In the film Oz the Great and Powerful, James Franco plays a Kansas carny performer who has overstayed his welcome. In every town he visits, he performs the same scam. He first gains the trust of those around him then he takes advantage of them until either they throw him out, or he has no choice other than to run. You see, Oz is not your ordinary circus performer, he is a very good circus performer who knows people and how they work. That is why he makes an excellent profile for today’s Wednesday Warriors.
In Kansas, Oz is your typical sideshow act. He’s a magician, an illusionist, a performer, an example of what is right in the world—or at least that is what he thinks of himself. Meanwhile, he has wooed multiple women with the same technique he has used countless times. A music box does wonders to a woman’s heart.
But not everyone admires the dashing actor. Husbands, in fact, hate him, and would do anything to see him hanging from a tree until dead.
When Oz attempts to sweep the wrong girl off her feet, his worst nightmare becomes a reality. In an effort to escape an enraged spouse, he hops into a balloon and casts off to places unknown.
The resourceful Oz has no one to rely on than himself. Yet, how different is that from the other times he had to make a quick getaway from other folks who have wanted to make him part of a funeral procession?
What Oz doesn’t count on is the twister that suddenly makes an appearance during the most inopportune time. With the winds wailing, the balloon lifting to heights beyond comprehension, Oz can only dream of a time when his feet will once again walk on solid earth. He will never again take to flight in order to thwart the evil musings of a jilted lover.
After having landed in a place unknown, he discovers the land is not what he expects. He notices the large flowers, the waters alive with creatures he has never imagined and the air running amok with birds that have the ability to swallow him whole. Indeed, Oz is not in Kansas anymore.
As the story progresses, Oz comes upon two sisters (Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz) and a kingdom filled with riches. His eyes fall on the treasure promised to the heir of the fortune—a great wizard who will save the land from the Wicked Witch and her minions. Without knowing what the prophecy means, Oz becomes the unwitting center of the story. But he has more on his mind than saving a people from a woman he could dismiss with a wave of a hand. Oz has the treasure in mind that he wants to inherit all to himself.
The film could run a predictable course where Oz steps on everyone’s dreams as a means to exact his greed-filled desires. But in true Disney fashion, Oz becomes a bigger man than he would have otherwise predicted for himself.
Revealing more of the story would also mean to ruin an experience for the viewer that would highlight a man’s willingness to put aside his own desires for the love of a people.
And seeing Oz in that position of growth is not only inspiring but also a miracle.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ALIEN INVASION, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE SEARCH FOR PARADISE, on sale October 20.
Have you seen Oz the Great and Powerful? What do you think about Oz’s growth in the film?
Looking to God 
It’s a fine little movie. Could have been a whole lot worse, but considering the cast and crew involved, it works. Nice review.
Honestly, I hate to say it but I found myself looking at my watch the whole time hoping it was over. I found it boring….sorry. Not my cup of tea.
I never got around to seeing this movie.
I think it was an awesome movie and Franco really did a great job of it… I mean you honestly didn’t know which way he was going to go until he made the choice… I mean you kinda know he’s gonna do the right thing… but honestly it’s like is he really or is it gonna take something drastic to change his mind… I just hated how it turned out for the wicked witch of the west… because she was just as much a victim as everyone else to her sister’s evil doings… but having been put under the curse couldn’t do anything to save herself… it actually makes me sad to know how her ultimate end comes about… although I’ve always liked the point that Dorothy was a bit messed up… I mean all the witch wanted was her sister’s shoes and being her next of kin and probably who the sister wanted to have the shoes she was fully within her rights… and yet Dorothy took them and then killed the witch… pretty screwed up…
Hmm, sounds interesting. And who can resist James Franco, anyway? 😉
Great post, Jack. If memory serves, you’ve written about this movie before. In any case, I haven’t seen this movie in awhile (though I did get to watch the newest Terminator movie last eve), and only once at that, but I think it’s an excellent pick–or pic as the case may be!–for October. The movie has a ‘fall’ feel to it, for me. In any case, I thought Franco did the role well, perhaps not much acting involved, either. I liked the porcelain girl aspect, too. From what I understand from my daughter, Baum wrote several Oz books (maybe like 12 or 13), and she’s read several of them, one solely about Glinda (that’s Baum’s spelling; most modern respellings seem to misspell as Glenda) the good witch, for instance. I’ll bet Oz is quite a character in those novels, but I’m sorry to say I haven’t found that out for myself. One of these days, though . . .
I haven’t seen the entire movie in its entirety lately, but he reminded me somewhat of Han Solo sans his Millennium Falcon or weapons.
Interesting. I didn’t think of that. But now that you’ve mentioned it, I see the similarities. I wonder now who typifies Chewy.
Other people have seen similarities between The Wizard of Oz & Star Wars, but George Lucas borrowed from many different sources.
Chewie = Cowardly Lion, possibly ?
Okay, now I’m curious who the Tin Man was in the series!
See – Threepio ! Even though the Scarecrow is the one who got torn apart / dismantled much like Threepio in TESB.
I wasn’t expecting much from this film, but like films you approach without expecting much it turned out to be quite enjoyable.
ooh I think I want to see that movie!