Movie Reviews

By Lynne Martin

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (2013) starring James Franco, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz is actually a prequel set in the 1880s. Twenty years before L. Frank Baum’s novel titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was magically introduced to the world in 1890, we learn the story of the events that transpired to turn Oscar Diggs into the famed Wizard of the Emerald City.

Escaping what would surely be a painful beating at the hands of yet another jealous boyfriend, a travelling magician finds himself swept up in a Kansas tornado, eventually crash landing in the magical land of Oz. Mistaken for the prophesized ‘Wizard of Oz’, Oscar Diggs is more than ready to assume the exalted role—that is until he realizes that there are three witches he must convince, each possessing a distinct personality and an individual agenda. Caught between what is right and what is easy, Oscar must decide whether he is prepared to fight for the people of Oz, or run and hide from the wrath of the wicked witches.

This is a family movie, providing entertainment for a PG audience. If you bear this in mind, and you’re able to keep the kids seated through the first 20 minutes, this film should be labeled as another Disney success. Don’t bother comparing this movie to JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (2013) even though both are magical fantasies based on fairytales and released within weeks of one another. JACK’S target audience is teen/adult where OZ’S target audience is family orientated.

I really enjoyed the scene-stealing China girl and the flying monkey. NOTE: The Winkies and Flying Baboons might scare preschool aged children with their ferocity. Directed by Sam Raimi, PG, 130 mins, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, *** 3 stars out of 5.

More to 21 and Over than expected

Even though I always try to watch a new release with an open mind, I sometimes can’t help but make preliminary judgements based on the corporate advertising. My initial assumption that 21 AND OVER (2013) starring Miles Teller, Justin Chon, and Jonathan Keltz might just be another teenage party movie has turned out to be a little short sighted on my part.

Surprised by his two best friends on his 21st birthday, pre-med student Jeff Chang reluctantly agrees to join his old high school buddies for a single beer the night before his medical school interview. As apparent from the movie’s poster, one beer turns into a night of drunken madness, all in the name of celebration and the passing of the group’s combined youth.

21 AND OVER has truly earned its R rating and you can expect to see full frontal male nudity and experience a level of profanity usually reserved for bathroom walls. Slow-motion vomiting, urinating onto crowds, and of course the time-honored trick of gluing animate objects to private parts also make their expected appearances throughout this film. What was unexpected were the genuine laughs. Beer-pong, quarters, suck n’ blow, and the chug-a-lug games of our 20s are still worth with a chuckle, and when you throw in some genuine emotional trauma—the movie shifts from just raunchy overindulgence to a touch of lighthearted drama.

Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, writers for THE HANGOVER, another wildly successful comedy focusing on humiliation and over indulgence, 21 AND OVER will appeal to those with similar tastes.

Geared for a young adult audience, this film repeatedly addresses the pressure parental expectations can place on the decisions of our youth. Rated R, 93 mins, Comedy, *** 3 stars out of 5.     

– Lynne Martin is an avid movie collector and a staunch supporter of sexual education. She currently resides in Alberta, Canada with her husband and their large extended family. For a complete list of her reviews and other works, or to leave a comment, please go to: www.lynnemartinbooks.com.

Article Share