"The Wiz" Movie and Question

#1

"The Wiz" Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 12:23am

Caught the last 30 mins of this movie. What a piece of trash. Gawd. I'm sure the previous hour and a half were no better. Horribly directed and Diana Ross acts like every scene is a big death scene. And what the heck was that Lena Horne fit/seizure/musical number about? Loved the shots of random kids.

Question...were there any legal probs with the Wiz folks adapting the original novel?

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Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#2

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 12:25am

I don't know if there were any legal problems, but I just wanted to say that the Orginal broadway cast is far superior to the Movie Cast of The Wiz. Though, I liked Lena Horne's song at the end.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#3

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 12:30am

At the time The Wiz was written, the novel by L. Frank Baum was not public domain. The authors secured the rights legally to adapt it.

The novel is public domain now, and has been for several years. No legal rights are needed to adapt the book or use material from it. Just ask Gregory Maguire.

...and I agree that the movie version of The Wiz SUCKS.

But you should know that it bears VERY little resemblance, if any, to the stage show. It was a complete overhaul... and NOT in a good way.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 7/4/06 at 12:30 AM

#4

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 12:57am

I haven't seen it in full..which is probably a good thing.

I just couldn't take Ross singing "Home" straight to the camera and then crying at the end. Gawd. I couldn't even watch her I felt so bad.

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Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#5

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:00am

If you couldn't take "Home," then you'd better skip the rest.

Miss Ross cries through just about EVERY number in the movie, except for "Ease On Down the Road."

I wish I was joking, but I'm not.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#6

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:00am

I saw the original show, in a pre-Broadway run, in Philadelphia. I classified it as the worst piece of crap, ever! Then, I saw the film.

#7

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:01am

I hate Soon as I Get Home in the Movie.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#8

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:05am

"Soon as I Get Home" -- Miss Ross cries.

Did anyone bother to tell them that this was an UP-TEMPO in the stage show?

Nope. She cries... and cries, and cries.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#9

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:05am

I think, as bad as the movie was, it would have been MUCH better had Stephanie Mills been cast as Dorothy, which, from what I read, was SUPPOSED to happen until Ross demanded the role from Berry Gordy (who originally was adamntly against casting her and was very pro-Mills.)

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Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

#10

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:07am

the Emerald City Sequence is kinda cool, but it gets very annaying after a while (and defeats the purpose of calling it THE EMERALD CITY).

Does anyone know what is up with that scene in the subway?

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#11

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:13am

Was in the play last summer. I decided to get the film before rehearsals started, so I could get an idea of the show. It was in the bargain bin, and it was a waste of $5.50. I wasn't a big fan of the stage show, but it was significantly better than the movie.

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"Wherever you go... I'll be right there. When you get your own private kick in the ass, just remember: it's a present from me to you." Rose's dying words to Louise

#12

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:15am

The subway scene is a mess. And that freaky guy with his dangling puppets practically gave me nightmares... and to WHAT PURPOSE???

And the Emerald City isn't supposed to be a "stoplight." It's GREEN.

Although, it's even more creepy now, since it takes place at the World Trade Center pavillion.

Since NONE of that happened in the stage show, I haven't a clue.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#13

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:16am

I like to believe that Diana Ross demanded that her character's age (2 be mentioned in the film.

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"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey

#14

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:19am

It was still a fantasy. Miss Ross was 34 when they made The Wiz.

"Announcing" that Dorothy is a 28-year-old school teacher from Harlem, is still better than pretending she's a 12-year-old girl from Kansas.

What WERE they thinking???

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#15

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:25am

God, I was thinking she was older than that when she made it. Maybe it was her hairdo. It was not flattering.

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"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey

#16

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:29am

I thought I was the only one that hated this! It's the only musical my mom ever MADE me watch and even at 7, and without seeing a stage version that something weird was going on there.

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I have NEVER met Cheyenne Jackson. I have never hung out with him in his dressing room, he did not tweet me, he never bought me a beverage, and he mostly certainly didn't tickle me. . .that is all.

#17

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:32am

And what ever happend to that guy who played then Scarecrow? He was such a bright talent.

Wasn't he on "Diff'rent Strokes"?

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Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#18

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:35am

Hate to tell you this Best12Bars, but Oz has been in the public domain since 1958 when the copyright expired.

I actually enjoy the film for cheese factor, I find that a lot of it's elements seem to work better. The Oz in the stage version is still very MGM, and the music feels more NYC. But that's just me. I wish the film re-make that was proposed with Brandy and Queen Latifah would happen.

And I hope the Different Strokes bit is a joke..or else you may have to go to music hell for that.

Updated On: 7/4/06 at 01:35 AM

#19

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:39am

Did you know the first song Jackson sings, "You Can't Win," was written for the stage version, but cut.

Hmmm..perhaps they should have used the word "cut" more often during this movie.

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Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

#20

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:43am

Universal made a mess of this film. Then they made a mess out of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". What will they do with "Wicked"?

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"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions" ------- "Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu" from "Can't Stop The Music" ----- "When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth" ------------ --------- "Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.

#21

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:46am

See, I kinda like Whorehouse...but I'm from TX, and grew up watchin g the real Melvin P Thorpe...so ya know.

I agree, You Can't Win needed to stay cut, and I hated the re-arranging of songs to give Nipsey Russell two BACK TO BACK...that's what'll kill the film with me, is that right there. I also miss the songs the Wiz sang...I do not miss the random song in Evillene's Castle from the 84 revival.

#22

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 3:11am

Was there a new song for Evillene in the 84 revival?

#23

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 8:13am

Lena Horne's performance was the BEST part of the whole damn film. i only watch that part.

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"Girl, this cupcake is the jumpoff"- Adriane Lenox

#24

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 8:35am

The source material stinks, too. It's not as if they took this really great stage show and destroyed it. The film is worse, to be sure; but, who cares?

#25

re: 'The Wiz' Movie and Question

Posted: 7/4/06 at 11:50am

Who else is freaked out by the man with the puppets in the subway station? THe music... everything about that freaks me out!