Now I really don't want this to be one of those annoying comments that bashes a movie that everyone else is glorifying, but I feel as if someone needs to really shed some light on the actuality of this mini-series. I am a huge Wizard of Oz fan, but I'm not one of those who can't twist the story out of the box and love it for its own creation. However, all I can think when I reflect on what I've just watched for the past three days is: Really? That's what I waited months for? Really??
The way they advertise the movie leads one to believe it is going to at least follow the plot a bit. But after the first installment and into the second, the entirety of my "Tin Man" viewing party was completely bored and confused out of their skulls. All of a sudden, we moved from the story of DG in the O.Z. with her three trusted friends, going to see the Wizard and putting down the evil Witch ... to little girls skipping along a lake with flying dolls?? Since when has WoZ been anything like the last two installments of this series? It feels as if the telewriters (who are most definitely lacking in word skills, as is evidenced when the Dr. Frankenstein-looking henchman says to the Lion: "All you people need is a bit of encouragement," and the Lion, after cattle prodding him, replies: "Raw just need courage.") used the franchise of WoZ to gather an audience and springboard into their own little tale they'd woven with Oz no where in mind.
That aside, as an original creation and set entirely apart from Oz, it's just a terrible story. It's been told before a hundred thousand times: two girls, one of light, one of dark, and they must battle because of some stupid prophecy that entails an astronomical phenomenon. Really, now. This is the best the "Tin Man" could give us? And one of the writers --- I don't know which one --- was so in love with the Tin Man, he gave Scarecrow a lobotomy (literally) and the Tin Man usurps him as the one D.G. will "miss most of all." This saddened me for personal reasons, but the large amount of "awesomeness" of Kain meant that the "annoyingness" of Glitch and Raw had to be just as obvious. Really, the only one I ended up connecting with by the end WAS the Tin Man.
Finally, the music is God awful except for a small scene where Az finds her father's old cabin, and then later on in the final thirty seconds of the finale.
I will say, however, that aside from the obvious flaws in script, acting, or characters in general --- the effects are amazing, and while the costumes can get a bit repetitive or confusing (why does Toto have circus tents for pants and why do little D.G. and Az go the entirety of their childhood in the same pair of color-coordinated dresses?), it's really visually pleasing.
This is honestly what I suggest: If you don't have six hours to spare, don't bother. And if you do have six hours, go watch "Tenth Kingdom" and spend your time on a good fantasy mini-series. It's just as long, and ten times better.
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