The 1939 “The Wizard Of Oz” is a masterpiece and milestone in cheerfully imaginative filmmaking, the 1980s’ sequel “Return To Oz” isn’t as good but it still a worthy follow-up that is also innovative. “Oz The Great And Powerful” comes along and it lacks the true magic the earlier films had. It’s all about the special effects but it fails to have that wonderful inner beauty.

Carnival magician Oz (James Franco “127 Hours”) is whisked away by a twister (in a scene that will remind people of the laughable film “Twister”) to the merry old land of Oz. The magician is said to be the prophet that can save the land from the evil Wicked Witches (Mila Kunis “Ted”, Rachel Weisz “The Mummy”).

James Franco is okay as Oz but his lines aren’t great. Mila Kunis’ Wicked Witch of the West looks more like the Mask than anything else and is just terrible really. I disliked the meanness of some of the good people such as the little girl made out of china that pulls out a knife and suggests it is used to kill the witch. Some of the creature characters look really good with the special effects that have been utilised.

“Oz The Great And Powerful” is a wonderful film to look at but it is missing the heart that makes the older films so much better. I don’t like the uncomfortable moment where a young girl in the audience of Oz’s show wants him to make her walk and there is also a very creepy scene in which a woman’s tears burn her face; this is too scary for a little kid. It’s done in the same style as Tim Burton’s recent “Alice In Wonderland” and it is a bit better as it is cheerier for the most part but I still don’t recommend it.