Oz: The Great and Powerful

It's funny to think about who Sam Raimi was 30 years ago, and the radical arc of his directing career. He's obviously not afraid to tackle revivals with loyal fan bases, but resurrecting "Oz" falls into a special category of ballsiness. What matters most is casting. James Franco is perfect as the Wizard, not because he is such a wonderful actor, but because he yields and gives way to the witches, who are the true stars of the movie. Nevertheless, there's still something sleazy and slimy about him. His eyes half shut as he finagles his way into Oz, and then must examine himself and his own motives to save the innocents. To talk about the witches too much would be to give away plot points and spoil some fun surprises. Suffice to say, Raimi knows this is the best part of the story and this is where all his fun and flourish goes. It’s not a life-changing movie by any means, but it's a wonder to behold and a delight to watch.