(Ozathon) The Patchwork Girl Of Oz: 1914

   Welcome to the second installment of my new series, "Ozathon."  This collection of reviews is meant to delve into the cinematic history of Frank L. Baum's books.  His first book, "Wonderful Wizard of Oz," was made into a film in 1910.  Four years later, "The Patchwork of Oz" was also transformed into a film, just four years later.  This film is surprisingly longer; around the length of two television episodes.  This film was made by, "The Oz Film Company," the president supposedly was Frank L. Baum himself, and the company only ran for about a year. It's really sad that this author, who created this wonderful series of books, never really did seem to get the recognition he deserved, even after he tried to make movies out of his books, and finally passed.  But, I am here to pay the respect (or give the punishment) that is long over due.  This is my review of, "The Patchwork Girl of Oz."  Enjoy.

  You remember my last review, where I said that I liked how Frank L. Baum's books were less cryptic than Alice in Wonderland?  Well, let's just say you should never judge a whole franchise after you've only had a single taste of it.  This film got to the point where the ridiculousness of everything ruled over the picture quality, and over all production value.  Everyone, like in the last film, is way too clumsy, especially the patchwork girl.


   The Patchwork girl is essentially a female scarecrow, and the two eventually end up falling for each other in the end.  But this new character is ten times as crazy as the scarecrow.  You could fill a book with all of the ,"stunts" this character pulls off during the duration of the film.  when she is on screen, all you see is a pushing shoving, twisting, kicking, contorting, flipping, swinging mess! THE PATCHWORK GIRL IS INSANE!!!!

   During the climax of the film, it chooses the option where you have separate stories, that follow different characters, and finally converge at the end.  This is probably the best thing the film has, besides the sets and characters.  However, in a way, the characters aspect of the film is sort of it's downfall.  After awhile of being introduced to different kinds of people nonstop, like the hoppers, the horners, a giant cat, a giant monkey, and racist stereotypes, it starts to become too much.  By the end you wish you could have at least bunkered yourself against the relentless onslaught of preposterous...nes.  It's ridiculous.  


In conclusion, the only other problem I have with the film is the music.  There is no rhyme or reason to having the music in the first place.  It is supposed to immerse you in the story; to make you feel as though you are there.  This has the complete opposite effect.  Some film makers don't understand that music is meant to set the mood of a film, not to simply listen to.  But, all that aside, ( including a horse, humping a tree, and racist depictions of an African tribe) this is an interesting film like the last one, filled with characters and sets, and an overall creative feel to Baum's popular franchise.  This film is a great edition to that collection.


6.6/10

   

Next Review:  The Lost World  1925 

     

(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