Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus illusionist and con-artist, is whisked from Kansas to the Land of Oz where the inhabitants assume he's the great wizard of prophecy, there to save Oz from the clutches of evil.
Let us take a moment to praise two great and surprisingly powerful characters: a winged monkey and a wee girl made out of china. Because so much human wonder resides in these two creations of make-up, puppetry, digital effects and lovely performances.
– Lisa Kennedy,
Denver Post,
8 Mar 2013
rotten:
Aside from a trio of witches that can hold its own with Eastwick's in the dishiness department, Oz the Great and Powerful is a peculiarly joyless occasion.
– David Edelstein,
New York Magazine/Vulture,
8 Mar 2013
rotten:
Oz the Great and Powerful is entirely serviceable family entertainment. Problem is, serviceable doesn't quite cut it when you're talking about the magical land of Oz.
– Randy Myers,
San Jose Mercury News,
8 Mar 2013
fresh:
An imaginative mix of live-action and CGI that pays homage to the iconic images and timeless sense of wonder in the classic The Wizard of Oz without being too deferential.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
10 Mar 2013
rotten:
The twister that comes to whirl Oscar into Oz is so preordained you could find its departure information and flight time from an airport travel board.