Writingbolt's Creation

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It’s another extension of the Wizard-of-Oz franchise! And, I cannot wait to see it! I’m buying advance tickets at the most expensive price I can find because I must be first to support diversity! Just look at the diverse cast in this latest Oz movie! It’s amazing to be working with all of those famous people! Well, I didn’t actually work with them, but I feel so close to them all, just watching their film…because of all the diversity! You’ve never seen such a diverse cast! It’s amazing!

And, I feel just a little nauseous trying to be that enthusiastic about a highly tuned remake of something I already appreciated in a live-action theater, as a musical, without the modernized diversity. Oh, I’m not saying there’s something wrong with diversity…but, too often, it feels forced. And, this is one of those times. I don’t need to rewatch the story with a new cast to support a movement. Nor do I have any confidence that the diverse cast will make the story better than how I last experienced it.

Just like telling yourself you need to eat a salad because it’s healthy for you (when you have no interest in the salad and have not given it any satisfying flavor with the right dressing), this diversity-injected remake isn’t appealing to me…maybe because it comes with a sort of subliminal label. Had this been an original story with a diverse cast, I’d be more intrigued…maybe.

[I’ve seen some “teen lit” films with diverse casts that also scream “diversity movement,” and the “health food” factor, the “token” casting, turns me off. The original West Side Story (movie) had stimulating diversity, and then someone said, “Hey. This isn’t diverse enough. It needs more.” And, I humbly disagreed, but the upgrade to artistic quality was satisfying.]

So…this is awkward. I’m just gonna hop a hot-air balloon out of here, now.