As director Sam Raimi’s fantasy-adventure Oz the Great and Powerful is currently dominating the box office, Disney has decided to release the film’s great opening credits sequence online for our viewing pleasure.  As with The Wizard of Oz, the beginning of Raimi’s film plays out in black-and-white and in Academy ratio.  The opening credits are a great introduction to the world of the film, and they’re quite fun to take in when presented in 3D.

Hit the jump to take a look at the full opening credits sequence, and click here to read Matt’s review of the film.  Oz the Great and Powerful is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Just recently, director Ang Lee surprised many by signing on to helm the pilot for an FX drama series called Tyrant as his next project after winning the Best Director Oscar for last year’s Life of Pi.  Now another talented filmmaker is delving into television following immense success in theaters, as Oz the Great and Powerful helmer Sam Raimi has agreed to direct the Fox drama pilot Rake.  The potential hourlong series stars Greg Kinnear as a criminal defense lawyer who’s described as “brilliant, frustratingly charming, and [having] zero filter.”  The pilot is based on an Australian comedic drama series of the same name, and is being executive produced by Peter Duncan and Peter Tolan (Rescue Me).  Hit the jump for more.

A couple weeks ago, Fede Alvarez‘ remake of Evil Dead premiered at SXSW to an ecstatic crowd (click here to read my review).  For those unfamiliar with the film, the story centers on five friends who go to a remote cabin in the woods, and stumble upon a demonic evil that begins possessing them one by one, which causes horrific scenes of gore and mutilation.

I got the chance to interview Alvarez at SXSW, and we talked getting down to an R-rating from an NC-17 rating, the appeal of the film’s extreme violence, working with Sam Raimi, developing a sequel to the remake, and much more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.   Evil Dead opens April 5th.

Now playing in theaters is director Sam Raimi’s fantastic prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Oz The Great and Powerful.  The film centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  Loaded with incredible visuals, amazing 3D, and a beautiful world created by production designer Robert Stromberg (Alice in Wonderland, Avatar), Oz is the type of movie that definitely should be seen on a movie screen and it’s absolutely worth the extra charge to see it in 3D.  Oz The Great and Powerful also stars Zach Braff and Joey King.

Recently, I got to speak with Raimi.  After exchanging gifts, we talked about why he wanted to make Oz in 3D, deleted scenes, how he’s been waiting to hear what people think about the film, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

After last night’s ecstatic SXSW screening of Fede Alvarez‘ remake of Evil Dead, it was announced that a script is currently being written for the sequel.  Earlier today, I got to interview Alvarez, and near the end of our conversation, I brought up his plans for Evil Dead 2.  He says fans can expect that he’ll be in no way copying Raimi’s Evil Dead II, and this the new sequel will be “100% original”.  Also, since we’ve previously reported that Sam Raimi intends to start work on a script for Evil Dead 4, I asked Alvarez about his involvement with that film.

Hit the jump for what he had to say, and click here for my Evil Dead review.  The film opens on April 5th.

With Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opening today and news that the studio has already tapped screenwriter Mitchell Kapner to pen a sequel, it was only a matter of time before attention turned to director Sam Raimi as to whether or not he’d return to helm a follow-up.  With big box office franchises, as Disney is hoping Oz turns into, the studio wants a quick turn-around on the next film and would need to secure a director sooner than later.  Is Raimi up to the challenge or will a journeyman director be swooping in to take the opportunity?  Hit the jump to see what Raimi had to say (it’s spoilery on the movie’s ending).

We can find truth in deception.  We find the deeper truth beneath the artifice.  Sam Raimi‘s Oz the Great and Powerful makes no secrets of its deception, and shows how deception can be used for good or evil.  We just don’t call it deception when it’s used for good.  Then it’s an illusion, not a trick.* Oz creates a beautiful illusion that we can get lost in not because of the visual effects wizardry or the size of the canvas, but because of the honesty of the characters and Raimi staying true to his oddball style.

With news that Gil Kenan (Monster House) will be directing MGM’s reboot of Poltergeist, you can finally put to rest the rumors of Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) sitting in the captain’s chair.  Raimi will still be behind the scenes as a producer on the remake of Tobe Hooper’s 1982 classic horror film.  Written by committee, the most recent adaptation has seen work by David Lindsay-Abaire (Oz the Great and Powerful), Scott Derrickson (Sinister), Juliet Snowden (The Possession), Stiles White (Boogeyman) and Paul Harris Boardman (The Exorcism of Emily Rose).  That’s quite the mix of horror writers in there, with Lindsay-Abaire holding it down for the familial aspect of the story that centers on a suburban home possessed by spirits.  Hit the jump for more.

Once upon a time, Spider-Man director Sam Raimi was set to direct the adaptation of Blizzard’s uber-successful MMORPG, World of Warcraft. It was a time for celebration amongst movie fans and gamers alike as Raimi seemed like a bold, exciting choice for the project which promised to rival the scope of films such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. And then, with the wave of a wizard’s staff, Raimi was off the project. While World Of Warcraft is now getting back on track with Duncan Jones (Source Code) in the director’s chair, we never quite knew what was the cause behind Raimi’s departure.

Until today that is. Hit the jump for the full story, including further details on why he also left Spider-Man 4, and what he thinks of Marvel’s wonder boy, Joss Whedon.

From director Sam Raimi, Oz the Great and Powerful imagines the origins of the wizard that was first brought to life in author L. Frank Baum’s book The Wizard of Oz, in a fantastical adventure that utilizes 3D to enhance what is truly an awe-inspiring movie-going experience.  When small-time circus magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is unexpectedly carried from Kansas to the vibrantly beautiful Land of Oz in a tornado, he soon meets three witches – Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams) – who are unsure about whether he truly is the great wizard that they’ve been expecting.  In one of the biggest tales of fake it ‘til you make it, Oscar must use his magical skill and a little ingenuity to help good triumph over evil.

At the film’s press day, director Sam Raimi spoke at a press conference about how his experience on the Spider-Man trilogy taught him that you can’t be loyal to every detail of the original source material, the brief musical tribute to the original film, the challenges of ensuring the 3D wouldn’t cause the audience headaches from watching it, whether he was ever tempted to make the wicked witch scarier, doing the wire work with Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, and what it means to him personally to accomplish what Walt Disney was never able to, in making a film for the studio that’s set in the Land of Oz.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Well this is a bit of pleasantly surprising news.  Ever since Army of Darkness was released in 1992, Evil Dead fans have been wondering if/when we would see a fourth film in the beloved horror franchise.  Though writer/director Sam Raimi never publicly shut the idea down, the production of the Evil Dead remake left many wondering if Raimi had closed the door on the old franchise in favor of putting together a new series of Evil Dead films.  Well it appears that Deadites can have their cake and eat it too, as Raimi recently revealed that he and his brother Ivan Raimi plan to work on the script for Evil Dead 4 this summer.  Hit the jump for more.

A new trailer has dropped for Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful.  This one minute glimpse into the land of Oz sets the stakes of the battle to come and features plenty of clashes between witches, wizards and more.  Watch James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz take to the screen in the special effects spectacular starting March 8th.

You can also check out these recently-added clips and behind-the-scenes footage, along with interviews from Steve’s set visit: 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Hit the jump to watch the new trailer.

Disney has released the first featurette for director Sam Raimi’s Wizard of Oz prequel Oz the Great and Powerful.  It’s actually a fairly in-depth look behind the scenes of the film, as we’re treated to interviews with Raimi and many of the cast members including James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Zach Braff.  The focus is on how Raimi brought the world of Oz to life with the help of production designer Robert Stromberg and costume designer Gary Jones, and it’s clear that this was an absolutely massive production.  Jones and Raimi also provide insight into designing the iconic Wicked Witch, with Raimi noting that he wanted “a big, scary green witch,” instead of taking a more subtle approach to the character.

Hit the jump to watch the featurette.  If you missed any of Steve’s set visit coverage, check out 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Oz the Great and Powerful opens in 3D on March 8th.

A couple of new TV spots for director Sam Raimi’s upcoming fantasy adventure Oz the Great and Powerful have made their way online.  The film is a prequel to the classic The Wizard of Oz, and centers on a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics (James Franco) who finds himself transported to Oz and drawn into a battle between the three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams).  There are a few bits of new footage included in these here TV spots, but nothing mind-blowing.  As a fan of Raimi’s I’m hoping for the best, but the film continues to look like Alice in Wonderland 2.

Hit the jump to watch the new TV spots.  If you missed any of Steve’s set visit coverage, check out 30 things to know about the film plus a video blog, and his interviews with Sam Raimi, James Franco, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, and Joey King.  Oz the Great and Powerful opens in 3D on March 8th.

Prior to last Sunday, Zero Dark Thirty was my favorite pic of 2012 by a considerable margin. However, after my matinee viewing of Silver Linings Playbook, that margin has been replaced with a draw. Whereas Zero provided me with a tension that left me on the verge of breathless at moments, Playbook‘s spectacular performances and head-on portrayal of mental illness and our ability to help each other cope/prevail proved not only hugely entertaining but also quite cathartic.

My 2012 movie scorecard aside, this week’s Top 5 includes our set visit coverage of Oz the Great and Powerful, Duncan Jones being tapped to helm the World of Warcraft movie, more visit coverage from the set of Jack the Giant Slayer, a slew of news from X-Men: Days of Future Past, and a Sundance 2013 wrap-up. A brief recap and link to each of the above is promised after the jump.