The Wizard of Oz is legendary with iconic characters, famous scenes, humor, foreshadowing, symbolism, and a vintage journey. It has themes of self-reliance, hopes, friendship, good/evil, and the illusion of power. These ideas are basic but timeless. Its archetypical storytelling (with linear protagonists, flat villains, simple conflicts, and a tight plot) helped define movie formulas. Plus, it's interpretable as a literal reality, a metaphorical dream, or a political allegory. The acting provides singing, dancing, vaudevillian comedy, passion, range, vulnerability, and endearing innocence. Overall, it might seem corny, anticlimactic, or quaint, but The Wizard of Oz is foundational.
Technically, The Wizard of Oz is epic. Its cinematography employs motion, composition, framing, angles, focus, scale, intense lighting, and milestone technicolor. The classic music and surreal production design are incredibly recognizable. The cast utilizes dual roles, harnesses actor traits, and established Garland. Its multifaceted effects use backdrops, matte paintings, miniatures, projections, makeup, superimposition, prosthetics, pyrotechnics, stunts, wires, forced perspective, and animatronics. Meanwhile, the sound reinforces fantasy, the editing has a model structure, and the direction solidifies genre-blending and grand theatrics. Thus, The Wizard of Oz is an obvious masterpiece.
Writing: 9/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Acting: 9/10
Editing: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 10/10
Production Design: 10/10
Casting: 10/10
Effects: 10/10
Overall Score: 9.6/10
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