Oz the Great and Powerful

[missgotty]

Saw this at the Leicester Square premier last night. I liked this film it was a nicely done prequel but couldn't see the full screen so well from my seat at the front so will be watching it again at the O2 this Saturday.

[EthanRunt]

Half liked the film, opens very well and as we ease into Oz it's enjoyable, but it loses its way during the second hour as it drags out the third act for an unfeasibly long time. Not enough story or scope to keep it going, but mostly decent stuff.

[funthing29]

This was reasonably good. It is a visual treat with lavish costumes and stunning CGI landscapes. While it was enjoyable with some comic touches (especially from the sidekicks), and some eye popping 3D, the biggest flaw lies with the acting: Weisz and Williams are spot on but Kunis really struggled and it was uncomfortable to watch. Franco lacked the charm or charisma the wizard required. I found it entertaining, but now the gloss has worn off, I see how the gorgeous visuals cannot compensate for a weak story or poorly cast actors. 7/10.

[canadian_turtle]

Saw this on Wednesday and really enjoyed it. Very clever use of screen ratio, colour and other effects (particularly those attributed to the Wizard's "science") to tie back into the original film adaptation and some very eye-popping 3D scenes (several times I found myself jumping backwards in my seat!). Also loved all the tie-ins to the original books with the use of many familiar names and characters (the last name Gale, Winkies, China Town, Cowardly Lion, etc).

I had no problem with the acting abilities (or lack thereof) from the cast as I didn't notice it at the time at all. Don't think the wizard was supposed to be very charming, more an egotastic sleaze ball and James Franco pulled it off nicely. Having said that, his companions were much more endearing so maybe I was also too distracted by looking at them to not notice Franco too much. Thought all 3 witches were good too though I was confused by [spoiler]Theodora wearing all red in the first half of the film as this made me assume her to be the Wicked Witch of the East (a reference back to her ruby red slippers) but in the end she transformed into the Wicked Witch of the West. Particularly confusing as Evanora was wearing green, which would've tied nicely into the green skin of the Wicked Witch of the West. Ah well.[/spoiler]

8/10

Interesting popcorn which looked like miniature sprouts

Because of the lighting in the cinema I initially thought the popcorn was blue, but eventually realised it was green. Makes sense as that colour is associated with Oz (Emerald City, green witch, etc.)

[Beate]

Gosh those security guards at the O2 were in your face annoying today. First they started shouting around from 10am that people have to have their mobiles turned off by 10.55, then one of them paced up and down next to us during the entire bloody film. There was also a lot of loo visits going on and while the audience were pretty behaved otherwise, the constant light stream from the door was annoying.

The film was quite entertaining but really too long for something like that, frequently too loud and had some scary moments that might have been too much for the youngsters. I must admit I nearly dropped off during the second half but I am quite tired today.

7/10

[asamaic]

Gosh those security guards at the O2 were in your face annoying today. First they started shouting around from 10am that people have to have their mobiles turned off by 10.55, then one of them paced up and down next to us during the entire bloody film. There was also a lot of loo visits going on and while the audience were pretty behaved otherwise, the constant light stream from the door was annoying.

The film was quite entertaining but really too long for something like that, frequently too loud and had some scary moments that might have been too much for the youngsters. I must admit I nearly dropped off during the second half but I am quite tired today.

7.5/10

I think you might been slightly too far back to hear the kid in front of us.

[spoiler]"I don't need to go to the toilet, I'll just get my dinkle out and go whhhhst whhhhst and everyone will be surprised."

"When you're dead, I'm going to put poo all around the town and it will smell and people will go 'eugghh what's that smell?'"[/spoiler]

I'm, er, glad I got to the O2 early enough to sit in the balcony and listen to that. In all fairness, he wasn't that noisy during the film.

I really enjoyed the 3D. Nice little story too, I'd give this a 4/5.

[Beate]

Yeah we were in the last row as always. We even beat the Sky ushers to it - no one was around, then bevvy turned up and said they are scanning the tickets downstairs but I wasn't having that so we simply entered the balcony and when we finally saw the Sky people turn up with 3D glasses, I came out again and exchanged printouts for glasses. The balcony was basically full by 10am, though a few single seats were dotted around.

Everyone was groaning when the 3D didn't work for the first few seconds!

[raj101]

not sure how you can record a 3d film on your iphone anyway, where they really expecting someone to upload a blurry multi-coloured version of the movie onto the internet? Even a dim ass pirate wouldn't do that.

(obviously I am very anti-piracy in stance, though I am also anti-piracy advert with a vengeance.... I absolutely abhor being talked down to in those adverts by a richboy actor telling us that movie piracy is a terrible thing for us viewers...no its not BUT it is ruinous for you one day, because you'll have to get a proper job, you Hollywood goon).

[Rainey]

Balcony was already full by the time we got there but sat near the back of the ground floor which was fine.

Kids thoroughly enjoyed the film, no fidgeting, they thought the 3D was brilliant and my son said it was far better than he thought it would be.

I did enjoy the film but felt it the story was a bit thin, the visuals were however stunning, some of the best use of 3D I have seen, it made me jump a few times and the little girl next to me was reaching out at one point it looked so real!

....what's happened to the 3D glasses they were huge, luckily had a pair in my bag as the ones they gave me were falling off!

[shmile]

i quite enjoyed it though like everyone else i did think it had dragged on too long and some kids i could see were getting a bit fidgety towards the end, great visuals and colours and one of the few times when 3D was not useless

7/10