6. Dorothy Gale (Return To Oz)
Return to Oz is my second-favorite movie for a lot of reasons (those who really know me are probably wondering why it took me so long to mention it), and one of those reasons is its interpretation of Dorothy Gale. It takes what makes her character great in the books and goes even further by giving her ingenuity practical, very real meaning. Dorothy is a step above many other protagonists her age, and, no matter how much the 1939 Wizard of Oz claims a special place in your heart, this Dorothy is a step above the Judy Garland one as well, because this Dorothy is legitimately thoughtful, insightful, and, most of all, is a problem-solver, able to get out of even the worst situations through her own spirit as well as teamwork. In the 1939 Wizard of Oz film, Dorothy isn't relegated to romance, but she is consistently portrayed as a definition of innocent in which most of what she achieves happens by accident, and is consistently flabbergasted at anything that occurs around her. She doesn't read anything into the world beyond what she sees. She is not so much determined as strong-willed, yet is a frantic spectator of her own life. I'm not saying this is Judy Garland's fault; this version of Dorothy is what the filmmakers wanted, despite the presence of strong female characters in existence at the time. Very tellingly, her version of Dorothy is the one primarily revered and held as beloved by most of Western culture. Dorothy in Return to Oz, on the other hand, is also innocent, and she has the curiosity of a child, but she is legitimately and refreshingly logical and perceptive, and it's frequently her resourcefulness that gets her out of her situations, whether just by asking questions and taking it upon herself to escape from Dr. Worley's facility, or escaping the overwhelming horror that is Princess Mombi, or restoring the Emerald City with all of her friendsand living enemiesintact. Sure, Dorothy leaves some elements up to chance, but she really is a force to be reckoned with among those who would try to oppress her, and not just by sliding under the grown-ups' legs while running away. In fact, it's much more entertaining. Return to Oz's Dorothy Gale is a great role model for kids and adults. She can grow up to be whatever she wants, on her own terms, based on what's important to her, all while retaining and applying the wonderful possibilities of her imagination.