THE WIZARD OF OZ
dir: Victor Fleming
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." - The Wizard of Oz
Brief Synopsis
During a tornado, a young girl named Dorothy is transported to a strange world where she accompanies three characters along the Yellow Brick Road on their way to see the Wizard of Oz who will grant their wishes.
Why It's Here
Likely the most recognizable film on this list, likely a film seen by more people than any other film on this list. Even if you are the unlikely person who hasn't seen "The Wizard of Oz" you know of it's tale, characters, songs, and magic. Otherwise I'm afraid you've been living under a rock for your entire life.
World renowned for it's visual effects, amazing use of colour, integrated song and simplistic yet enjoyable plot, "The Wizard of Oz" is a childhood film for me whose themes and symbols have gone on to inspire filmmakers for decades since. Any film that heavily inspires the TV series "Lost" or "The Matrix" is okay by me.
In a relatively simple story, a girl named Dorothy dreams of a better place, and just then she is caught in the middle of a tornado that knocks her out and next thing she knows, she's in the world of Oz. The world representing a dream-state fantasy of her home in Kansas, this is a place that is wonderful and full of life and colour, yet threatening as a witch makes Dorothy's journey troubling. Along the way down the mysterious, yet comforting Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy meets a scarecrow, tin man, and lion, all counterparts of people she knew in Kansas, all missing an important part of themselves. Each seeking Oz, the one who can fix their problem.
The film is light-hearted and joyous, flawlessly transitioning from dialogue to song as key plot points are reached, making the entire trip seamless. The songs are well-known classics, even today.
What is most memorable about "Oz" is the final act when the group reaches the magnificent Emerald City. Even as a painted portrait that the actors gaze at, it is still a vastly different image than anything before it, unforgettable and identifiable. It is only one of many examples within the film of the groundbreaking set design which was unusually surreal for the time, all while being perfectly composed yet realistically complex, they even used animals from the zoo to give a natural, wild look. The special effects are interesting as they exist in an age where CGI isn't available as an easy exit and creativity was used to orchestrate the scenes of Oz's reveal and the giant tornado devouring Kansas.
Upon meeting Oz, the film takes a turn from light-hearted sing-a-long to a more serious, uplifting, metaphorical nature where Oz is not the man he is made out to be. He is a false idol, giving a waning message of idols or gods, whether deliberately or not, the film speaks volumes about hailing to a greater force and the disappointment that may come with that. The famous man behind the curtain scene reveals the true nature of a magnificent fraud, yet he still has the powers he always claimed, just not directly.
Using the storytelling element of "it was all a dream" is an unacceptable card to play in today's world, but in the fantasy fun of the late 30's, it was perfectly fine. While the story elements of Oz largely don't hold up anymore, the general themes, the vivid imagery and the revelation of the supposedly greater-than-god Oz transcend the limits of 30's cinema and are easily understood and appreciated still today.
World renowned for it's visual effects, amazing use of colour, integrated song and simplistic yet enjoyable plot, "The Wizard of Oz" is a childhood film for me whose themes and symbols have gone on to inspire filmmakers for decades since. Any film that heavily inspires the TV series "Lost" or "The Matrix" is okay by me.
In a relatively simple story, a girl named Dorothy dreams of a better place, and just then she is caught in the middle of a tornado that knocks her out and next thing she knows, she's in the world of Oz. The world representing a dream-state fantasy of her home in Kansas, this is a place that is wonderful and full of life and colour, yet threatening as a witch makes Dorothy's journey troubling. Along the way down the mysterious, yet comforting Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy meets a scarecrow, tin man, and lion, all counterparts of people she knew in Kansas, all missing an important part of themselves. Each seeking Oz, the one who can fix their problem.
The film is light-hearted and joyous, flawlessly transitioning from dialogue to song as key plot points are reached, making the entire trip seamless. The songs are well-known classics, even today.
What is most memorable about "Oz" is the final act when the group reaches the magnificent Emerald City. Even as a painted portrait that the actors gaze at, it is still a vastly different image than anything before it, unforgettable and identifiable. It is only one of many examples within the film of the groundbreaking set design which was unusually surreal for the time, all while being perfectly composed yet realistically complex, they even used animals from the zoo to give a natural, wild look. The special effects are interesting as they exist in an age where CGI isn't available as an easy exit and creativity was used to orchestrate the scenes of Oz's reveal and the giant tornado devouring Kansas.
Upon meeting Oz, the film takes a turn from light-hearted sing-a-long to a more serious, uplifting, metaphorical nature where Oz is not the man he is made out to be. He is a false idol, giving a waning message of idols or gods, whether deliberately or not, the film speaks volumes about hailing to a greater force and the disappointment that may come with that. The famous man behind the curtain scene reveals the true nature of a magnificent fraud, yet he still has the powers he always claimed, just not directly.
Using the storytelling element of "it was all a dream" is an unacceptable card to play in today's world, but in the fantasy fun of the late 30's, it was perfectly fine. While the story elements of Oz largely don't hold up anymore, the general themes, the vivid imagery and the revelation of the supposedly greater-than-god Oz transcend the limits of 30's cinema and are easily understood and appreciated still today.