"Franco sinks, witches soar"

Film: Oz the Great and Powerful
Release Date: March 8
Studio: Roth Films
Grade: B-

There's no place like home, and Oz the Great and Powerful will have fans of classic American cinema tapping their shoes together by the time the end credits run, begging for a return to the original The Wizard of Oz.
In his latest film, director Sam Raimi (Drag Me to Hell) imagines a prequel to the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz. In Oz the Great and Powerful, Oscar Diggs (James Franco, Lovelace) is an unscrupulous circus magician who gets transported from dusty Kansas to the magical Land of Oz. Oscar, "Oz," thinks he's won it big when the inhabitants of Oz believe he is the prophetic savior - until he meets a few powerful witches.
Franco's performance as Oscar Diggs is disappointing and lacking. Although he is charming, as his character in the movie is meant to be, his acting skills are lackluster. It's a mystery how he is repetitively given leading roles.
However, the performances of Rachel Weisz (The Bourne Legacy) as Evanora and Mila Kunis (Family Guy) as Theodora make up for Franco's sub-par portrayal of Oz. Both actresses give incredible depth to the story as the witches of Oz, who later become prevalent to Dorothy's story in The Wizard of Oz.
Oz the Great and Powerful succeeds in its stunning visual effects, as well. The Land of Oz is portrayed as an Eden of richly textured plants and people. Although advancements in technology have been made since 1939, Oz the Great & Powerful stays true to the original design of Oz, especially the architecture of the Emerald City.
Any true fan of the classic The Wizard of Oz film will be pleased to see that creative, cinematic choices were made in order to keep the watermark of Victor Fleming's original creation visible.
Raimi, much like Alfred Hitchcock, leaves a visible signature on his films. Obvious directorial choices, such as filming scenes from the perspective of inanimate objects, active camera movement, and of course, his fascination with having characters humorously hit one another, are noted and appreciated in this film.
However, certain creative liberties, like the design of the flying monkeys, should have been altered. The snarling baboons were a bit over the top and these primates were particularly terrifying to say the least - not to say that anyone was tempted to cuddle the 1939 film's flying monkeys.
Danny Elfman (Silver Linings Playbook) once again creates a beautiful soundtrack and score to compliment a visually astounding film. Elfman delivers the moment the opening credits begin.
Although James Franco may have not been the Wizard audiences were hoping for, Oz the Great and Powerful is a solid watch even if it doesn't reach the level of greatness the original does.

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