Is this Blu-Ray release worth adding to your collection? Find out in our review!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the first in a series of American classic fairytales about the mystical Land of Oz by author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow. The book was released in 1900. The original book spawned a Broadway musical and the critically acclaimed Wizard of Oz movie starring Judy Garland. The story has also spawned television specials, miniseries, and even cartoons. Now, Disney takes their second stab at the material with Oz The Great And Powerful focusing on the wizard behind the curtain. Does this Blu-Ray release pull back the curtain and reveal the magic of Oz or is it simply a crack in the Yellow Brick Road? Find out in our review!
The visuals in the film are stunning.
Before we cover the specs of the Blu-Ray, lets briefly review the film itself. Oz The Great And Powerful is Disney’s second attempt at the Oz franchise, with their previous effort Return The Oz (my favorite in the franchise) labeled a critical and commercial disappointment. The film tells the story of Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Issac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs (quite a name) or Oz for short. The movie begins with the fabled wizard performing as a circus magician. A playboy and a con artist, Oz is focused on being more than a good man, he wants to be great. After his latest performance, a girl in a wheel chair asks him to make her walk. When he can’t he leaves the crowd angry and heartbroken. After the circus strong man realizes Oz has made moves on his woman, he chases the magician into a hot air balloon. As Oz takes off, a tornado appears and he is sucked into the cyclone and taken to the land of Oz. Once there, he must work with Glinda to drive the Wicked Witches out of Oz and return the land to its people. While the premise is simple and sound, the performance of the title character is also the same.
Oz marvels over the potential of being King.
