History YMMV / OzTheGreatAndPowerful

* BrokenBase: Dear God, Creator/MilaKunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]] However, she has a number of defenders who find she still manages to make the character work [[spoiler: [[NarmCharm even with the hamminess]].]] They also point out that [[spoiler: the original Wicked Witch was [[FranchiseOriginalSin quite hammy herself]] in the original film.]]

* CriticalBacklash: While not panned, there was a strong negative attitude towards the movie, partly because it was [[ToughActToFollow a prequel to one of the most beloved fantasy films of all time]] and partly because [[Film/TheWizardOfOz that film]] already had [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} a wildly successful prequel]] considered [[ToughActToFollow far superior to this one.]] As the years have gone on, more defenders of the film have popped up. It also got compared more favourably against ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' and ''Film/{{Pan}}'' -- a fantasy film that attempted to do the same for ''Literature/PeterPan'' -- which got a bigger critical trashing.

* ItWasHisSled: [[spoiler:Theodora and Evanora are the Wicked Witches of the West and East respectively]]. What was ''supposed'' to be a twist is now seen as the only reason why this movie stays on people's radars, mostly because how [[QuestionableCasting ill-fitting]] [[spoiler:Creator/MilaKunis]] is as a famous villain of pop-culture.

** Again, [[spoiler:Theodora]]. It's rare that a performance can be so [[{{Narm}} hilarious]] and [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] at the same time, but [[spoiler:Creator/MilaKunis]] somehow manages to pull it off. She ''is'' trying to fill the pointed hat of one of the greatest LargeHam roles in cinema.

* HeReallyCanAct: Creator/MilaKunis's transformation and subsequent performance as the Wicked Witch of the East has been praised as one of the best aspects of the film, with even her hammiest moments stealing the scene whenever she appears.

* HilariousInHindsight:
** In the ''Series/That70sShow'' episode "Tornado Prom," Mila Kunis's character Jackie [[OffToSeeTheWizard played Dorothy in a Wizard of Oz-themed daydream]]. In the dream, Donna was mortally offended that [[VitriolicBestBuds Jackie imagined her as the Wicked Witch of the West.]] In ''Oz the Great and Powerful'', [[spoiler:Jackie ''is'' the Wicked Witch of the West.]]
** There's a lot of parallels to Creator/TimBurton[='s=] ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010'': both are big-budget 3-D Disney movies about people who go to a fantasy land that was AllJustADream in their respective original movies, discover they're prophesied -- ''by name'' -- to save the land from a pair of warring, psychotic sisters, but the BigGood on their side is forbidden to kill, [[spoiler:and the Big Bad(s) are exiled in the end]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPWHuf47rgw The scene where China Girl]] cries and begs for Oz to let her come with him on his adventure is even funnier after knowing Creator/RobertDowneyJr was the first choice to play Oz, as ''Film/IronMan3'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex0PDHGCj-M a similar scene]] where Tony responds by mocking the crying kid instead.
** [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy This isn't the first time]] James Franco has his life made difficult by a green, flying, cackling person who has pointy ears and nose and likes to attack throwing orange orbs. And, for added points, both films had [[Creator/SamRaimi the same director]].
** Speaking of, as [[WebAnimation/{{Spill}} Spill.com]] illustrated in the animated opening of [[https://youtu.be/jDvVwNq4OyI their review]], ''Oz the Great and Powerful'' can also be seen as a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' since both films are about a guy finding himself in another world, being seen as a prophecy ChosenOne who decides to help the inhabitants of the land fend off the villains (who he [[NiceJobBreakingItHero enraged]]) with what he knows. It's even got a Creator/BruceCampbell cameo!

** Creator/RachelWeisz's wildly against type performance as Evanora is beloved too, both for EvilIsSexy, EvilIsCool and the fact that she's clearly having a ball in the role.
* EvilIsSexy: Evanora, as played by Creator/RachelWeisz in a black dress and tight corset. [[spoiler: Until her true form is revealed, at least]]. Averted when [[spoiler: Theodora becomes the Wicked Witch of the West]].

'''Glinda:''' [[PreAssKickingOneLiner Don't need 'em. Bubbles are just for show]].

* ItWasHisSled: [[spoiler:Theodora and Evanora are the Wicked Witches of the West and East respectively]]. What was ''supposed'' to be a twist is now seen as the only reason why this movie stays on people's radars, mostly because how [[WhatTheHellCastingAgency ill-fitting]] [[spoiler:Creator/MilaKunis]] is as a famous villain of pop-culture.

%%* WTHCastingAgency: James Franco as Oz the Great and Powerful? [[spoiler:And Mila Kunis? As the Wicked Witch of the West?]]

* CriticalBacklash: While not panned, there was a strong negative attitude towards the movie, partly because it was [[ToughActToFollow a prequel to one of the most beloved fantasy films of all time]] and partly because [[Film/TheWizardOfOz that film]] already had [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} a wildly successful prequel]] [[ToughActToFollow considered far superior to this one.]] As the years have gone on, more defenders of the film have popped up. It also got compared more favourably against ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' and ''Film/{{Pan}}'' -- a fantasy film that attempted to do the same for ''Literature/PeterPan'' -- which got a bigger critical trashing.

** Women who have lived sheltered lives - be wary of men who appear charming. Do not take BecauseYouWereNiceToMe as a sign of love.

--> '''Evanora:''' What's the matter Glinda? Out of bubbles?
--> '''Glinda:''' [[PreAssKickingOneLiner Don't need 'em. Bubbles are just for show]].
* CriticalBacklash: While not panned, there was a strong negative attitude towards the movie, partly because it was [[ToughActToFollow a prequel to one of the most beloved fantasy films of all time]] and partly because [[Film/TheWizardOfOz that film]] already had [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} a wildly successful prequel]] [[ToughActToFollow considered far superior to this one.]] As the years have gone on, more defenders of the film have popped up. It also got compared more favourably against ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' and ''Film/{{Pan}}'' - a fantasy film that attempted to do the same for ''Literature/PeterPan'' - which got a bigger critical trashing.

** ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'' was an unofficial prequel to the first film, and both it and its musical adaptation (which are two separate entities mind you) have huge fan bases. Indeed, one of the entries on the movie's IMDB FAQ page was asking if Elphaba was going to feature. FYI - Elphaba is only the name for the Wicked Witch in that continuity.
* UnintentionallySympathetic: To [[http://petsnakereggie.com/2013/03/11/the-wicked-witch-of-the-west-a-tragic-figure/ a number]] [[http://thegeekiary.com/2013/03/12/to-the-surprise-of-presicely-no-one-oz-the-great-and-powerful-is-a-feminist-nightmare/ of viewers,]] [[spoiler:Theodora]] even after her FaceHeelTurn was a DesignatedVillain more deserving of sympathy than the [[DesignatedHero "good guys",]] and could not realistically become such an iconic villain as [[spoiler:The Wicked Witch of the West]]. [[spoiler: [[TheCasanova Oscar]] begins to [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realize this]] near the end of the film, where he tries to convince Theodora to pull a HeelFaceTurn sometime in the future; [[MyGreatestFailure it]] [[RedemptionRejection doesn't]] [[ForgoneConclusion work]].]]

* GeniusBonus:
** Oz's love interest back in Kansas, Annie, is going to marry a man named Gale. Dorothy's surname is Gale. FridgeHorror in that one of the Oz books specifies that Dorothy's parents died around her birth, so Aunt Em and Uncle Henry raised her.
** Breaking Glinda's wand would render her powerless, and [[spoiler: Evanora is likewise left so after her charm is destroyed - but is still able to eventually become the Wicked Witch of the East in future]]. This comes straight from the books; witches in Oz made items to focus their magic because actual spell casting was so difficult (in the film, this is Glinda's wand, Theodora's ring and Evanora's necklace). If the object is destroyed, the witch would be left powerless, but she still had her knowledge and thus would be able to make another. Presumably Evanora was planning to strike at Glinda once Oscar broke her wand and before she could make another.
** [[spoiler: Evanora's true form once she is de-powered]] actually draws from the book's description of the Wicked Witch of the West. The MGM film famously gave her green skin, when she was described as a wizened old crone with one eye in the text.

** One of the most promising things about this film was the prospect of getting to see ''both'' Wicked Witches in action at the same time, since the Wicked Witch of the East was a PosthumousCharacter in the original. [[note]] "Remember how much the Wicked Witch terrified you in the original? Now there are ''two'' of them!"[[/note]] But since most of [[spoiler:Theodora]]'s story is dominated by her OriginStory, while Evanora is largely a HiddenVillain who spends most of the film hiding the fact that she's evil, there's barely any time for either of them to '''be''' Wicked Witches by the time it becomes clear who they are. As a result, they never really live up to their potential as a BigBadDuumvirate.

** ''{{Literature/Wicked}}'' was an unofficial prequel to the first film, and both it and its musical adaptation (which are two separate entities mind you) have huge fan bases. Indeed, one of the entries on the movie's IMDB FAQ page was asking if Elphaba was going to feature. FYI - Elphaba is only the name for the Wicked Witch in that continuity.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Many agree that Theodora's [[spoiler: turn to the dark side]] was far too rushed and could have benefited from more development.

** Rachel Weisz's wildly against type performance as Evanora is beloved too, both for EvilIsSexy, EvilIsCool and the fact that she's clearly having a ball in the role.

* MissingTrailerScene: Oscar and Theodora riding through the Emerald City in a carriage.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Abigail Spencer was one of Oscar’s love conquests before (or perhaps during?) her [[Series/{{Timeless}} adventures of time-traveling.]]

* SpecialEffectsFailure: [[spoiler:Theodora's evil cackle is obviously another woman's voice being ADR'd over Mila Kunis.]]

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: When Glinda reveals Evanora to be the real villain of the story and that Evanora had tricked Oz (you know, like he did back in Kansas, only with parlor tricks instead of real magic), suddenly Oz's interactions with Evanora become LaserGuidedKarma.

* BrokenBase: Dear God, Creator/MilaKunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]] See the below entries.
** However, she has a number of defenders who find she still manages to make the character work [[spoiler: [[NarmCharm even with the hamminess]].]] They also point out that [[spoiler: the original Wicked Witch was [[FranchiseOriginalSin quite hammy herself]] in the original film.]] Again, see the below entries.

* CriticalBacklash: While not panned, there was a strong negative attitude towards the movie, partly because it was [[ToughActToFollow a prequel to one of the most beloved fantasy films of all time]] and partly because [[Film/TheWizardOfOz that film]] already had [[Theatre/{{Wicked}} a wildly successful prequel]] [[ToughActToFollow considered far superior to this one.]] As the years have gone on, more defenders of the film have popped up. It also got compared more favourably against the similar ''Film/{{Pan}}'' - a fantasy film that attempted to do the same for ''Literature/PeterPan'' - which got a bigger critical trashing.

** Speaking of, as [[WebAnimation/{{Spill}} Spill.com]] illustrated in the animated opening of [[https://youtu.be/jDvVwNq4OyI their review]], ''Oz the Great and Powerful'' can also be seen as a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' since both films are about a guy finding himself in another world, being seen as a prophecy ChosenOne who decides to help the inhabitants of the land fend off the villains with what he knows. Bonus points for having Creator/BruceCampbell in a cameo.

* SignatureScene: Oz is sucked into the tornado.

* SpiritualAdaptation: Like ''Film/{{Frozen}}'' and ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', the film is a cinematic adaptation of ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'' as an origin story for one of the most important characters in the Oz mythos and the Wicked Witch of the West is a major character in both stories as we get to see her FaceHeelTurn transformation into the BigBad of the original ''Wizard of Oz'' novel.

* BrokenBase: Dear God, Creator/MilaKunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]]
** However, she has a number of defenders who find she still manages to make the character work [[spoiler: [[NarmCharm even with the hamminess]].]] They also point out that [[spoiler: the original Wicked Witch was [[FranchiseOriginalSin quite hammy herself]] in the original film.]]

* BrokenBase: Mila Kunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]]
** However, she has a number of defenders who find she still manages to make the character work [[NarmCharm even with the hamminess]]; They point out that [[spoiler: the original Wicked Witch was [[FranchiseOriginalSin quite hammy herself]] in the first film.]]

* BrokenBase: Mila Kunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]]; see her entry for {{Narm}}, NeverLiveItDown, StrangledByTheRedString, and TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter below.
** However, she has a number of defenders who find she still manages to make the character work [[NarmCharm even with the hamminess]]; They point out that [[spoiler: the original Wicked Witch was [[FranchiseOriginalSin quite hammy herself]] in the first film]]. Also, see the entries for MoralEventHorizon, NarmCharm, OlderThanTheyThink, UnintentionallySympathetic, and TheWoobie below.

* BrokenBase: Mila Kunis as Theodora, considering who she's really playing. Her performance was panned at the time, for ChewingTheScenery and not being able to follow [[spoiler: Margaret Hamilton]]. Plus, [[spoiler:the idea that the Wicked Witch of the West is nothing more than a teenager who got dumped by her crush did ''not'' go over well with fans of the original.]]; see her entry for {{Narm}}, NeverLiveItDown and TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter below.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: To [[http://petsnakereggie.com/2013/03/11/the-wicked-witch-of-the-west-a-tragic-figure/ a number]] [[http://thegeekiary.com/2013/03/12/to-the-surprise-of-presicely-no-one-oz-the-great-and-powerful-is-a-feminist-nightmare/ of viewers,]] [[spoiler:Theodora]] even after her FaceHeelTurn was a DesignatedVillain more deserving of sympathy than the [[DesignatedHero "good guys",]] and could not realistically become such an iconic villain as [[spoiler:The Wicked Witch of the West]].