Reliving the Magic of Wizard of Oz

My childhood was partly shaped and defined by the movies I grew up watching. I marveled over Pinoy movies like Sarah.. Ang Munting Prinsesa and Bulag, Pipi't Bingi, as well as American family films Space Jam and Casper the friendly ghost.

But one fave movie that hooked me as a kid, besides Lion King and Little Mermaid, was the classic Wizard of Oz.

I don't know if kids nowadays have even heard of this or would even care to watch a technicolor film like Wizard of Oz when today's generation already boasts innumerable visually proud-worthy 3D animated films.

If compared to the fantasy-adventure movies of today, Wizard of Oz is an object of snub; but for a 7 or 8 year-old child back in the 90's like me, the Victor Fleming-directed film was one of the best ever, bringing out the child in everyone that even my parents sat with me while watching it.

Of course, I didn't know it was a classic movie back then; I didn't even know lead actress Judy Garland was already dead. I only found out that this was a classic when I took Film theory subject in college. And learning how cinematically advanced this already was during that time, I became an even bigger fan of the film. CHOS!

Wizard of Oz's effects were already decent for a child like me whose only joy was to sing along with Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow". Take note: this was during the mid 90's, when VHS players and VHS tape rewinders were the prime products of technology. I didn't care having to rewind the VHS tape over and over again just as long as I got to watch the movie for the nth time. :) 

It was more than ten years ago since I last saw Wizard of Oz but there are things I still can remember, to wit: the tornado that uprooted Dorothy's house and sent her to the land of Oz, her tiny dog Toto, the yellow brick road, the scarecrow in need of a brain, the tin man in search of a heart, the lion in pursuit of courage, the Emerald City, the ruby slippers, the green-faced wicked witch, flying monkeys, the giant hourglass...

My father brought the VHS tape to our province where it became a fond source of entertainment among kids, then it was borrowed by someone and passed to another...and then it was lost. Hehe!

It was a relief to revisit an old story told in a modern manner - supplied with extravagant special effects and big-time movie stars. But despite the differences in how Wizard of Oz and Oz: The Great and Powerful were presented in silver screens, the heart of the story remains: real magic can be found within ourselves. 

The VHS tape I would have considered a rare treasure in this age was gone, but not the memories of a magical childhood. :)

Tweet