Customer Reviews

Wizard of Oz [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I decided to order the DVD of this little animated short next year, and in an unexpected surprise I found this video in 'Comic Kingdom' and later bought it, just to see how faithful to the book this is. As stated on the DVD review, this 1991 cartoon runs for 25 mins and takes up many bits from the original story.
Unlike other titles, the opening only says "Wizard of Oz" without "The". Instead of a long introduction where we see Dorothy and the people in her Kansas farm life, the cyclone immediately appears at the start of the picture as she and Toto quickly run home while Henry gets the animals safe. Aunt Em is already in the cellar, and the house rises up before they get a chance to join her, until it falls down in Oz where it kills the Witch of the East, and Dorothy meets the Good Witch of the North and the Munchkins, who gives her a Magic Kiss of Protection and the Silver Shoes before setting her down the Yellow Brick Road to the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. Dorothy and Toto are joined by the Scarecrow, they rest in a cottage in the forest, save the Tin Woodman who was once a real man until the West Witch enchanted him, taking away his heart. Lion is punished for his attack on them and makes up for it by getting them across a ditch to get safely away from the Kalidahs. They enter the Emerald City and Throne Room of the Wizard, who tells them to get rid of the Wicked Witch of the West. After her Winkies fail, the Witch uses her Golden Cap. The Winged Monkeys attack and are almost successful, but Dorothy triumphs over the Witch, sets the Winkies free, gets her friends back, gains the Golden cap and the Winged Monkeys return them to Emerald City. Wizard reveals himself, and grants the requests of Dorothy's friends, but disappears in a balloon. Dorothy uses her last 2 commands over the Winged Monkeys to try & get home, and at her castle, Glinda tells Dorothy how to get home again. She and Toto return to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and after a final 'good-bye' from Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion, the picture ends with the ending credits.
I'm very proud and impressed how this feature, though less than 30 mins, manages to follow most of the original story like the Munchkins' BLUE houses, as well as making changes that makes it different to previous adaptations and mentioning the desert around Oz. The animation may not be all that impressive, but some 'magic' scenes do have the "sparkles effect". The new changes in this version are the West Witch (not East as in the original book) enchanting the Woodman, the Wizard appearing as a lightning-ball instead of the famous head, the Silver Shoes not being lost and the Winged Monkeys looking more like Super Flying Monkeys with their big upper-bodies having large muscles. Also, there are some gardens in the Emerald City, which I'm glad to see.
Since this is from the early 90's I can understand the appearance and process of the animation, but still I've seen better animation years before, and they could've kept the idea of Kansas being grey, the cyclone being dark and more storm-like. And there are a few bits I didn't entirely like: Toto being a brown/white beagle instead of a black terrier, the Munchkins look like Santa's elves and the Winkies are little pig-men, all of whom are much smaller than Dorothy, the Wicked Witch looks like the Wicked Queen/Old Hag (from Snow White) put together, constantly cackling and letting out a long moan and speech with Dorothy as she melts away (badly drawn and written), 'Kalidahs' being mispronounced as "Caladas", Aunt Em being fat, Dorothy's gingham gown looking more like a school outfit and her face making her look much older than 12 (which she says here) and the Lion walking on his two back legs. Unfortuantely for me they weren't close to the book enough, with too many similairites to MGM, like how the characters looked and talked, and I wish they had decided to animate another 5 or more minutes worth of adventures from the book, and actually come up with CHARACTER DESIGNS that resemble the book, as well as have better voices.
A major problem with the End Credits is that they don't mention who were the animators or voice actors, but if you listen you can tell that Jim Cummings is one of them (as the Lion, who not only c-constantl-ly st-stutters and stamm-mers, but seems to know almost everything about Oz), and that there are probably 5 or less actors, and that maybe the women characters were done by the same woman/women. The voice for Dorothy most definitely could be the same as from "the Wizard of Oz: Animated Series" and an episode of 'Walter Melon: the Magician of Schnauz', both of which resemble Judy Garland (and it would have been much better if they had used an actual girl for the role instead a woman - annoyingly - resembling Judy). And Glinda's voice also sounds like Billie Burke, which doesn't mach the close-up of her face. But I do like the voices for the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Wizard & King of the Winged Monkeys.
I look forward to getting the DVD version of this cartoon and making a small review of that, then I can give this video to somebody else who really needs it.
For those of you who have never seen this animated short before and want to know what it looks like, go to "Wendy's Wizard of Oz" (site), look around in 'Other Oz' and you'll see some images from the animation.

I think the Wizard of Oz is a great children's movie. I do not know a child under the age of 7 who does not like this movie. While being funny, the Wizard of Oz is also an adventure that will keep you from being bored. I give the Wizard of Oz 5 stars and a million thumbs up.

A special effects masterpiece and an interesting story, but not a classic in the likes of Citizen Kane and The Godfater series. The acting is mediocre but typical for a musical of this era. This is definitely a movie for children and I do not recommend it for adults unless they are on a nostalgia trip.

my daughter loves this movie. i have looked everywhere, and this is the only place that i have been able to find it!!! go amazon!!!

Saw this as a little girl. Now want my grandchildren to enjoy it

The Wizard of Oz, of course, is one of the all-time great children's classics. The movie is a great improvement over L. Frank Baum's book. The movie has certain logical flaws:

(a) Dorothy runs away from home because she is afraid that Miss Gultch will come back for Toto. When she reaches Professor Marvel, she says that they do not understand her at home. When the Good Witch of the North finally shows her how to get home by clicking her heels together, Dorothy says that if she cannot find her heart's desire in her own background, she never really lost it. When Dorothy is finally home, she says there is no place like home and that she will never leave again. OK, what happened to Miss Gultch? Was she killed in the storm? Is Toto safe?

(b) When Dorothy meets the scarecrow, she notices that the yellow brick road goes off in three directions. Finally, she and the scarerow take off in one of the directions. How did she decide to do that, and where do the other yellow brick roads lead to?

(c) The tin man was chopping wood. It began to rain, and he rusted, unable to move until Dorothy and the scarecrow came along. Surely this was not the first time it rained. Who took care of the tin man when it rained before?

(d) When the ruby slippers magically appear on Dorothy's feet in Munchkinland, the wicked witch wants them back. The good witch of the north tells Dorothy to stay tight inside them, as their magic must be very powerful, or else the witch would not want them so. When the good witch of the north reappears, in Emerald City, and tells Dorothy that, by clicking her heels, she can get home, she says that if she told Dorothy how to get home before, Dorothy would not have believed her. If that is true, why did the good witch feign ignorance when she caused the ruby slippers to be placed on Dorothy's feet?

If anyone can answer these questions, I would be appreciative.