Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
4/4
The pinnacle of children's movies.
memento_mori - wrote on 08/19/2013
Okay, I have humility.
In my original review of this film, I was too critical. I was expecting too much, because I didn't grow up with The Wizard of Oz. I only watched it three months ago.
I stand by a lot of my original comments, though. I think some of the characters are a little weak and I'm not too fond of the wicked witch's big weakness: water.
But after re-watching it a few times, this movie grew on me. It makes me feel like a child again, with its excellent enthusiastic acting and colorful sets. I absolutely love the transition from black and white to color, it just emphasized the beauty in the picture. It was a wonder to have technicolor during those times.
Victor Fleming knew exactly how to plan and shoot it scene by scene. The cinematography brings out the good in every …
Rating of
4/4
The Wizard of Oz review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 04/30/2013
People watch movies to be entertained, pick up an important subliminal message, timeless songs, watch wonderful characters, see an enticing story, just enjoy the way it was crafted or all of the aforementioned. For it's time, this picture was all of the above, even upon revisiting again after several years as an adult. This critic saw this before High-school so certain scenes were memorable. Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto suddenly wakes-up after enduring a cyclone and enter a different place far from Kansas. In the land of Oz, she encounters Glinda the Good, the Munchkins, Scarecrow, Tin man, and the Cowardly Lion. The Evil Witch of the West have plans of getting the magical Ruby Slippers from Dorothy.
Despite its flaws (painted background, the tail of the Lion moved by a visible …
Rating of
4/4
Dark Side of Oz
Jenna - wrote on 06/28/2011
I don't have to tell anyone how truly amzing this film is. It has truly passed the test of time, and as wonderful and perfect as it is, it's beauty is experienced in an entirely different light, a darker one, when played alongside Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album. Call me a bit of a conspiracy nut, but there are lots of coincidences that are quite intereresting. I'm not sure whether or not Pink Floyd wrote the album particularly for the film as some say, but I have to wonder how one figured out that if you press play as soon as the third roar of the MGM lion ends. I must admit it's a fabulous spin on the classic, if you're a Pink Floyd fan or would like a slightly psychedelic, more adult version on the childhood classic. You can find a list of coincidences online if you want to …
Rating of
3/4
Classic, but Old
Zombified - wrote on 12/28/2009
The Wizard of Oz is a classic, for sure, but I find the movie to be very over-rated and old.
The story is good, but has its silly moments. First, there's the idea of the slippers taking her home. If the slippers were able to take her home the entire time, why didn't Glinda tell her in the first place? Along with that, what was so great with the wizard to begin with? All he did at the end of the movie was give them material items that really shouldn't give them what they were given. Such as a diploma for a brain. I don't know about you, but getting my high school diploma took a lot of learning and there's no way that would actually work.
The characters were alright, and pretty creative, but for the most part, they were really silly. I didn't really care for the way that they acted …
Rating of
3.5/4
Follow the yellow brick road.
mdtinney - wrote on 10/17/2009
No film is taken more for granted than 'The Wizard of Oz'. As a Fantasy film, it probably ranks better than any other. As a musical, it probably ranks better than any other. As a family film, it probably ranks better than any other. Any which way you slice 'Oz' you have to admit that it holds its own as a legendary film.The production value for its time was incredible. The musical numbers outweigh any other before or since its release. The choice of the transition from b&w to color is something that will never have the same impact again. The performances are impeccable, including the munchkins and monkeys. I'd say any film that has a midget or a monkey doubles its entertainment value. One of the most memorable heroines and villains ever put on screen.OK. Ninety-nine percent of Americans …
Rating of
4/4
We're not in Kansas anymore
TheWolf - wrote on 07/27/2007
Dorothy's entrance into the land of Oz remains one of the screen's most memorable moments, as the black-and-white scene give way to glowing color photography… "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!" is her understated response as she enters Munchkinland… The sequence in Munchkinland, though beautifully designed, is actually, a mixed blessing… Billie Burke is exactly right as the Good Witch of the North, and Margaret Hamilton is wonderfully shrill and repulsive as the Wicked Witch of the West… But the Munchkins themselves, midgets gathered from all over the world for the occasion, are all wonderful with their prematurely old faces and chipmunk voices…
Oz is strange, but it's meant to be strange; it never feels completely unrealistic though. I think this has something to …
