Oz the Great and Powerful Review - 3 Stars

“Oz the Great and Powerful” tells the story of the carnival con man who lands in Oz and becomes the wizard — a story not quite as compelling as the classic story of Dorothy told in the beloved 1939 Wizard of Oz.  No matter how hard everyone tries, no movie will ever come close to the magic the original created.  James Franco plays the Wizard, a heart breaking playboy who escapes a beating in a hot air balloon only to be sucked into a tornado and spirited away to a strange land.  The good witch still travels by bubble. She looks more beautiful than ever thanks to Michelle Williams.  Franco walks a yellow brick road with the help of a wise cracking money, voiced by Zach Braff, and a little china doll voiced by Joey King.  As with the classic, this story begins in black and white and morphs into beautiful color.  The land of Oz looks stunning and gets a boost from 3 D technology. The story runs a little long and gets a little scary in spite of the PG rating.  But I have a feeling parents will love taking their kids and remembering the classic.  Does it deliver what it promises?  A run up to a classic.  Is it entertaining?  A little long but looks great.  Is it worth the price of admission?  A good time for parents and kids.