For anyone still wondering, this isn't a remake or a re-imagining. The parallels between the original Dorothy and DG were apparently meant to bring the story full circle, not to copy it. This story is suppose to take place some 400 years after Dorothy landed in OZ, now referred to as the Outer Zone. This little fact, which would have been useful to know from the start, you don't discover until Part 3. I've got to admit, I was lost at first as to how to accept this new O.Z. The Wizard's an addict (played perfectly of course by R. Dreyfuss), the Lion's entire species become mind-readers and empaths, the Tin Man and Scarcrow are no longer literally what they are described (as being tin and straw) but instead are titles for the keepers of justice and the adviser to the Queen (though the name Scarcrow is never addressed in this story). So it would seem that the attributes the actual characters gained in the Wizard of OZ (heart and brain) became their greatest qualities, allowing those with the same qualities to succeed in occupations that put them to good use. Those with heart would be best at keeping the peace while those with a good mind would be used for their intelligence. As for why the lions become mind-readers and empaths still escapes me though. As I said, all of this is difficult to understand at first, but I got use to it.
The acting at times was shaky and the scripting weak at points though the SFX was about par for what you see in the previews. I didn't quite understand the stance Zooey Deschanel (DG) took on her character's personality. She got the curious head tilt down good but the whole anger/fear thing didn't seem to be in her emotional vocabulary. On the positive, she knew how to play charming and innocent when need be. Alan C's and Neal M's performances were the obvious highlights, but I never really expected any different from those two.
Funny enough - regardless of these issues - I actually found myself enjoying the story more and more. Part 1 wasn't bad though it was slow to start. It eventually picked up the pace leaving you with a good cliffhanger. Part 2 was considerably better, faster-paced with a little twist at the end. By the time Part 3 premiered, I was looking forward to watching it. Given the harder edge this OZ has taken, you could either enjoy it or find it ridiculous. Don't expect top quality work like you might have found in the Scifi Channel's previous mini-series "Taken", but it is fun and definitely imaginative.
The acting at times was shaky and the scripting weak at points though the SFX was about par for what you see in the previews. I didn't quite understand the stance Zooey Deschanel (DG) took on her character's personality. She got the curious head tilt down good but the whole anger/fear thing didn't seem to be in her emotional vocabulary. On the positive, she knew how to play charming and innocent when need be. Alan C's and Neal M's performances were the obvious highlights, but I never really expected any different from those two.
Funny enough - regardless of these issues - I actually found myself enjoying the story more and more. Part 1 wasn't bad though it was slow to start. It eventually picked up the pace leaving you with a good cliffhanger. Part 2 was considerably better, faster-paced with a little twist at the end. By the time Part 3 premiered, I was looking forward to watching it. Given the harder edge this OZ has taken, you could either enjoy it or find it ridiculous. Don't expect top quality work like you might have found in the Scifi Channel's previous mini-series "Taken", but it is fun and definitely imaginative.