Oz the Great and Powerful stands as one of the more visually striking films of recent memory. Colorful and vivid, it is a treat to the eyes as the land of Oz is recreated with a meticulous eye to detail. Even the intro titles were spectacularly original and nostalgic, making the first 10-15 minutes of the film the strongest. Production and set design is fantastic, with costumes and sets that look phenomenal. James Franco, who I've always liked (for better or for worse) gives a thoughtful performance as Oz. Charming, funny, and sensitive, Franco managed to pull me into the story from the start. This film had a healthy dose of humor, as well, which came from the two supporting characters, who also gave solid performances. The writing was superb in the first half of the film as well......but then it's like they changed writers after the first act. Cliches bog the movie down and make it difficult to take too seriously. Additionally, Mila Kunas is terrible in this film; her acting abilities in this film are borderline Nicolas Cage-ish. This film is excessive on the CGI front, which is another thing that weakens the score for me. The film seemed to get away from itself and go off track after the first act, and that ruined it for me.
Oz the Great and Powerful is not a dud in any sense. It presents some strong visuals and a remarkable performance from James Franco. However, inconsistent writing, poor acting from the supporting cast, and some minor plot holes pushes me to give a thumbs down. This film is purely a crowd-pleaser and your average moviegoer will probably enjoy this fantasy film, but a movie phenom like myself has to give this a fair rating.
MY RATING:
2.5 out of 5
-Kevin A. Millward
Numerous components travel on, off, and around the screen, while the land of Oz is as colorful as a fantasy can get. It is a bit much at times, but it grows with the picture. Good review Kevin.
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