Words: Kathryn Thorpe
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: James Franco, Zach Braff, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams
Cert: PG
Running Time: 130 mins
This charming little prequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939) starts with the life of Oscar Diggs, a small time circus magician accompanied by his humble and obedient sidekick Frank (Zach Braff). James Franco plays the savvy trickster Diggs, whose sly charms and charisma have broken many a heart in his time.
When Diggs gets swept away from Dusty Kansas to the beautiful land of Oz he is amazed by the magical surroundings and thinks he’s hit jackpot-fame and fortune.
Diggs is greeted by the beautiful witch Theodora (Mila Kunis) who is quite enchanted by the loveable rogue. She believes he is the wizard sent to save them from the Wicked Witch; a bemused Diggs goes along with the idea.
They follow the yellow brick road to Oz and meet Finley, a cute and talkative flying monkey. (Zach Braff) Diggs is brought to the Emerald castle where Evanora (Rachel Weisz) shows him the royal treasure of Oz.
What does he have to do to gain this vast pile of treasure and riches? Simply kill the Wicked Witch, how hard can it be?
Drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its people along the way, Oscar finds out it is not as clear who is good and who is evil as he once thought and finds himself as the reluctant hero, fighting for the people of Oz; trying to reclaim their land for them once and for all.
Putting his magical skills to use through trickery and illusion Diggs puts on a show like no other to defeat the evil Witches and convince the people of Oz, as well as himself, that he is not only the great and powerful wizard they’ve been waiting for, but he finds he is a better person as well.
With flying baboons, singing and dancing Munchkins, poisonous-scented poppy fields, and floating magic bubbles it was very risky creating a prequel to the much loved 1930’s classic The Wizard of Oz, however Sam Raimi’s ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’ is charming, stylish, comical and engaging and does the original complete justice.
