaranteed Life Insurance…
[…]here are some hyperlinks to websites that we link to mainly because we assume they may be worth visiting[…]…
Souls in the Waves…
Great Morning, I just stopped in to go to your web site and thought I’d say I appreciated myself….
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
Keep up the excellent work , I read few posts on this website and I think that your weblog is rattling interesting and contains lots of superb information.
The Slave of the Husband…
Seeking in advance to learning added from you afterward!……