Belated reviews of Oz and Jurassic Park 3D

Really getting behind on my reviews. Saw most of Oz the Great and Powerful a couple of months back (Milo did not want to sit still for the whole movie). It was entertaining, even though it was trying too hard to ape Burton's Alice in Wonderland in parts (minus the latter's feminist message, which I'll get to in a moment). The visuals and score were nice, and Sam Raimi even threw some Evil Dead moments in there. Most of the cast were good, though Mila Kunis was seriously miscast as the (SPOILER!) Wicked Witch of the West. The main problem with the film, however, is that it creates a hero's journey for a character that we know from the original story is not a hero, but a fraud. Why three powerful women need this bozo to help them is a baffling question the movie never answers. Worth a watch, but don't expect a great story or positive message.

Jurassic Park 3D was a far more enjoyable experience. Little needs to be said about this classic film, except that the dinosaurs still look great. Modern filmmakers could learn a thing or two from the thoughtful use of special effects (less than seven minutes of CG) and sense of wonder in this film. The 3D was unobtrusive, apart from a few shots of Raptors jumping at the camera. They don't make em like this anymore.

Next up: my review or a little movie called Iron Man Three!