Dorothy hides in her bedroom, while the rest of the family hunkers down in the tornado shelter. Dorothy hits her head and has a wild as fuck vision about flying in her house to a fantasy land named Oz that is populated by witches, shit-talking apple trees with bad tempers, singing munchkins, evil flying monkeys, a horse with a colour malfunction and three delightful characters who she befriends: a scarecrow (who wants a brain), a tin man (who wants a heart) and a lion (who wants to be courageous). Together, the four of them (and Toto!) set off down the "yellow brick road" to the Emerald City where the powerful Wizard of Oz can grant their wishes and return Dorothy back to Kansas. Unfortunately, when Dorothy's house landed in Oz, it accidentally landed on the Wicked Witch of the West's sister and now WWW wants to beat Dorothy's ass.
It's difficult to give a critical analysis of TWOO since the film honestly feels like a part of my life. I don't even remember the first time I saw it! Anyway, I love THE WIZARD OF OZ. Yeah, the story, when you really think about it, is kinda dumb, cause Miss Gulch is still going to have Toto put to death and the entire Oz story was most assuredly a result of Dorothy's head injury, but...it's still a great movie! So, just like in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU...who gives a fuck what happens after the end credits roll?!!! Fuck it!
Excellent pace, groundbreaking use of colour photography, amazing art direction and costumes, great performances (especially Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, who scared the living fuck out of me as a kid!) and quite possibly the best song in movie history: "Over the Rainbow".
THE WIZARD OF OZ is beyond required viewing and one of the most influential films of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Game idea: sometimes, when I watch TWOO, I only watch Toto. She (yes, Terry was a she) is so much fun to watch!
Above and below: no ruby slippers.
