While far from a replacement on the unmitigated purity & genius of the '39 classic, it's instead a flip on the original in many ways. The cultural/racial differences are telling, the modern 70s stylings, the sympathetically cool casting of Ross (my late-to-the-party new crush), & the change to make Dorothy afraid to leave her home. The end-product is mixed (great design with lifeless direction, fun but forgettable songs, powerful but blunt messaging), but one worth exploring...& ripe for a remake.
Review of The Wiz
