The Wizard of Oz

Rating:
Summary: eternal, immortal, timeless classic
Review: What can I say about this one that has not already been said?

"I'll get you, my pretty, you and your little dog, too."

"How about a little fire, scarecrow?"

"We won't kill them just yet. We'll let them think about it a while."

Okay, so there are nit picking things wrong with it - like the scarecrow getting the Pythagorean theorem wrong. So what? It is still one of the defining greats, an unqualified masterpiece.

By the way, does anyone know any details about the satirical nature of Baum's story? I have heard that Dorothy was supposed to be the voting public, etc. I'd love to know who or what the witches were supposed to have represented... (If you know, please email [e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: WONDER-FULL
Review: Whatever tension and disaster befell the making of this film (read the enormously informative MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ), you will not find anything here but a creative and perfectly-realized fantasy-come-to-vivid life. That the Wizard of Oz has infiltrated our collective conscience in every way is no accident -- the sheer exhuberance and underlying sadness of this film and its rich tapestry of classic fairy-tale imagery and morales make it a classic of the ages. While all of the supporting players are gargantuan talents -- from the sweetness of Ray Bolger to the perfect rendering of a witch by Margaret Hamilton -- it is Judy Garland's plaintive beauty and melancholy/joyful presence that gives this movie its everlasting quality. Each moment is embarrassingly rich with creativity and artistic vision; the tornado sequence alone still out-does any tornado movie before or since. And the musical score, delightfully evocative and sing-able, is underscored at every turn with brilliant musical comedy choreography and staging -- from Garland's subtle moves during the classic Over The Rainbow to the often-emulated three-step jig to We're Off To See The Wizard. This movie has justifiably taken on a life of its own, and I somehow think surpassed even the great visionaries behind it. It is one of those experiences that just came together in all the right ways, and was blessed with source material (Baum's scary-wondrous book) that provided a wealth of cinematic possibilities, all captured with imagination and heart. The DVD brings out the eye-popping color and the exquisitely sad sepia-toned overture in never-before-seen clarity. This is one to own and share forever.

Rating:
Summary: IT WILL TAKE YOU OVER THE RAINBOW TO OZ
Review: The Wizard of Oz is one brillaint movie. I LOVE the characters, the dialogue, the scenes, the songs and everything.......However, I still prefer the Wizard of Oz Original Book by L. Frank Baum better than this version......I mean, there are tons of thrilling adventures and a whole host more fo thrilling characters in the book, that arent in the movie....I would say its a 7 seven star, but a 10 star book. Anyway, if your buying this NOT-TO-BE-MISSED timeless classic, which will enhance viewers of all ages.....(You may want to keep watching this non-stop untill you get tired of it, which I doubt you will), I also recommend reading the book, if you havent. Those who have read the book, may find this is a bit dissapointing, but I think THE MOVIE IS brilliant IN ITS OWN RIGHT......

Rating:
Summary: An OZ-some DVD Experience
Review: Like most baby boomers, I've watched this film dozens of times in the past on broadcast TV, then VHS tape, then LaserDisc ... but I had never actually SEEN "The Wizard of Oz" until this newly restored DVD came out. It's an amazing transfer. The sepia-tone Kansas sequences are startlingly sharp and clear, and the Technicolored world "Over the Rainbow" is truly dazzling. I found myself fascinated by details I had never noticed before: the glittering corn stalks in the Scarecrow's field; the mirror-like floors of the Emerald City; the polished buttons on the guardsmen's uniforms. Incredibly, even the individual grains of red sand in the Witch's hourglass stood out and glistened! All these minor-but-sumptuous visual details served to heighten the magical spell that the film has always woven, enhancing the performances, the story, and the music.

The DVD extras are a mind-boggling embarrassment of riches. The "Making Of" documentary hosted by the incomparable Angela Lansbury is worth the price of the DVD alone, but there's so much more: an international poster gallery, interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, production stills, radio clips, etc, etc. There's enough material to keep even the most casual viewer fascinated for hours, and a true Oz buff will be occupied for days!

If you only bought a DVD player to watch this one disc, it would well be worth the expense. Treat yourself, and fall in love with this classic film again ... for the first time.

Rating:
Summary: To Oz With Love
Review: I'll never forget watching this film with the color restoration for the first time. I have seen TWOO all of my 42 years on this earth, but NEVER like that! I wasn't expecting soooo much color! One viewer commented that the backdrops now look cheezy - honey, they're supposed to. In the movie it's all a fantasy, the backgrounds were delibertly made like that. By the way, one can love Baum's Oz and this Oz both! Baum's Oz is great - I've been reading the books since I was little and before I could read my mother read them to me. I have my entire collection. It was nice to see a movie made with Baum's concept of the characters (re: Return To Oz in the 80's); however, this Oz is as good as movie making gets. I love this Oz completely on it's own merits. Every piece of it is a treat to the eyes and ears with an absolutely perfect cast. It's amazing that it happened at all - the original scripts were ridiculous, original casting ideas were hideous, and a slew of directors trying to make it work. Probably no other film has ever had as much impact on popular culture and possibly, no other on screen performance of only 12 minutes has left as much lasting impression as that of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch. And that tornado! It STILL looks better than the high-tech versions in films now. The only downside has been that Baum's Oz has been consistently compared to Hollywood's Oz. That's why Return To Oz did so poorly (and it's really wonderful!). It sure is strange to hear it being called a Warner Bros. film. In it's heyday there was certainly nothing like MGM and the films they produced (including Gone With The Wind the same year). It's amazing to watch kids who have grown up in this techno era - most of whom seem fairly jaded by all the special effects they routinely see - watch this film. How can something made in 1938 (released in '39)still capture them so completely?

Rating:
Summary: WIZARD OF OZ IS THE BEST MOVIE IN THE WORLD!
Review: I LOVE THIS MOVIE AND I AM 22 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE SEEN IT 194 TIMES. THIS MOVIE IS GREAT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER NAMED ALLISON AND SHE LOVES IT. JUDY GARLAND IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON IN THIS MOVIE NOT TO MENTION EVERYONE ELSE. THE COLORS ARE BRIGHT AND FUN AND THE PLOT IS WONDERFUL. I WOULD RECCOMENDED THIS MOVIE WITH TOP THUMBS UP!

Rating:
Summary: I don't understand...
Review: A fantastic movie...! but, I can't understand why the Warner Bros. forget us: "The Spanish-speaking people are over 266 million, MILLION (decides Spanish is the thierd language in the world)! and it looks that Warner doesn't care about this Giant Market . . .!"

Definitely, I don't understand it, I really don't...!

Rating:
Summary: Deluxe Edition well worth it!
Review: When I was deciding which version of The Wizard of Oz to purchase, I missed the one line, buried in a review, which detailed the differences between the Deluxe Collector's Edition VHS and the standard Collector's Edition. I did note the difference in price, but I decided to risk the extra money, figuring there HAD to be SOME difference.

I was most pleasantly surprised. It arrived packaged in a beautifully-designed box large enough to pass for a college dictionary, but no book was this. It was a treasure chest instead. At the heart of it was the special edition of the film (including a wonderful backstage documentary, original trailers, and a fabulous scene which for some unfathomable reason was left on the cutting room floor), which was packaged in "clamshell," and suitable for inclusion on anyone's video shelf. But I won't be putting it with my other videos; I'll be finding a special place for it, because I don't want to separate it from the other treasures in the chest. For, in order to get to the video, one must first go through a fabulous reproduction of the continuity script, which includes all the dialogue and banter (and even song lyrics!) which were sadly deleted from the film before its release, and through a charming collection of photos and movie posters.

All in all, this is a wonderful package which I recommend most heartily. If you have the extra cash, by all means, get it. If you don't, save up until you do!

Rating:
Summary: don't be fooled !
Review: This WIZARD OF OZ is a remake of a Black & White classic that's a rare find from 1931. The new tranfers and subsequent release by WARNER BROS is nothing but a marketing plan to take yor money. Don't destroy the experience. Keep your old copy & save your money.

Besides, you've probably never even read the book, whcih is almost a wholly different experience. Dorothy is only 9 years old and they hack the talking trees down with the Tin Man's Axe. Now, I'd ay to see THAT.

Rating:
Summary: THE MOST BELOVED FILM EVER!!!
Review: Reviewing this film is like reviewing the Statue of Liberty! What can I say about this American institution? People I know from the States tell me that their hearts would pound for a week when it was to be shown on television. If that is a slight exaggeration, it is fair to say that it is the most beloved film of the English speaking masses. Judy Garland was, of course rather old (16) to play Dorothy Gale (in the book she was about 11, I believe), but once she comes into view nobody cares: Garland is the only Dorothy in the minds of millions. When the picture was originally released in that sterling year of 1939, the most generously praised performer was Bert Lahr for his hilarious playing of the Cowardly Lion with a Brooklyneese accent. During the filming, the scene in which Dorothy smacks the Lion for picking on Toto had to be re-shot umpteen times because Garland kept cracking up at Lahr's sobbing! Finally director Fleming slapped Judy across the face saying "Honey, this is a picture wer'e making and this is serious". There are, of course legendary stories connected with the making of the film. In 1939, technicolor processing was "slower" and thusly required very bright and hot lights; therefore the Lion, Scarecrow and especially the Lion were all absolutely MISERABLE in their costumes; Lahr was a hypocondriac which didn't help matters. Margaret Hamilton's costume caught fire (during the very take we see on film) when she vanished from Munchkin Land via a stage elevator. Some of Munchkins were trouble on and off the set as they liked to participate in drunken "parties". The sepia book-ends really make OZ seem like a really magical place; who can blame Dorothy for wanting to escape drab Kansas? Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West gets my vote for the most unforgettable character in the film. Firstly, she REALLY looked like a witch....a classic Halloween witch miraculously personified. Her evil glare, her laugh, her mannerisms, etc. were the likes of which have really never been duplicated though widely imitated. Margaret Hamilton herself believed children under seven shouldn't see the film, especially if they were impressionible (as I was; at four or five I would turn my head or go into the next room because she REALLY frightened me!) Hamilton was originally a kindergarten teacher in her native Cleveland and loved children! Edna May Oliver and Gale Sondergaard were being considered for the role of the witch-thank goodness they decided on Hamilton! Billie Burke was a great beauty in her day and of course the widow of legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld. Burke was 53(!) when she played Glinda (in the OZ books Glinda was illustated as being matronly) and with her unique voice and femininity, she constrasted nicely with the wicked Hamilton.(Margaret Hamilton never liked the character of Almira Gulch (she described her as being "too jerky"!) and never thought her playing of the witch was in any way a great feat of acting). We all know Dorothy's hair changes in length during her Oz adventures,but does everyone catch the unravelling of the rope during the hot air balloon sequence near the end? For some reason, I always thought the part where Dorothy meets the Scarecrow is beautifully done. The color is bold and clear and there is something timeless and modern (for a 1939 film) about it. Because this movie is such an institution, I will refrain from saying negative picky things about it (few films -are there any?-are flawless). I was a bit disappointed at seeing the new re-mastered version in the theatre as there were "patchwork" spots in the sepia sequences in the beginning of the film, which, I would think in these days of advanced technology could have been remedied SOMEHOW. There are so many messages and allegories in the movie and I believe these have been a secret to it's longevity - THE WIZARD OF OZ is an evergreen perennial for the young and the perpetually young-at-heart!!