Franco takes on 'Oz,' now on DVD
<b>"Oz the Great and Powerful" -</b> The excellent box-office hit is director Sam Raimi's prequel to "The Wizard of Oz." Everyone knows the story, and it's impossible to duplicate the original classic.
Oscar Diggs (James Franco), who goes by the stage name Oz the magician, travels with his companions Finley (Zach Braff), a flying monkey and a China Girl (Joey King).
Kansas begins in sepia tone imagery before a tornado sweeps through and the film comes alive in the beautiful land of Oz.
Oscar learns that he might be the wizard destined to free the people from the evil influences of the wicked witch.
He runs into Theodora (Mila Kunis), a witch who takes him to the Emerald City to meet her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz).
Before he can return home, he must go to the Dark Forest and find the Wicked Witch. But she turns out to be Glinda the Good Witch (Michelle Williams), leaving Oz to wonder who is right and who is evil.
"Oz" mixes live-action and CGI in a family film that leaves itself open to a sequel. After all, L. Frank Baum wrote 13 Oz books. This video contains many bonus features.
<b>Paul McCartney and Wings: Rockshow" - </b>When the Beatles broke up, McCartney wanted to still make music, and perform for fans all over the world. He began a solo career and eventually put together a band called Wings.
In 1976, McCartney's band was the first rock group to play in Seattle's Kingdome. The concert drew 67,000 fans, and the experience was captured on film.
This is the first time that the complete concert, fully restored and remastered, is available to the public. The disc comes in a booklet with great pictures of the band.
Songs include "Jet," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Lady Madonna," "Yesterday," "Band on the Run," "The Long and Winding Road," "Go Now," "Bluebird," "Live and Let Die" and many more.
<b>"The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg" - </b>Academy Award-nominated director Jerry Aronson has accumulated more than 120 hours of film on the life of Allen Ginsberg, a poetic genius and a moral compass for the counterculture.
His life took many turns as a leader of the Beat Generation and the Flower Power movement. Through film, photos, and many interviews, we see how Ginsberg influenced many generations of young and older people.
Ginsberg was also an anti-war and anti-nuke protester. Later in life, he explored transcendental religions with own personal philosophies in his writing. He also published books on his love of photography.
There are many hours of bonus materials.
<b>"Tales From The Three Stooges" - </b>Fans of the Three Stooges, one of the greatest comedy teams of all time, will love this three-disc set which includes "Brideless Groom," "Disorder in the Court," "Malice in the Palace," "Sing a Song of Six Pants," "Henry the Ache" and "Knife of the Party."
There are TV commercials and a promotional film included with 24 animated capers and a variety of movie trailers.
<b>Next week:</b> "Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour," "Jack the Giant Slayer," "Quartet," Turner Classic Film celebrations of Gene Kelly, John Wayne" and Paul Newman," plus "Web Therapy: Season Two."