Rating: PG (mild language, scary images, action sequences)

Length: 130 minutes

Release date: March 8, 2013

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Genre: Family, Adventure, Fantasy

Stars: 3.5 out of 5

The problem with origin films is that they often try to force a connection with a beloved story by stringing together cheesy references and awkward character cameos. It\’s a formula for failure and an obvious issue for Sam Raimi in the making of \”Oz the Great and Powerful,\” the 2013 prequel to the 1939 classic \”The Wizard of Oz.\” Disney\’s new \”Oz\” is visually stunning and takes several thematic risks that deserve some praise. Yet, parts of the plot suffer from trying to produce expected outcomes, often skewing the story in implausible directions.

Oscar\’s first entry into Oz is a gasp-worthy moment for all ages. Visual effects are what make this film soar, and Raimi makes a clever choice by opening the movie with a black-and-white sequence. When Oscar\’s battered balloon tumbles out of the storm, it emerges into a brilliant realm of whimsically shaped landmasses, shockingly blue skies, and an almost ethereal cityscape. In this captivating world, flowers are made from sparkling gems, characters travel in delicate bubbles, and a raging fireball of doom rumbles through the sky. The audience is taken for an exhilarating ride through scenery so sharp and flawless that getting lost in this fantasy land is inevitable.

From the start, the title is meant to lead you into the irony of the film. The average viewer already knows the main character is only an ordinary man and not a powerful wizard. The screenplay builds on that concept with the protagonist Oscar Diggs-a sleazy, sweet-talking con artist who performs as a circus magician named Oz. That is where the inconsistency begins to show. The choice to use the moniker of Oz early in the film makes little sense, considering that the name Oz traditionally refers to the place and not the man.

The same issues continue as Oscar\’s character develops. His desire to romance every woman alive quickly leads him into trouble as he flees the circus in a hot air balloon to escape an enraged husband. As Oscar lands in Oz, he is met by the na