Oz the Great and Powerful - 7 stars out of 10

Oz the Great and Powerful - 7 stars out of 10

“Oz The Great and Powerful” exceeded my low expectations (which were set by everybody who seemed to hate this film).  A few criticisms: Too much CGI, James Franco for the first half hour of the film, the underdeveloped love story between Oscar and Theodora, and the lack of show tunes (though it is pretty hilarious when the film begins a song and the characters put an end to it on screen).  While this film is not infallible like 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” the writers included a lot of cool elements into the final product.  First was the idea to revisit the original’s transition from black and white to color by beginning the story with a standard 4:3 ratio in black and white with mono sound and, once Oscar arrives in Oz, expanding the screen into 2.35:1 widescreen in color with surround sound.  Throughout the film, there are all sorts of subtle references to the 1939 film as it hints at the origins of the Scarecrow, foreshadows the Wicked Witch’s aversion to water, implies the engagement of Dorothy’s parents, and introduces the Tin Man’s creator.  I am really looking forward to watching this film again to pick out more of these allusions and to make connections between the characters in Kansas and Oz that are played by the same actor.  The acting is hit or miss, and I actually find the smaller roles to be the ones that caught my eye.  While James Franco improves throughout the film (and the improvement is relative to his awful acting at first), actors like Billy Cobbs as the Master Tinker, the voices of Zach Braff and Joey King as Finley and China Girl, and Michelle Williams at the beginning of the film as Annie are the ones that really shine.  Mila Kunis is great until she becomes the Wicked Witch, at which point she just comes off as a green-faced Meg from “Family Guy,” and of course Rachel Weisz is great all around (I love her).  The story doesn’t seem great, but that is because it is up against constant comparison to one of the greatest films in history.  The CGI is a double-edged sword – it turns Oz into a magical place but takes away from the true movie magic created in the original film before CGI existed.  “Wizard of Oz” fans will be critical of this film because it isn’t “The Wizard of Oz,” but if you can separate yourself from the inevitable comparisons, you may find that “Oz the Great and Powerful” is an interesting homage to one of the greatest films in history.

Bride of the Wind - 5 stars out of 10

Bride of the Wind - 5 stars out of 10

“Bride of the Wind,” 2001′s biopic of Alma Mahler, is an intriguing look into the life of one of music history’s most polarizing characters.  While the critics hated it, anybody with a decent knowledge of Gustav and/or Alma Mahler will enjoy seeing these historical figures brought to life.  The entire first half of the film is Alma’s relationship with Gustav, creating sympathy for Alma without making Gustav into a bad guy.  It mostly portrays them as incompatible as Gustav is too preoccupied with his music to realize that Alma is struggling.  The moment when Gustav confronts Alma with the letter written to her by lover Walter Gropius is chilling, as well as when Oskar Kokoschka reveals his famous intimate painting of Alma, “The Bride of the Wind.”  The film score is full of Mahler’s greatest works, including the 3rd Symphony, 5th Symphony, 6th Symphony, and Kindertotenlieder amongst other pieces.  While the acting isn’t of “Shawshank” stature, Jonathan Pryce is an excellent Gustav and Sarah Wynter shows why men were so intrigued with the strong-willed Alma (a.k.a. she’s hott).  This movie has been buried by its horrific critical reception but it is a treasure to any person who takes interest in the lives of the Mahlers.

Skyfall - 10 stars out of 10

Skyfall - 10 stars out of 10

James Bond is BACK.  After the failure that was “Quantum of Solace,” it is obvious from the onset of Adele's Oscar-winning title music that this film will redeem Daniel Craig’s place in the James Bond legacy.  The story, which finally utilizes the talent of Judi Dench by turning M into a lead role, is fast-paced and unpredictable.  Most of the characters really pop off of the screen, particularly the gorgeous Bérénice Marlohe as Bond-girl Séverine and Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva.  Bardem is one of the most sinister villains in Bond history, through his genius cyberterrorism and by creating the nearly insurmountable challenge of taking down a rogue MI6 mastermind.  Add in Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney and the characters leave a lasting impression.  The action and special effects are top notch with tons of guns and train-top battles, topped off by some really cool booby traps at the end.  Of course, the main draw of any Bond film is the intrigue, and “Skyfall” is no exception.  With sophisticated dialogue and a few jaw-dropping surprises, your curiosity will be engaged until the final resolution (and inevitable set-up for a sequel).  The entire film then comes together with a fitting score by Thomas Newman as this modern story meets the traditional Bond theme.  While “Quantum of Solace” left the future of the James Bond franchise in question, “Skyfall” is a reminder of how epic the world’s most famous agent can be.