Raimi Returns With "Oz"

What I like most about this trailer for Sam Raimi's "Oz: The Great & Powerful" (a prequel/origin-story with James Franco as the Kansas con-artist/magician who ultimately becomes That Man Behind The Curtain) - apart from the indications that they're going to use a color/aspect-ratio metamorphosis for the Earth/Oz transitions a'la the MGM film's black-and-white to color transition - is the way that, despite the obvious visual connections being made to the Judy Garland version and the Disney live-action-fantasy "house style" vibe; the direction, composition, tone and especially the design of some of the creatures all immediately identify that we are indeed still getting a Sam Raimi movie...



I especially LOVE that last "stinger" shot. Apart from being another instant "from the director of Evil Dead" moment, it's a PERFECT use of shared pop-cultural iconography: Everyone in the audience who understands that this is a "Wizard of Oz" prequel instantly understands that what we're seeing is the pre-reveal (maybe even the "birth?") of one of cinema's greatest villains... The Wicked Witch of The West. In this version, all three(?) of the Oz Witches apparently start out good/beautiful, so one assumes at some point the Western one will be going green n' mean - maybe at the finale? Or as a sequel-tease?

Wanna get really psyched? Think back to The Wicked Witch in that original movie, THEN think back on how Raimi traditionally handles/depicts witch/crone creatures in his films. Awesomeness potential: HIGH.