The witch from the land of Oz, previously known for her wickedness and dark powers, is no more. After years of spreading fear and chaos throughout the land, the witch has met her demise. This news comes as a relief to the citizens of Oz, who have long suffered at the hands of her cruelty. The witch was notorious for her manipulation and cunning, using her powers to control others and wreak havoc on innocent lives. She took pleasure in her ability to instill fear and the sense of power it gave her. The citizens of Oz lived in constant fear of her wrath, never knowing when they might become her next victim.
The infuriating thing is that Baum (the author of the original) wrote a series of sequels. They are similar in tone to the original. While I think the film is superior to the original childrens’ book, I’d be far more comfortable if the studios announced that they were filming one of those books. At least then you could be guarunteed that the story followed the spirit of the original.
Many of these elements were required to create the magic of the fantasy film, but four elements that especially stood out to me included setting, costumes, makeup, and props. The yellow brick road can be compared to the journey of life, in which both friends and enemies are made, struggles and triumphs occur, and strengths and weaknesses are discovered about oneself.
The citizens of Oz lived in constant fear of her wrath, never knowing when they might become her next victim. However, it seems that justice has finally been served. The wicked witch's reign of terror has come to an end, leaving a sense of hope and peace in its wake.
The subversive messages hidden in The Wizard of Oz
It’s easy to mistake the 1939 classic as traditional family entertainment – but 80 years on from its release, the musical is more radical and surreal than ever, writes Nicholas Barber.
In December 1937, Walt Disney Productions released its first feature-length cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It went on to be cinema’s biggest hit of 1938, a success that not only encouraged Disney to make other fairy-tale cartoons for decades to come, but also encouraged another studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to try its own fantasy musical about an orphaned girl and a wicked witch: The Wizard of Oz.
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But for all of its similarities to the Disney film, MGM’s version was more of an anti-fairy tale than a fairy tale. Just look at the trio of frightened and feeble misfits that accompanies its heroine along the yellow brick road. None of them is what you’d call a handsome prince. In the clanking of the Tin Man’s rusty limbs, you can hear echoes of Don Quixote’s home-made armour. In the trio’s moaning and blubbing as they prepare to sneak into the witch’s castle, you can see a foreshadowing of Westley, Inigo and Fezzik invading Humperdinck’s castle in The Princess Bride. The pig-tailed Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is so wholesome, the Harburg and Arlen songs are so delightful, and the Technicolor adventures are so exciting that it’s still easy to mistake The Wizard of Oz for traditional family entertainment, 80 years on from its release in August 1939. But it upends the conventions of good-v-evil storytelling in ways that would have had Walt Disney fuming.
The film’s Technicolor adventures are so engaging it’s easy to mistake The Wizard of Oz for traditional family entertainment (Credit: Alamy)
In the sepia opening scenes, we are warned that the magic we’re about to see might not be wholly magical. Having run away from her home in Kansas to stop her pet dog Toto being put down, Dorothy meets a travelling clairvoyant named Professor Marvel (Frank Morgan) – a character who isn’t in L Frank Baum’s source novel, but was created by screenwriters Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. As kindly as he is, the professor is a con artist who pretends to be psychic by peeking at a photo Dorothy is carrying. Another film might have contrasted this earthbound huckster with the genuine marvels performed by the wonderful Wizard of Oz, but in this one the wizard is played by the same actor as Professor Marvel, and he turns out to be much the same character: a fast-talking fairground showman who hides behind a curtain, waggling levers, and using mechanical trickery to keep his subjects loyal and afraid. He admits that he ended up in the land of Oz when his hot air balloon was blown there – and even that balloon is beyond his control. In a gloriously gonzo final flourish, he floats off into the sky with a cheerful cry of: “I can’t come back. I don’t know how it works!” There aren’t many films that show politicians being quite as brazenly incompetent as that.
The people of Oz can finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that they are free from her tyranny. While the disappearance of the witch may bring closure to some, others are left questioning what this means for the land of Oz. Without the presence of such a powerful and malevolent force, there is speculation as to how the balance of power will shift. Will another wicked force rise to take her place, or will the citizens of Oz find themselves living in a new era of peace and prosperity? Only time will tell what the future holds for the land of Oz. For now, the people can celebrate the end of an era and look forward to a brighter, less fearful future. The witch from the land of Oz is no more, and with her demise, the citizens of Oz can hope for a new beginning..
Reviews for "The Witch from the Land of Oz: A Victim of Circumstances or a Volatile Entity?"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really looking forward to reading "The witch from the land of Oz is no more" as I am a fan of fantasy novels. However, I found this book incredibly disappointing. The plot was scattered and confusing, making it difficult to follow the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to form any emotional connection with them. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and awkward, which made it even harder to get through the book. Overall, I would not recommend "The witch from the land of Oz is no more" to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging fantasy novel.
2. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
"The witch from the land of Oz is no more" had a promising premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing of the story was off, with slow moments that dragged on for too long and rushed action sequences. This made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the world and enjoy the plot. Furthermore, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. While I appreciate the author's attempt to create a unique spin on the Oz universe, the execution left much to be desired. I found myself struggling to finish the book and wouldn't recommend it to others.