VOA标准英语2013--Wizard of Oz Gets a Movie Prequel

 

Wizard of Oz Gets a Movie Prequel

Like the original, Oz the Great and Powerful, a new release by filmmaker Sam Raimi, opens in black and white.

Circus magician Oscar Diggs, played by James Franco, is taken to the Emerald City where he’s destined¹ to claim the throne. First, he’s told, he has to kill the Wicked Witch. He meets three witches. They deny they're wicked.

It will take time for him to figure out who the bad witch is.

James Franco says the original story inspired him. “I have been a fan of the world of Oz since I was probably eleven, maybe younger. So, I thought it was a really great opportunity to jump into the role of my childhood and imagination," he said.

Sam Raimi’s 3D film offers a good story, rich visuals, good acting² and great special effects.

But it can't match the 1939 Wizard of Oz where Dorothy, played by Judy Garland in her ruby³ slippers⁴, made history.

She travels to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard who will show her the way back home - only to find that Oz is a fake.

The journey is an allegory of self-discovery.

The Library of Congress named The Wizard of Oz the most watched motion picture in history, says Patrick Loughney, Executive Director of the National Audio Visual Conservation Center at the Library.

“It’s a magical film because it captures that concentration of energy, genius and creativity that was apparent in Hollywood, in the movie industry at that time," he said.

Loughney says the 1939 film carried a post-depression message of endurance. “To me it's the message of hope in the movie that ultimately connects with everybody at that time, and even today," he said.

Other incarnations of The Wizard of Oz have reflected changes in popular culture. In 1974, The Wiz featured Dorothy played by Diana Ross, with an all-black cast.

"I think it reflects a social change that already occurred in America since the 1950s and 1960s. And so you have major movie studios beginning to accommodate artists coming out of the African American community," said Loughney.

Now, Sam Raimi’s technical marvel⁵, Oz the Great and Powerful, may give new life to the wizard until the next incarnation of Frank Baum's beloved story. 

1 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

4 slippers   

n. 拖鞋

参考例句：

• a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
• He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。

5 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。