Monday, September 30, 2013

Movie Review: "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

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Oscar Movie"The Wizard of Oz"
Year Nominated: 1939
Director: Victor Fleming
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Did It Win?: No. (FOR SHAME)

Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is a young girl from Kansas who feels misunderstood by her aunt and uncle and farmhands. After running away, she stumbles upon a fortune teller who advises her to return home. On the way, the gets caught in a tornado and is whisked away to the land of Oz. There, she meets the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow, and they all learn their true values while following the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is homesick, but in order to return to Kansas, she needs to battle the Wicked Witch of the West and bring Oz her broomstick.

This movie is a timeless classic going on 75 years. Even now, in the days of CGI, digital, and 3-D movies, "The Wizard of Oz" remains the pinnacle of  brilliant cinematography, stunning colors, and fabulous makeup, prop, and scenery work. This was a groundbreaking film for its time and an example that led many other fantasy filmmakers to follow in its footsteps. The songs featured in this movie are still just as enjoyable today and are sung throughout the world time and time again. Judy Garland shines as Dorothy, with an amazing supporting cast that is just as fabulous. Everything in this movie fit perfectly, from the red shoes, to the backdrops, to the Munchkin Land...this is a movie everyone should see before they die.

Getting lost in the land of Oz is fun for people of all ages, and will continue to be fun for another 75 years, so long as we don't lose the magic.

PS: Want to read what the ONE JERK who gave this a bad review in 1939 said? I'm sure he's dead now, but if he's not and he's reading this, GO TO HELL, you're a crap movie reviewer.

My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 99%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

2 comments:

  1. When I was a kid, those flying monkeys were the creepiest things ever.

    I still love this movie. I haven't seen that new Oz one yet. Have you?

    ~Deb

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    Replies
    1. We did see the new one, and it sucks. James Franco is NOT Oz. Ugh!

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