I realize that with James Franco in the main role and the world of Oz having been explored many many times before, many of us in the world of nerd probably aren’t too excited about the prospects for Oz The Great & Powerful.

Then, at when seeing The Dark Knight Rises, I saw the first trailer. And I was absolutely drawn in.

From the trailer starting in a black and white 4:3 frame, expanding into a strong hypercolorered (not Hypercolor) 16:9 world, I was pulled in.  There seems to be a true epic, fantastical scope to what’s being done here.  Perhaps not the darkness we grew up with in the world of 1980’s Disney live-action, but there is definitely something different going on.

And maybe we should have expected it - when has Sam Raimi ever really let us down. Spider-Man 3 not withstanding.

Color me tentatively excited for this one.

Oz the Great & Powerful hits theaters on March 8th, 2013.