 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tin Man
- Review Date: March 10, 2008
- NR
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Wizard of Oz meets Blade Runner.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this miniseries is nothing like the classic 1930s film it's based on. The Wizard of Oz was all about love and the nurturing goodness of home; here, the Outer Zone (aka "the O.Z.") is a dark, grim place where suspicion easily trumps affection. Evil sorceress Azkadellia uses force, fear, and magic to dominate the land -- her goons roam the countryside looking for rebels, and in the capital, Central City, hookers, strippers, and drunks hang out on the corners. There's some swearing ("crap," "bitch," etc.) and a fair amount of violence, but little gore. The film is dominated by an oppressive feeling of despair and gloom that could be scary for young children; even tweens might find it difficult to see that underneath the darkness is a story with a happy ending.
What's the story?
TIN MAN is a dark reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. The O.Z. (Outer Zone) is ruled by the evil sorceress Azkadellia (Kathleen Robertson), who desperately wants to find a powerful mystical emerald that will help her rule the land but has no idea where to look. Enter DG (Zooey Deschanel), an everyday farm girl -- er, modern feminist who rides a motorcycle and likes to roll up her sleeves and repair engines -- from Kansas who is transported into the O.Z. by, yes, a twister. Turns out DG and Azkadellia share a mysterious bond; unraveling this puzzle may help them locate the gem. Joining DG on her journey are Glitch (Alan Cumming), a flexible and loyal pal who's been lobotomized by Azkadellia's mad scientists (in other words, he has no brain); Raw (Raoul Trujillo), a nervous, hairy sort who sometimes has magical visions; and Cain (Neal McDonough), a former lawman -- or Tin Man, as they're known in the O.Z. -- who wants nothing more than revenge on the Longcoats who attacked his wife and son years earlier.
Is it any good?
If the cyclone had deposited Dorothy Gale not in Oz, but in the famed grim future of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, the result might have been Tin Man. The movie is filled with clever shout-outs to The Wizard of Oz. Look for DG's blue gingham waitress uniform back in Kansas, and the Munchkin-like members of the Resistance Fighters of the Eastern Guild.
But Tin Man is definitely its own film and a totally different story -- though ultimately it offers a similar message about the value of family. The original, though a timeless classic, may seem a bit too sugary to some people these days; this dark, modern version is an exciting and interesting update (though, at six hours, it sometimes drags).
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why movies get remade (or, in this case, "reimagined"). In cases like this, where the new version is so different from the original, is it even accurate to consider it a remake? Do changes to stories you're already familiar with bother you? Families can also discuss the secrets that DG discovers, including her mysterious connection to Azkadellia. Is it OK to have conflicting feelings about a family member? How would you react if you found out that some of the people closest to you aren't who you thought they were? Also, Cain is seeking revenge on one of Azkadellia's henchmen, who carried out a brutal attack. Does that justify more violence? If there really is no place like home, how far would you go to protect yours, and would you want revenge on someone who destroyed it?
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AGE
Wizard of OZ with a modern twist
I thought they did a great job taking a classic story and putting a twist on it. My husband and myself watched it when it came out and couldn't wait until the next night to catch more of it. You really need to watch Wizard of Oz before you see it to freshen up on things. There was one part where the "evil" sister was looking into a green light, and the light on her face made her look like the witch in the Wizard of Oz...it was pretty genius how they did several things like that to see if you're paying attention to the small details.
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AGE
dark but interesting
this movie is long but good i reversed when azkadellia said the b word the part of the dream where a scary face spook me out i didn't see the rest.
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AGE
Sci-fi adaptation not bad bad, but not great either
The movie seems to ramble on for a good portion of the series, so you have to have patience. Dorothy seems to be more than a bit lost and confused. How she manages to keep pressing forward to the end mystifies. Most people in a similar situation would probably resign themselves to their fate, and settle down to a quiet life in the face of so many threats to life and limb, but the story would not be the same I suppose... But press on she does, and quite a few times I wondered if it was going to be worth it to see it through to the end myself. Kids will probably leave to do other stuff at some point. By the last installment you begin to see the "why" of it all, but you still don't know how it will all turn out, but it will be predictable all the same. If I had to choose, I would pick Judy Garland every time, and so would your kids, I imagine.
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AGE
great movie / tv series
this is great, i realy like zooey deschanel and think this movie is great. a tv chanel is currently showing it on wednesdays and i dont belive that it is very violent. there aare guns, attempted murder and a little swearing but most children lately can handle this.
my 7yr old brother watches this with us and enjoys it almost more than i do.
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AGE
I loved it. Yeah, it swore a little, nothing I haven't heard before. Az's clothes were a little.... different, but she had tattoos to release the monkeys from on her chest so they were showing you that. It wasn't scary at all. My little sister watched it and loved it. It was a good story about finding out who you are.
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| Studio: | Rhi Entertainment |
| Director: | Nick Willing |
| Cast: | Kathleen Robertson, Neal McDonough, Zooey Deschanel |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 265 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 30, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | March 10, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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