Well, arguably, Oz the Great and Powerful succeeded. It made half a billion dollars worldwide (half of that in the U.S. alone), and while it pales in comparison to the "Pirates" franchise, plans are already underway for a sequel ... and assuming that does well (enough), they will continue down the Yellow Brick Road with their merchandising contracts in hand.
I just wish the story were better. But for so many people, that doesn't matter much.
EDIT: And I really wince at the way merchandising controls storytelling at Disney now. We have to have a nice, fuzzy flying monkey, so we can have nice, fuzzy plush toys to sell. Consequently, we have a "nice, fuzzy" Maleficent in the making here, brown no less, which helps them picture a cute, cuddly Maleficent plush toy lining many shelves. Ugh.
I want thorns and horns and malice! Not a kinder, gentler evil fairy who just wants to be loved by the kids.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 8/15/13 at 09:53 AM