2012 was, among other things, the Year of the Animated Horror Movie (with “ParaNorman”. “Frankenweenie” and “Hotel Transylvania”). The first theme emerging so far this year “appears” to be Magic. Three major releases are magician-related, including two out this month:
“Oz: The Great and Powerful” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz”. The Wizard, a man named Oscar (Oz), is a struggling magician who journeys to the Emerald City and has to use his “powers” to save everyone from the Wicked Witch.
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”, which opens next week, stars Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi as a modern, Vegas-type team whose magic act has become outdated. Jim Carrey plays Steve Gray. a rival who takes a more modern, Criss Angel-type approach to his work. Looks very funny.
And “Now You See Me” (opening June 7th) is part sci-fi, part drama, part crime mystery, centered around three magicians (played by Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Isla Fisher). The new trailer is playing before “Oz”, and I’ll likely see it again next week before “Burt Wonderstone”. Morgan Freeman (who perfectly narrates the trailer) reunites in the supporting cast with “Dark Knight” co-star Michael Caine. And that’s not an illusion.