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Oz The Great and Powerful
Whether your kids have been begging to you to go or you want to relieve your childhood, Oz The Great and Powerful is a must see for any family. This prequel to the Wizard of Oz is full of adventure, love, and deceit. It’s wonderous to the eye and sure to please the entire family.
Oz the Great and Powerful is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz. The film opens in Kansas at a traveling circus. We are quickly introduced to Oscar, aka Oz, whom is a magician. It seems his gift for the slight of hand doesn’t just extend to his magic act, but to the hearts of young women as well. This quickly gets him in a pickle, and he uses his hot air balloon to escape the clutches of a very angry strong man. Before he knows it, his wayward balloon is headed straight into the bath of a twister.
The twister bats the balloon and Oz watches as his life flashes before his eyes. Before long, Oz is recanting his immoral ways and begging to change if only given a second chance. Within seconds, the sky clears and he seems to have been released from the grips of the tornado.
No sooner does he breath a sigh of relief than his balloon falls, hurdling itself faster and faster towards the ground. His short live relief is met by the idea that he might still not make it out alive! Though as luck will have it, he finds himself in a swamp of a very peculiar land. This land looks nothing like the land he left in Kansas. He finds himself in the land of Oz!
When the balloon lands, Oz finds himself in the land of Oz a beautiful, surreal land like no other his eyes he has ever laid eyes on. He is greeted by Theodora the good, whom instantly “knows” that he is the wizard sent there to save them all from the Wicked Witch. Mesmerized by her beauty Oz immediately reverts to his old ways and presents Theodora with a gift. She is convinced that he is the man they have all been waiting for.
The other sister, Evanora, isn’t quite sure if Oz is whom he says he is. In order for him to be the real Oz, she tricks him to thinking he must complete a task. Is she really trying to test his “magic” or is she truly up to something else?
Along his errand for Evanora, Oz finally meets the third sister, Glenda. It’s with Glenda by his side that he rallies to finally defeat the evil queen. She has belief that whether he is the wizard they were expecting or not, he is the only one that can save Oz.
Crunchy Gives Oz Two Thumbs Up
The movie itself really tugs on the nostalgia of those of us that grew up with the original Wizard of Oz film. The cinematography and effects in this movie are quite amazing, and really make you wish it was possible for the original to have similar effects.
Don’t be fooled by the title, this is not the retelling of the original tale, but learning exactly how Oz became the great and Powerful. Sam Raimi does a great job keeping you entertained, while presenting a slightly different take on the land of Oz.
The movie ties up nicely and explains exactly why people seek to ask “wishes” of the Wizard and how he compensates for being just an ordinary man standing up for an extraordinary cause.
Though the movie does appear to be slow at times, it is worth the slow parts to see the plot twists and the amazing 3D effects and scenery that make even the audience feel a part of Oz. It’s definitely something that your whole family should see!
Amber Edwards says
As if I didn’t already want to see this movie bad enough, now I want to see it even more! Seriously need to see it!
Debi Gerhart says
My family and I saw it and we all thought it was amazing.
Danielle says
I loved the movie when I saw it this week but will not be taking my kids. I just think they’re too young for a movie like this. Even I jumped a few times!