With the release of the incredibly successful “Alice In Wonderland” by Tim Burton, talk of a new “The Wizard of Oz” has gained more traction in Hollywood. Aside from speculation over whether or not the audience is ready for it, the more intriguing issue is with which route to take. There are currently two Oz projects being worked on right now, one of which is a straight take on the original classic, and the other is said to be a darker story, featuring one of Dorothy’s granddaughters.
I have traditionally been against remakes of classic movies in general — my son and I recently watched the Judy Garland masterpiece, and it holds up just as well today as it ever has — taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. At the same time, there has been enough space between big-screen attempts to make the idea of a return to Oz actually kind of fresh.
One thing you encounter upon reading the Oz books is that, first of all, they’re very, very strange. They feature an odd internal logic to them that make events feel dream-like; if you recall, it’s strongly suggested that what happens in the movie version are a dream. Secondly, they’re quite a bit different than the movie was, in both tone and actual events. The broad strokes are there, of course, but there are more things in the book than made it to screen. So there is a history of strong adaptation that puts any new remake in good standing.
However, the kid in me would love to see an updated Oz, where time did not stand still and events have progressed. Such a plot would free creators from the need to maintain continuity, and thus the baggage that hardcore fans would bring to the viewing. Regardless of which gets made first – it’s possible for both or neither to occur, being Hollywood – I think the public is ready to embrace something new. Let’s face it: the studios are always trolling the past for new (old) ideas. Is there any reason why Oz shouldn’t return?
