There's No Movie Like Oz

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2009)

The Wizard of Oz is one of those rare, timeless movies that improves with age (probably because we're used to seeing dozens of pallid fantasy films each and every year). Like It's a Wonderful Life, Oz is a film that almost everyone sees at one time or another and instantly falls in love with. It's a great, magical film that your great, great grandkids are certain to embrace.
The film is sort of beyond criticism at this point, so I'll just list some of my favourite aspects and scenes.
1. Margaret Hamilton is the epitome of all witches. Whenever I hear the word "witch" her green skin, black pointed hat, and extended nose spring into my mind.
2. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is one of the greatest songs of all time. To have this song alone would have been more than enough for any musical. But, luckily, we also get "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", "If I Only Had a Brain", and many others.
3. Each actor is perfectly suited for his or her role. And I mean perfectly.
4. The writing and dialogue are as fresh as anything you will ever read or hear.
5. Victor Fleming directed this and Gone with the Wind in the same year (1939). I realize that he took over for other directors on both films, but he still did direct the majority of them.