The Wizard of Oz
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
This is the fairy tale that taught America what a fairy tale looks like. Dorothy is brave, loyal, and homesick in the best sense. Her friends discover the brains, heart, and courage they already had. The witches are storybook figures, not occult teachers. The one soft spot is the ending's gentle humanism: the film never says where virtue comes from. Still, it is a joy.
For parents
Fine for most children from about six; the Wicked Witch, the flying monkeys, and the tornado can frighten the very young. Ask: why was the Wizard a fraud, and why did Dorothy forgive him? Where do courage and a good heart really come from? Why is home worth wanting?