There are movies that you get something out of every time you watch them, and then there are others you don’t. For me, “The Wizard of Oz,” was an overrated piece of filmmaking that fell into the latter category. Critics and film historians seem to give credit to older movies like “The Wizard of Oz” because of their technological advancements more than their actual content, something I claim to be the reason for the film’s popularity.
My stance hasn’t exactly changed on people liking it for that reason. I still think critics love it because of its use of Technicolor. But watching “The Dark Side of Oz” showed me that below what is typically perceived as a kid-friendly movie is a film full of hidden meanings and symbolism of how American society is run.
“The Dark Side Oz” is when the soundtrack to “The Wizard of Oz” is muted and Pink Floyd’s album “Dark Side of the Moon” is synched up with the film, making the album the new soundtrack for the film. It may sound odd, but eerily, the synching of these two matches up perfectly.
For instance, when Dorothy opens the door to a whole new world full of color after surviving the tornado, a cash register sound effect is played. When the tin man first appears, a heart thumping can be heard until he delivers the lines explaining he doesn’t have a heart, to which the thumping stops. And what is even stranger is that with the album lasting a little under 50 minutes and the movie running over 100, if played continuously on repeat, the album still matches up with the movie.
Allowing the viewer to experience the film with a new soundtrack offers a new perspective on the movie. The film is funnier, as watching things match up perfectly is humorous. Watching dramatic scenes accompanied by a not so typical soundtrack is amusing as well. But perhaps most importantly, is the weirdness of it allows the viewer to ignore being so focused on the action occurring on the screen. The synching of the two allows viewers to be alone with their thoughts, and really deeply think about what they are watching. Doing this allows the film to be more than just a kid’s movie with a simple plot and weird munchkins. It becomes a great movie for all ages, and definitely earns its reputation as being a classic.
For those who love the original, “The Dark Side of Oz” would not likely ruin any good feelings toward the film. I doubt it would bring anything new, other than maybe the liking of Pink Floyd or perhaps enjoying the matching up of their album with the movie. But for those who either are in the middle regarding their feelings toward the movie or even hate it, “The Dark Side of Oz” can be an eye opening experience in more than one way, something rarely offered by a movie, let alone one that can be watched in different ways.