7 YEARS AGO, Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful premiered on March 8, 2013 and it still feels like this movie came out last year. Its a really fun adaptation that focuses on Oz before Dorothy landed there. The main character is Oscar Diggs, or as he calls himself Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs or as some may know him as OZ PINHEAD for short. As he lands in the land of Oz, he is introduced to a witch named Theodora, who tells him that a king named Oz is supposed to claim the throne and defeat the Wicked Witch, who she believes is Glinda. As the story unfolds, Theodora and Evanora are revealed to be the actual wicked witches of West and East, respectively. So, in honor of the film's 7th anniversary, here are 7 tidbits about the film that you probably didn't know. #7) At the beginning of the film, did you know that we met Dorothy Gale's mother? Her name was Annie and she was meant to marry a local farmer John Gale, who has the last name as Dorothy. Hmm, coincidence? Also, what ever happened to them? #6) Did you know we met the tinker who built the Tin Woodman? In the film, he is a well-known tinker. At one point in the film, he mentions that he can build anything from scarecrows to tin men. They do actually build scarecrows, but we never actually see him build the tin man. Wouldn't it been great to see that? #5) We saw the cowardly lion in the film and didn't even know it. When Finley and Oz were attacked by a lion and then Oz does a "magic trick" with a puff of red smoke in the lion's face, it turns him cowardly almost immediately. What was in that powder? Also, how did he get there in the first place? Story for next time, Disney? #4) This is not Disney's first journey to Oz. In the 1950s, there was an attempt to tell a version of the Road to Oz called "Rainbow Road to Oz" and all that remains of the film is a small segment from the Disneyland TV show that aired on September 11, 1957. Disney also returned to oz in 1985 by creating a darker live-action adaptation of the second and third Oz books called "Return to Oz". Which Disney Oz adventure is your favorite? #3) The Baum Brothers Circus title is an homage to the original Oz Historian, L. Frank Baum. #2) Even though we saw China Country in ruins in this movie, this is not the only time that this area of Oz has been done in films and TV shows. Check out this link to see the many faces of China Country that have graced the small and big screens. #1) As a tribute to the opening of the movie in 2013, EPCOT's Flower and Garden Festival re-created moments from Oz the Great and Powerful in the form of a playground. It has the flowers, the yellow brick, the rainbow, and of course, some great circus games. Feel free to check it out here in a walk through video. So, there we have it, 7 tidbits for 7 years and as we close off this emerald month of March, let us reflect on all the great moments in Oz the Great and Powerful that have truly brought fun and enjoyment into our lives, especially when we need it now more than ever. Oh, and one final treat before you go! As a tribute of their own, the Oz Club did an issue that focused on the movie (cover below), be sure to check it out if can find a copy of it out there. The issue "includes a behind-the-scenes look at publicity surrounding the world premiere in Hollywood, a film review, a checklist of movie merchandise and collectibles." (https://ozclub.org/publications/the-baum-bugle/past-issues-bugle/) What are some fun tidbits about the movie that you want to share with others? Please comment below and until next, I'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse.
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In the month of March, everyone's favorite Irish holiday is upon us and in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, there is a well-known object in Oz that is green and offers very magical properties. Of course, I am talking about the famous six-leafed clover. I wonder what good luck properties exist with this amazing plant. It is first introduced in the seventh book of Baum's series, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. It is one of many ingredients needed for a potion to counteract the effects of the Liquid of Petrification. Might the Liquid of Petrification be the same potion that Mombi was planning on using on Tip/Ozma in the second book, where she promised to turn him/her into a statue for her garden. Who knows? Anyways, the six-leaf clover has made multiple media appearances in different adaptations that you will want to check out this St. Patrick's Day. After its appearance in the Patchwork Girl of Oz book in 1913, it made its first appearance ever a year later in the Oz Film Manufacturing production of The Patchwork Girl of Oz, where Ojo finds the clover in the Munchkin Forest. You can see the whole movie online or YouTube. It's really funny! After that appearance, it comes back nearly a hundred years later, in a 2015 episode of Once Upon a Time called "Heart of Gold", where it is stolen by Robin Hood in the Emerald City and described it as having the power to change the appearance of anyone into someone else. (That is the first we are ever told by any source what it is capable of doing magically). Robin Hood used it to turn into a commoner and Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West, used it to turn into Maid Marion to trick Robin Hood. As seen below, each leaf of the clover is used as a necklace that one wears to gain its power. Then, in 2017, the clover appeared again in an episode of Boomerang's Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz called "Beware the Woozy", in which they need to use the clover as part of the potion to unpetrify Ozma, who wildly enough actually became a statue in a garden in this episode due to the efforts of the Nome King. So, which one is your favorite? Comment below and share your wonderfully clover memories of Oz. Well, that is all there is, and it is a very fun journey. So, until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere into the Oz-verse. |
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AuthorMy name is Vinkus Ken and I have been a long time fan of many things in Oz and how their world truly does emulate much of ours. Did you know that they have a flag of their own? Or did you know that they have a law about only having 9 jurors in their courts? Also, Oz has a court system! I like to introduce facts that seem meaningless and bring meaning to them by comparing them to our world. So, come along on this journey and enjoy the ride. |