Despite dated elements, there's an undeniable charm and magic to enchants kids today

Rating: 8/10 (21 June 2019)

I took my kids to watch the TCM revival showing of "The Wizard of OZ" on the big screen and my 6 and 9-year old were just as enchanted and terrified of the film as I was as a child. I won't bother to summarize the plot, because everyone already knows the story. Rewatching it now, it's fun to see how this film has influenced everything from the 1980s version of "Flash Gordon," to Jim Henson's "Labyrinth," to obscure sci-fi comedies like "Heartbeeps," to even J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings." The film is admittedly slow at times, some songs are better than others ("If I Only Had a Brain" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" are the high points), and it's incredibly corny though out, but there is an undeniable charm and magic to the proceedings. Although many newer films have better special effects, less mannered of acting, and far better production design, they don't hold a candle to the wonder and magic of this true American film classic.