ENTERTAINING CRITICISM: 'Oz the Great and Powerful'

If you're looking for a movie that's visually appealing and stunning, then look no further.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" is Disney's latest fantasy production. Released March 8 with a profit of $79.1 million its opening weekend, the film remains one of the leading box office hits for this month.
Sam Raimi, best known for directing the "Spiderman" trilogy, "Drag Me to Hell," and "The Evil Dead," doesn't disappoint as he presents an adventure-filled film full of eye-catching twists and turns in "Oz the Great and Powerful."
The movie features top billed actors and actresses including James Franco ("Spiderman 3," "127 Hours") Mila Kunis ("That 70's Show," "The Black Swan") Rachel Weisz ("The Mummy) and Michelle Williams ("Brokeback Mountain," "My Week with Marilyn").
The film serves as a prequel to the legendary movie, "The Wizard of Oz," chronicling the origins of writer L. Frank Baum's wizard character.
It begins with the introduction of shady small-time magician, Oscar Diggs (Franco), who makes his living performing at a traveling circus.
After experiencing "technical difficulties" at a stop in Kansas, he is forced to flee the circus in a hot air balloon only to become engulfed in a tornado. The tornado leads him to a magical world called Oz.
The movie is full of excitement, dark humor and love, as audiences learn how Oz and the great and powerful wizard came to be. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as they're in for some surprising twists.
The flick begins in black and white with Diggs performing in Kansas, and switches to color as he enters Oz, just like the original "Wizard of Oz" made in 1939. Flowers are as vibrant as can be, and animated characters add charm and creativity to the movie.
The PG-rated film is two hours long and family-friendly, but not specifically geared toward children. Couples and those that fell in love with the first "Wizard of Oz" will enjoy this action-packed movie.