Average Rating: 
Rating:  - "So...u wanted to meet the Wizaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrd!!!!"
My brother and I used to say that line over and over and laugh ourselves silly. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! The Wiz wasn't made to mirror the Judy Garland classic, although the theme and plot are the same. The Wiz is a funkier, head-bobbing, get up and dance movie that is filled with heart warming and uplifting messages with a universal theme we all can relate to: "Home".
There are so many wonderful things to love about The Wiz. The costumes. The songs. The scenes. The dance numbers. The characters. The location (filmed in New York city? now that's cool!) Nipsey Russell's sassy dance number at the carnival site as he croons, "slide some oil to me!" Then there's Michael's soulful lament, "U Can't Win". It was the ultimate jam that had everyone singing the catchy hook. The bouncing puppets in the subway chase scene is still eerie to this day.
I absolutely LOVED the color schemes at the Emerald City, green to red to gold & the walking Mike was too cute! The score was !beautifully done and Quincy Jones makes a cameo appearance at the keys, all froed-out.
Its funny how people try to compare and criticize this film, when its clear that it was done with music and choreography at the forefront. The styles and time periods are totally different. You can not compare the two which is why this film is called The Wiz and not The Wizard of Oz.
I was nine when I first saw The Wiz and recently saw it again. After all this time it makes me laugh, cry and dance. When Lena Horne sings "If U Believe" it pulls tears from my eyes every time, and who can forget the sweatshop scene. That number is so uplifting it will have you jumping out your seat singing, "Can't you feel a brand new day?" I also loved Ted Ross's poignant number.
In all, The Wiz is a must have for your collection of oldie but goodies. It's timeless, still jams, AND you have to give Miss Ross some credit for being able to "Ease on Down the Road" in those high-heeled si!lver slippers, sporting that curly "blowout"!
Peace. CLB.
Rating: - Unbelievably Fun
Boo, hiss to all the naysayers of the one and only 'Wiz'. A few of my friends got together at the DVD store the other night and out of all the available titles settled on this one, primarily for nostaligic reasons. Once we got home and popped it in, well, it was more than just simple sentimentality that carried us off to another world. This musical is awesome. The story is timeless, the songs are unforgettable and the widescreen transfer is excellent. One only wishes for more goodies on the disc. I often scratch my head at why Sidney Lumet directed this, but knowing that he is one of the top five directors ever who understands New York City, it now makes perfect sense. The location shots are amazing, especially with the massive Albert Whitlock visuals. And as hard as it may be to watch Diana Ross play a 24 year old single woman, she achieves it with simple gestures and that pure, honey voice. It's a huge treat to watch this movie and I look forward to repeat viewings.
Rating:  - A Musical Hit n' Miss
I remember seeing "The Wiz" for the first time in its broadcast debut on a 13" B&W TV. As I recall, several scenes were severely truncated. Regardless, it left such a lasting impression that I became a follower of all things "The Wiz" ever since. I used to be so fascinated by all that I had heard about the original 1975 Broadway musical. I only wish I had been old enough to see it. Now if only producer Rob Cohen had kept with his original vision of staying true to the stage show, the movie might have been more inspired and found more success. Don't get me wrong -- I really enjoy parts of this film, but let's face it, it should have been so much better. We can thank Diana. When she decided she "was" Dorothy, the entire project took a nose-dive. The original director quit, Sidney Lumet took over, decided that it should be set in NYC, and gave us a dark and depressing interpretation of Oz. There ARE definite musical standouts in "Ease on Down the Road," "You Can't Win," "No Bad News," and "A Brand New Day," but I can't help but wonder what it would have been like if the rest of the Broadway score had remained intact; namely The Wiz's intro number, "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard," the confrontational "Who Do You Think You Are?" and Glinda's beautiful anthem, "A Rested Body is a Rested Mind." And what an awful ending! Richard Pryor was truly uninspired casting. In the play, The Wiz (not Dorothy) sings "Believe in Yourself" the first time around. He even attempts to take Dorothy back home in his balloon. As for the movie, it's almost not even worth watching after "A Brand New Day." But, aside from my gripes, the DVD is the best way to see this film. It has a great widescreen transfer for a 70's flick and an interesting behind-the-scenes featurette.
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