The Wizard of Oz or The Wiz? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 10-12-2004, 10:12 PM

I am probably going to be one of the few people here who likes "The Wiz" better than the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." I'm not saying these two films should be compared to each other. If you look at them closely you would find the same plot but the expression of that plot in one of the movies is completely different from the other.

I have never been a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz." I never liked it that much as a kid and I still have that same sentiment today. One reason is that there are some parts that are nauseating to me, particularly the Munchkinland sequence. Not only that, I thought it was a film that was geared for the younger people. This is ironic because I didn't like it when I first saw it in the first grade.

"The Wiz" on the other hand, I liked better. I liked it because it was one of those films that made me feel good both during and after watching it. It also wasn't too kiddie for my tastes.

The soundtrack is very original and different when compared to that of the 1939 film but I liked it better. When I see Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion go down the Yellow Brick Road I prefer to hear the more hip song "Ease On Down the Road" as opposed to "We're Off to See the Wizard."

The Wizard of Oz has a great cast. I'll give it that. They were fit for this movie. The problem was that the movie wasn't very fit for me. The Wiz also has a great cast although it is hard for me to understand why put Diana Ross in the role. I'm speculating that they wanted a woman who could sing and was well known. I also like Michael Jackson (in his pre-Thriller years) as the Scarecrow, Lena Horne as Glinda, and Richard Prior as the titular character.

These two really shouldn't be compared to each other but then maybe they should. To me The Wizard of Oz is old-fasioned, overrated, and boring. The Wiz is appealing to me because of the soundtrack, the excellent cast, (although not as big-named compared to the cast of the original Wizard of Oz) , and because it made me feel great. I don't know of a lot of movies that have done that to me but The Wiz has done it immensely.

You can read my review on The Wiz here.

Discuss away.

Liza · 10-12-2004, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
I am probably going to be one of the few people here who likes "The Wiz" better than the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."

Probably

I hated the Wiz. Absolutely detested it. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in the subway of Oz...

That show was just so strange and really an all around bad idea. Now I'm no huge fan of the original - in my mind it would be a lot better if the screenwriters had actually bothered to read the book - but it is a classic movie and Judy's signature role.

I suppose my main problem with the Wiz is that they were trying to copy a film that was a poor adaptation to begin with. Well, no, that's not the main problem, but it's a big one.

What I'll never understand is that somewhere back in time, one guy said "Hey, why don't we do a black Wizard of Oz?" and another guy said "That's a great idea!" That conversation never should have happened

Cactus Jack · 10-13-2004, 08:08 AM

I havent seen The Wiz, so Ill say The Wizard of Oz

webuster · 10-13-2004, 02:12 PM

I've never seen 'The Wiz' but it's been on my 'films i really wanna see' list for quite some time. But I absolutely love The Wizard of Oz and I could watch it again and again- so i doubt I'd like The Wiz over it.

Flying Dutchman · 10-13-2004, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by webuster
I've never seen 'The Wiz' but it's been on my 'films i really wanna see' list for quite some time. But I absolutely love The Wizard of Oz and I could watch it again and again- so i doubt I'd like The Wiz over it.

Just a quick note that may be of interest, a few years back one of the networks i dont remember the one, had a made for tv movie about L Frank baum who was the writer of the wizard of oz. the movie began with stars going to the original opening of the film when it came out and one of the woman there was L frank baums widow and she started telling the story of her late husbands life and how he came to writing the wizard of oz, The actor who played L frank baum was none other than John ritter.

I Love Carol Burnett! · 10-13-2004, 04:49 PM

The Wizard of Oz

barwars · 10-13-2004, 05:27 PM

I love "The Wiz", but "The Wizard of Oz" owns.

spunkygirl · 10-13-2004, 05:29 PM

The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, that will more than likely be around long after alot of us are gone

I don't think I've ever seen the Wiz, but have heard of it, so I'm going with the Wizard of Oz

Liza · 10-14-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flying Dutchman
Just a quick note that may be of interest, a few years back one of the networks i dont remember the one, had a made for tv movie about L Frank baum who was the writer of the wizard of oz. the movie began with stars going to the original opening of the film when it came out and one of the woman there was L frank baums widow and she started telling the story of her late husbands life and how he came to writing the wizard of oz, The actor who played L frank baum was none other than John ritter.

The Dreamer of Oz, with Annette O'Toole. I haven't seen that yet, but I really, really want to.

But I find it strange that it should take place at the premiere of the film, since the film had next to nothing to do with Baum's book

Sorry, I have issues with this that I need to work through...

barwars · 10-14-2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liza
The Dreamer of Oz, with Annette O'Toole. I haven't seen that yet, but I really, really want to.

But I find it strange that it should take place at the premiere of the film, since the film had next to nothing to do with Baum's book

Sorry, I have issues with this that I need to work through...

Ive read the book.... but completely prefer the movie.
The book is too "chapter like", if that makes any sense.
Something happens here, its over.
Something happens there, its over.
But with the movie theres a sense of an overall connection.

Flying Dutchman · 10-14-2004, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liza
The Dreamer of Oz, with Annette O'Toole. I haven't seen that yet, but I really, really want to.

But I find it strange that it should take place at the premiere of the film, since the film had next to nothing to do with Baum's book

Sorry, I have issues with this that I need to work through...

Yes L Frank Baum cant be here to address the issues of rewriting the wizard of oz, I have never read the wizard of oz but i have seen the movie who hasnt, and i have seen return to oz the cartoon with pumpkin head, it was good for kids, maby if I read the book id feel the way you do. atleast in that movie the dramer of oz we got to see John Ritter again in a movie and to me thats always a treat. R.I.P. John Ritter

musicradio77 · 10-14-2004, 06:14 PM

I actually love "The Wizard of Oz" with Judy Garland from 1939 (two years prior "Snow White" the first Disney animated film ever.) But I usually like the Diana Ross version of "The Wiz". Quincy Jones directed that movie. I used to taped it off of WPIX a long time ago back in 1989 or 1990 and I erased it. The movie was sometime great than the original was.

CarJackSnyder · 10-14-2004, 07:35 PM

The Wizard of Oz

Mr. Television · 10-14-2004, 07:39 PM

The Wizard Of Oz

Moonlight Lady · 10-16-2004, 04:31 PM

The Wiz, no contest, I love the music and the cast.

View Poll Results: The Wizard of Oz or The Wiz?
The Wizard of Oz	22	84.62%
The Wiz	4	15.38%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

10-12-2004, 10:12 PM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	The Wizard of Oz or The Wiz? I am probably going to be one of the few people here who likes "The Wiz" better than the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." I'm not saying these two films should be compared to each other. If you look at them closely you would find the same plot but the expression of that plot in one of the movies is completely different from the other. I have never been a big fan of "The Wizard of Oz." I never liked it that much as a kid and I still have that same sentiment today. One reason is that there are some parts that are nauseating to me, particularly the Munchkinland sequence. Not only that, I thought it was a film that was geared for the younger people. This is ironic because I didn't like it when I first saw it in the first grade. "The Wiz" on the other hand, I liked better. I liked it because it was one of those films that made me feel good both during and after watching it. It also wasn't too kiddie for my tastes. The soundtrack is very original and different when compared to that of the 1939 film but I liked it better. When I see Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion go down the Yellow Brick Road I prefer to hear the more hip song "Ease On Down the Road" as opposed to "We're Off to See the Wizard." The Wizard of Oz has a great cast. I'll give it that. They were fit for this movie. The problem was that the movie wasn't very fit for me. The Wiz also has a great cast although it is hard for me to understand why put Diana Ross in the role. I'm speculating that they wanted a woman who could sing and was well known. I also like Michael Jackson (in his pre-Thriller years) as the Scarecrow, Lena Horne as Glinda, and Richard Prior as the titular character. These two really shouldn't be compared to each other but then maybe they should. To me The Wizard of Oz is old-fasioned, overrated, and boring. The Wiz is appealing to me because of the soundtrack, the excellent cast, (although not as big-named compared to the cast of the original Wizard of Oz) , and because it made me feel great. I don't know of a lot of movies that have done that to me but The Wiz has done it immensely. You can read my review on The Wiz here. Discuss away.

10-13-2004, 08:08 AM	#3
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	I havent seen The Wiz, so Ill say The Wizard of Oz
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10-13-2004, 04:49 PM	#6
I Love Carol Burnett! My Queen Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Wishing I was in CA with Carol Burnett Posts: 5,441	The Wizard of Oz
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10-14-2004, 06:14 PM	#12
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I actually love "The Wizard of Oz" with Judy Garland from 1939 (two years prior "Snow White" the first Disney animated film ever.) But I usually like the Diana Ross version of "The Wiz". Quincy Jones directed that movie. I used to taped it off of WPIX a long time ago back in 1989 or 1990 and I erased it. The movie was sometime great than the original was.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

10-13-2004, 02:12 PM	#4
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I've never seen 'The Wiz' but it's been on my 'films i really wanna see' list for quite some time. But I absolutely love The Wizard of Oz and I could watch it again and again- so i doubt I'd like The Wiz over it.

10-13-2004, 05:27 PM	#7
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I love "The Wiz", but "The Wizard of Oz" owns.

10-13-2004, 05:29 PM	#8
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, that will more than likely be around long after alot of us are gone I don't think I've ever seen the Wiz, but have heard of it, so I'm going with the Wizard of Oz

10-14-2004, 07:35 PM	#13
CarJackSnyder Maura West & Michael Park<3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 05, 2003 Location: Milltown; Oakdale- where everybody knows your name. Posts: 6,971	The Wizard of Oz
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10-14-2004, 07:39 PM	#14
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	The Wizard Of Oz
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10-16-2004, 04:31 PM	#15
Moonlight Lady Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 16,052	The Wiz, no contest, I love the music and the cast.
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