# Oz The Great And Powerful: Review - Neither Great Nor Powerful? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838 "2013-03-02T17:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/21 "2013-03-05T16:26:45Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Those are all children’s movies. They’re not supposed to stand up to adult scrutiny. This is just about the wrongest comment I’ve seen here in quite some time. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/22 "2013-03-05T17:14:34Z")
When I saw Mila Kunis wearing red in the previews I was hoping the filmmakers were followng the Oz color scheme and that she was going to be Glinda, from the red-toned Quadling Country. Alas, she is not. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/23 "2013-03-05T17:48:00Z")
I’ve actually committed to seeing this with two different people, so I at least hope it’s tolerable. It couldn’t be much worse than Tim Burton’s **Alice in Wonderland** , right? ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/24 "2013-03-06T02:38:29Z")
It’s rated PG, but I’m wondering how kid-friendly it is. Mine’s almost 6 and likes mildly scary things like Scooby Doo and Monster High, but I haven’t let her watch Return To Oz yet because I know that scared the crap out of me when I was a kid, and I was older than she is now when I first saw it. I’m debating if it’s a theater trip or wait for dvd thing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/25 "2013-03-06T03:47:03Z")
We’re going to see the movie. Don’t have high hopes for it, but my wife is looking forward to it, so there it is. On the other hand, Mila Kunis gives possibly [the greatest junket interview, ever](http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/70009/mila-kunis-gives-delightful-junket-interview-melts-internet), so there’s that at least. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/26 "2013-03-06T03:59:04Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > On the other hand, Mila Kunis gives possibly [the greatest junket interview, ever](http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/70009/mila-kunis-gives-delightful-junket-interview-melts-internet), so there’s that at least. Intrigued, so I had to check it out but . . . MAJOR SPOILER WITHIN THE FIRST 30 SECONDS, so I had to stop watching. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/27 "2013-03-06T04:37:02Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > It couldn’t be much worse than Tim Burton’s **Alice in Wonderland** , right? Haven’t seen it, but from the TV spots and the theater trailer, I’m getting a very heavy “_Lord of the Wizard of Wonderland and the Wardrobe_” vibe from this. Hey, Hollywood: not everything needs to be an epic; just because you _can_ do something with CG doesn’t necessarily mean you _should_. And while I have you on the line, come up with some fresh ideas for Og’s sake! Snow White and the Huntsman? Jack the Giant Slayer? Hansel and Gretel, Witch Hunters? Seriously?! How long before we’re seeing trailers for: [DEEP MOVIE TRAILER VOICEOVER] "This summer… See… Spot… RUN!!!" [/DEEP MOVIE TRAILER VOICEOVER] ETA: Yes, I know, they actually already [made that movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250720/). ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/28 "2013-03-06T04:58:26Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Intrigued, so I had to check it out but . . . MAJOR SPOILER WITHIN THE FIRST 30 SECONDS, so I had to stop watching. :dubious: Please tell me you’re kidding. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/29 "2013-03-06T05:39:32Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > :dubious: > > Please tell me you’re kidding. I’ve seen the previews. In the previews, I saw her as a pretty lady in a red outfit. I had no idea she was the witch. I assume at some point in the movie, the audience gets the surprise that “Uh oh! The helpful pretty lady _is actually the witch ZOMG!!!_” In the interview, she talks about her ugly witch make-up. So, now I will know immediately upon her introduction that she is the witch. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/30 "2013-03-06T05:54:28Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I’ve seen the previews. In the previews, I saw her as a pretty lady in a red outfit. I had no idea she was the witch. > I assume at some point in the movie, the audience gets the surprise that “Uh oh! The helpful pretty lady _is actually the witch ZOMG!!!_” In the interview, she talks about her ugly witch make-up. So, now I will know immediately upon her introduction that she is the witch. Good. [You’re supposed to.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NdeuYgRoTI&t=0m50s) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/31 "2013-03-06T05:56:19Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > It couldn’t be much worse than Tim Burton’s **Alice in Wonderland** , right? They should put that in all the Publicity. “Almost exactly like but slightly better than Alice in Wonderland.” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/32 "2013-03-06T06:08:02Z")
Alice in Wonderland made over $1 billion worldwide. The creators of this film would _love_ to be in that company. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/33 "2013-03-06T11:09:06Z")
Humph. I had her pegged as the Witch of the East based on red dress / Ruby Slippers and that the other new witch is dressed in green . I didn’t think there was any doubt that one of the ladies was the Wicked Witch of the West, the only mystery was which one. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/34 "2013-03-06T15:15:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Good. [You’re supposed to.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NdeuYgRoTI&t=0m50s) Even in that clip she introduces herself as “Theodora The Good Witch”. As far as we know from the trailer she seems aligned with the would-be Wizard as he is given the task of defeating The Wicked Witch of the West (whom we get a brief glimpse of with the familiar green skin). So, yeah, still seems like the audience is meant to be kept in the dark about her true identity until the story reaches a “reveal”. I am standing by my assessment that the interview linked upthread contains a major spoiler in the first 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/35 "2013-03-06T15:38:14Z")
I agree with bienville, after only having read the spoilers in this thread ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/36 "2013-03-06T16:04:32Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I didn’t think there was any doubt that one of the ladies was the Wicked Witch of the West, the only mystery was which one. Actually, all the early promotional artwork showed… Rachel Weisz …in the green Wicked Witch makeup. The twist, which is no longer a secret since it’s popping up everywhere now… is that Mila Kunis is the Wicked Witch of the West and Weisz is the Wicked Witch of the East. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/37 "2013-03-06T16:14:31Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Even in that clip she introduces herself as “Theodora The Good Witch”. As far as we know from the trailer she seems aligned with the would-be Wizard as he is given the task of defeating The Wicked Witch of the West (whom we get a brief glimpse of with the familiar green skin). > So, yeah, still seems like the audience is meant to be kept in the dark about her true identity until the story reaches a “reveal”. > I am standing by my assessment that the interview linked upthread contains a major spoiler in the first 30 seconds. Sigh. They’re pretty clear that her character undergoes an emotional evolution mirrored in her physical form. The impetus for, nature of, and result of that arc would be the spoilers.I honestly have no idea how some of you decide what media to consume when you consider this stuff spoiling. I mean, it’s about a guy journeying to the land of Oz, I hope that didn’t ruin anything for you. I know you like to be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/38 "2013-03-06T16:56:47Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Sigh. They’re pretty clear that her character undergoes an emotional evolution mirrored in her physical form. The impetus for, nature of, and result of that arc would be the spoilers.I honestly have no idea how some of you decide what media to consume when you consider this stuff spoiling. I mean, it’s about a guy journeying to the land of Oz, I hope that didn’t ruin anything for you. I know you like to be surprised. Agreed. Not every film is written as a mystery or is intended to have a twist ending. Extreme “spoiler” avoidance does not make sense to me, although I will try to accommodate our more sensitive comrades. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/39 "2013-03-06T17:10:58Z")
I read the cover story in EW this week and they were careful to not identify the actress who plays the Wicked Witch. It hasn’t been revealed in any of the commercials or trailers I’ve seen. So I was kind of hoping to go into the movie not knowing. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838/40 "2013-03-06T17:33:39Z")
Nothing in the interview with Kunis says anything about who is wicked and who isn’t and the trailer has her introduce herself as _sigh, it’s in the freaking trailer_ Theodora, the good witch so clearly a running theme throughout the movie is who truly is good and who is evil. The only slightly spoilery thing I’ve seen yet is Justin’s second spoiler. I’ve been paying more than a little attention to this movie and I haven’t seen that info given anywhere. Not in the trailers, not in the wiki, not in interviews. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-the-great-and-powerful-review-neither-great-nor-powerful/651838.md?page=3)