OUR RATING SYSTEM
(*****) = do NOT miss! This one is as good as they come.
(****) = Fantastic - It's worth the price of the ticket (and then some).
(***) = Average - Nothing really bad, nothing really spectacular...
(**) = Perhaps you should find another movie to see.
(*) = The bottom of the barrel. It would be hard to find something less entertaining or more unworthy of your time.



Maureen (Mo) holds a PhD in marine geophysics (Dr. Maureen, to you) and works for the U.S. Geological Survey in Santa Cruz, CA. Maureen enjoys the outdoors (skiing, swimming, hiking, camping), dogs, cooking, singing, getting into (and out of) uncomfortable situations, and most importantly, watching quality movies. She makes a point of seeing as many Oscar-nominated films as possible each year and (correctly) predicting the winners. Her role on this blog is primarily as an advisor, collaborator, and "chime in"-er.

John (Jo) holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois and works as a nurse. His one true obsession in life is movies... The good, the bad, and everything in between. Other than that, he is busy caring for his cat, painting, writing, exploring Chicago, and debating on whether or not to worship Tilda Swinton as a deity. John is the master and commander and primary author of this blog.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Oz the Great and Powerful (Jo *)


'Oz The Great and Powerful' is a colossal misfire, a film that launched and exploded shortly after take off. A film that is so lacking in originality that one wonders how films like this are even green lit in the first place. We live in a time where they can reboot an entire series in 10 years. It's a wonder it took them so long to make this film in the first place.

Okay, we know the story. The 'wizard' arrives in Oz, fulfills a prophecy of some sort that is never really explained too well (why do movies continue to use the 'prophecy' aspect anyways? The Matrix, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Alice In Wonderland, etc…. Lazy, overused, boring) and the stage is set for the 1939 MGM 'The Wizard of Oz.' Done. If only this film understood the magic of the original, perhaps they could have salvaged some aspects of this misguided story. 

Perhaps a reimagining of the cast, starting with James Franco as the lead. The Oscar-nominated actor truly phones this role in, and his collaborations with Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) continue to produce lackluster performances. Maybe Mila Kunis can make an attractive witch, but throw green makeup on her and keep her voice unaltered, and whose mind doesn't immediately associate that voice with Meg from 'Family Guy?' Compared to the iconic Margaret Hamilton in the original film, Kunis would barely pass an amateur talent show. 

Visually some will claim this is a stunning film. Come now. The 'spectacular' landscapes we see are poor imitations from more visually challenging films (Avatar, Alice, etc) and the special effects are subpar to match. How many instances of poorly-rendered green screen can one film fit in the first 30 minutes? Answer: a lot. 

And the ending, Lord. Here is where we see the true changes in cinema from the 1930's to now. Of course there must be a battle, of course good triumphs, but does the character of the Wizard deserve to get the girl, too? The film depicts him as a womanizer, degenerate, scumbag, a creep who literally goes through zero change throughout the film. Why am I to believe his relationship with Glinda will last more than 5 minutes past the end of the film? 'The Wizard of Oz' succeeded on fantasy alone without the additional weight of a romance. 'Oz' buckles under all the pressure. 

Save your money and see another movie more worthy of your time. As of now, that literally means any other film currently in theaters. 

(Awards potential: No awards potential)
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