12 Movies of Christmas: The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another review of the 12 Movies of Christmas. For today's review, I decided to do a film that isn't necessarily about or set on Christmas, but is a movie that is usually aired around Christmas time. So, let's follow the Yellow Brick Road as I review the wonderful Wizard Of Oz.

                           Story:
                       The Wizard Of Oz is about a Kansas girl named Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) who is caught up in a tornado and then finds herself in the land of Oz. There she meets three friends known as The Tin Man (Jack Haley), The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr). All of whom go off to try to see the titular Wizard Of Oz, but for different reasons: Dorothy just wants to go home, Tin Man wants a heart, The Cowardly Lion wants courage, and the Scarecrow wants a brain. On their journey though, they try to face the malevolent Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).

                      What I Liked About It:
                     One thing that I liked the most about this film was how it manages to incorporate different genres into one movie. It has some musical moments, a bit of horror thanks to the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys, drama, and adventure. So, it has a bit of something for everybody and it should come as no surprise that it is considered a classic.

                      Another thing that I really liked was the performance from Margaret Hamilton. While Judy Garland does an amazing job, along with her fellow co-stars, it is Hamilton that eats up the scenery. I remember the first time I saw this movie, I was given chills whenever Hamilton was on screen, and yet, when she wasn't on screen, I wanted to see more of her. That is usually what I look for with a villain in a genre piece, and Hamilton just nails it. Also, I like how despite how old the movie is, it definitely has aged well, in my opinion. The effects and imaginative set pieces still hold up to this day and is definitely a solid blueprint for fantasy movies. I would say anyone that is looking to write a fantasy story or make a fantasy movie should look to this movie for inspiration if you want to make a timeless classic.

                    What I Didn't Like About It:
                    Nothing.

                    Consensus:
                   Overall, The Wizard Of Oz is a classic that will forever stand the test of time and offers a colorful blend of different genres. It's got horror, comedy, musical numbers, drama, and adventure. This should definitely be on your must list if you haven't seen this movie already, and this is one to show your children if you have any that haven't seen it yet. It's a good one to watch around Christmas time and is highly recommended!

Rating: 5/5