Prior Viewings: 1
Caught this one at the theater with my family back when it came out, and I can still recall the experience being mildly disappointing. Watching it again over a decade later, it's easy to see why (the CGI-heavy visuals aren't really to my taste, and I always thought Franco and Kunis were distractingly miscast), but the positives suddenly stood out to me a lot more.
For one, after fifteen years of soulless Disney remakes, it's nice to see one that isn't a simple knockoff. This is a movie that has a unique story to tell and actually dares to take a few risks, even if those risks are often unsuccessful. Beyond that, I was more compelled by the underdog story this time, and I found that Weisz and Williams were both so awesome in their roles that they mostly undid the damage caused by the other two leads (which: I've changed my mind on Kunis; she's perfectly fine).
But I think the real saving grace here is Sam Raimi. This is far from his best or most characteristic work, but I was surprised to finally recognize just how much of his style can be felt throughout, from the dark visual tones to the campy sense of humour. Gives the movie some needed texture and bite, and it made for a more enchanting adaptation than I remembered.
Grade: B
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