Movietime in Manhattan: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (in Digital 3D) RECOMMENDED BY WHOM YOU KNOW-WHOM YOU KNOW KICKS OFF COVERAGE OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES Our Coverage Sponsored by Paul Mayer Attitudes
Paul Mayer's luxuriously, comfortable designs keep women coming back for multiple -- even dozens -- of pairs. Classic, yet contemporary and always comfortable, his shoes are an addiction that we highly recommend. A staple of the Paul Mayer collection is the simple ballet-flat, with true ballerina construction for a perfect fit that comes in a variety of colors and materials. A cult favorite is the cozy, a flat with lavender-scent infused soles adding style and fragrance to collector's closets as Paul's designs emerge in sophisticated design incarnations season after season in the most incredible hues, textures and modern innovations in luxury footwear because we know firsthand how incredibly brilliant he is. Mayer founded the brand in 2004 with partner, Jeff Levy. All shoes in the line are manufactured in Spain’s Valencia region, along the Mediterranean coast by a skilled staff of 12 artisans. They craft each pair of shoes with an old-world attention to detail that includes in-house embroidery, quilting and stitching as well as custom tanned leather. This allows the brand to cater to each retailer’s specific demands in with timely and consistent alacrity, with orders completed in an unheard-of 3 to 5 weeks. In 2011, Paul Mayer stepped out into Manhattan's Upper East Side with a new attitude, opening his flagship store at 1388 Third Avenue. The store which cleverly resembles a pink and black shoebox offers up to 150 shoe styles, including his popular ballerinas, exclusive designs and more. As an added bonus, shoppers have the chance of running into the designer, himself. Paul's sage shopping advice and style eye has made him the New York shoe lover's best kept secret. When not in New York, Paul can be found traveling to his myriad of stores across the country meeting his loyal clientele or vacationing in his favorite spot, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach.
There's no place like Oz....an artistic masterpiece from the start, Oz pulls out all the stops for 3D special effects to be enjoyed by all ages starting tomorrow, March 8th when Disney's Oz, The Great and Powerful opens. It is a kind of prequel to the Wizard of Oz. The lights dim and the screen lights up in vaudeville style recently evoked by The Artist, however, thank goodness this one is a talkie! From the opening screen to the final part of the introduction, the audience is drawn into layer upon layer of fascinating Hollywood magic brought to you by the way of Disney! The classic Disney castle is uncharacteristically black and white here sans Cinderella shades of blue, but so is the whole opening number so it’s in keeping with the tradition of the great land of Oz. We are absolutely thrilled to be covering Disney for the first time ever, and could not think of a better classic than Oz! We were absolutely dying to see this, and Peachy Deegan has read all 14 of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum many times in childhood-we thought we might see Ozma.
As Oscar goes from middle America to Oz, the black and white then gives way to color at its best. Blue skies, green lands and golden mountains greet him and the effects of the whitewater cliffs were fantastic and reminded Peachy of a combination of flying down Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain, each of which she adores when visiting Disney World in Orlando.
With lofty goals of being Houdini and Thomas Edison rolled into one, Oscar, our protagonist, wavers in his step along the yellow brick road as we see his character develop. Clearly, it is the women of the film: the three witches, who prove to be the strongest characters, which is to be celebrated in Women’s History Month! He’s greeted by the Good Witch…or is she really the good one?- portrayed by Mila Kunis, who is at her best once she undergoes a transformation later in the film. If you’ve seen the Black Swan, you’ve seen this thrilling streak in Mila before. Here, Mila steals the scenes from all of her co-stars from there on out-Bravo Mila! Ugly becomes you.
Our favorite character reminded us an awful lot of the highly esteemed Regis Philbin: Finley the Monkey in a Bellhop costume. Finley will steal your heart and is a kind of Jiminy Cricket-like fellow who brings Oscar’s conscience to the forefront for him. A runner-up in favorite character is the Porcelain Girl whom we first meet when she’s found in her neighborhood ghetto of broken teacups after a major mishap. She reminds us a bit of Carrie Underwood.
We found the strongest aspect of Oz to be the production, scenery and special effects. If you are a movie-goer that wants all the pizaaz pulled out for you with a red carpet, fireworks, and sparkles galore, this is for you. In 2000 when Fantasia was recreated, Peachy Deegan became obsessed with that film and though Oz is not animated, some parts are evocative of that style. Fashion takes center stage in Oz as well as the costumes could not be better: they each were breathtaking, our favorite being Evanora’s dress and hat. Michelle Williams’s crown reminded us of the Chrysler Building and there is an overall art-deco feel to this film. The Emerald City is at its best – we’d like to meet the architect!
This is a must-see on the big screen as it transports you to the land we all dream of. The script was highly influenced by the Wizard of Oz of course, but also had elements of other fairy tales such as the lies of Pinocchio, the apple of Snow White and the piles of riches remind us of Uncle Scrooge’s Vault-and you all know that’s Donald Duck’s uncle!
Oh if we could all escape our troubles by running in a bubble…but the best news is, you CAN, when you fly on your own winged monkey to the closest 3D screen near you and take in Oz for just over two hours. Oz is recommended by Whom You Know! Go see it and make your own magic.
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OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (in Digital 3D)
DISNEY
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Rating: PG
Release Date: March 8, 2013
Running Time: 127 min
Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff
Director: Sam Raimi
Producer: Joe Roth
Executive Producers: Grant Curtis, Palak Patel, Josh Donen, Philip Steuer
Screen Story by: Mitchell Kapner
Screenplay by: Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire
Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.
When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard—and just maybe into a better man as well.
Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.
“Oz The Great and Powerful” is produced by Joe Roth, with screen story by Mitchell Kapner and screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Grant Curtis, Palak Patel, Josh Donen and Philip Steuer are serving as executive producers. “Oz The Great and Powerful” opens in U.S. theaters on March 8, 2013.
