Tin Man (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

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This re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is not all sweetness and light. But neither is it laden with the grim-jawed cynicism of Frank Maguire's Wicked. And it's hard to classify it as fantasy, not with all the steampunk elements and cross-cultural references that make this Oz more dimensional than the original. It's more of an immersion in a completely different world, designed to upset expectations and put your brain on a psychic tilt-a-whirl.

D.G. (Zooey Deschanel) has been brought forward to the modern Midwest: a technical genius stuck in a rural farming community, she feels her conservative parents and miserable job stifling her. Only her artwork and her elaborate dreams keep her sane. When an army of black-clad stormtroopers suddenly attacks the farm, her parents fling her through the whirlwind, claiming she'll be safe on the other side.

Once there, the world in which she finds herself could charitably be considered analogous to Baum's original. It is full of visual and textual allusions to both the novel and the classic 1939 movie, such as the costume and makeup design of Raoul Trujillo's "Raw," who straddles the line between Burt Lahr's movie character and W.W. Denslow's illustrations. The Yellow Brick Road is reduced to a minor plot point, but the Witch (Kathleen Robertson) is a much more fully dimensional character, with an intricate history that makes her somewhat sympathetic.

The Outer Zone, or O.Z., is a world of moral complexity, where pat answers are few on the ground. D.G.'s companions must earn her loyalty, and vice versa. The Tin Man of the title (Neal McDonough), so called because of his Texas Ranger badge and long-barrel revolver, is a grim-faced man who must overcome his wrath if he wants to rediscover his place in the world. These are not characters who are good or bad because the plot demands it, but because they are fully realized and drive the story under their own forward momentum.

Director Nick Willing creates a sophisticated visual backdrop for the characters to move through. Part rococo technology and part Neuschwanstein majesty, the visual element helps bring home the otherworld quality of this miniseries. There are a small handful of scenes, particularly when the heroes are fleeing the Witch's tower, when it's obvious the actors are playing against a chromakey set with the hope that the visuals will be matted in later, but these are sparse and not terribly distracting.

One element I'm glad for is that D.G. in this version of Oz is fully committed to where she is. She spares herself, and us, the mewling for home that was so off-putting in the book and the classic movie. She lives in the present and works toward noble goals, rather than getting caught up in wanting to go backward. This makes us as an audience want to go forward with her.

This is not the same old Oz. It's a sci-fi fantasy for our more conflicted age, a battle that offers to play itself out and bring us along not because it's supposed to happen, but because its characters and their hope speak to us. Though probably not for kids, "Tin Man" is a fantasy a contemporary audience can believe in.

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Tin Man (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

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Prepare yourself for surprising and unexpected twists and turns in an Oz that even Judy Garland wouldn't be able to recognize. This time it's Zooey Deschanel as DG (i.e. Dorothy Gale), the traveler, or "slipper" between worlds who finds herself in a perilous situation that makes the original 1939 film look like a carefree walk in the park. Though this is a made-for-television mini-series the production values are stellar and the cast superior. I don't think Zooey has ever let me down and her courageous companions; Alan Cumming, Neal McDonough and Raoul Truijillo add a lot of energy and personality to keep the audience focused on this somewhat overly lengthy production. Kathleen Robertson was also a big plus as DG's older, allegedly evil sister Azkadellia, adding a much appreciated touch of sexuality to keep the adult, male audience occupied.

What really makes this storyline unique and entertaining is the massive use of creative license to adapt the original plot, landscape and characters into a new imaginative vision while still maintaining a credible link with the original cinematic classic. The first indication one gets that this tale will be different from what they're used to comes just by reading the title chosen for this mini-series. Why would they omit Oz and Dorothy from the title and call it `Tin Man'? To be sure more surprises lay ahead for the intrepid viewer. The second major change is the clever way in which the word Oz is changed from the name of a place to an acronym of a place. It's not Oz anymore, it's the O.Z. meaning the Outer Zone. Yes there are lots of subtle alterations like this to keep the viewing audience on its toes.

I was also pleased by the updated metamorphosis taken place within the ranks of DG's trio of fellow sojourners. The Scarecrow was no more, now replaced by Glitch (Cumming), a lobotomized human with a prominent zipper down the middle of his hairline, an ex-cop named Cain (McDough) nicknamed Tin Man because of the badge he used to carry and Raw (Truijillo), a member of a race of empathic, hairy, lion-like beings who possess the ability to read minds. Even little, loveable Toto has returned, but not in a form you would have ever anticipated. Toto is only the animal form of a shapeshifter known as Tutor when in human form. Be prepared for a lot more changes than just the few mentioned here.

On the negative side I'd have to mention the Evil Witches scheme to bring permanent darkness to the O.Z. wasn't very original. If you've seen `Kull the Conqueror' ('97) or `Hellboy ('07) you've seen it before. The other drawback is the length of the production which is a common concern when it comes to mini-series. About midway through you might find yourself losing interest, however If you make it to Part 3 the storyline accelerates and you'll find yourself infused with a shot of adrenaline with the introduction of several unanticipated plot maneuvers that will carry the now invigorated viewer to the end.

Guest

Tin Man (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

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This is a wonderful re imagining of the wizard of oz. More accurately a sequel to it in a way as it takes place about 200 years (guessing at the number) after the Wizard of Oz. D.G. goes on her quest through the O.Z. or Outer Zone and collects an group of friends to help her defeat the evil witch. Sound familiar? It is well worth it though and I adore this movie.

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