Oz the Great and Powerful: Movie Review

Gabriela Sanchez, Arts and Entertainment Editor

March 18, 2013

Disney’s lighthearted comedy Oz the Great and Powerful was released Friday, March 8, as the prequel to the classic film The Wizard of Oz. Sam Raimi, the director, creates a magical world full of good and evil from the ground up and shows Oz’s rise to power. The fun-loving, hyped-up film starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz raked in a total of $150.2 million during its opening weekend, successfully reaching the top of the box office and managing to keep Disney’s classic moral ending, making it a family friendly movie.

The opening scene portrays an old fashioned traveling carnival where attractions range from classic freak shows to amusing clown acts. As the audience heads deeper into the heart of the circus, a crowd begins to form near a trailer tagged “Oz the Great and Powerful” where Oscar, a magician played by James Franco, performs his tricks and supposed “real” magic. The young and attractive con-man, nicknamed Oz, is seen as a sleazy magician only interested in the profits he can quickly squeeze out. Oscar was not an honest hard-working man, but that was what he least wanted to be. The con-man famously said “I don’t want to be a good man, I want to be a great one.”

As the travelling circus prepares to pack up and head to the next destination, Oz floats away in a hot air balloon further into the sky when suddenly, a tornado bashes into Oscar, and the balloon is caught in a terrifying natural disaster. Screaming and begging for his life, Oz is transported into a mystifying world full of beauty and magical creatures, the Land of Oz. He first meets Theodora the Good played my Mila Kunis, one of the three witches of Oz, the other two including Michelle Williams as Glinda and Rachel Weisz as Evanora. Theodora believes that Oscar is the prophet that is supposed to come and save the people of her land by killing the wicked witch and becoming king.

The film with a modern twist, aimed for a younger generation, attracted both praise and criticism from the viewing audience. It received comments such as “enchanting” and “endearing” as well as hit with words like “disappointing”. Some said that Franco was an unexpectedly good wizard while Kunis lacked the anger that Theodora the witch truly embodies. While the prequel was an enthralling film with great effects and visuals, some felt the film felt short in comparison to the classic Wizard of Oz.

As Oscar heads out onto an expedition where he must decide between good and evil, Oz must also travel through a journey of self discovery, realizing whether he is capable of greatness, but more importantly, if his heart is full of goodness. Oz the Great and Powerful provided for a visually pleasing movie, with hints of sentimentality and moments of humor, calling to be an overall successful film.

About the Contributor

Gabriela Sanchez, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Writer Gabby Sanchez enters The Downey Legend staff with high hopes and a career oriented state of mind. She has been chosen to take on the position as Arts & Entertainment Editor, a position not so easily conquered. Using her skills as a writer she hopes to attract more readers to the arts Downey High School has to offer. Sanchez decided to join the online publication in order to gain insight in journalism. “I wanted to see if this was something I could be able to do as a career,” Sanchez said. For this aspiring journalist, her work has only just begun. The editor had never seen her future predicted this way; moving from Peru at the age of three limited her English, proving difficult for her to adjust to the new language. “During elementary, I was bad at English, but its something I later improved in,” Sanchez said. She not only improved in a foreign language, but she also grew to like the challenge she accustomed to. After overcoming this difficulty proved to be a great strength in Sanchez, using it to her advantage when confronted by deadlines as well as schoolwork. But beyond the classroom is where she enjoys her teen years with friends, listening to music, and enjoying the foods and movies other countries have to offer. “I love Italian food,” the cuisine enthusiast said. “I also like to watch movies in my spare time, especially foreign films.” With having The Downey Legend set as a foundation for her future, Sanchez’ main incentive is to travel the world and live on her own. Although unsure of what college to pursue her journalism career, she knows a UC will suit her in her plan to write for Time Magazine.