(Ozathon) Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 1910

   Hello, and welcome to my new review series entitled, Ozathon!  This series will cover most if not all of the early films based off of the book series written by Frank Baum.  I'm not talking about the classic made in 1939 with Judy Garland, that everyone knows and loves.  Nope, when Frank Baum wrote his books in the early 1900's, it wouldn't be long before a theatrical release was made close to ten years later.  These are his films.  



   "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,"  might have followed the book much better than the more popular edition made much later.  Each scene is divided into, "chapters," to help sum up in one sentence or word what the scene is going to be about. "The Cyclone," or "Our Friends Encounter Momba The Witch" are some examples of the chapters.  To be honest, they do help allot with keeping you on track with the plot of the story.  The plot is probably one of the things that made this book series stand out.  I reminded me a little bit of, "Alice in Wonderland," just a whole lot more grounded and less cryptic.  


   I hope that this film is considered a classic by now, because in my mind it truly is.  It's like a play that your kid does and it's ridiculously acted, and everyone's like, "Well, they're trying their best."  And they are, and it's pretty good because of it.  It feels like allot of effort was placed into the continuity and overall direction of the film. I haven't actually read the books so, I suppose that it could be entirely different from the books.  But, nonetheless, it does make sense.

   To say that this film is a little different than the more popular one would be a huge understatement.  It is tremendously different!  Dorothy meets the scarecrow before she goes to oz.  They both hide in a bale of hay, along with two other farm animals.  There is no, "wicked witch."  instead its a villain named Moba.  There is no original music, or, "somewhere over the rainbow."  Almost everything is from Fantasia and The Nutcracker.  Toto is turned into a bulldog by Galinda to fight off the Cowardly Lion.  But none of these differences really matter, although I still think that this version of the film is more accurate.  


  There are some moments, however, that seem really out of place.  Every minuet or so, one character is dancing, and because of the fact that the music does not change or fit the dance in any way, it seems so strange.  Almost every character in the film has one moment where they dance, except for the flying monkeys.  That's one of the complaints that I have with this film.  Nothing can seem to stand still for one second.  It's as if they're afraid that if they stop waving things in front of the viewers face, they'll get bored.  It's like the film is an adult waving a rattle in front of the baby viewers faces.  Well, actually, this film is meant for kids.  Really little kids.  Babies.    

 I need to remember to critique, "Wonderful Wizard of Oz," as a film for children, and not a horror film.  Because the content in this film is totally different to what I normally review.  But, that aside, this was....interesting.  I'm sure that if you have read, or ever have wanted to read the book series by Frank Baum, then you'll enjoy this.  There is no dialog.  Instead there are  allot of people in ridiculous looking costumes, to play the animals, and a whole lot of jumping up and down, rolling, flying, spinning, bumping, tackling, etc.  So, if you want a COMPLETELY different Wizard of Oz experience, this is for you.

7/10

      Next Review:  The Patchwork Girl of Oz  1914