Home :: DVD :: Musicals & Performing Arts  

Ballet & Dance
Biography
Broadway
Classical
Documentary
General
Instructional
Jazz
Musicals
Opera
World Music
The Wiz

The Wiz

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 .. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 .. 13 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I loved this movie and I still do! So many memories!
Review: I remember when I was kid I used to watch this everytime it came on the Disney Channel. I was in awe. I remember one time in particular when I was a little kid and I was left home alone one night and the Wiz came on the Disney Channel and I just turned off all the lights in the house and I danced around my couch imitating the dancers in the "You've got to been seen green" part. I loved that movie. I used to dance around the house during "Mean Ole Lion" and "don't bring me no bad news." It has the formidable Diana Ross, the lovely Michael Jackson, the amazing Richard Pryor, the legend Lena Horne, you can't go wrong! I loved this movie and I will show this to my kids when I get older and have them :-)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A "Wiz" with bipolar disorder
Review: I have not seen the stage play; but the video "Wiz" is very oddly paced. Far too many slow ballads in minor keys to suit my taste. Even the rockin' songs have an overload of sharps, flats and disjointed rhythms. The pacing of the music and spoken sections is far too slow to maintain interest IMO... the only section that really moves is the middle, where Dorothy is joined by her three Friends for their quest. The filmmaker has apparently become so enamored of the set design and costuming that it takes priority over telling the story. And who IS the strange, ominous stalker with the tray of odd-looking items? The song "Ease on Down the Road" does, however, ALMOST make up for these deficiencies :o)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lumet's Wiz Answer's the Question: "What About Us?"
Review: The casting, acting, costumes, sets, music and choreography are creative and dynamic additions to The Wiz's innovative approach to an old tale. All of the combined features and attributes of this production help to carry the overall themes and messages of the traditional story in conjunction with newer, more relevant messages.
This reinvention of the original Wizard of Oz is culturally and socially adapted to fit the every evolving 20th century audience, relating to political, ethnic and economic issues of the period. We are shown that everyone doesn't start out in Kansas but there is still hope for us as we travel through the complexities of life.
Sidney Lumet successfully relays this message winding fantasy and reality into a lassoed rope the pulls us into the hearts of the characters and teaches us to search our own hearts to find wisdom, courage, love - home.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great movie, great play
Review: I was in the play "The Wiz" this year and it tempted me to buy the movie and I was not disappointed. It has great singing, dancing, and sets and it's great to watch more than once.

Diana Ross stands out as Dorthy, as well as Michael Jackson Playing the Scarecrow (which I played in teh play production). The music is incredible and the soundtrack is a good buy, too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Broadway SMASH
Review: Now let me tell you about a wonderful film based on a Broadway show call THE WIZ! Now THE WIZ is a magical adaption a the book by Baum. Its filled with wonderful music that inspires the soul. Dont listen to the others who give it a bad review. This movie is wonderful and should be in every household. After all the MTV generation only care about their rap and hip hop. This is true music that inspires the soul and is pleasent to the ear. Take my word for it....Hes THE WIZ and he lives in OZ!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: greatness
Review: Nostalgia is the key. I grew up around Philadelphia where the Philly and Motown sounds were giants. This movie reminds me of my younger days watching the movie, doing all the dances with my sisters and cousins, listening to the soundtrack lp on my father's old record player. This would be a great movie to show your children what real talent is like. The combination of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsy Russell is timeless. Of course, like any remake is isn't as good as the original musical but it is the best remake i've ever seen in my life.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: not as good as the original
Review: The Wiz is not the best version of the Wizard of oz. Diana Ross dosent have nearly as much energy as Judy Garland. The costumes are ok. The only thing I didn't like was the actor who played the wicked witch. And some of the sets could be more elaborate. My sugestion is dont waste your time on this movie.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Extremely Disappointing
Review: THE WIZ is not based upon THE WIZARD OF OZ; it is instead based upon a very successful Broadway show which was itself adapted from the original Baum novel. As such, you might say that THE WIZ and THE WIZARD OF OZ are distant cousins at best--but they are such completely different adaptations of the original story that no comparison is really possible. Reviewers who attempt to do so are barking up the wrong tree in the wrong forrest.

None of this actually changes the fact that THE WIZ is a major flop. Like most Broadway shows, something is lost in the translation from stage to screen; more to the point, the cast largely consists of singers, comics, personalities--almost everything, really, except what the film most needs: musical actors. And sadly, director Sidney Lumet doesn't seem to even know what to do with the few genuine musical actors actually in the cast; Diana Ross' performance is quite uninspired, and the brilliant Lena Horne is given a mere cameo solo. The only significant performance in the entire film is offered by Mabel King in the role of Evilene, the Wicked Witch. She radiates energy, and her performance of "No Bad News" will make you want to get up and shout--but unfortunately, King is everything that the film as a whole isn't, and as such emerges as the only splash of interest in the whole thing.

There are some fun things about the film. The aforementioned Mable King, certainly. The art direction is quite nice, and the choreography is often exciting. The entrance into the Emerald City is cleverly satirical. And with vocals by the likes of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne you're assured of some quality music. But the film is dead--and it is particularly frustrating because even the most casual viewer can see how it could have been an astonishingly good movie. But it isn't. It just plain isn't.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Wonderful movie,gotta see it!!!!!
Review: This was a great movie that is worth watching over and over again!!! Ross was okay,but michael was wonderful.If you are a michael jackson fan you gotta see this.He plays a perfect scarecrow!!!The whole cast was great.I enjoyed this more than the original.Michael has wonderful acting skills along with singing and dancing skills.This shows michael can do anything!This is a must see movie!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wiz blend
Review: The Wiz shows thet all movies dont have to be an all-white cast to be good. this movie has similarities of the Wizard of Oz but adds funk and its own blend in it. Especially since most of the actors were well-known it makes you want to watch it even more. I remember when I first saw this movie and I loved it.


<< 1 .. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 .. 13 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates