Starting with Oz: The Great & Powerful.
Dirtected by Spider-Man's Sam Raimi, the new Oz movie will certainly provide some show stopping cinematic's, bringing to life the rich vibrant colours and textures that make you feel as though you're in a cartoon, a genuine fantasy land that is Oz (some of the scenes feel like they were snapped straight out of Disney's 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty).
What's to look forward to?
Although James Franco & Mila Kunis have really made a name for themselves in recent years with the likes of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 127 Hours, Black Swan and Friends With Benefits, I'm most looking forwards to performances from my old favourites Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn, Shutter Island) whom I've been a fan of since the Dawson Creek days and Rachel Weisz (Constantine, The Lovely Bones) who was wonderful in The Constant Gardener - it's a must watch!
What I'm afraid of?
I love all things Oz - Judy Garland singing Over The Rainbow, a young Fairuza Balk (a.k.a Nancy from The Craft) and rusty old Tik-Tok in the dark and thrilling Return to Oz, Michael Jackson & Diana Ross 'getting on down the road' in the Wiz & potentially my favourite, Wicked, defying gravity with Elphaba - I'm scared that this version will be all show and no magic.
Left and below: Fairuza Balk as Dorothy with Tik Tok in Return to Oz
Right: Fairuza as Nancy in The Craft
Next up Jack the Giant Slayer.
Bryan Singer takes the helm of this new adaptation of the fairy tale Jack & the Beanstalk. But rated 12A this is not a fairy story for your little ones. There are several slight twists to the original story line that you're probably familiar with, including some extra characters like Stanley Tucci's Roderick and Ewen McGregor's Elmont, but with the likes of X-Men, X2 & X-Men First Class' writer/director Singer leading the way this is sure to be an action packed adventure of GIANT proportion.
What's to look forward to?
Again this one has got to be about the casting. Nicholas Hoult (Clash of the Titans, X-Men: First Class), Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, Moulin Rouge), the amazing Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games, A Mid Summer Nights Dream, Lucky Number Slevin, The Devil Wears Prada. Also Eddie Marsan, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and more, how could this not be brilliant?
What I'm afraid of?
Absolutely nothing! I think Jack the Giant Slayer will be very comfortable viewing, with lots of action and a few laughs along the way.
Verdict?
Of the two I'd say it has to be Jack the Giant Slayer! Despite my love of Baum's creations, and despite it being Disney and all the money they've forked out on ensuring that Oz: The Great and Powerful looks stunning, it doesn't make up for my suspicion that some of the casting may be a little weak, that it's going to get all dragged out and wordy like Spider-man 2 and that like Dorothy I will discover that Oz is all smoke and mirrors with no real substance.
Catch the trailer for Jack the Giant Slayer here... "You think you know the story ... You don't know Jack"
I'll be back later in the week with more films from this month. Ciao for now xx
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