I’ve been in search of an epic movie for a few months now. The last I saw was Les Miserables. It was followed by a few good movies, a bunch of decent ones, and more bad movies than I’m proud of. That was shy I really wanted this to be great.
It had great promise. You have Disney and Sam Raimi. What could go wrong, right? Plus, the reviews were positive and, come on! The trailer’s pretty! Well, apparently, everything.
Ang Kuwento:
Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he’s hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when 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. Written by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Ang Maganda:
We had to see this movie in 3D dahil walang 2D version na available. I was scouting the reviews and Spill.com said that the effects were pretty good. They even recommended that people see it in 3D. Kaya sabi ko, sige na nga. Game na ako kahit this meant that I have to shell out twice as much for a movie that I really wasn’t too eager to see in the first place.
The CGI did not disappoint. The visual effects were amazing. It was like entering a new world. Yes, it wasn’t at the same level as Avatar. Pero, man! The colors were brilliant, the giant musical flowers that appeared at the first few minutes of the film were breathtaking. Maganda talaga. Yun nga lang, even if you enjoy the visual fiesta, it can’t shake off the fact that you came for the story and the acting.
I still think that a lot of movie producers nowadays focus too much on making the film visually appealing (which I understand because that would mean more kids dragging their parents to the theater) and neglect the story.
This was not an exception, pero I’ve seen way worse.
Ang Pangit:
The casting was BAD. Parang napapadalas ata ang mga pelikula kung saan less than good ang casting. My sisters and I discussed very passionately kung sinu-sino ang mga dapat na gumanap to replace the actors in this film. Kaya alam din namin na mahirap nga naman to find people to fit the role. Pero that’s not an excuse.
Sabagay, big part din ng Hollywood dollars ang pagkakaroon ng moneymaking cast members sa isang pelikula. Kaya lang, minsan talaga, kahit pa gaano kagaling, kalakas kumita, at kalaki ang fan base ng mga artista mo, ay hindi lang talaga siya gumagana.
Throw Mila Kunis (Theodora), James Franco (Oz), and Rachel Weisz (Evanora) together and it’s going to be great, right?
WRONG! Dead wrong. Rachel and Mila weren’t convincing as sisters. James Franco, who was supposed to play the sly, outrightly evil, but innately good Oz did not look redeemable as his character was supposed to be. I was alternating between being annoyed at him to outright anger and his Johnny Depp impersonation. Oh, and by the way, Michelle Williams (Glinda) was flat and emotionless.
I find this very tragic because they’re playing some of the most dynamic and layered characters of all time. Of all of them, si Mila lang ang nakita kong sumubok. Yun nga lang, her pretty and doll-like features got in the way of playing her part. Pero yung iba, wala lang. Nakakadisappoint talaga. I got more depth, character, and emotion from the computer-generated monkey than I did with the human actors. Tapos we wonder why their careers are slowing down?
Wag naman sanang sa future ay mga CGI na ang umarte para sa atin. At least kasi yung mga yun, di nagiging bratinella, di nalalate, at hindi pala-utos.
I also think that the storyline can be more fluid. There are entire characters who spent too much time playing the roles that didn’t really count. A lot of it is just a waste of time (and 3D). Sa dami pa naman ng mga tauhan na inintroduce, lalong nabawasan ang oras for character development. Para tuloy nanonood ka ng series ng commercials.
James Franco was terrible. Really. I never really liked him, pero her performance in this movie just reinforced that. I wish they got James Marsden to play Oz instead. I just feel like he can pull off the mischievous Oz without losing the lovable side. James Franco was just annoying and conceited and… did I already say annoying?
Ang Paghuhusga:
This isn’t worth all the hype.
The effects were great, pero it doesn’t have anything else that stands out. Conflicted ako sa kung ano ang isusuggest ko na way to watch it. The 3D version costs more, pero at least you get the beautiful part of the movie. The 2D version is cheaper pero that would mean na you’re paying for the story. If ganun, then keri lang.
Piling Pelikula 