Oz: The Great and Powerful (spoilers)

[meowmaps]

Anybody see it yet?  

I enjoyed it but there were a few parts where I found my mind drifting.  I love James Franco but sometimes it's hard for me to separate him from his character in Pineapple Express.  He's such a goof! There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me.    

All three ladies were stunning and wonderful as the witches of Oz.  

ETA: I didn't reveal anything important to the plot but I added the spoiler warning in case anyone else wants to talk about anything plot-specific.  

[niemand88f]

I'm of the opposite opinion, I thought Mila Kunis and James Franco were miscast. Franco looked stoned and like he didn't care. The movie was wandering and boring except a little at the actual climax, and tried too hard to have sentimental moments.

[Deleted]

I like the movie but I wasn't a fan of James Franco as the Wizard.

[meowmaps]

Mar 9, 2013 17:16:18 GMT -5 niemand88f said:

I'm of the opposite opinion, I thought Mila Kunis and James Franco were miscast. Franco looked stoned and like he didn't care. The movie was wandering and boring except a little at the actual climax, and tried too hard to have sentimental moments.

Actually, I agreed with the bolded part - I referenced how he reminded me of his character in Pineapple Express.  I love that movie.    

[SallySparrow]

I thought it was cute. James Franco is a cheesy actor, though. I just don't get the love for him.

But the movie was basically what I expected, and I think Michelle Williams was amazing, as always.

[gault]

Mila Kunis is great, but did not have the voice to be the witch of the west. I will always hear Meg from Family Guy, and she sounds too young to seem evil.

It was a classic Sam Raimi movie, though, and I love that they had the trifecta of Raimi, Bruce Campbell (the guard at the door that got hit in the head 5 times) and Danny Elfman doing music.

Also, I wonder if Raimi and Burton went into battle for direction of this picture. Seems like something either of them could have done well.

[meowmaps]

Mar 9, 2013 23:42:45 GMT -5 gault said:

Mila Kunis is great, but did not have the voice to be the witch of the west. I will always hear Meg from Family Guy, and she sounds too young to seem evil.

Yep.  Her voice is too distinctive to not be distracting.  

[niemand88f]

Mar 9, 2013 23:42:45 GMT -5 gault said:

Mila Kunis is great, but did not have the voice to be the witch of the west. I will always hear Meg from Family Guy, and she sounds too young to seem evil.

It was a classic Sam Raimi movie, though, and I love that they had the trifecta of Raimi, Bruce Campbell (the guard at the door that got hit in the head 5 times) and Danny Elfman doing music.

Also, I wonder if Raimi and Burton went into battle for direction of this picture. Seems like something either of them could have done well.

Yea kind of an odd movie to put Evil Dead references in lol. The witch who transformed at the end looked and acted just like the deadite in one of the endings of Army of Darkness:

[ohjessica]

I just saw this yesterday. I was disappointed. I thought it was boring and the movie seriously dragged for me. I love James Franco, but mostly for his looks, apart from Spiderman, I really haven't enjoyed him in any role. So I agree with him being a miscast and I felt the same about Mila. I thought Michelle was enjoyable to watch though, but that's about it.

[insominac]

My favorite parts were the opening credits and the china doll. I thought both of those elements in the movie were fantastic.

I have no comment on the rest. Lol

[osumelissa]

I really liked the beginning - I thought starting in black and white really payed homage to the Wizard of Oz movie. Overall, I thought the movie was OK. Nothing amazing and I thought James Franco was not the best choice for the wizard (he definitely looked high at several points). Rachel Weisz was my favorite of the three witches.

[jigsy]

I read somewhere that they added more Zachary Braff flying monkey because in some scenes James Franco was a little too stoney...

I thought it was alright. Though I don't really like movies being made for 3d.

[Deleted]

I read where Robert Downey Jr was originally set to play the wizard. I think it would have been a much different movie (still haven't seen it yet).

[meowmaps]

Mar 11, 2013 13:50:00 GMT -5 @beachgal said:

I read where Robert Downey Jr was originally set to play the wizard. I think it would have been a much different movie (still haven't seen it yet).

I agree it would've been very different with Robert Downey Jr. but not necessarily better.  My H also told me that Johnny Depp was up for the part.  I'm glad he didn't get it.  I love him but he ruined Willy Wonka!  

[roseflower]

I am in the minority it but I really enjoyed the movie and this is most I have actually liked Mila Kunis. I thought she did a really good job.

[mariavontrapp]

I liked it but something was missing - I can't put my finger on it. I did think some of the visuals were just beautiful, while others were really cheesy. Overall a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

[BookLover]

It was lacking. I was disappointed in it. They relied to heavily on CG. I was kind of hoping the ruby slippers would be brought up to kind of tie in the two movies, or answer why they were so powerful between the witches in the original. Eh, it's what I get for having a little bit of hope in a movie.

[meowmaps]

Mar 12, 2013 1:21:50 GMT -5 BookLover said:

It was lacking. I was disappointed in it. They relied to heavily on CG. I was kind of hoping the ruby slippers would be brought up to kind of tie in the two movies, or answer why they were so powerful between the witches in the original. Eh, it's what I get for having a little bit of hope in a movie.

I was looking for a reference to the ruby slippers as well.  I thought I noticed some connectors that I can't think of now but I like how we saw Theodora's tears burn tracks into her cheeks.  Of course, we all know water is her downfall.  

[picksthemusic]

Mar 9, 2013 17:16:18 GMT -5 niemand88f said:

I'm of the opposite opinion, I thought Mila Kunis and James Franco were miscast. Franco looked stoned and like he didn't care. The movie was wandering and boring except a little at the actual climax, and tried too hard to have sentimental moments.

This is me, too. I wanted to much for it to be so good... but even Zach Braff (ha!) couldn't save it.

[jigsy]

The reason the ruby slippers weren't include is because they are trademarked by MGM. Disney had to also make sure that the Wicked Witches skin color was different because the shade of green in the original Wizard of Oz is also property of MGM...they also could not use the wart on her chin for the same reason.

[blindyswife]

A company can can have a specific color trademarked? Crazy.



I thought it was just okay. The first two thirds of the movie were cheesy and a bit boring for me. I didn't enjoy it until the end when they started actually making a plan/fighting the witches.