One of the most influential films ever made, The Wizard of Oz remains a right of passage for parents and their children 85 years later. With its beautiful world, memorable characters, and timeless story, this film more than deserves its reputation. Thanks to generation after generation, it will continue to hold its status, ensuring that no life is complete without viewing this film.
Young Dorthy Gale and her dog Toto live with her aunt and uncle on a farm in Kansas. Dorthy however wishes for something more in her life and plans to run away. After a fortune teller inspires her to change her mind, she returns home only to find a tornado hitting their farm as it lands her in the land of Oz. She is told to seek the titular Wizard of Oz who is said to have the power to return her home. On her way, she meets a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion, each desiring a brain, a heart, and courage. They decide to tag along with Dorthy to see if the Wizard will help them too. There is an evil witch though who wants vengeance on Dorthy for landing on her sister on arrival and vows to get her and her little dog to.
This film is just a marvel, even all these years later. It has transcended to such a level that you can still be so familiar with it even if you haven't seen it. It's like the Old Hollywood version of Star Wars in that regard. The story beats, the images, the characters, the quotes. These are all these things people know so well that many can play the entire movie in their heads. The film has so many moments that stick with you from childhood, whether strikingly beautiful or scary. This is helped by the film's revolutionary use of technicolor, which makes the land of Oz stand out even all these years later. Some of the scenes that have always stood out to me are Dorothy's house flying around in the twister, and the hologram of The Wizard in the Emerald City with all the crazy pyrotechnics always stuck a cord with me. But the standout scenes to me probably don't align with most people. The Wizard of Oz is one of those films that so many have grown up with, and each will have a different moment that sticks with them, rather it's out of awe or fear.
The Characters and story are so well-known that so many fantasy stories can't help but be compared to this film, rather it came out after this or before. Dorothy along with the Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and of course, Toto are just so whimsical and charming that it's almost impossible to not like them. The Wicked Witch is one of the most iconic villains in cinema and I think that comes from how simple in concept she is. Everyone loves complex villains these days, but being evil just to be evil works better in this context. The film's message of already having the thing that you want is also timeless. In the beginning, Dorothy longs for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", or something different than the life she has at the farm. But her journey through Oz makes her realize that when you leave with people who truly care about you, there is no place like home. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion also realize at the end that they don't need to be given what they desire, but rather be told that they already have them. These are all things they would not have realized if Glinda the Good Witch just told Dorothy to tape her shoes and go home.
No childhood is complete without viewing this national treasure. If you are crazy enough to have not seen it, I suggest you get on it.
Comments