The character of the Wicked Witch of the West in the story of "Oz the Great and Powerful" is a pivotal and iconic figure. As the main antagonist, she embodies evil, power, and darkness. The Wicked Witch of the West is depicted as a terrifying and formidable force. With her green complexion, black dress, and pointy hat, she is instantly recognizable and strikes fear into the hearts of both the characters in the story and the audience. She is known for her cackling laughter, her flying monkeys, and her ability to conjure fire and create storms. In the story, the Wicked Witch of the West seeks revenge against the protagonist, Oz.
Then there's Evanora, Theodora's older sister. Evanora (Rachel Weisz) is the manipulator, the real wicked witch, and---as far as I'm concerned---easily the best character in the whole film. Weisz plays the villain convincingly, with enough menace and restraint to pull it off.
When she is wrongfully informed that the wizard has been disloyal to her, she willingly undergoes a magical transformation to become evil, and thus forsake the people of Oz, because she can t stand the pain of rejection. Fortunately, where Tim Burton failed to create characters I could care about in his adaptation of Alice, Sam Raimi s Oz prequel is another story altogether.
In the story, the Wicked Witch of the West seeks revenge against the protagonist, Oz. She blames him for the death of her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, and vows to bring down his rule in the Land of Oz. She is relentless in her pursuit and uses her powers to try to thwart Oz at every turn.
'Oz the Great and Powerful' Vs. 'The Wizard of Oz' Vs. 'Wicked': Breaking Down the Monkeys, Witches and Yellow Brick Roads
You know the Wizard of Oz is wonderful, great and powerful. Victor Fleming's "The Wizard of Oz" has been telling us that for generations. But what was Oz like before Dorothy and her little dog arrived from Kansas and shook things up?
The world of Oz created by children's author L. Frank Baum is so rich with storytelling possibilities that other writers have offered enchanting prequels of their own. The Broadway sensation "Wicked" focuses on the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, while Sam Raimi's new movie "Oz the Great and Powerful" explores how the Wizard came to Oz, greatness and power.
As someone whose experienced both the thrill of seeing "Wicked" on Broadway and the exhilaration of Raimi's 3D journey into Oz, I've compiled a string of comparisons on how each of these dueling prequels tap into the iconography we all know and love.
Be warned, there are SPOILERS for both "Wicked" and "Oz the Great and Powerful" ahead.
Land of Oz
In "The Wizard of Oz," the citizens of Oz live in perpetual fear of the Wicked Witch, despite the best efforts of Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard. Festively dressed Munchkins hide in tiny villages as she and her sister's cruel flying monkeys rain terror all along the Yellow Brick Road.
In "Wicked," we see familiar locations like the witch's castle, Munchkinland and the Emerald City. But we're also shown that Oz is changing. Anthropomorphic animals that have long talked, taught and functioned as members of the community are being caged and literally made speechless.
In "Oz the Great and Powerful," Raimi takes the opportunity to expand Oz beyond the poppy fields and Yellow Brick Road, revealing glowing-eyed Venus flytraps, a "chinatown" populated by living porcelain dolls, river fairies with razor-sharp teeth and a tribe of genius tinkers who can build anything imaginable. But it's a place terrorized by an evil witch . though her identity is a mystery.
The Witches
In both prequels, we're treated to the Witch with her trademark green skin, pointed black hat and broom. In "Wicked" she starts out green but kind-hearted. "Oz the Great and Powerful" introduces her as beautiful and peach-skinned, but with a fiery temper that soon spurs her to change inside and out for the worse.
The former deals in moral ambiguity; the latter paints her as born to be bad. "Wicked" presents the Witch as a misunderstood outcast; "Oz the Great and Powerful" shows her as evil to her core with the cackle to prove it. Similarly, Glinda is less good/more complex in "Wicked" and nothing but sweetness and light in "Oz."
The Wizard
In "The Wizard of Oz," the man behind the curtain is revealed to be essentially a con man from Kansas with no powers but a penchant for thoughtful gift-giving. This approach is closely followed in "Oz the Great and Powerful," as Oscar 'Oz' Diggs starts off a as womanizing scoundrel and sideshow magician who plays the people of Oz for his own ends until he sees the light . well, rather, Glinda.
Where Raimi's movie shows the will-be wizard's arrival to Oz, "Wicked" has him already ruling over it. At the play's start, he's an idol to the young and not-yet-wicked Witch . that is, until she discovers his evil plan to make Oz more like his homeland, striking its animal citizens dumb and forcing conformity. Here his wonderfulness is all smoke and mirrors.
Monkeys
The chattering minions of the Witch in "The Wizard of Oz" also get an origin in "Wicked." There she creates them at the command of the wizard to show him her incredible prowess in spell casting. Regrettably, it's a spell she can't undo.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" presents two forms of flying primate. The first is a chipper, chatty monkey in a bellhop's uniform who proves to be one of Oscar's closest allies; the others are big, bat-winged baboons who gleefully ravage the good people of Oz at the command of the Wicked Witch.
Dorothy & Company
"Wicked" serves as an origin story not just for the witches and flying monkeys but also for the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. The Witch creates each in a well-meaning but flawed attempt at heroism. As for Dorothy, her arrival via falling house proves key to the plot, though she's never seen on stage.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" predates "The Wizard of Oz" by at least 16 years in the connective chronology, so there's no Dorothy here (though we do meet her mom). Oscar is sort of given credit for the creation of Dorothy's friends, having declared a lion a "coward" after scaring him off with a smoke bomb, and urging the tinkers to make metal men dressed as scarecrows (these later two are more nods to "The Wizard of Oz" than thorough allusions, though). In the end, this one is all about Oscar becoming the titular Great and Powerful Oz.
In all fairness, Elphaba, too, takes a dark turn because of a lover. In Act II, her boyfriend, Fiyero, is captured and tortured by the Wizard’s men. Believing him dead, Elphaba sings “No Good Deed,” a ballad in which she declares, “Let all of Oz be agreed: I am wicked through and through. Since I could not succeed, Fiyero, in saving you, I promise no good deed will I attempt to do again.”
However, as the story unfolds, viewers learn that the Wicked Witch of the West's anger and thirst for power stem from a deep-rooted sense of betrayal and heartbreak. She was once a good witch, but after being betrayed by the wizard, she becomes bitter and vengeful. This adds a layer of complexity and humanity to her character, making her more than just a one-dimensional villain. Overall, the Wicked Witch of the West is a iconic character that captures the imagination and fear of audiences. Her evil and powerful presence, combined with her tragic backstory, make her a memorable and important part of the "Oz the Great and Powerful" story..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch of the West: A Symbol of Resilience in "Oz the Great and Powerful"
1. Emily - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Oz the great and powerful wicked witch of the west." The storyline was weak and lacked depth, and I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The acting was mediocre at best, and the CGI effects were overdone and distracting. Overall, it felt like a cash grab attempt to ride on the success of "The Wizard of Oz," but it fell far short of capturing the magic and wonder of the original film. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this movie.
2. Benjamin - 2/5 - As a fan of "The Wizard of Oz," I had high hopes for "Oz the great and powerful wicked witch of the west," but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, and the addition of unnecessary subplots only served to confuse and detract from the main story. The performances were underwhelming, with the actors failing to bring any depth or complexity to their characters. Additionally, the excessive use of CGI made the movie feel artificial and detached from reality. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had just rewatched the original film instead.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "Oz the great and powerful wicked witch of the west" had a promising premise but failed to deliver on its potential. The movie felt disjointed and lacked proper development of its characters and plot. The performances were lackluster, with the actors seeming disinterested in their roles. The CGI effects were overwhelming and often overshadowed the storytelling. Overall, I found the film to be a muddled and forgettable addition to the "Wizard of Oz" universe. It simply didn't live up to the charm and magic of the original film, and I left the theater feeling disappointed.
4. Michael - 1/5 - I cannot express enough how much I disliked "Oz the great and powerful wicked witch of the west." The story was convoluted and lacked coherence, jumping between different subplots without proper explanation or resolution. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, with the characters feeling one-dimensional and devoid of personality. The excessive use of CGI made it difficult to immerse oneself in the world of Oz, as everything felt artificial and detached. Overall, I found this movie to be a major disappointment and a waste of my time. I would strongly advise against watching it.