5 Things To Do Before Seeing 'Oz The Great And Powerful'

by Jessica Marshall

Disney's "Oz the Great and Powerful" hits theaters this week and we are so off to see the wizard.

"Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi helms this "Wizard of Oz" prequel in which James Franco plays a younger, hotter version of Oz, the powerful man behind the curtain, back in the days when he was just a womanizing circus magician from Kansas. When he gets swept away in a tornado to a mystical world whose inhabitants are convinced he's a wizard sent to save them from ruin, he has to prove that he's more than just a two-bit huckster. Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis co-star as the witches of Oz, who by turns help, thwart and woo him.

But before you check out of Kansas for that somewhere over the rainbow, here are five things you should do to prepare yourself for "Oz the Great and Powerful."

Watch "The Wizard of Oz"
The 1939 technicolor tale of the plucky gingham-wearing girl who gets swept away to a magical land of munchkins, flying monkeys and yellow brick roads has captivated audiences for more than 70 years. "Oz the Great and Powerful" is meant to be a prequel to this beloved film, so prime yourself for some more primate aviation and more ogling of Oscar "Oz" Diggs with a viewing. And if you're feeling brave, follow it up with a screening of the irrationally terrifying 1985 sequel, "Return to Oz." (Or don't.)

Go see "Wicked"
This hit Broadway musical is still making the rounds after almost 10 years on stage. Its catchy music and fun plot detail the life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz before Dorothy and her little dog come along. If you can't make it to the theater, read the book it was based on (Gregory Maguire's "Wicked") or listen to the soundtrack, featuring the vocal stylings of Kristin Chenoweth and "Glee" alum Idina Menzel.

Go "Gingham Style"
Channel your inner Dorothy Gale and don some blue gingham when you head to the theater. The iconic fabric makes a cameo in "Oz the Great and Powerful" too, proving that it still hasn't gone out of style. And while you're at it, throw on a pair of ruby slippers. You know, for the trip home after the movie.

Learn a magic trick
Practical magic and sleight-of-hand come in very handy for the would-be wizard in "Oz." While you probably won't need to outwit any wicked witches anytime soon, you can certainly impress your friends with a little card trick—or if that fails to impress, a disappearing act.

Go for a hot air balloon ride
Oz narrowly escapes a serious beat-down by jumping into a hot air balloon during the film, only to get caught in the tornado that transports him to Oz. Despite major turbulence during the storm, the view is breathtaking. This is definitely a bucket-list-worthy activity—even though the real world doesn't quite have the same glitter as the computer-generated landscape of Oz, a view from the basket of a hot air balloon will be well worth it. Just make sure you check the weather before taking flight.

Related:
+ The Wonderful Witches Of 'Oz': Get The Look
+ The 8 Creepiest Moments From 'Return To Oz'

Do you plan to see "Oz the Great and Powerful" this weekend? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags Oz: The Great And Powerful

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'Oz The Great And Powerful Trailer' Finally Arrives

By Meg Malone
Just as we hoped after seeing the debut poster last week, we didn't have to wait too long to get a closer look at director Sam Raimi's upcoming film, "Oz: The Great and Powerful." Disney released the trailer yesterday, and based on what's here, Raimi's take on author L. Frank Baum's imagined world is certainly captivating.
After an opening sequence in black and white (which side note, but does it remind anyone else a bit of scenes from last year's "Hugo," with the early-days-of-film look and magician content?), Oscar Diggs (James Franco) takes the next tornado to Oz, and that's when things get really intriguing.
For all the dusty gray in the original poster, the trailer doesn't hold back on stunning visuals once Diggs makes it into Emerald City territory. The rich colors pop right off the screen, from the crystal blue sky to the lush botanical surroundings to mysterious little creatures that remind me of those things Lockhart unleashed on Harry and company in class one day in "Chamber of Secrets" (anybody?).
This is our first chance to not only get acquainted with the Raimi-Oz world, but also to really see the characters. No longer do we need to squint at the poster to see James Franco there in his balloon, but also we get to see the three witch sisters played by Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz. We'll probably get to learn even more about their characters in the future, but to continue with the visual emphasis, it's worth noting that their costumes are definitely worth getting excited over. From from that giant hat Kunis wears when we first see her to that gorgeous white dress that Williams dons as Glinda, it'll be great to see how the rest of Oz is also outfitted.
Finally, the inside the cyclone shot has solidified my fear of both hot-air balloons and tornados, so may I suggest finding another mode of transportation to the theater when "Oz: The Great and Powerful" is released on March 8, 2013.
Like what you see in the "Oz The Great and Powerful" trailer? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!
Tags Oz The Great and Powerful, Trailers

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