As a granddaughter of an intense Oz fan (one who has a dog named Dorothy and a yellow brick road going through her backyard garden), I grew up surrounded by glass figurines of Glinda, assorted costumes of the brave teammates of Dorothy, and Sundays filled with watching the 1939 classic “Wizard of Oz” over and over again. It is because L. Frank Baum’s books and Victor Fleming’s movie hold a special place in my heart that I consider “Oz the Great and Powerful”, directed by Sam Raimi, to be a risky, yet sophisticated, project.

The film focuses on Oscar “Oz” Diggs, a failing magician and womanizer who is whirled into a terrifying twister. While this egotistical and cunning “fibber” is tossed and turned ruthlessly in his iconic hot-air balloon, Oscar bargains a deal with God for a second chance to become a better man. James Franco’s pompous and powerless character is put to the test when he is told by three Witches that he must drive out the evil that distresses the people of Oz.

James Franco’s performance, along with the flat story line  and insufficient ending made me want to jump into the void of a swirling tornado. Luckily the down-to-earth and comical co stars of Joey King (the little China Girl) and Zach Braff (Finley the Flying Monkey) made me think twice. Also keeping me on the ground was the performances of Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz, who portrayed the sinister sister witches. Their long, dirty fingernails, chilling shrieks, and fighting dialog will give even the strongest of moviegoers nightmares.

It is worthy to mention that many of the cast members played multiple roles in order to stick to Baum’s idea that characters in Oz represent characters in the protagonist’s world, such as the lovely Glinda, Michelle Williams, representing Oscar’s hometown love, Annie. I thought this was a necessary move on the filmmaker’s part because it added to the reality of the characters, thus making the fantastical movie believable.

From the intricate costuming and scenery to the meticulous special effects, this movie is a prime example of why 21st century technology is an admirable thing. I found myself marveling at the beauty of the Emerald City, felt my stomach drop as Oz’s Hot Air Balloon traveled down a giant waterfall, and wanted to hop out of my seat and run away from the flying, CG created, baboon henchmen.

As of March 10, the $200 million budget project has brought $150,178,000 to the box office. This movie certainly stands no chance against the classical music-filled tale. However, I predict it will be as memorable as other 2013 adaptations such as “Jack the Giant Slayer” and “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters”, which were deemed by other critics as bringing fresh ideas to old stories, but still not living up to the impact of the originals. “Oz the Great and Powerful” really lived up to the level of excitement that was shown in its trailers but I feel as if the story line itself needed an extra push in order to keep its viewers interested and engaged. Although I’m more of a stick-to-the-classics kind of fan, I must say that this film deserves at least a three out of five stars and I would recommend to a friend who was bored on a rainy March day.