Review of The Wizard of Oz (1939) by Shane L — 19 Jul 2014

After a lifetime of unconditionally loving this movie, I recently watched it again waiting for the exact moment in the film that makes it a masterpiece, and I found none. No single moment outshines the next; in this regard, it is smooth as silk.

This movie cannot be plucked at and pulled apart, broken down into bite-sized bits to convenience today's "put it in a nutshell" mentality. In fact, I was a little bit disappointed at not quite knowing why it is that I love this movie so much.

It comes from something that can't be sought after, bottled up or stored in a designated place. It's the magic. This movie boasts no specific frame more magical than the one before it; each one glistens with the magic of a witch's wand, or a ruby slipper, or an emerald city.

Naturally I must commend Judy Garland for knowing that and not hesitating to be a child who still believes in such wizardry. This ageless film captivates children of all ages, and for those, like myself, who have forgotten the magic within them, it serves not as a grim reminder of what they left in childhood, but a friendly offer to bring some of the magic back, if not for just an hour-and-a-half, a prospect that brings a tear to my eye and reminds me that the magic is still there as long as beautiful things like "The Wizard of Oz" still exist in this crazy world.