We didn’t make it to the theater to see Oz The Great and Powerful so we have been anxiously awaiting its arrival on Blu-ray. We were even more excited when we were asked to review the movie. Last Saturday night we had a family movie night to watch what is sure to become a family entertainment classic.
About the Movie
A must-own for any home entertainment collection, the Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) of Oz The Great and Powerful brings the epic adventure to life with its vibrantly colorful picture and sound, and boasts a sensational variety of never-before-seen bonus materials including: “The Magic of ‘Oz The Great and Powerful’ Second Screen Feature” that provides viewers with an immersive opportunity to journey into the fantastical lands of Oz; James Franco’s personal story of his journey to the land of Oz that is produced and directed by the Oscar® nominated star himself; Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis’ makeup metamorphosis which is hosted by Academy Award®-winning makeup artist Howard Berger; A back-stage journey through each of the visual effects process that brought China Girl to life including an interview with Joey King; and much more. Additionally, all Blu-ray and DVD products include a digital copy of the film allowing consumers to watch Oz The Great and Powerful at home, in their car, and/or anywhere they go.
The film is directed by Sam Raimi who helmed the record-crushing “Spider-Man” trilogy, and produced by Joe Roth who fashioned Disney’s billion dollar-plus earning “Alice in Wonderland.” “Oz The Great and Powerful” boasts a stellar cast that includes Academy Award nominee James Franco as Oscar Diggs, the predestined wizard; Golden Globe nominee Mila Kunis as the tormented young witch Theodora; Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz as Theodora’s older sister, Evanora, the witch who rules over the Emerald City; and three-time Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams as Glinda, the Good Witch.
Bonus Features
Blu-ray:
The Magic of “Oz The Great and Powerful” (Second Screen Experience) – An immersive Second Screen experience that details all things Oz. From an interactive map full of secrets and surprises, to an inside look at the spectacular world of Oz. All fans need to do is download the special “The Magic of Oz The Great and Powerful: Second Screen” App (which is free and currently available for immediate download at the iTunes Store for iPads) which provides fans with infinite opportunities to remain connected to their favorite film, its cast of characters and to dive deeper into the magical world of Oz. This App provides exclusive access to invigorating and exclusive content including:
- The Enchanting Characters and Creatures of Oz – From Munchkins and Tinkers to good witches, bad witches, and flying baboons, this piece follows each character and creature of the Land of Oz from inspiration to final outcome.
- The Sounds of Magical Oz – What adds fragility to the sounds of China Girl’s footsteps; ferocity to the tornado; or weight to the flutter of Finley’s flapping wings?
- Sleight of Hand: Zach Braff Puppet Theater – Actor, and voice of Finley, Zach Braff introduces viewers to the Finley mockup.
- Mariah Carey Music Video
Bloopers
My Journey in Oz by James Franco – A personal story produced and directed by James Franco.
Mr. Elfman’s Musical Concoctions – An interview with composer Danny Elfman unveils his inspiration in scoring “Oz The Great And Powerful.”
China Girl and the Suspension of Disbelief – This feature uncloaks the several forms of movie magic employed to bring China Girl to life, from the initial artwork and character design, to the on-set puppeteering during filmmaking, and finally, through each stage of the visual-effects process; and includes an interview with Joey King, the voice of China Girl.
Before Your Very Eyes: From Kansas to Oz – Production designer Robert Stromberg takes viewers through the set design of the Land of Oz, from sketching his original ideas on a napkin, through to the final set pieces and the accompanying visual effects.
Mila’s Metamorphosis – Lead makeup artist Howard Berger expands on one of the oldest, most tried-and-true forms of movie magic: makeup design and effects.
Walt Disney and the Road to Oz – It is well known that Walt Disney had a fascination with the Land of Oz since he was a child. See how that fascination grew into inspiration as he began planning for his own adaptation of the stories in the classic Baum books.
DVD:
Bloopers
Walt Disney and the Road to Oz
Our Thoughts
We have never read the Baum books but the story, which is basically how the wizard came to be is very believable. It fits into the world of Oz seamlessly and as and audience we accept the story as truth. We loved the creativity of bot the opening credits and the Kansas section of the story being told in black and white in a small box form similar to the classic The Wizard of Oz movie. The beginning and ending of the movie are both powerful in their own right but the middle of the movie lags a bit. We didn’t totally lose interest but we all felt a dip in the middle of the film.
The sets and scenery are visually stunning. The Land of Oz is absolutely beautiful and sometimes even breathtaking. The costumes and makeup are very well done, especially the transformation of Mila Kunis into the wicked witch of the west. I loved the character of the wizard because he is such a flawed man who proves to be a strong yet caring individual. My favorite thing in the entire movie was the score. It is perfect and I’m hoping Danny Elfman gets an Oscar for his amazing work. I always enjoy the bonus features because I like getting a glimpse into life on set and how the magic was created.
Oz The Great and Powerful will be a great addition to your family entertainment library. The movie is rated PG and personally, I wouldn’t recommend it for children under the age of 10 due to some of the scary and intense scenes. I have some adult friends that are still afraid of the flying monkeys from the original film, well the flying baboons in this film are much, much scarier.
Disclosure: We received a copy of the Blu-ray combo pack of Oz The Great and Powerful for this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
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