| The Wiz | 
 enlarge | Director: Sidney Lumet
Actors: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.00
You Save: $7.98 (53%)
New (7) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $5.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  192 reviews
Sales Rank: 7000
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 134
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D20534D
ISBN: 0783233493
UPC: 025192053429
EAN: 9780783233499
ASIN: 0783233493
Theatrical Release Date: October 24, 1978
Release Date: April 13, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico) and penned by Joel Schumacher (Batman and Robin), this lavish 1978 adaptation of the Broadway hit The Wiz was the biggest production filmed in New York City up to that point, utilizing the newly revamped Astoria Studios and locations around the city. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross (reprising his Tony-winning role as the Lion) star in this Academy Award-nominated musical for the whole family. The Wiz is probably the grandest take on L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz. The production team created sets with a sense of urban magic and spectacle: a New York subway station literally comes to life, and the massive plaza between the World Trade Center towers is transformed into the Emerald City, featuring nearly 400 dancers with three costume changes. Like all good musicals, the Quincy Jones arrangements are highly hummable long after viewing (especially the funky "Ease On Down the Road" and the inspirational "Brand New Day"). In an era before MTV, the camera stays nearly stationary as Ross and Lena Horne vocally soar through their numbers. Their stage-like performances successfully make the leap to film, making The Wiz a testament to their singing talents and star presence. The then-thirtysomething Ross raised some eyebrows playing the traditionally teenaged Dorothy, but she and her supporting cast (including Richard Pryor as the Wiz) carry the tunes with an infectious verve that will appeal to folks of all ages. --Shannon Gee
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| Customer Reviews: Read 187 more reviews...
 Favorite October 30, 2008
This is my all time favorite movie. I recently purchased it for the younger generation and it was a hit with them as well. This movie transcends time and ages. Very entertaining with a positive message. Two thumbs up!
"Ease on Down the Road!" August 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"The Wiz" gave the Wizard of Oz a new musical life with its jazzy R&B and soul-inflected score,along with an African-American cast. The songs are catchy, especially "Ease on Down the Road." It's a Quincy Jones classic. Diana Ross is Dorothy,a schoolteacher in the ghetto of NYC. She magically finds herself in Oz, traveling down the yellow brick road with the help of Glinda the Good (a luminous Lena Horne),the tenderhearted Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the wise Scarecrow (Michael Jackson,then starting out as a solo artist)
"The Wiz" is incredibly campy. Its premise--an inner-city schoolteacher seeking out the Wizard (Richard Pryor)makes the story at once adult and childlike. Quincy Jones is famous for knowing his musical audiences. He made Michael Jackson's "Thriller" the bestselling album in history. But with "The Wiz",he didn't know if he should appeal to adults or children. It's a dark fantasy,an urban dystopia until Dorothy comes to the Emerald City (the plaza that was once between the Twin Towers of the WTC) The fantasy is melancholy now in retrospect.
"The Wiz" was revolutionary in 1978. After three decades,it's still an underrated classic. Ease on down the road...
 One wizzer of a movie August 23, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I remember seeing this movie when I was younger and I think I liked it then. Looking back on it now, I can't remember why I liked it. I thought the movie was very draggy and boring and at some points a bit creepy. The whole scene where they're running through what looks like an abandoned parking garage and are being chased by garbage cans and columns still creeps me out. I agree with some of the other reviews that said the songs in this movie were out of place. They did not advance the plot or give further explaination they were just there. I especially despise the song when Dorothy arrives at the emerald city. "You've got to be seen, green." It just went on and on. It's like they took the concept of the horse of a different color and just made the people change color instead. The ending with the sniveling, whiney Wiz was the worst part of this movie. A depressed wizard is just not appealing. The costumes in this movie where also strange. the lion is wearing a fur coat and looks like a pimp, and it looks like Micheal Jackson's scarecrow has the wrapper of a Reese's candy on the end on his nose. My favortie character in this movie was Toto, who did not get enough screen time. I'd rent this before buying it. If you can sit through it once, you probably won't want to watch it again.
funny August 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It was a great movie. I loved the singing and the cute doggy Toto.
A Classic of the Twin Towers July 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A Classic in my book for the muscial, plot, how the story unfolds, colors, famous actors, actress, and famous singers. I love the songs the words have deep meanings that uplifts my spirit and soul. I also like how Twin Towers were used to make the. Behind the Twin Towers was the location.
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