Well, I finally saw Oz the Great and Powerful and my brain was less than thrilled. In fact it's the first movie in a long time that I actually checked my watch to see when I was going to be able to leave. There are multiple sad things about what I just typed...1. I love movies and although I have disliked a lot of them, I rarely give them such low reviews and 2. I really believed this movie was going to be something. I had high hopes for the costume design and for the acting. I guess I should have thought twice about the actors portraying the roles in the movie. Rahel Weisz isn't notoriously great and neither is James Franco, but I hold higher standards of Michelle Williams and especially of Mila Kunis.
I blame this movie's suckiness on a couple of key factors. First, the dialogue was horrible. I don't know who put together the screenplay, but the dialogue was flat, boring and left me feeling like I was watching an old 90's Saturday morning carton (and not the good ones). Second, because of the dialogue lacking in any sort of brilliance, the actors were left to fend for themselves. Franco actually did quite well despite how much I dislike him, but he had little to work with. Third, the green screen/animation/make-up/costume design did not flow. Nothing worked together and during scenes where multiple avenues were present I felt confused and awkward like I was watching pieces of a movie that were still being assembled. Fourth, the movie was pretty demeaning to women and I am not sure how some of the snide remarks and lowball comments made it through with a PG rating. Sure, nothing was said out in the open, but Oz's whole demeanor said his words for him when it came to what he wanted with each of the women in the story. It's fine if the real Oz was a womanizer, but I don't think that it should be played out on the big screen like that. Lastly, it felt like L. Frank Baum's work (the author of The Wizard of Oz) was being stripped, made fun of and pumped up with sarcastic comment. The saddest part of it all is that this movie was put up by Disney. A company that normally brings such amazing and vivid stories to the screen. I was left wanting to punch Disney in the face. There with lots of moments over the course of two plus hours that I found myself rubbing my forehead and wanting to leave.
Like I said, I hate giving bad reviews, but what is deserved is served here on Jentertainment. Take it or leave it, and if you haven't seen this movie don't go.
I blame this movie's suckiness on a couple of key factors. First, the dialogue was horrible. I don't know who put together the screenplay, but the dialogue was flat, boring and left me feeling like I was watching an old 90's Saturday morning carton (and not the good ones). Second, because of the dialogue lacking in any sort of brilliance, the actors were left to fend for themselves. Franco actually did quite well despite how much I dislike him, but he had little to work with. Third, the green screen/animation/make-up/costume design did not flow. Nothing worked together and during scenes where multiple avenues were present I felt confused and awkward like I was watching pieces of a movie that were still being assembled. Fourth, the movie was pretty demeaning to women and I am not sure how some of the snide remarks and lowball comments made it through with a PG rating. Sure, nothing was said out in the open, but Oz's whole demeanor said his words for him when it came to what he wanted with each of the women in the story. It's fine if the real Oz was a womanizer, but I don't think that it should be played out on the big screen like that. Lastly, it felt like L. Frank Baum's work (the author of The Wizard of Oz) was being stripped, made fun of and pumped up with sarcastic comment. The saddest part of it all is that this movie was put up by Disney. A company that normally brings such amazing and vivid stories to the screen. I was left wanting to punch Disney in the face. There with lots of moments over the course of two plus hours that I found myself rubbing my forehead and wanting to leave.
Like I said, I hate giving bad reviews, but what is deserved is served here on Jentertainment. Take it or leave it, and if you haven't seen this movie don't go.
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