Returning to the land of Oz


"Aren't you the great man we've been waiting for?" — Theodora, "Oz the Great and Powerful"

I think everyone remembers the first time they saw "The Wizard of Oz." There is a great magic to the film — not just because it was unique for the time in terms of the way the film was put together, but because the story and characters jumped off the screen. That's one of the reasons it's become an iconic classic.

When I heard that Disney was putting out a prequel, I was excited and pessimistic. How can you recapture the wonder of a film like "The Wizard of Oz?" We've seen so many prequels — "The Hobbit," "Star Wars: Episode I, the Phantom Menace" — fail to match the quality of the film that preceded them that I wondered if the same fate might befall "Oz." Turns out that is the case.

My return to "Oz" was slightly more satisfying than the sequel Disney tried earlier — "Return to Oz" — but still not that great. That left me with three thoughts about the return trip:

1. I wonder if Robert Downey, Jr. would have made the film better? RDJ was attached to play the wizard at one point. But he had to drop out. Turns out you can't be Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man, and the Wizard of Oz. Something has to give — in this case it was Oz. In his stead stepped James Franco. Franco is a fine actor, but he felt out of place in this role. I can't help but think that RDJ would have been a more dynamic fit.

2. More isn't always better with technology. Sure, the filmmakers when over the top to make a lavish world of Oz, but they didn't do the same with the story. Too often in these modern blockbusters hundreds of millions are spent on the special effects, but none of that matters if the story and characters don't pop. Sadly, that's the case with "Oz the Great and Powerful." It is a lot of style, but not a lot of substance.

3. I wish I had a flying monkey as my best friend. Bar none, the best part of the movie was Finley (Zach Braff), the flying monkey that was best friend and confidant for Oz. He was funny, looked cute, and made me wish I had a flying monkey of my own. The good kind that is, a wise-cracking best friend. The other kind, the ones that worked for the witches, those are still terrifying.

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