The Wiz (1978)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 1978
	Director: Sydney Lumet
	Actors: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (Captain Eo)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Music
	Conditions of visioning: 14.07.2012, DVD, Home Cinema
Synopsis: Dorothy is not happy in her life. Magically transported to the land of Oz, she meets some peculiar characters and might find in herself just what she was looking for.
Review: I know about this all-black-cast Motown version of the classical Wizard of Oz story for a long time, but watched it only recently for the first time. It is actually not too bad. The actors, all actually singers I guess, play their part. In particular Michael Jackson is not bad as the scarecrow. The songs are sometimes slow and sad (and let's face it a bit boring), but sometimes more disco or funky, like the most famous "Ease on down the road". I was surprised to see that the whole movie takes place in urban surroundings (factories, bridges, amusement park...), while I think the original land of Oz is more rural, but I guess that was intentional and fits with the adaptation work.
Rating: 6 /10