By Arthur Ryan
Correspondent
"Who rang that bell?” screeched Frank Morgan as the guardian of the Emerald City Gates in the original 1939 MGM classic, “The Wizard of Oz!” Morgan played “Oz” of course as well as a few others in that 74 year old film, and it took a veteran character-actor of his caliber to pull it off. Of course, Morgan’s legendary performance was one of many in that film, and his work and the work of his cast-mates were heavy on my mind while watching, “Oz, The Great and Powerful” which opened in movie theaters nationwide last weekend.
Directed by Sam Raimi of “Spiderman” and “Evil Dead” fame, and written by Mitchell Kapner, David Lindsay-Abaire and based on the works of L. Frank Baum, this new “Oz” outing is a loving tribute to that 1939 classic, whose only misstep is the miscasting of it’s star. James Franco is an Oscar-nominated actor with many talents, but passing himself off as a carnival charlatan from Kansas, is not one of them. The problem here is that Franco, unlike Morgan is too 21st century in his demeanor, speech and mannerisms. What was needed here was an actor with the same charm, and ability as Frank Morgan to carry an entire film and be believable as the character he’s trying to play.
Having said that, what remains is a delightful homage to the classic MGM film, only this time Walt Disney Pictures, who owns the rights to all the other L. Frank Baum “Oz” Books except the original, is behind this new movie. The film starts out in Kansas, a generation or two before Dorothy was born, where the former Professor Marvel (as he was called in the original film) is now Oscar Diggs, a traveling carnival magician who goes by the name of “OZ: The Great and Powerful!”
Shot in black and white and in the same square screen ratio as the original film’s opening, it’s only after another tornado transports Oscar to the magical land of “Oz” do we switch to color, widescreen and in stereo. It’s here in Oz that Oscar meets Theodora, a good witch who’s part of a trio of witches all vying for control of their late father’s kingdom including the famed Emerald city. Theodora is played by the busty Mila Kunis, who later turns into the Wicked Witch, played so perfectly in 1939 by Margaret Hamilton. Kunis gives it her best, and is bound to produce nightmares in children for years to come, but like Franco, suffers from the outstanding work of her predecessor who put her mark on a character that still lasts almost 75 years later.
Like the original Oz film, Oscar in place of Dorothy discovers some magical friends along the way, two of which are as every bit as charming and magical as the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow were in 1939. Zach Braff voices Finley, a flying monkey in a bellhop suit who after being saved by Oscar, pledges his loyalty to him as well as a promise not to reveal the truth about Oscar not really being a Wizard! Braff, like some others in the cast doubles up as Frank, Oscar’s assistant in the black and white opening sequence, again an homage to the earlier film. Finley is charmingly animated by computer imagery along with China Girl, a small broken porcelain doll who Oscar repairs thanks to some glue, which goes a long way in convincing all that Oscar is the great Wizard who has been prophesized to come.
All of this combined with Glinda the good witch portrayed here by Michelle Williams, makes for a magical outing that although is in no danger of replacing the original films classic status, is sure to delight generations to come. Had the makers of “Oz the Great and Powerful” managed to cast Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role as originally planned, or an actor of his comedic charm and ability, this film may have reached a higher status. But Franco’s less-than-stellar work combined with maybe one too many endings keeps this “Oz” outing from being the great and powerful film it could be
By DAVID BJORKGREN
Managing Editor
A woman scorned. A weak man in search of his nobler self and a battle between magic and an illusionist whose only tools are a bag of tricks and turn of the century technology. These are the elements that make up a prequel of sorts to the classic 1939 MGM film “The Wizard of Oz.”But Disney’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” also dishes up plenty of 3D eye candy and fanciful scene painting that will keep the kids entertained, earning its place as a family film, despite some darker moments.
Fans of the original (and who isn’t?) will appreciate this visit to Oz and a storyline that explains how things came to be the way they are when Dorothy eventually takes her first step on to the yellow brick road. James Franco plays the starring role as the manipulative and unscrupulous carnival con man Oscar Diggs. Diggs dreams of being a great man, but his own fears, selfishness and weaknesses block that path to greatness. His limitations are revealed when he tries to convince the crowd at a carnival side show that he is a powerful wizard, yet he is unable and unwilling to heal a girl confined to a wheelchair.
Diggs is quite the ladies’ man, which gets him in trouble in 1905 Kansas where the film begins (in black and white) and later in Oz (shown in fantasyland color). He takes to a hot air balloon to escape an angry strong man and gets swept up in a twister that dumps him unceremoniously in Oz (one has to wonder, is there any other way to get to Oz, clicking heels notwithstanding?). The Land of Oz is somewhat more textured in this digitally-enhanced version than the one depicted in “The Wizard of Oz.” The yellow brick road is there, so is the Emerald City, the dark forest and the witch’s castle. But we’re also treated to some mountain scenery, a raging river and a visit to Chinatown (where, you guessed it, everyone and everything is made out of china).
Diggs befriends one of Oz’s three witches, Theodora (played with an interesting mix of innocence and sensuousness by Mila Kunis). Somewhat naïve, but possessing true magic, Theodora believes Diggs is the powerful wizard come to Oz to rule, as foretold by prophecy, and so she bows to his whims. Diggs, in his pursuit of wealth and power, pretends that he is the powerful wizard they’ve all been waiting for, though not everyone is taken in by his bag of tricks. Theodora’s sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), hiding her true identity as the Wicked Witch of the East while hanging out at the Emerald City, is skeptical that he’s the right guy. So is Glinda (Michelle Willaims), who has been keeping the people of Oz (broken down into three classes - famers, tinkerers and munchkins) safe. Despite some doubts, Glinda puts her faith in Diggs that he can vanquish the Wicked Witch of the East and save the people of Oz.Theodora, meanwhile, has been spurned by Diggs and, with some help from Evanora, turns all those negative feelings into a package of powerful evilness, complete with green makeup.
Enter the Wicked Witch of the West.It’s a bad time for Oz as the two evil witches team up to rule the land. With the help of Glinda, Frank, a friendly flying monkey (Zach Braff) and a china doll (Joey King), Diggs turns away from his selfish tendencies, learns the value of friendship and comes up with a plan to save Oz, using his tricks of the trade. This film had a bit of an uphill battle, since the characters and the land they live in are so well known. Franco is a younger, more hip Oz, which may upset some traditionalist, but I connected with his character, particularly after he had lived in Oz for a while.Kunis does a nice job as the Wicked Witch of the West but we know it’s not Margaret Hamilton under the makeup and that’s always going to be a little disappointing.
There is no Scarecrow, though there are references to scarecrows. There is no Tin Man and the only lion that comes out of the woods is real (or as real as a digital re-creation can be) and not at all cowardly. There’s certainly no Judy Garland, no Dorothy.Even so, I enjoyed traveling on the yellow brick road again with these new companions. There is a charming and funny winged monkey and a sweet but uncompromising china girl and that made the trip worth taking.
This film works as family entertainment and gives us its own vision of Oz that stands up pretty well. And when it’s not charting its own course, it is a delightful homage to the original Oz movie. It will never be the classic that the first film was, but “Oz the Great and Powerful” works at a few levels and deserves a look. I give “Oz the Great and Powerful” 7.8 bubbles and fire balls out of 10.
