The story centers on Oz, played by James Franco, who is immediately established as a conman in magician’s clothing. In the film’s black and white opening, we see him pulling the wool over the eyes of the people of Kansas, both on and off the stage. Oz is theatrical, cunning, and shrewd through and through. Yet when his double-dealing catches up with him, and he angers the circus strong man, Oz sees only one option– escape. He hops aboard a hot air balloon, and faster than you can say, “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” he is whisked away by a tornado to the land that bears his name, where he quickly becomes embroiled in a power struggle between Oz’s three witches.
As the Wizard makes his way across the land of Oz, there is no shortage of familiar faces and places to the average moviegoer, for even if you’ve only seen The Wizard of Oz once, you’ll be sure to recognize the Emerald City, the yellow brick road, munchkins, flying monkeys, and of course, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West.
But just who is this Wicked Witch? We meet three different witches when the Wizard arrives in Oz– Theodora (Mila Kunis), her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams)– but none of them appear as the Wicked Witch we’re all familiar with… at least until about halfway through the film. The way that Oz the Great and Powerful handles the transformation of one of these witches into the villain we know is undoubtedly one of the better elements of the film. (I would like to add here, though, that fans of Wicked must beware– this movie tackles the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West according to the works of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz.As such, it does not fit with Gregory Maguire’s alternate take on Oz in Wicked, or the musical that is based on it. Don’t look for Elphaba here.)
Oz the Great and Powerful is a wonder to behold from beginning to end. Visually it stuns, presenting the land of Oz in its crisp and whimsical beauty, particularly in 3D (a well-used and welcome addition to this film.) Danny Elfman’s haunting score defines Oz as well, giving equal merit to both the lighthearted and magical aspects of this land and to its shadowy and somewhat frightening dark side. Speaking of frightening, fans ofSam Raimi‘s Evil Dead films will be pleased to see that the director has not lost his zany and macabre tendencies, particularly in his use of stalking, first-person camera at times, his almost comical treatment of the dangerous twister that brings the Wizard to Oz, and a hilarious cameo from Raimi’s muse Bruce Campbell.
All in all, Oz the Great and Powerful is a delight– a film that can appeal just as much to a childlike sense of wonder as it can to an old soul or classic movie lover who respects the original Wizard of Oz, not that the two are mutually exclusive! It is, in short, not agreat film, but more than that– it is a good film. (Trust me, once you see it, you’ll know what I mean.)
Disney’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” hits theaters today, March 8.
Disclosure:Special thanks to Louis Sullivan http://aftercreditsroll.blogspot.com/ for this awesome Guest Blogger post. Screening passes provided by Disney Pictures. All pictures provided by Disney Pictures.
The 12 finalists of the Marvel’s IRON MAN 3: INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR will win a trip to Southern California, provided by Visa Signature. The trip includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Disney Studios, a meeting with Disney Imagineers, a trip to Disneyland, a visit to Discovery Science Center, and more! INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR finalists will also have their projects on display at the famous El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, from May 3rd – June 20th. The competition concludes at the El Capitan Theatre on May 3rd when four Grand Prize winners will accept their awards at a special ceremony, on stage prior to the showing ofMarvel’s IRON MAN 3.
Sixth through ninth-grade girls and boys across the nation are invited to participate, including those who have competed in Broadcom MASTERS®, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP).
For more information, rules and how to apply, visit www.discoverycube.org/ironman3.
Marvel’s IRON MAN 3: INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR participants are the next generation of forward thinkers and innovators that will lead us into the future with scientific breakthroughs, engineering feats and technological advances. They are the real-life Tony Starks of tomorrow!” said Mike Pasciullo, Marvel’s SVP, Brand Planning & Communications.
Participating students are being asked to produce innovative, inventive projects based on themes from Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 —science, technology, engineering and math-related concepts and practices. Marvel’s IRON MAN 3: INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR competition is encouraging students to submit projects that align with the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) Grand Challenges for Engineering™.
Some of the themes of the NAE Grand Challenges related to Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 are: (1) Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods, including projects involving themes of eco-friendly car development; (2) Engineer Better Medicines, with projects that focus on global disease prevention, limb regeneration and the study of body armor that protects injured body parts such as the heart; (3) Secure Cyberspace, inspiring projects that can lead to the development of new technologies that can redefine innovative security measures; and (4) Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery, in fields such as micro-technology, aeronautics or robotics.
About the Movie
Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968.
Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
