This week begins our family Oz fest. No, this has nothing to do with the Osbournes -- I'm talking witches, flying monkeys and the yellow brick road. We have been reading the Oz book series in anticipation of the upcoming Disney film Oz the Great and Powerful. My daughter wants to have an Oz-themed birthday party in a couple of months. And, for Christmas we got the kids tickets to see Wicked, the musical which provides a thought-provoking and fun take on how the Wicked Witch became who she is. So, we are immersed in Oz beginning this week, with my trip to L.A. to see the red carpet premiere of the much anticipated Oz the Great and Powerful, which opens in theaters on March 8, 2013. I'll also get to interview the stars of the movie, so email me if you have any burning questions about the movie!
Oz the Great and Powerful is a risky endeavor. The original Wizard of Oz movie is one of the most iconic classics of all time. As far as characters of Oz go, no one is ever going to be able to upstage Judy Garland as Dorothy. No one. But Oz the Great and Powerful is about the Wizard. This origins story also has to live up to the beloved musical Wicked, a clever, whimsical, funny, and very beloved musical which provides a possible back story for Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch. Can Oz the Great and Powerful, which provides us with a back story for the mysterious wizard and the witches of Oz, deliver a compelling tale worthy of Oz? I can't wait to find out! I love the the idea of learning about how the wizard came into his enigmatic position of power, and of course we've always been curious about the Wicked Witch's sister and what she was like before the unfortunate incident with the house.
Oz the Great and Powerful has been given a PG rating, for sequences of action and scary images, and brief mild language. This is a family film, though I will have specific age recommendations soon as well as more information about the characters and the storyline. If you get the chance, the Oz book series is a great one to read aloud as a family, and while this movie doesn't follow the books, reading the series is a great way to introduce kids to the world of Oz and get them excited about reading.
(Photo © Disney)
I’m looking to take my daughter and a couple of her friends to this film for her birthday as she loves the original Wizard of Oz. She is turning 6 and not sure if it’s age appropriate though…any thoughts?
Hi Alana,
Thanks for the question! I will have a full review posted with details about the content soon. In the meantime, I’m recommending the film for ages 7-8 and up.
That said, I’m taking my 5yo. It really depends on your kid. If your child or any child going with you tends to get scared during scary scenes of kids’ movies, this movie will be too scary and they will not enjoy it.
There are perilous moments and one possibly disturbing scene with a brief but frightening image that could really scare young kids. The witches and flying monkeys are a little more intense than the witch in the original Wizard of Oz movie, but there’s no blood/gore/permanent injury. It’s only PG and intended to be a family movie, it just gets a little intense for very young kids in some scenes.