Oz: The Great and Powerful

[Spiff]

The first official movie poster was unveiled today by Disney for this Wizard of Oz prequel. Movie release: March, 2013.

Directed by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, Spider Man 1, 2, and 3, Drag Me to Hell)

Cast:
James Franco as Oscar Diggs/Oz
Mila Kunis as Theodora (wicked witch of the west)
Michelle Williams as Glinda the Good Witch
Rachel Weisz as Evanora (wicked with of the east)
Zach Braff as Frank and Finley
Joey King as China Girl
Abigail Spencer as Mrs. Hamilton
Ted Raimi as Skeptic/Tinker
Bruce Campbell as ???
Tony Cox as Knuck
Tim Holmes as The Strong Man
Martin Klebba as Nikko

Story synopsis:
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis) Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Actually it sounds kinda boring.

 

[MJEH89]

My only concern is there has never been a successful movie about "Wizard of Oz" since the 1939 Garland version. What makes them think they can do it now? Yes, I like JF, and this is a Disney movie, but I still have doubts.

 

[braex27]

The cast shows promise. I share similar concerns.

Everything I have read of it says it is adapted from 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' but from memory, not much was made of the Wizard/Diggs in that book. Will be interesting.

I am still waiting for them to adapt Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - both directly from the Gregory Maguire book (brilliance!) and the Stephen Schwartz Broadway musical.

 

[guyfromNY]

Nothing could ever be as good as the 1939 Judy Garland movie, prequel or not. The Wizard of Oz was the first movie I can clearly remember loving and it's still probably my favorite. Any other gay boys around here love that movie???

 

[Spiff]

It certainly does have big ruby slippers to fill.

The problems we sometimes get with prequels is too much explaining of events that lead to the original for which we do not desire an explanation. They can be like watching a road-map instead of a motion picture; rather dull. Rather than craft a good story that stands on its own merit, prequels tend to rely too much of holding our hand to lead us up to things from the original that are better left mysterious. Though not all, a few prequels have been done quite well.

I really do not want to prejudge Oz this soon, as there really isn't much known about it; although what is known of the story thus far does not sound terribly exciting. I hope this movie doesn't focus on things like how the wicked witch of the west turned green; because I really don't care. She's a bad witch, she's supposed to be ugly. No backstory of her ugliness needed. Rather than explain the mysteriousness of Oz, I would hope it would show us more mysterious things we have not yet seen. I'm also not crazy about Disney doing this; Disney seems to have to have their name on everything, and now Oz.

Too bad it's not a musical. I would pay to see what Franco would do with that.

 

[orton86]

I came here thinking that this thread was about Oz (HBO show). Nevermind, a little different. lol

 

[braex27]

It certainly does have big ruby slippers to fill.

The problems we sometimes get with prequels is too much explaining of events that lead to the original for which we do not desire an explanation. They can be like watching a road-map instead of a motion picture; rather dull. Rather than craft a good story that stands on its own merit, prequels tend to rely too much of holding our hand to lead us up to things from the original that are better left mysterious. Though not all, a few prequels have been done quite well.

I really do not want to prejudge Oz this soon, as there really isn't much known about it; although what is known of the story thus far does not sound terribly exciting. I hope this movie doesn't focus on things like how the wicked witch of the west turned green; because I really don't care. She's a bad witch, she's supposed to be ugly. No backstory of her ugliness needed. Rather than explain the mysteriousness of Oz, I would hope it would show us more mysterious things we have not yet seen. I'm also not crazy about Disney doing this; Disney seems to have to have their name on everything, and now Oz.

Too bad it's not a musical. I would pay to see what Franco would do with that.

Maleficent and the Queen in Snow White beg to differ regarding bad witches and ugliness.

I didn't think I would enjoy knowing a back story for the Wicked Witch of the West either, but having read Gregory Maguire's book, I stand corrected. It's fascinating, offers a different perspective of the Wizard of Oz as a whole. Personally I think my enjoyment of Wizard of Oz is enhanced as a result.

Baum's book was written for children. Concepts of good and evil are simplified. Really, when you consider it:

1. The Good Witch of the North sent a girl off on her own in a strange land, knowing a 'wicked' witch was after her;

2. The Wizard sends her off on what he knows will likely be a mission doomed to failure, and result in her and her friends' deaths just so he wouldn't be exposed as a fraud; and

3. Glinda, the Good Witch of the South is conveniently incommunicado until all is said and done, appears (in the book) to tell Dorothy about the shoes and take the hat which controls the flying monkeys.

And at the end of the day, all the Wicked Witch of the West wanted... was her dead sister's damn ruby/silver (in the book) shoes.



Highly highly recommend Gregory Maguire's book. It's exceptional.

 

[freefall]

Seems like a prequel...kinda promising.
Just hoping this will not fall flat.

 

[Spiff]

3. Glinda, the Good Witch of the South

You just taught me more about Oz fanfare that I never knew. I never realized the Wizard of Oz film either got it wrong or intentionally combined the good witches of north and south to create the single Glinda, good with of the north character (I just read both theories around the 'net). Obviously, I never read any of the Baum books. I ought to do that some day.

 

[goldenmoth]

It could be alright. I have a feeling they're going with an 'Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland' feel

 

[evanrick]

Nothing could ever be as good as the 1939 Judy Garland movie, prequel or not. The Wizard of Oz was the first movie I can clearly remember loving and it's still probably my favorite. Any other gay boys around here love that movie???

i was just thinking of what a great video game it would make.

 

[braex27]

You just taught me more about Oz fanfare that I never knew. I never realized the Wizard of Oz film either got it wrong or intentionally combined the good witches of north and south to create the single Glinda, good with of the north character (I just read both theories around the 'net). Obviously, I never read any of the Baum books. I ought to do that some day.

Glad I could assist. I think MGM deliberately condensed the characters and the Wizard of Oz story, which is fair enough. I do like the 39 film. I tend to consider it and the books different beasts. Baum wrote a lot more about Oz - including stories about Ozma of Oz and Tik Tok, none of which are really as popular or well know.

I think the biggest improvement MGM made, completely aesthetic of course, is changing the silver slippers in the book to the iconic ruby slippers for the film - and all because red looked better in technicolor!

 

[braex27]

It could be alright. I have a feeling they're going with an 'Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland' feel

Dear lord, no! Tim Burton's 'Alice' was a terrible terrible film.

 

[Spiff]

i was just thinking of what a great video game it would make.

American McGee once was trying to sell that idea and even did some concept work on it. It never happened. Strangely, action figure's were still sold based on McGee's concept. McGee also wrote a script for an Oz movie for Disney, but Disney apparently went with a different one.

 

[Native Son]

Actually it sounds kinda boring.

Wow. You are tough to please. I guess I'll reserve judgment till I've experienced the finished product. Uh, it is kinda weird that Disney is looking to license everything. But hey, smart of them.

I think the biggest improvement MGM made, completely aesthetic of course, is changing the silver slippers in the book to the iconic ruby slippers for the film - and all because red looked better in technicolor!

A screen-used pair of those damn things just recently sold for $2 mill.

 

[Spiff]

Wow. You are tough to please. I guess I'll reserve judgment till I've experienced the finished product.

Actually I'm not. I must have some interest in this movie, otherwise I would never have bothered to make this thread. I only said the story synopsis sounds kinda boring. That does not mean I have made up my mind on the finished product like you implied.

 

[Native Son]

That does not mean I have made up my mind on the finished product like you implied.

No. It doesn't. And I didn't mean to imply that. I was speaking strictly on my behalf when I said I'd wait for the finished product. Sorry for the confusion.

If anything, you're making judgments on the unfinished product. Nothing wrong with being picky. (Per se.)

 

[braex27]

A screen-used pair of those damn things just recently sold for $2 mill.

The purchaser was possibly under the mistaken belief that it was a 'one and only' when in fact there were about half a dozen pairs... just like the blue gingham dress.

 

[MisterMajestic]

I hope this Flick fares better than Return to OZ......The Studio went with a darker sequel to The Wizard of Oz...Return to OZ failure had NOTHING to do with the cast of Humans...It was the Oz animals/talking furniture/talking chickens and Rocks that sent it over-the-top....The Late-great Judy Garland would have thrown-up had she seen it.....

So Oz: The Great and Powerful is animated? I'll deff check it out because the story is promising...

 

[Spiff]

So Oz: The Great and Powerful is animated?

It's live action. Although I am fairly certain it will be loaded with CGI or mo-cap characters also.