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Oz The Great And Powerful (PG)
Directed by Sam Raimi
Friday 08 March 2013
Printable
EmailThe original Wizard Of Oz has always proved a hard act to follow but Sam Raimi's new version comes very close to recreating its magic and wonderment.
This is a prequel which explores the Wizard's back story and how he arrived in the merry old land of Oz.
Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a womanising small-time circus magician who escapes from Kansas to Oz. There he thinks he has hit the jackpot when he meets three sibling witches (Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams) who believe he could be the great Wizard.
Franco is charming and charismatic while Kunis, Williams and Weisz are totally bewitching, particularly the latter as the evil sister.
Full of nods and winks to the original the film, while exquisitely recreating Oz, is surprisingly dark and scary in parts.
Diggs's transformation is pretty convincing, though maybe too frightening for young children.
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