The Wizard of the Emerald City

After reading the "original" "The wizard of the Emerald City" by Volkov (which is an adaptation of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"), my daughter was very eager to see this movie. She kind of liked it, though the movie is a little dark and scary. Graphics is really good and the yellow brick road scenery is very beautiful. The mix of jokes based on the cross between magical land and the modern life is funny. I also liked that the authors decided to rework a bit the classical story and to add some characters from the second Volkov's book about "Urfin Juice and the wooden solders": the Urfin Juice himself and the crow Kaggi-Kar (though here it is not a crow, but some other tropical bird species). On the other hand Witch of the Violet land Bastinda (Wicked Witch of the West) got an important role during the whole movie, and not just in the second part as in the book.

The biggest disappointment is that the movie is split in two parts and finishes when the friends come to the Emerald city. Nevertheless, we decided that it is worthy adaptation (of the adaptation 😊) are impatiently waiting for the second part.

I don't know English text via Google translator.

A short review by an ordinary Russian viewer who watched this film in a cinema during the New Year holidays with a child.

Entrance: I am a movie buff: I have more than 2000 films watched in my profile here.

I have never written reviews.

I have not read "The Wizard of Oz" (the Russian adaptation is called "The Wizard of the Emerald City") and have not watched films in this universe before. All this passed me by, going to the cinema I did not want to watch this film at all because all this is designed for children.

Review: After watching I liked it, yes, the film is for children, but in general I was surprised by how it was filmed that the film is Russian - I thought such graphics are only in Hollywood. I do not watch fairy tales, but here "I had to" I think you understand me. Only the next day after watching it, when I went to give it 7 points on IMDB, I found out that this film was Russian - imagine how surprised I was at that moment and even read the story that it turns out there is such a book...

The film has good music, graphics, there is a scale, the style is reminiscent of Hollywood fairy tales, yes, the character of Ellie is naive, but what do you expect from a child? And the book is old, although the script was adapted for our time, but you need to understand that children acted differently in the past, imagine that Ellie does not live in a big city, but in some backwater, so she has her own manner of acting.

I can safely recommend watching it with children 6-10 years old.

Since we heard a lot about the new movie "The Wizard of the Emerald City: The Road of Yellow Brick" we decided to take the kids to see it, and the film completely met all our expectations. It is an incredible and exciting story that truly captivates and gives real emotions. This is exactly the kind of movie we were hoping for during the holidays.

It all started when a girl named Ellie and her dog Totonio suddenly found themselves in the amazing country of the Whimsies along with their parents' caravan. To get back home, she needs to reach the Emerald City with her new friends and find the legendary wizard Goodwin.

We really liked how the filmmakers told Ellie's story and made it more relevant and understandable for a modern audience. I hope that after this movie, kids will put down their smartphones and see the beauty of life around them!

From beginning to end, there were incredible discoveries in a land of real wonders, adventures, and quite good action. So, it's definitely worth watching the film.

You're hooked the entire time, waiting for Elli to finally meet the Wizard of Oz, and then they hit you with a lame "To be continued." There's nothing memorable about the movie, because it's all just a setup to make you watch the second part which does not exist yet.

On the bright side, the graphics look good, and the acting is decent for Russian cinematography. In fact, I'd rate it much higher than Domovyonok Kuzya because of the acting, graphics, and plot are a bit better. However, the movie is unfinished.

Modern movies about Soviet tales are the same: phones are bad, then something happens, and the kid ends up in a magic land. Modern things, like iPhones, feel out of place and a bit forced.

The movie just cuts off in the middle, devaluing everything that was shown before. After the end, there was a feeling that you were cruelly scammed because there was no proper ending.

"The Wizard of the Emerald City" (2025): A Disappointing Journey into Fantasy The film The Wizard of the Emerald City, which premiered in January 2025, sparked a wave of discontent among viewers. Expectations were high for this ambitious project, supported by the Russian Cinema Fund, but reality fell short, leaving audiences disappointed. Let's analyze what went wrong.

Budget and Execution One of the primary complaints from viewers is the film's visual component. Despite claims of a significant budget, the movie's graphics feel outdated and fail to meet modern standards. At times, the special effects resemble those seen in early 2000s films, when visual effects technology was still in its infancy.

Plot Structure The script feels fragmented and underdeveloped. The narrative unfolds superficially, lacking deep character development or emotional engagement. The most glaring issue is that the film ends halfway through the story, leaving audiences without a complete narrative arc. This abrupt cutoff is especially frustrating for viewers expecting a cohesive story.

Negative Role Model for Children: The Case of Ellie The portrayal of the main character, Ellie, deserves special attention. Instead of showcasing her as a strong and determined figure growing through her journey, the film presents her as a capricious and self-centered girl overly reliant on others' help. This approach risks promoting a negative behavioral model, especially for young viewers who might look to Ellie as a role model.

Ellie frequently acts like an immature character, seeking validation and direction from others rather than developing her own skills and decisions. Unlike the original story, where Ellie is portrayed as more independent and resolute, this adaptation undermines essential qualities such as self-reliance and responsibility.

Furthermore, the film endorses a troubling pattern of behavior in which betraying friends remains unpunished if it serves Ellie's goals. She makes choices that undermine trust and violate moral principles, but these actions are ultimately forgiven with mere weak apologies. This sends a dangerous message: that betraying trust and prioritizing personal goals over friendships carries no serious consequences. For a young audience, this is a deeply concerning takeaway.

Unexpected Ending and Marketing Missteps One of the most contentious aspects is the lack of prior disclosure that the film is only the first part of a larger story. The abrupt plot cutoff provoked widespread discontent since viewers were not informed about this format. Advertising materials and the film's description led audiences to expect a complete, standalone work, which some see as misleading.

Ethical and Legal Concerns From a legal perspective, the creators' actions could be interpreted as a violation of consumer rights. Russian law requires full and accurate disclosure of product or service information. If the omission of the film's sequel was intentional, it could be classified as unfair practice.

Positive Aspects It is worth noting that the film does have some strengths. The musical score effectively enhances the atmosphere, and certain visual elements are commendable. Additionally, despite its flaws, the project managed to draw attention to Russian cinema-albeit with a negative undertone.

Conclusion The Wizard of the Emerald City turned out to be a disappointing project that failed to meet audience expectations despite significant investments. Outdated visuals, inefficient budget use, an underwhelming script, and the lack of transparency regarding its format as "part one" all contribute to the overall sense of frustration. Negative elements, such as poor character portrayal and the promotion of selfish behavior, further exacerbate the film's shortcomings. The movie leaves viewers with a sense of incompleteness, and unless the creators address these issues moving forward, the project risks not only failure but also losing the audience's trust.