OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

US, 2013,
James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Bill Cobb.
Directed by Sam Raimi.

If you have never read any of Frank L. Baum’s Oz novels and have only seen The Wizard of Oz, you may have wondered who the wizard actually was and how he finished up with his tricks in the Emerald City. Here is your answer.

Sam Raimi, after his Spiderman films (which starred James Franco in two of them), has opted for a lavish fantasy. His writers have also suggested a parallel with Oscar (the wizard) and his experience with that of Dorothy. Oscar is a carnival showman-conman in Kansas in 1905 – and the sequences are filmed in black and white and box-size screen like the 1939 film. Frank (Zach Braff) is Oscar’s put-upon assistant. Annie (Michelle Williams) is in love with Oscar but has received another proposal. He is prepared to let her go. Both Frank and Annie will reappear in Oz.

When Oscar cannot help a crippled girl to walk, the crowds pursue him and he escapes in a hot-air balloon and, like Dorothy, he is whirled away in a powerful storm – and lands in Oz. We are not quite familiar with this Oz. It is beautiful and colourful (and there are Munchkins). There is the Emerald City and the yellow brick road. But the characters there are different.

Oz is ruled by an evil but beautiful (it is Rachel Weisz) witch, Evanora. She has a nice sister, Theodora (Mila Kunis) who is instantly attracted to Oscar. The word is that Glinda, the daughter of the former ruler, had murdered her father. We guess at once that it was really Evanora who did it. A flying monkey, Finley, also turns up and becomes Oscar’s assistant, lugging around his bag of tricks. Finley is voiced by Zach Braff and is the equivalent of Frank. The crippled girl appears again in the form of a china doll that Oscar rescues and repairs and who joins in the fight against Evanora.

They tell Oscar that there is a prophecy that he will turn up and save the people of Oz. However, he is more interested in himself, gold and getting out of there in his balloon.

But, matters do not go well. Evanora takes over her sister who has perceived Oscar as abandoning her. By a sinister transformation, Theodora turns into the Wicked Witch of the West, bent on revenge on Oscar. But, we do remember who Glinda, the good witch is – and she is played by Michelle Williams.

The rest of the film tells how Glinda sees good in Oscar, how they join good forces to combat Evanora (without any deaths). Which means that Oscar has to delve into that bag of tricks. He becomes the Wizard and defeats the enemies, especially through that device we remember from The Wizard of Oz, his projecting his image and voice on a big screen, while he is hidden behind the curtains. Everything is in place for the arrival of Dorothy and her story.

It was all filmed in very effective 3D. The sets are wonderful. The action is most entertaining. James Franco seems to be enjoying himself as Oscar. Rachel Weisz is a convincing villain and Michelle Williams a very nice heroine. There is something strange about Mila Kunis both as the good Theodora and very strange, and unconvincing, as the Wicked Witch.

Hard to know whether the planning of the film intended it for younger audiences or not, or for older audiences. There is a lot to admire and enjoy, but overall, it is not quite…

1. Audience memories of the books, of the films, especially The Wizard of Oz? Audience interest in the wizard, in Oz? The pre-Dorothy period?

2. The film imagining Oz: the city, the emerald tower, the yellow brick road? Witches, good and evil? The tyranny of Evanora? The people needing saving? The hope for the Wizard? Revolution?

3. The films imagination: Kansas, 1905? Black and white, the box-screen? The atmosphere of the carnival, the storms? Transition to colour, the bright flowers? The yellow brick road, the palace, the forest, the field of poppies? The groups in Oz? The battle?

4. The special effects, action and stunts, editing and pace? The evocative score? The munchkins’ song?

5. The introduction to Oscar, as being a magician, conman? Frank assisting him? His spiel? The preparation for the act, the tent, the people arriving, preparing the girl for her performance? The presence of James Franco, the casting his the Wizard? His petulance, selfish, ambitious? His treatment of Frank? The performance, the people’s response, the girl and her slow-witted response? The audience enjoying the show? Calling out about the wires? His cutting them, the success of the show? The crippled girl, her appeal for him to help her walk, his escaping from the tent, using tricks? The people chasing him, his encounter with Annie? Her planning to be married, her love for him, his going? The escape on the balloon?

6. The balloon, special effects for the storm, the parallel to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz? In the eye of the storm, through the clouds, crossing into Oz?

7. The impact of Oz? The beauty, the mystery, the encounter with Theodora? The information about Oz? Theodora and her sister? The history of the death of the king? Blaming Glinda, the good witch?

8. Evanora, commanding presence, evil, her confrontation with her sister, her transforming her sister into the wicked witch of the west?

9. The wicked witch, her relationship with Oscar, her feelings, hurt, bent on revenge?

10. Oscar meeting Glinda, her sweetness, the story of her father, the kingdom, her hopes, the threats from Evanora?

11. Oscar, his motivation, the conman, the gold, exploitation of Oz, planning his escape, the balloon, his not getting away? Glinda saying he had a good heart?

12. Frank and the carnival, becoming Finlay, the flying monkey, carrying the wizard’ bag, advising, helping, a good friend?

13. Glinda gathering the various groups, the tinkers, the wise characters, the munchkins? The entry of the munchkins, their song? The support for Glinda? Ineffectual as an army? Glinda not believing in killing the enemy?

14. The plans for the revolution, the wizard and his bag of tricks, preparing the machines, the fireworks? The leader of the tinkers, his support? Finley and his help? The other leaders?

15. The confrontation with Evanora? Her army, the soldiers, the attack, the flying creatures? Defeated by the tricks? The collapse in the poppy field? The advancing to the city? The explosions, the fireworks?

16. The screen, projecting the image of the wizard, his voice projected, terrifying the people? Throwing of spears at the image? The disappearance of the image, the faulty machinery, restoring it, his reappearance?

17. Evanora and her fear, her escape, her clash with her sister? The confrontation with Glinda, their battle? Her destruction?

18. The wicked witch, abandoning all, her escape? The rejoicing with Glinda, her becoming the ruler, the loyal subjects? Oscar and his staying, his change of heart?

19. The end of the film and the beginning of Dorothy’s story? The wizard, the wicked witch, Glinda and their all being in place?

20. The target of the film – adult audiences, children?