Sam Raimi's "Oz: The Great and Powerful"
Having recently watched Return to Oz, I was reminded of what an underrated classic it is. It seemed quite serendipitous when I stumbled across the news of Sam Raimi's latest project. I am thrilled to hear that Sam Raimi is directing a new installment in the land of Oz.
Below is the film's synopsis:
Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot? Fame and fortune are his for the taking? That is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity and even a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
As if all of this wasn't sounding awesome enough; even greater news comes via a Bruce Campbell tweet...
... such news certainly softens the blow of the Evil Dead remake fiasco.
Oz: The Great and Powerful is due for release on March 8th, 2013. Colour me very excited.
On a somewhat related note, re-watching Return to Oz revealved where I had obtained the subconscious inspiration for everyone's favourite cock; Cockerel...
Say hello to Cockerel's cousin; Billina.
Below is the film's synopsis:
Oz The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot? Fame and fortune are his for the taking? That is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity and even a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
As if all of this wasn't sounding awesome enough; even greater news comes via a Bruce Campbell tweet...
"I. Am. In. Oz. Sam Raimi refuses to tell me what character I will portray. Just know that the role is PIVOTAL."- Bruce Campbell
... such news certainly softens the blow of the Evil Dead remake fiasco.
Oz: The Great and Powerful is due for release on March 8th, 2013. Colour me very excited.
On a somewhat related note, re-watching Return to Oz revealved where I had obtained the subconscious inspiration for everyone's favourite cock; Cockerel...
Say hello to Cockerel's cousin; Billina.
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Comments
Which reminds me, I keep meaning to re-read the books. If you've only seen the movies... man, you're missing out.
Such great memories.
Yep, as was Princess Mombi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnIdI8iiK1M
and The Gnome King...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4lhGXLzIYQ
As much as it was such elements that caused the film to be a financial failure, they were and remain the aspects that make the film so fantastic. Screw the masses of the cinema going public, they've got sod all taste anyway. Let's not forget that John Carpenter's The Thing was also a commercial failure upon it's initial release because it was "too dark" when compared to E.T.
Hmm, books and film are two different mediums and should be evaluated as such.
haterade!
haha... i dont think Return To Oz was even pretending to be a proper adaptation of the books.
There's a new Oz flick coming out that's animated... I think it's Return to Oz all over again.
you mean this? http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/09/03/test-footage-from-john-boormans-animated-wizard-of-oz-stupid-invaders-trailer/ I heard that it was going to be a fairly faithful adaptation of the book, even including the characters backstories (which were left out of the MGM movie)
That's... surprising. The Tin Woodsman's origin is very violent, so I'm curious to see how they deal with that.
it's oz though, in later books people get dismembered all the time without blood or gore, so they could easily just lop off his limbs very bloodlessly and get away with it...
let me also add, I'm liking the dorothy in the trailer, sure she's not dressed in blue and white gingham, but it's actually more acurate to put a kansas farmgirl from that period in overall's then it is to put them in a blue/white checked gingham dress =D
Um, that's... good to know. Thanks for... telling me?!