Fear is a part of life. It keeps us alert, aware, and in extreme cases alive. Whether it be a fear of ignorance, poverty, spiders, or flying monkeys, it is a healthy, normal emotion, that can be inspired by many things.
For many of us, those fears are introduced by Hollywood, and as moviegoers return to Oz this week (come back tomorrow for Zer’s review) many are reminiscing on childhood terrors brought you courtesy of Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road.
Many others are wondering if the terrors of this latest journey to the and of Oz is too intense for young viewers. It’s rated PG, so use your best judgment, but I have to question the underlying fear of scaring the children.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of childhood nightmares in this classic film and the latest Disney prequel—flying monkeys, falling houses, melting witches, armies of chanting guards, and spooks of all kinds. But one of the key tenets behind all of those fears is finding the courage to overcome them (thank you Cowardly Lion) with humility of course.
So yes, it might be scary, but our fears make us who we are, and overcoming them makes us better for it. Plus, if we learned nothing else from Dorothy’s adventures—if all else fails, close your eyes click your heels and wish for home.
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Wizard of Nightmares: 5 Traumatizing Moments from ‘The Wizard of Oz’
…bi-daily smile…
