Oz the Great and Powerful
Mar. 10th, 2013 09:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerThis afternoon our son treated us to a movie and then took us to dinner at a local Chinese buffet.
I thought I'd post some of my thoughts about the movie; behind the first cut, some non-spoilery general impressions...
First of all, the theater was the most packed I've ever seen it. But this is a small town, this is the only theater, and it's opening weekend; a Sunday matinee for a movie suitable for kids was apparently an irresistible draw for a lot of folks. With so many kids, I thought there might have been a lot of talking and movement--but the movie kept the kids in their seats for the most part!
This theater is not equipped for 3D, so we saw it in 2D. This is the first time I have seen a 3D movie in 2D in which the scenes for 3D did not seem intrusive and contrived. Yes, there were quite a few swooping and flying scenes, but they seemed more a natural part of the action for the most part. I think moviemakers are getting more used to 3D and how to use it better.
I really enjoyed it even more than I expected to; I was worried about some aspects that I'd seen in the trailer, but I needn't have worried. And the score by Danny Elfman was wonderful--I certainly want the soundtrack for this film!
Now for some spoilers:
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This was a wonderful fanfic prequel--I could easily see this as a plausible origin for the Wizard as we see him in The Wizard of Oz (the 1939 movie, not so much the book). There were all sorts of tributes to the original film: the opening scenes in Kansas being in black-and-white, the presence of characters there who would be portrayed by the same actors in different roles in Oz; the tornado so reminiscent of the original; and the brilliant and jaw-dropping color when Oscar lands in Oz.
James Franco was fun in his role as a con-man, a charming, womanizing charlatan--with just enough conscience left to be uncomfortable with himself at times, which made his character growth more realistic.
Even though there are spoilers here, I won't give away the plot entirely--just to say that things are not necessarily what they look like at first glance. Mila Kunis, Rachel Weiss and Michelle Williams all played the three different female leads very well--especially Mila as the spurned Theodora. But the characters who stole the show weren't human, but Finley the Flying Monkey, and the China Girl, who managed to make being made of porcelain, being both very vulnerable and innocent, yet also very brave and tough, believable.
Loved all the visuals--stunning and very evocative of the 1939 original, and loved the ingenuity Oscar finally shows when push comes to shove.
Definitely worth seeing, and I'd gladly see it again. As a tribute to my second favorite movie (and up until 2001, my favorite movie) I'd say it most certainly hit the mark!
So that's my thoughts on the matter! Has anyone else on my flist seen it yet?
I thought I'd post some of my thoughts about the movie; behind the first cut, some non-spoilery general impressions...
First of all, the theater was the most packed I've ever seen it. But this is a small town, this is the only theater, and it's opening weekend; a Sunday matinee for a movie suitable for kids was apparently an irresistible draw for a lot of folks. With so many kids, I thought there might have been a lot of talking and movement--but the movie kept the kids in their seats for the most part!
This theater is not equipped for 3D, so we saw it in 2D. This is the first time I have seen a 3D movie in 2D in which the scenes for 3D did not seem intrusive and contrived. Yes, there were quite a few swooping and flying scenes, but they seemed more a natural part of the action for the most part. I think moviemakers are getting more used to 3D and how to use it better.
I really enjoyed it even more than I expected to; I was worried about some aspects that I'd seen in the trailer, but I needn't have worried. And the score by Danny Elfman was wonderful--I certainly want the soundtrack for this film!
Now for some spoilers:
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
*
S
P
A
C
E
*
This was a wonderful fanfic prequel--I could easily see this as a plausible origin for the Wizard as we see him in The Wizard of Oz (the 1939 movie, not so much the book). There were all sorts of tributes to the original film: the opening scenes in Kansas being in black-and-white, the presence of characters there who would be portrayed by the same actors in different roles in Oz; the tornado so reminiscent of the original; and the brilliant and jaw-dropping color when Oscar lands in Oz.
James Franco was fun in his role as a con-man, a charming, womanizing charlatan--with just enough conscience left to be uncomfortable with himself at times, which made his character growth more realistic.
Even though there are spoilers here, I won't give away the plot entirely--just to say that things are not necessarily what they look like at first glance. Mila Kunis, Rachel Weiss and Michelle Williams all played the three different female leads very well--especially Mila as the spurned Theodora. But the characters who stole the show weren't human, but Finley the Flying Monkey, and the China Girl, who managed to make being made of porcelain, being both very vulnerable and innocent, yet also very brave and tough, believable.
Loved all the visuals--stunning and very evocative of the 1939 original, and loved the ingenuity Oscar finally shows when push comes to shove.
Definitely worth seeing, and I'd gladly see it again. As a tribute to my second favorite movie (and up until 2001, my favorite movie) I'd say it most certainly hit the mark!
So that's my thoughts on the matter! Has anyone else on my flist seen it yet?
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no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 03:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 02:39 pm (UTC)And it was robbed in 1939--it was a *much* better movie than Gone with the Wind!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 10:57 am (UTC)Heh, I used to love Wizard of Oz, too! I mean, I still do -- just haven't seen it in a good long time. Back in the day, I associated it with it coming on in the spring (maybe Easter?) every year when I was a kid.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 02:41 pm (UTC)It's such a wonderful movie, all about a quest and friendship...*grin*
no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 12:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 04:15 pm (UTC)I've also read traditionally published fanfic of Oz, not only the ubiquitous Wicked which was an interesting subversion of the original (and I liked that book in some ways but not in others) but also a couple of other books: Philip Jose Farmer's A Barnstormer in Oz was one I read and enjoyed years ago.
This movie was very much a fanfic (in a good way), a loving tribute to the original movie, but also serving as a "gapfiller" in explaining the presence of the Wizard in Oz.
Let me put it this way: if it had been written as prose and posted online as straight up fanfic, I would have enjoyed reading it very much, and would have left a nice comment for the author.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 10:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 10:42 pm (UTC)The new movie was a lot of fun!