I was thinking this was a weird one to include as a "must watch" on Cinemonster's part, but I completely forgot the Lynch connection (and just how much nightmare fuel is actually in this movie). I probably watched it hundreds of times growing up -- I could even remember some of the commercial breaks from the VHS we recorded off the TV -- but there were still new things to discover (especially on a much bigger home theater screen than I had as a kid): the trapdoor when the Evil Witch departs Munchkinland in a cloud of red smoke and the GIANT-ASS BIRD chilling in the background of the Tin Man's scene were the biggest two on this rewatch. Having recently seen a local theater production of The Wiz was also interesting for comparison's sake.

This was a fun (albeit not really scary) way to kick off Hooptober and it's just an amazing movie in general. The songs are great, the costumes and makeup are great, and that transition from sepia to color is awesome.

Hooptober #1: USA, 1930s, The Wizard of Oz, based on a novel (1/4)