Oz: The Great and Powerful

Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Joey King and Zach Braff

Director: Sam Raimi

Release Date: 2013

Running Time: 2hrs 10 minutes

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Synopsis:

A frustrated circus magician from Kansas is transported into a magical land called Oz, where he will have to fulfill a prophecy to become king, and release the land from the Wicked Witches using his great powers.

It's astonishing to believe that Victor Fleming's beautiful musical "The Wizard of Oz" was released seventy-four years ago. In 2013, director Sam Raimi brought us the anticipated prequel to one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The beauty of L. Frank Baum's original stories was the fact that he wrote more than one, leaving room for a fair amount of creative ideas when it came to filmmakers. In this charming prequel set in 1905, Oz is not yet powerful, but a circus magician struggling to make ends meet, after a very unsuccessful magic show, Oscar Diggs (Franco) finds himself in the heart of a catastrophic tornado, blown away to the land of Oz. Upon his arrival the townsfolk believe him to be the wizard they were all told about in an ancient prophecy. The wizard that has come to save them from the evil Wicked Witch of the west.

Director Sam Raimi has taken the enchanting magic from the original film, putting his own modern twist on it. The familiar faces of Kansas also make their way over to Oz too. James Franco stars as the ever so charming circus magician Oscar Diggs, Oscar spends most of his days, fooling the local townsfolk into believing his magic is real, however upon his arrival to Oz, he learns that the late King of Oz predicted his arrival. Franco delivers a tremendous amount of humour to his role, zany facial expressions that speak volumes without him even needing to talk. Oz is a wondrous land full of enchanting creatures, munchkins and China villages. Upon arriving in Oz, Oscar meets the good witch Theodora, performed beautifully by Mila Kunis. Is she all good though?

Theodora however, is not the only witch, her sister also is a good witch, Evanora performed terrifically by Rachel Weisz. Although Weisz doesn't offer a lot of characterisation, her character is full of surprises. As Oscar embarks on a journey to find the Wicked Witch of the west to kill her, he stumbles across a gorgeous China girl. Scared and alone, Oscar takes her under his wing. China girl is played fantastically by young child actress Joey King. Although the monkeys in the first film were thought of as the Wicked Witch's evil minions. A monkey called Frank latches himself onto Oscar, as he too searches for the witch. Brilliantly over the top, Zack Braff is hilariously funny in his antics.

A magnificent storyline written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Wonderfully entertaining and easy for children of all ages to understand. Although a prequel, the storyline has plenty of references to the original musical. The fact that director Sam Raimi has taken the theme from the original film and put a modern twist on it is absolutely fantastic. Disney too made sure to have their own references in the film, if you have children it's always fun to look out for hidden easter eggs. Be sure to look out for a reference to Snow White throughout the movie! The storyline is left very open at the end, making you crave more! The  best stories are the ones where you get so lost in it that you not only believe it's real but you don't want it to end.

Raimi has certainly taken a unique approach when it comes to directing the film, his choice for using  sepia tone in the opening of the film was a superb idea, not only is it a unique approach to a very modern film, it also brings back the originality of the musical. The magic unfolds as the film turns into widescreen. Beautifully shot, with stunning use of CGI and green screen. Unfortunately the use of a green screen can be overused, actors are unable to work with a real production design and don't have as much creative freedom, however, Raimi's choice to have physical sets formed the perfect balance of physicality and creativity when it came to the actors performing, allowing them to give a more genuine and heartfelt performance.

Wonderfully entertaining.

Blade Runner

Cast: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah and Edward James Olmos.

Director: Ridley Scott

Release Date: 1982

Running Time: 1hr 57 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 15

Synopsis:

A blade runner must pursue and terminate six replicants who stole a ship in space, and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

Loosely based on the 1968 science fiction novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K Dick, director Ridley Scott delivers quite possibly one of the most influential science fiction movies ever made. Set in post apocalyptic Los Angeles in the year 2019, the Tyrell Corporation advanced the robot evolution by designing replicants that worked on off world colonies. It didn't take long however, for them to become far more advanced than humans, so they were declared illegal and terminated by special police squads known as Blade Runners. Four however remain alive and have returned to Earth in the hope they will find their creator. Is it plausible that "Alien" and "Blade Runner" as set in the same universe? Ridley Scott's "Alien" is set further into the future, however is Ash on board the Nostromo ship thought to be a replicant? Have they come from a post apocalyptic world? Unlike most film adaptations, the film is far more entertaining than the book. Although no one can put the author's imagination down for conjuring up creative technologies (some of which are actually used today), it just didn't have the same thrill factor that the movie did. The novel in fact, at times is incredibly boring and lacks serious imagination.

Harrison Ford was still a newcomer when the film hit cinemas. Having only just had the success of "Star Wars" and "Apocalypse Now" behind him. Ford stars as Blade Runner Rick Deckard, a lonely bounty hunter who is sent on an assignment to track down the last of the four replicants. It is in this time that Deckard begins to question his own existence as a human. Deckard is called into see Rachel (Young), someone whom they believe to be a Nexus 6 model. Both Ford and Young deliver excellent performances, both of whom begin to question their own existence, the more we're introduced to their characters. The beauty of "Blade Runner" is that it will have you constantly asking questions, one minute you'll be convinced you've worked the story out, the next minute you'll be wondering if you had it right to begin with. Is he really the bad guy? Is he a human or a replicant? To say the storyline is violent is probably a bit of an exaggeration. It does however, have it's moments, some of which are surprisingly gory. The more the story continues, the more intense the characters and the plot gets. We're introduced to characters Pris (Hannah), J.F Sebastian (Sanderson) and Roy Batty (Hauer). Each of their characters are incredibly complex and beautifully executed. I'll leave you to work out who's a replicant and who's human.

Realistically if anything were to happen to Earth, "Blade Runner" is  possibly the closest we would get in it being very similar. Robots that are designed to act and look like humans, our technology today is already going down this route, particularly amongst warfare. Although it's never mentioned in the film, in the novel, the characters communicated through electronic animals. It doesn't take long to realise what they are in fact describing is an Amazon Alexa, a piece of technology that is very popular today. There's no doubt that director Ridley Scott and author Philip K. Dick had very vivid imaginations when it came to describing 2019. In the year 2019, it is very rare to see a real animal, all animals were wiped out in the devastation of the war. In the book and in the movie it is seen as something that heightens one's social status. The soundtrack has that wonderful 80's feel to it, superbly scored by Vangelis. The score is not only wonderfully futuristic but brilliantly mysterious too. Dark and cold it's post apocalyptic without being over the top. Now at the height of cult films, "Blade Runner" is a film everyone should see at least once. Once a flop, now a masterpiece!

5/5

Jaws

Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: 1975

Running Time: 2hrs 4 minutes

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 12

Synopsis:

When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach resort, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.

Based on Peter Benchley's best-selling thriller of the same name. Director Steven Spielberg delivers one of the best thrillers of the late 1970's. Spielberg wasn't actually the first choice to direct the film. In fact, Spielberg hadn't long finished the thriller "Duel" when "Jaws" came into play. I think it's safe to say that he was a marvellous choice to direct the film as "Jaws" soon went onto become one of the best-selling thrillers of the past forty years. Adapting a novel into a film is always going to be challenging. Naturally, a lot of changes need to be made for screen. Although Spielberg chose to tame the storyline down somewhat, in order for it to have a "12" rating, it still works remarkably well and is equally as haunting as the novel.

Christie is out partying with friends one night when she takes a young man down to the beach for a midnight swim. Little does she know, upon entering the ocean that she is being watched by a monster, a great white! A fearsome creature that in a split second takes her life. Chief Brody (Scheider) is informed immediately of the attack, finding himself in very deep water when he learns the safest thing to do is going to be to close the beaches, on the weekend of July 4th. Chief of police on Amity Island, Brody resides with his wife Ellen (Gary) and two sons Michael and Sean. Sheiders performance is magnificent, a real family man, a man who is very new to Amity Island after moving from New York. Brody finds himself having to convince local Mayor Larry Vaughn that there is in fact a killer shark surrounding Amity Island in search of it's next meal.

Marine biologist Matt Hooper (Dreyfuss) is brought in to help kill the shark, much to the dismay of Amity Islands local Mayor Larry Vaughn. Dreyfuss really is fantastic, almost comical in his emotions and characteristics, Hooper is wonderfully enthusiastic and charismatic. Equipped with everything imaginable, spears, shark cages and sonars. The chemistry that is soon developed on screen between himself and fisherman Quint is superb. Both actors in reportedly didn't get along in reality, needless to say, it certainly shows on screen too. Tension between the two of them is very genuine. Quint is an extremely dominant individual. A well known fisherman on Amity Island, he desperately tries to convince Brody that he is the only man for the job. The three characters soon soon find a way to overcome their differences and work together in killing the shark. Showing off scars and tattoos in the process. The tension is so strong you can practically feel it oozing from the screen.

Beautifully shot in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Cinematographer Bill Butler has captured the scenery perfectly. A stunning looking film that has been brilliantly shot. The camera work is excellent. What's most impressive about Steven Spielberg's terrific camera work is that you don't see the shark until 45 minutes into the film. Spielberg heavily relies on the reactions from his actors to build up the suspense and fear without his audience even getting a glimpse of the shark. The attention to detail is excellent, from Quint's boat The Orca, to his harbour house full to the brim of shark teeth, fishing nets and creatures of the deepest darkest depths. Spectacular special-effects, a shark so convincing it's hard to believe it's not real, or in some cases it was due to accidental live footage. That of course, just adds to the magic of the film.

Composer John Williams wrote quite possibly one of the most famous theme tunes of all time. A theme that most will recognise. A score so beautiful it practically tells the story on its own. The score becomes fast and intense when the shark appears to create fear and suspense. Quieter and more soothing when the shark is in the deepest depths of the oceans. The score takes you on a journey from beginning to end. Absolutely thrilling! An absolute masterpiece, one not to be missed!

5/5