Purely Joyful Movie!

From my favorite movies..

Excellent but underrated film

Brilliant and touching

I remember talking with people about this movie and watching it with others as a kid, and all of them loved it. As I got older, I read the reviews and criticisms of the film, and...people seem to hate this movie. Even as I scroll through the reviews on this website, I see a lot of posts that really pan the film. "This is a horrible, terrible movie," people say. Really? Is it really all that bad? I really enjoy it, and can't understand why a lot of people are so hard it. Does my enjoyment come from sheer nostalgia, or is there something here I'm seeing that other people don't?Well, what's bad about the movie? Well, I guess it's some of the changes to the story the filmmakers made. Like I began saying earlier, a lot of them just don't make sense. Why doesn't Dorothy live in Kansas? Why is she a kindergarten teacher? Why is the Wiz reduced to a scaredy cat? For those of you thinking that they wanted to change it to move away from the original "Wizard of Oz" story, or they wanted the film to appeal to Black people, keep in mind two problems with that: 1) Why would you try to appeal to Black people by changing the content from the original? The original already became timeless by focusing on the characters and story. When you try to make something appeal to a specific demographic of people by changing the location, characteristics, and type of dialogue, it doesn't become appealing, but patronizing. "What? Black people don't live in Kansas?" The audience will be with you so long as you treat them like human beings, not a different species of people. 2) This movie is also based on the Broadway musical, "The Wiz," which had a younger Dorothy set in Kansas, and a lot of other changes from the movie that came from the original story.Also, I mentioned earlier that Dorothy is a teacher. The reason is because Diana Ross begged the makers of the film to cast her in the movie, and she would ensure that Michael Jackson would also be in the film...Oh, and there's another flaw, I suppose: Michael Jackson, for as much as I love him, isn't a great actor. He has his moments, but overall he's not that great. To be fair, though, he's much better than Diana Ross. Again, I like her, but she just doesn't phase me as an actress. I don't think she's engaged in her character, and she often looks lost. The biggest problem I think this movie has is its changes and adaptations. It's not that they exist themselves - if you're going to make a movie based on a book, story, play, whatever, there are going to be changes. But the changes that are made just don't make sense, and they don't pay off well for the movie.With that being said, are there no good things to be said about the movie? On the contrary, I think there are a lot of good things about it! First of all, there are the songs! These songs will definitely have you singing and dancing along! They're written great, they're performed great, and they're memorable! I also like the performers in this film! I know I said Diana Ross and Michael Jackson were underwhelming, but there are moments their acting is fine. Plus, their songs are great. I also enjoy Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Mabel King, Thelma Carpenter, and Theresa Merritt. Maybe it wasn't easy for them trying to act through bad writing, but their performances are enjoyable...It's hard to watch this film and not feel sad, though; all the main performers have passed away except for Diana Ross.For the most part, the costumes looks real. Michael Jackson doesn't look like he's dressed as a scarecrow - he looks like a scarecrow! Nipsey Russell doesn't look like he put on a tinman costume - he is a tinman! Ted Ross...looks like he's in a lion costume - I said "for the most part!" Also, I like how the message is delivered in this version of "The Wizard of Oz." I'll admit, I have seen the 1939 film adaptation in a long time, and I've never read the original book by L. Frank Baum. However, I love the way the message is conveyed in this adaptation out of all the versions I have seen. When you watch this movie, you get that the message is look inside yourself, you'll have what you've been searching for all along. This message isn't as clear, obvious, or memorable in the original movie adaptation. I know I'll have to watch it again, but I remember the message in this movie a lot more.Maybe I can't defend this as a good movie since there are some major problems with this adaptation, but if it is bad I think it's due to the different changes that were made in the writing, producing, and directing. However, the other aspects are so entertaining that they'll keep you coming back. I love the performers, I love the songs, I love the message, I love the quotable lines. In all honesty, this one is a favorite of mine. Hopefully you can take what I said and see if you agree; check it out. God bless you, and much love! BOOYIKA!

I understand that Sidney Lumet's Motown-themed adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" is one of those movies that people usually either love or hate. I suspect that a lot of people found it odd that he went from "Network" to a musical. As for me, I found "The Wiz" an OK movie. It's a fun movie, more than anything. I should say that it's a little harder to like the movie once you learn that it basically espouses Werner Erhard's shadowy EST movement by talking about understanding one's true self. On its own "The Wiz" is a good time. Diana Ross (as Dorothy) and Michael Jackson (as the scarecrow) get top billing, but I liked Richard Pryor's performance as the wizard the most.So that's it. I liked the movie. It does exactly what it intends to do.

The first time I saw THE WIZ was when in first aired on TV back in the '80s. I was still a kid with a curfew, but luckily it was a Saturday, but at least I got to see it. I've seen the original THE WIZARD OF OZ more times than I can keep track, but this version always felt more relatable to be because I grew up in the Bronx in the '70s and '80s, and I remember those days of abandoned lots and practically every subway and building spray-painted with graffiti. But at least I was more mature and adventurous than this 24-year old Dorothy who lives like a teenager and has the emotional maturity of a preteen. Seriously, if her family was sheltering her, I can understand but apparently even her family want her to go out and experience life for a change. Just not in the middle of a Thanksgiving snowstorm in Harlem.I don't think Diana Ross was that bad, but I do feel that the role of Dorothy should've gone to someone much younger like a teenager. But then again, Judy Garland was also too old when she played Dorothy in 1939, and it didn't seem as drastic. To go from a young teenager to a 24 year old schoolteacher is a huge leap. Also, with all the beautiful costumes in the film, why give Dorothy the most bland lavender dress to wear? Even Judy looked cute in gingham.The thing that bothered me the most about the movie was the ending. After over two hours, you want the ending to be satisfying, especially after hearing the song "Home", but no, we just get Dorothy and Toto going back to their apartment. No seeing her family again. Nothing. Such a letdown.It's not a perfect adaptation, but you can tell there are fixable flaws to this still watchable film.

I chose to share this film with my daughters (ages 4 & 8) because in the midst of the Oz nostalgia, they needed to know it was first a story that could be interpreted many ways. While most reviews here are negative ranging from bad acting (to totally agree with watching Ms. Ross well up a few too many times), to racist (please keep in mind that this is an artistic adaptation of a book written in a time less educated than the ones we live in now and adapted in this format in a time period when black culture was establishing a sense of itself in the popular collective), this film is a delight. The music is exquisitely crafted, from disco anthems to blues-laden songs so catchy they become tunes you hum to yourself to yourself when you least expect it ("slide some oil" while cooking anyone?). Loved it and will watch over and over (although that will likely be my daughter's choice!)