Verdict
Summary
A very cheaply rendered CGI feature that tries using steampunk influences and Oz references to bring kiddies and the curious to the fold, The Steam Engines of Oz is a mighty snoozer that might have worked if more time, detail, and attention were paid to the story and the animation.
Plot: A century after the Wicked Witch, the Emerald City is at the mercy of a once-revered hero, and salvation comes from the wrench of young Victoria Wright. Rediscover old friends and meet new heroes in this new tale set in the Land of Oz.
Review: A hundred years after the events of The Wizard of Oz, the magical land of Oz has fallen dark under the despotic rule of the Tin Man, who has turned evil for lack of a heart. His minions prowl around the Emerald City and beyond, and war is about to erupt with the lions, the Munchkins, and everyone in between. The flying monkeys capture an engine worker named Victoria, but she escapes with several allies (some warrior Munchkins and an old professor who claims he is the brother of Oz). Their plan is to unite the lions and the Munchkins against The Tin Man, then embark on a quest to find the Tin Man’s heart (which is locked away near the two halves of the Scarecrow, a prisoner of The Tin Man), and set The Tin Man free. But there’s a complication and a deeper reason why The Tin Man has gone bad: His true love has been under a spell for a century or more, and breaking the spell over her becomes part of the plan.
A very cheaply rendered CGI feature that tries using steampunk influences and Oz references to bring kiddies and the curious to the fold, The Steam Engines of Oz is a mighty snoozer that might have worked if more time, detail, and attention were paid to the story and the animation. Most of the time there are only two or three clunky animatronic looking characters on screen at a time (even in Emerald City, which is a way-too-clean ghost town), and the lifeless rendering of the characters sinks the movie before the movie even has a chance to come alive. All of the characters, save the scary looking Tin Man, are uninspired looking, and only the hardest of the hardcore fans of all things Oz will be interested. Sean Patrick O’Reilly wrote and directed.
The blu ray / DVD combo for The Steam Engines of Oz was released late last year, and is now available for purchase. No special features were included on the disc.