Film Review: Oz The Great and Powerful

Oz The Great and Powerful. Rated PG (mild fantasy violence and some scary scenes). 130 minutes. Directed by Sam Raimi. Screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Based on the novels by L Frank Baum.

Verdict: What might have been a dud turns out to be a wonderfully entertaining companion piece to one of the most loved movies of all time.

As iconic movies go, few compare to the magnificent The Wizard of Oz (1939), which to this day remains a remarkable achievement in cinematic fantasy storytelling. Well-known and equally well-loved by generations of film-goers, The Wizard of Oz introduced us to Judy Garland’s Dorothy, her little dog Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion who together, battled the Wicked Witch of the West for the future of The Emerald City.

Rise of the Guardians. Rated PG (mild fantasy themes and violence). 97 minutes. Directed by Peter Ramsey. Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire. Based on The Guardians of Childhood novels by William Joyce.

Verdict: The picture perfect way to launch into the festive season.

If there is a more perfect way to launch the festive season on the big screen, it’s impossible to imagine what it might be. Rise of the Guardians is not only bravura, ground-breaking 3D animation, but also a story for children that refuses to shy away from the grand themes of fear, belonging and the importance of believing in the quintessential goodness in ourselves and each other.

When the Boogieman ‘Pitch’ (voiced by Jude Law) threatens to replace children’s dreams with horrifying nightmares forever, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), Santa (Alec Baldwin), Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and Sandman (an unspoken role) must band together to defeat the evil spirits of fear and darkness once and for all.