Guess what I just had my 13th birthday. So to celebrate I will review a classic fantasy movie. The Wizard of Oz. HOORAY! It is based on a book of the same name by L. Frank Baum. Oh, and if my cartoons look different it's because I got a new set of pastels for by birthday. So here we go with The Wizard of Oz.
We open on a farm in Kansas where a little girl named Dorothy (Judy Garland) lives. She lives there with her Auntie Em (Clara Blandick) and Uncle Henry (Charley Grapewin) and three farmhands Hunk (Ray Bolger), Hickory (Jack Haley), and Zeke (Bert Lahr). Dorothy wishes she had more in life then living on a farm so she sings her song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". But a woman named Miss. Gulch (Margaret Hamilton) wants to take Dorothy's dog Toto (Terry) away because he bit her leg. But after she takes him away Toto escapes from Miss. Gulch and Dorothy and Toto decide to run away together. They come a across a man named Professor Marvel (Frank Morgan) who claims he can see the past present and future. After stealing a picture of the farm when Dorothy isn't looking he tells her that Auntie Em is very upset and sick. So this makes Dorothy go home but a horrible tornado is coming and she can't get into the storm cellar because it's locked and the family can't hear her. So she hides in her bedroom but gets hit in the head with a window she is out cold. When she wakes up she is in the tornado.
Fortunately the house lands in a colorful land. She is greeted by a woman who says she is Glenda the Good Witch (Billie Burke). She tells Dorothy that her house landed on The Wicked Witch of the East and saved the town of Munchkin Land. So all the Munchkins come out to sing her a song. But they are interrupted by The Wicked Witch of the West (also Margret Hamilton) and she threatens Dorothy but she can't hurt her because she has The Witch of the East's Ruby Slippers. So The Witch leaves. Glenda says the only way to get home is to follow The Yellow Brick Road to meet The Wizard of Oz to send her home. She comes to a fork in the road and doesn't know which way to go. But she sees a talking Scarecrow (also Ray Bolger) who claims to have no brains just straw. So Dorothy tells the Scarecrow that he can go with her to The Wizard to ask for a Brian. After walking awhile they come across a rusted Tin Man (also Jack Haley); after using an oil can, the Tin Man says he doesn't have heart. So Dorothy asks him to come along to meet the Wizard. They are going through a dark forest when they meet a Lion (also Bert Lahr). But it turns out he is a coward so he comes with them to The Wizard to get courage. So after Glenda helps them through a magical poppy field, they make it to the Emerald City. They sing a song and get ready to go to the Wizard. When they go in they see The Wizard of Oz (also Frank Morgan) who is a giant floating head. He won't grant their wishes unless they give him The Wicked Witch's broomstick. So our heroes go to The Witch's Castle.
***SPOILER ALERT STOP HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT THE END RUINED***
The Wicked Witch sends her flying monkeys to stop them. They kidnap Dorothy and leave. The Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow disguise as guards (which are apparently called Winkies) and break into the castle. They save Dorothy, but the witch chases after them. She corners them and decides to kill the Scarecrow by setting him on fire. But Dorothy throws a bucket of water at The Wicked Witch and the water melts her. So they return to The Wizard of Oz with the broomstick, but The Wizard refuses to grant them their wishes because it turns out he is a fake. He says he was just a circus performer, but one day a hot air balloon that was part of the act got swept away in a tornado and he ended up there. So now that he is revealed, he still grants their wishes. The Scarecrow gets a diploma, the Tin Man gets a clock shaped like a heart, and the Cowardly Lion gets a medal. Finally he travels with Dorothy home in his hot air balloon. But it accidentally leaves without her. But luckily Glenda comes in and tells her that all she has to do is tap her heels together and say "There're's no Place Like Home". She does this and ends up home in Kansas and everyone says it was a dream. But Dorothy says it wasn't a dream she says that the farm hands were there and so was that fortune teller and so was Miss. Gulch; they where all there. The End. Well not so much "The End" but more like to be continued in the countless remakes, spin offs, sequels, and TV shows.
The Wicked Witch sends her flying monkeys to stop them. They kidnap Dorothy and leave. The Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow disguise as guards (which are apparently called Winkies) and break into the castle. They save Dorothy, but the witch chases after them. She corners them and decides to kill the Scarecrow by setting him on fire. But Dorothy throws a bucket of water at The Wicked Witch and the water melts her. So they return to The Wizard of Oz with the broomstick, but The Wizard refuses to grant them their wishes because it turns out he is a fake. He says he was just a circus performer, but one day a hot air balloon that was part of the act got swept away in a tornado and he ended up there. So now that he is revealed, he still grants their wishes. The Scarecrow gets a diploma, the Tin Man gets a clock shaped like a heart, and the Cowardly Lion gets a medal. Finally he travels with Dorothy home in his hot air balloon. But it accidentally leaves without her. But luckily Glenda comes in and tells her that all she has to do is tap her heels together and say "There're's no Place Like Home". She does this and ends up home in Kansas and everyone says it was a dream. But Dorothy says it wasn't a dream she says that the farm hands were there and so was that fortune teller and so was Miss. Gulch; they where all there. The End. Well not so much "The End" but more like to be continued in the countless remakes, spin offs, sequels, and TV shows.
***SPOILERS OVER KEEP READING***
The Wizard of Oz is a fantastic classic movie. Other than the occasional obvious backdrop, the costumes and sets hold up very well even today. I really can't find many or even any bad songs. True some things don't make sense like why doesn't Glenda just come along with them since it is shown that she has magical powers. But the movie makes up for that because you really feel for the characters and want them to succeed. So if you haven't seen this movie (which I doubt) (no offense to those of you who haven't seen it) check it out; it still holds up really really well. See you next time.
"THIS BOTTOMLESS PIT IS SO BORING"
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