‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ is sure to be a popular choice for kids of all ages
FILM FOCUS
By AUSTIN LYNCH
FOR World Book Day, which took place recently, primary school children from across the county dressed up as various fictional characters from children’s books down through the ages.
One of the most striking groups were four children from Mullanaskea Primary School who dressed up as Dorothy, Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow.
As I’m sure most of you are aware these are the central characters from ‘The Wizard of Oz’, one of the most enduring children’s movies of all time.
Starring Judy Garland as Dorothy that film was made back in 1939 – before most of our parents were even born and was based on a children’s novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum in 1901.
I would guess not a lot of people realise just how long ago that film was made, or how much older the book which inspired that iconic film was.
When you consider how many popular films from yester-year have been remade, or reworked it’s a slight wonder how the ‘Wizard of Oz’ was left alone for so long.
Granted there was a sequel of sorts called ‘Return to Oz’ which was released back in 1985. I can clearly remember seeing this film in Dublin as a child and thinking it was great – with a host of wonderful characters coming to life to help Dorothy when she found herself called back to the land of Oz.
This March the land of Oz returns to our cinema screens – this time in a big budget Disney adventure called ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’. But this is not another sequel – it’s an origins movie set before Dorothy ever came to the land of Oz, and is all about how the Wizard himself came to be.
As with the original movie the action starts in Kansas where Oscar Diggs, played by James Franco, is a circus magician who doesn’t just want to be good – he wants to be great.
Suddenly Oscar finds himself being whisked away from dusty Kansas and ends up in a magical land he learns is called Oz.
For a small time guy with big ambitions Oscar is suddenly a big fish in a small pond and believes fame and fortune are here for him – as the inhabitants seem very taken by their strange new visitor.
But not all the inhabitants are pleased to see him and he meets three witches who aren’t so sure Oscar is the wizard everyone in this magical land has been expecting.
The three witches are Theodora (played by Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams. Now, in fairness, if you had to come across three witches you’d think yourself pretty lucky if the three were as nice as Ms Kunis, Weisz and Williams. But are they his friends, or his enemies?
Reluctantly Oscar finds himself trying to figure out who in this land is good, and who is bad. And with the help of a bit of magic Oscar transforms himself into the all powerful Wizard of Oz.
In much the same way Johnny Depp came alive as Willy Wonka the excellent James Franco seems to relish every second of this movie.
Directed by Sam Raimi (he of Spiderman fame) and brought to you by the same people who revitalised ‘Alice in Wonderland’ this is a fast-paced adventure which all but the smallest ones should enjoy – hence the ‘PG’ certificate.
As we approach the Easter holidays ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ is sure to be a popular choice for kids of all ages.
