Rating: 
Summary: Males Beware
Review: If you're a guy and your girlfriend suggests popping The Wiz into the DVD player, I suggest making a hasty exit, unless of course you have some sleep you need to catch up on. This whorification of the Frank Baum tale exceeds its expectations, but that doesn't mean much. You kinda expect it to be bad right off the bat, but Richard Pryor's in it. That man's crazy. Unfortunately, I never saw him because he plays the Wizard and we all know how long it takes for Dorothy to find the Wizard, I mean "The Wiz". I could make a joke about the film's title right now, but I won't. About the only redeeming quality of this picture is that you can see Michael Jackson back when he was black, and you can see his inspiration for his fiendish transformation in Diana, Miss Ross if yer nasty. Toto's acting also seems rather wooden. For a good Sidney Lumet pic, please get the Dog Day Afternoon. "The Wiz" should have just been called "The Dog".
Rating: 
Summary: As good as the original
Review: This movie is so great and for so many reasons. Now i don't know if Diana Ross has been in any other films but here she really proves herself as an actress. Similar to Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, you can really sense her emotion as she acts with her entire soul. It is easy for a movie like this to be written off as another cheesy remake, or reduced to nostalgic simplicities but this movie has many characteristics that you just don't find in movies today. For example it's beautiful attention to detail and creativity, it's colorfulness and eery other-worldy scenes of desolate city ruin. I have watched this movie more times than i can count and still everytime i see it i find something i had overlooked in the past. Watching it as a kid i must admit some of the images were unsettling for me but that only made it all the more intruiging. I still reccomend this movie for people of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Ease on down into the couch and enjoy this classic film...
Review: This is such a great movie! I remember that it scared the dickens out of me when I was a kid, and seeing it recently for the first time since then, I was just as enthralled. The performances are enchanting, the imagery is breathtaking, and the songs are magical. If you've never seen this film, you definitely should. It's a classic right up there with Willy Wonka! Having it on DVD (so crisp and clear) is an added pleasure...
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie marred by terrible ending
Review: Very interesting concept: a black casted Wizard of Oz. There's some great sets, fun songs, and it's hilarious to see Michael Jackson as the scarecrow. On the other hand, you can't help to notice how dark the tone of the movie is. There are grotesque giant crows and there's a truly bizarre subway scene which gave me nightmares for weeks. I could live with that...it gave the movie a type of Willy Wonkaish edge...however, after Dorothy gets back home, the movie just ends (or dies, it depends on your viewpoint) Unlike the original, where Dorothy exclaims there's no place like home with all of her friends, the Wiz's Dorothy just walks into her house and POW! that's the end of the movie, no fireworks, just an ending that leaves a very bad taste in your mouth. It feels unfinished.
Rating:
Summary: Bottom line honey, numero uno!
Review: THE WIZ is my FAVORITE movie! Every time it came on TV (WGNO 26 New Orleans)I was watching. When I was younger, I paid more attention to the songs and the dancing, but as I got older, I began to pay more attention to what was being said. Due to 20 years of exposure, I can now re-enact the entire movie at will.I was so excited to see THE WIZ on DVD. With most DVDs, you can expect bonus material and easter eggs. This one delivers both. The short documentary about the making of THE WIZ satisfied my almost fanatical longing to know what happened behind the scenes. And being that I was born in the '80s, the theatrical trailer was a nice touch as well. As for the easter egg, it's nothing big, it's just weird. If you put your DVD player on random, before the featurette plays, a picture of red daisies pops up. What that's about, I don't know, but I freaked me out. The only thing I could have asked for was director commentary. Any fan of this film knows that some of the people involved in its making were not too proud of the outcome, and deny any involvement (or choose not to acknowledge it at all). I just would like to know more about the production aspects of the film (just being nosey;). Other than that, I love it!
Rating:
Summary: "So...u wanted to meet the Wizaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrd!!!!"
Review: My brother and I used to say that line over and over and laugh ourselves silly. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! The Wiz wasn't made to mirror the Judy Garland classic, although the theme and plot are the same. The Wiz is a funkier, head-bobbing, get up and dance movie that is filled with heart warming and uplifting messages with a universal theme we all can relate to: "Home".
There are so many wonderful things to love about The Wiz. The costumes. The songs. The scenes. The dance numbers. The characters. The location (filmed in New York city? now that's cool!) Nipsey Russell's sassy dance number at the carnival site as he croons, "slide some oil to me!" Then there's Michael's soulful lament, "U Can't Win". It was the ultimate jam that had everyone singing the catchy hook. The bouncing puppets in the subway chase scene is still eerie to this day.
I absolutely LOVED the color schemes at the Emerald City, green to red to gold & the walking Mike was too cute! The score was !beautifully done and Quincy Jones makes a cameo appearance at the keys, all froed-out.
Its funny how people try to compare and criticize this film, when its clear that it was done with music and choreography at the forefront. The styles and time periods are totally different. You can not compare the two which is why this film is called The Wiz and not The Wizard of Oz.
I was nine when I first saw The Wiz and recently saw it again. After all this time it makes me laugh, cry and dance. When Lena Horne sings "If U Believe" it pulls tears from my eyes every time, and who can forget the sweatshop scene. That number is so uplifting it will have you jumping out your seat singing, "Can't you feel a brand new day?" I also loved Ted Ross's poignant number.
In all, The Wiz is a must have for your collection of oldie but goodies. It's timeless, still jams, AND you have to give Miss Ross some credit for being able to "Ease on Down the Road" in those high-heeled si!lver slippers, sporting that curly "blowout"!
Peace. CLB.
Rating:
Summary: How much wiz can a Wiz wiz?
Review: Firstly, being a musical person and a lover of musicals from West Side Story to Little Shop of Horrors to Godspell, I think that The Wiz has some of the most exciting musical scores that I have ever heard! The characters are in no short supply of witty lines, and if you haven't seen yet, I guarantee that you will walk away thinking "Where can I get me an Afro???!!!"
Rating:
Summary: There is nothing like it!
Review: this movies is a true classic,please don't buy this thinking that this is the orginal,it's not it's better it's more to relate to! I know that I can,I live in nyc!:) I remember watching this when I was 5 on t.v.,I was amazed. Well, put together! Like Whitney Houston's says in her south African concert"I'm finally home to see my people" she must of had this movie in mind! Put up this movie today, so you can feel the the feelin' of home and how it's truly feels like to be there!
Rating:
Summary: The Wiz
Review: The original Classic was so much better!!This was pretty good.Nothing compares to the REAL Wizard Of Oz!Why even try?
Rating:
Summary: EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD!!!
Review: In version of the classic story of the Wizard of Oz.Diana Ross plays a 34 year old school teacher who lives with her parents in the big apple(NY,NY).When Toto runs outside in a terrible snow storm,Dorothy runs outside after him but suddenly she is flying through the air.She then meets munckins(paint muchkins)and the good witch.She meets the Scarcrow(Mike Jackson),Tinman,and a lion(cowardly).When they meet the wizard(WIZ)they order them to kill Evilene the Wicked Witch of the West. ...Rated G fro singing,dancing,and plain old fun. Great special effects and cast.Can't forget the hit music(Get the soundtrack!)
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