Over-rated

Rating: 6/10 (1 January 2010)

Dorothy (Judy Garland) runs away with her dog, Toto, but a tornado forces her back home and blows everything upside down. When it has passed and she opens her front door, she and Toto have been transported to the Land of Oz. So begins a journey to return home on which she makes friends and has an enemy in the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton). Does Dorothy make it back......?
The film starts and ends in black and white while the main section of the film, ie, the story that occurs in the "Land of Oz", is told in colour. It's a good effect and it's also a nice story in that the characters that Dorothy comes across in Oz relate to people that she already knows. The Wicked Witch of the West is scary and Dorothy's red shoes have a great sparkle value.
However, I found that many of the characters creeped me out, eg, the Munchkins - dressed-up midgets in garish outfits that sing and dance (slightly gross idea), - flying monkeys who serve the Wicked Witch (equally grotesque), - and the "Tin Man", a psychological oddity (like those people who paint themselves silver and stand motionless on plinths in city centres, occasionally making a sudden movement and scaring children.) The songs are generally rubbish - in fact, the only good song is "We're Off To See The Wizard". I can understand why gay people like this film, but I think it's over-rated and it ends with a slice of ghastly sentimentalism.
The best line comes courtesy of the Wizard: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" - very funny.