The Wizard of Oz

Rating:
Summary: Flawless perfection.
Review: This is arguably one of the most perfect movies of all time, a true representative of American cinema at its best. There is whimsy, imagination, color, gentle humor, quirky dialogue, suspense, excitement, heart, soul, and a true, uncalculatingly guileless charm. There isn't a single instance of cynicism, camp or obviousness to mar this masterpiece. The cast could not be bettered: this movie has the most glorious combination of talents and personalities, all of them skilled, professional and completely believable. Judy Garland is a heroine of one's dreams, unsacharine, blessed with a singular inner affirmative quality, as well as being sweet and genuine. She is devastating during moments of true heartbreak, as when Toto is being snatched away by Miss Gulch, and especially her last moments in Oz, when bidding her tearful farewell to her Oz-mates. Ray Bolger's Scarecrow has just the right nervously rubbery-leggy quality; he never again found an equal role that suited his persona so well; Jack Haley's earnest sweetness has never been better utilized, and Bert Lahr's overbearing manner for once has found its match in the role of the Lion: he's often killingly funny. Billie Burke gives Glinda a wonderfully giddy aspect,one that keeps a potentially static character from seeming too noble or smarmy. Frank Morgan has a breezy, slightly oafish charm, endearingly gentle and kind. Perhaps the crowning portrayal in this entire cast is Margaret Hamilton's sublimely malevolent Wicked Witch. There never was, and perhaps there never will be, such a vivid characterization, one that has left its mark on generations of moviegoers: whenever one thinks of a "Wicked Witch" it invariably means Margaret Hamilton's in The Wizard of Oz. Her wickedness is so organic, so unapologetically gleeful that she gives the picture an almost unbearable edge of tension: when the Witch is melted, we truly miss her. Certainly that electrifying cackle is never to be forgotten. A final hand of applause to the director, Victor Fleming, the producer Mervyn LeRoy, and all the combined talents that made this picture what it is. Whether one has seen it 10 times or 100, it remains the epitome of American cinematic ingenuity.

Rating:
Summary: greatness from start finish
Review: story telling at its highest state of perfection time has not dimmed its impact

Rating:
Summary: Wizard Of Oz - Fun for the whole family
Review: send me an email if you need this video. i have a couple ([e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: For the 30's movies this was certainly very good and quite entertaining. It had a natural story, it wasn't too long and wasn't too short and had a good plot and a lovely actress, Judy Garland, I think this is one of the alltime favourites but the acting was a bit overeacitve so I'll give this movie 4.

Rating:
Summary: best movie ever made for all.
Review: i saw the movie more than 100 times.what more can i say/write/add

Rating:
Summary: cute, but a very thirties mentality pervades
Review: perhaps i've become jaded over the years. i used to love this one as a kid but now all i see are images of the 1930's. the technicolor munchkinville is vulgar, especially the blue-dyed water. the witch is the most entertaining of the lot and garland is beautiful as always.

Rating:
Summary: DVD brings the Wizard to life.
Review: I will not bore you with a description of the Wizard of Oz as without question you probibly have seen it. The question is does DVD improve this classic film? Without question. I own three different copies of this classic on video tape and once getting a dvd player this was the firt movie I bought. Without question DVD has made a classic fim even better. From the clear picture to the fantastic dolby sound, Wizard of Oz on DVD is a new way to experience this classic. To watch this movie on DVD is to fall in love with it all over again.

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classic
Review: I've loved "The Wizard Of Oz" my whole life. It's my number one favorite. I know every line, every movement and every tune backwards and forwards. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but every time is like the first time all over again. I had the pleasure of seeing it for the first time on the big screen in November, and it brought tears to my eyes again. This one is for the young....and the young at heart.

Rating:
Summary: By the Way - Widescreen wasn't invented yet
Review: I am still trying to figure out how this movie became an American myth, and as popular as apple pie and baseball. It's a very good movie for kids, I have to admit.

To those who are looking for a letterboxed version of Wizard, just keep in mind that CinemaScope wasn't introduced until 1956 or so. So most classic movies before 1955 are presented in the original format, full screen, on your TV.

Rating:
Summary: widescreen vs. standard
Review: I've seen a couple of reviews where people question the studio as to why a movie is only in standard form and not widescreen. Here's your answer. Many films, like Casablanca and Wizard of Oz, were never shot in widescreen. Widescreen is a gimmick the studios used to compete with a new fangled invention called the TV. So, the reason you won't see any movies in widescreen until the '50s is now known and people can stop asking such questions in their reviews and tell us what they really thought.