Originally Posted By oc_dean This is a SPOILER topic ... to give us LPers a place to openly discuss the movie ... and compare opinions and observations of the movie. Good or Bad. With that said ..... Please don't take me as the heavy handed “movie critic” here - I mainly want to share my thoughts and observations what I found good .... and what it lacked. Lets talk about the “good” first: * My favorite aspect, is that they worked hard to emulate the look of the 1939 MGM classic. When the horse carriage picked up Oscar, along with the guards .... I looked at the details between their customs and the horse carriage – I was stoked! I wanted to see so much more .... As I saw they captured some of the best visual elements of the MGM version. * Some of the wide shots of the land were breathtaking. The mountains, rivers, waterfalls ... all beautiful. And rich in what looked like 3-strip Technicolor .... Just like the 1939 classic. * While I would have preferred Robert Downey Jr for the role of the wizard … I did think James Franco gave it his all, and by the end of the film .... I got comfortable enough, with him as Oscar/the wizard. * I loved the fact it (nearly) started like the 1939 film – In the “Academy Frame” 1.33:1 ... and didn’t go into widescreen and color ... till he landed in OZ. I do wonder ... why Black and White, and not Sepia Tone?! There is plenty of other elements I found good or excellent .... But without this dragging on too long.... Now the “not so good”: * Why introduce the citizens (of what is the capitol city for all of OZ - “Emerald City”) late in the movie, and as an angry mob? When he first arrives at the doorstep of the Emerald City .... It goes immediately to scenes with the 2 witches. Not one citizen in sight. It’s as though ... you had this huge empty city ... and only guards and the lead characters – two witches, living in it. And when the director finally does introduce the city’s people ... It’s night. They are all ready in “attack” form. What was wrong with just one “establishing” sequence of the city’s people in the daylight – And show this capital city in action – with it’s people? Since they are doing a sequel, they need to show off the CITY, as they didn’t here. It’s not a quaint village for 5, with just the lead characters! In the Judy Garland version ... Her first introduction into the green city .... Was seeing the citizens going on about their day. It’s a lively, thriving city ... and as a bonus .. everyone was singing. Not that this film had to be a musical. Remember .... There was this build up of “the prophecy” of a wizard coming .... So, why wouldn’t James Franco’s character get the build-up ... with the excitement of the city’s people ... with a big welcome for their new wizard???? * While most of the CGI scenes were done decently enough. I did think the walk through the field of daisies with Theodora was just a little too fake. A bright sunny day .. and the lighting cast on James Franco, and Mia … a little dark. * And ...I did think the acting and script for all 3 witches was bland and mediocre. Theodora/Mia right from the start – mediocre delivery. Evenora/Rachel – showed a little more conviction in her lines. And then of course when things heat up – and they are speaking loudly ...do they express some decent “conviction” in their respective roles. Sadly, I have to say ... the one who came off way too bland and mediocre was Michelle Williams. I know she is a very accomplished actress (“Brokeback Mountain” – the much acclaimed “My Week With Marilyn”) ... But it’s as though Raimi told her .... “Now, I want you to speak your lines, and have the emotional conviction ...like you are sleep walking. Okay?” Michelle: “Done!” I would have liked the ghost of Billie Burke (Glinda in the 1939 film / The accomplished stage actress who knew how to PROJECT ... to have told Michelle – “If you are suppose to be me, darling, in “my younger years” – please remember, you are performing in front of millions of people in darkened theaters. You are not at a nice quiet camp fire, speaking softly to just a small group of friends. I’m not saying she had to act out like she was on a stage – but her soft monotone delivery did little to make her character come alive. * And I thought Mia / Theodora’s diction sucked in a few scenes, early in the film – With no less than 3 lines I didn’t quite hear. Where’s Momma Rose – “SING OUT LOUISE!!” Or in this case – “Speak out Mia ... we didn’t hear what you said!” WHAT DID YOU SAY??? * And finally ... I didn’t care for the way Raimi staged/”blocked” the characters for Glinda’s domain, or the Emerald City citizens. Didn’t anyone else, aside from me, feel this bit of awkwardness watching the town’s people in Glinda’s home? The way they just “STOOD” there? And when it came time to put Oscar’s methods to scare the bad witches? The way the succeeding scenes went along ... another feeling of awkwardness, throughout those scenes. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. But .. between the town’s people at Glinda’s home ... and the Emerald City citizens ... They felt like, nearly worthless “mannequins” for the sake to show the town HAD people. It made me appreciate the 1939 version more. Because the fact it was a musical ... they showed the town’s people in motion ... interacting ...through song and dance. From the Munchkin’s “We represent the Loppy Pop Guild” (ETC) .... to Dorothy’s arrival to the citizens of the Emerald City - “Ha, Ha, Ha, Ho, Ho, Ho, and a couple of tra-la-las – That’s how we laugh the day away in the merry old land of Oz.” So.... That's my thoughts and observations on what I thought (to coin Oscars “I don’t want to be a good man, I want to be GREAT man”) ..... It wasn’t a GREAT film ... but it was definitely a good film. I think it’s worthy of a future Bluray in my collection. Anyone else?
Originally Posted By mawnck >>As I saw they captured some of the best visual elements of the MGM version.<< I have not seen the movie yet on account of I has a cold (and thus didn't read past the "good" part of the post because spoilers), but this is EXTREMELY unlikely, as the MGM copyright cops would be on them like stink on Family Guy. The visual elements you noticed were probably based on the original books and their glorious illustrations, which were the inspiration for the look of both movies.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Overall I enjoyed the movie. I liked it better than I was expecting I would. I loved the China doll character and the monkey, both were really enjoyable. I didn't care for Theodora's character, especially when she turned into the witch. I thought she looked ridiculous and sounded more like an angry teenager throwing a tempter tantrum than an evil witch.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I can't comment much since I haven't seen the film. But I do know that Ann and her two grand-daughters enjoyed it a lot. She wants to see it again with me, and that says something. She almost never wants to see a film more than once in the theaters. I can't believe that my first wife went to see the original Star Wars in the theater with me 17 times. What was she thinking? LOL
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I had low expectations but it turned out to be quite enjoyable. I agree with Constance that the wicked green witch didn't work so well. She looked like The Mask to me. I would have liked someone with a little more scenery chewing ability for that. James Franco I think did a good job as Oz. I thought the big battle in the third act was a clever idea and worked well. The little China girl was great as was the little flying monkey bellhop. Some nice Sam Raimi flourishes here and there too. I loved the opening credits and the opening black &white scenes.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Agree with much of the above...Mila IMO was the weakest of the leads, though it worked to a degree since in this story, we learn that her sister was really the more "wicked" witch of the two, and really pulling the strings. I actually really liked Michelle Williams (and not usually a fan). To me, there was a degree of subtleness to her performance which I think worked for the character. China Girl was my favorite however. Her introduction scene broke my heart.
Originally Posted By doombuggy "we learn that her sister was really the more "wicked" witch of the two" That was already obvious by the trailers, They didn't do a very good job of keeping that a secret.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "I agree with Constance that the wicked green witch didn't work so well. She looked like The Mask to me." That's what it looked like! I couldn't put my finger on it before.
Originally Posted By phantommanoraddict The trailers prior to the March 8th debut in my area did not show "that her sister was really the more "wicked" witch of the two". When I saw the movie, I was totally surprised. That's why I like going the first day of release... no speculations and the movie just unfolds to a reveal. Very surprising. I had no idea so the movie had a very nice twist. Frankly, when I saw the inital previews the weeks and months prior to release, they did not give much away in the plot ... it was all a jumble. So, unless the trailers were strictly regionally, I saw no evididence of predictability.
Originally Posted By doombuggy When I first saw what WWW looked like I thought she looked a lot like Gale Sondergaard when she was first cast as WWW in the MGM movie. https://www.google.com/search?q=gale+sondergaard&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Mkp&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=9W8_Uc3pGMaiqQHypoCYCg&ved=0CJwBEIke&biw=1024&bih=636#hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=gale+sondergaard+wizard+of+oz&oq=gale+sondergaard&gs_l=img.1.4.0j0i24l6.122.122.12.12232.1.0.1.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1c..5.img.eEsf9gBVcrw&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWM&fp=5e4a7917ce901773&biw=1024&bih=636
Originally Posted By oc_dean <a href="http://tinyurl.com/a8cmvmu" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/a8cmvmu</a> Fixed
Originally Posted By basil fan >> I can't believe that my first wife went to see the original Star Wars in the theater with me 17 times. What was she thinking? LOL! I saw the original Star Wars...get this...17 times on its first release! Small world, isn't it? Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Couture <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/buzz.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...uzz.html</a>
Originally Posted By basil fan Anyhow, I enjoyed the movie and LOVED the opening titles!! I thought they did a great job of pulling together/explaining all the elements of the original movie.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Loved that movie. It was just so different than anything I had ever seen before. It also seemed like I saw something new every time I saw it. It was frankly a very troubled time in my first marriage. We divorced about a year later. But for a while there it gave us something we both enjoyed doing together... one of the few things. :-( I was with my second wife, Rosie, for 30 years until she was taken by colon cancer. She didn't much care for Star Wars (though would go with me once to every new film). I guess love of Star Wars isn't everything... Annie, my new wife, could care less about Star Wars and wants nothing to do with it. When Episode IV was released in 3-D I had to have a nephew-in-law go see it with me.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Thank you, it usually makes it short but this time yikes.<< I don't think it works with https. Also, be cautious about reposting Google links. There's some personal stuff in there ... not your Social Security number of course, but still some potentially private-ish stuff, for those who know how to decipher them. Best to just link to one of the photos directly.
