OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL seems to be dividing many of the folks I know who've seen it. Some are completely falling for its CGI-driven magical world and its fresh approaches to beloved characters...others have commented that the movie feels a tad soft and unfocused, and that some if its performances don't feel fully refined or invested. I can't comment for myself - I've managed to miss two screenings somehow, - but I'm looking forward to catching it over then weekend.
Be it good, bad, or indifferent, the picture is very much on people's radars: I heard folks talking about it at my doctor's office and neighborhood grocery store yesterday as if it were the Superbowl. And, it clearly has the support of The Powers That Be at Disney. As evidenced by a newsbit from Variety, which indicates that work has been underway on a sequel to the picture of months now. GREAT AND POWERFUL scripter Mitchell Kapner has already been wrangled to draft the project, could be built from the public domain WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum. This per Variety.
Mitchell Kapner's past credits include THE WHOLE NINE YARDS (Bruce Willis) and some work on ROMEO MUST DIE (Jet Li and Joel Silver).
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Glen Oliver
