Customer Reviews

Return to Oz

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2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I saw this film at its premiere in Seattle (The Emerald City) in 1985. I had read the Oz books for years (including the then-elusive non-Baum books written after his death) and always loved the mix of danger, whismy, and enchantment in the books.

I grew up (like every other person in America)with memories of the 1939 musical--but even as a kid I hated the fact that the MGM musical messed so much with the dangerous and frightening aspects of Oz, turning everything into a candy-coated Technicolor dream.

Thus, when I finally saw RETURN TO OZ (based on two books, OZMA of OZ and THE LAND of OZ), I realized that the filmmakers had actually sat down and read the books. Gone were the happy go-lucky images of a very safe place (was Judy Garland's Dorothy ever truly in danger?!?) and in its place was a fairyland full of dark dreams, scary villains, and entirely unique characters. And yet, most of America kept asking, "Where's the Munchkins?"

In fact, the film critic for our local paper so trashed the film on its release that I (as a lowly high school sophomore) wrote him a detailed letter explaining what he had missed in the film by spending all his time comparing it to the MGM film. He (like most of America) missed some wonderful moments: Fairuza Balk's film debut as a real, brave, and sometimes scared little girl being called on to save an entire country from extinction, the Oscar-nominated special effects that brought to life characters that had only existed on paper (like Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Nomes), and the great performances by British actors Nicol Williamson and Jean March as the villains.

Walter Murch and his team got everything right with this one, even down to character design: look at how closely the Oz chracters (Tik-Tok, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, etc.) match the way they looked in John R. Neil's illustrations; listen to the amazing score composed by David Shire, full of life, brilliance, and haunting motifs (the opening credit sequence alone gives chills); and the use of Will Vinton's Claymation (of California Raisins fame) to bring the rock-based Nomes to life.

Unfairly dumped by Disney in the ensuing years (to the point that this DVD version isn't even released by them), the film is only now being rediscovered by people who love great fantasy, great filmmaking, and who truly love to see OZ on screen.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The great film editor walter Murch got the chance in the early Eighties to make a spectacular film compressing the first two sequels to THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, THE MAGICAL LAND OF OZ and OZMA OF OZ, as a tribute to the Baum books he loved. The film was a popular flop, given that almost everyone who took their children to it expected it to be a sequel to the famous M-G-M film version of 1939. (In Murch's version, there are no songs and the carryover characters from the first film--Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion---look like the original illustrations of them by John Neill and W. W. Denslow rather than the way they were portrayed in the 1939 film.) But the film has endured as a cult classic, a master of the film art's tribute to the books and illustrations he loved from his youth.

It's an amazingly beautiful film, but it would be insanity to show it to small children. It starts out with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, rebuilding their house and farm from the cyclone, take Dorothy, who has been speaking of wild stories of cities made of emeralds and scarecrows who talk, to Topeka for electroshock therapy. The asylum they bring her to is a terrifying chamber of horrors, and when she escapes it for Oz she is confronted with incredible other visual terrors, such as the lunatic Wheelers and the Princess Mombi (a variant of both the old witch Mombi and the Princess Langwidere from the Oz books), who exchanges pretty heads for her body the way other women change dresses. The scene where Mombi's headless body chases Dorothy through her chamber of heads (as the other disembodied heads scream in horror) is one of the scariest things I can imagine a child ever viewing.

But this is really a film for adults, and the creepiness of its details add to the mature viewers' pleasure. The sets and costumes are spectacular, the cast includes such accomplished actors as Piper Laurie (as Aunt Em), Jean Marsh (Mombi) and Nicol Williamson (the Nome King), and the David Shire score is one of the most beautiful film scores ever written--period. As for Dorothy herself, the producers chose such a unusually haunting Dorothy (with marvelous multicolored eyes and a curious plaintive quality to her voice) that the actress, Fairuza Balk, has spun a strong acting career from her early cult fame in this part.

This is an AMAZING fantasy film! And I am a loyal fan of the 1939 Judy Garland classic, but let's remember that it's not like that is really the source of the Oz stories! I love both films. They are totally different. While this one is sometimes described as a horror film, it's really not, but it has a lot of very scary moments! It would be interesting to see this film done as pure horror, and the same thing goes for Alice in Wonderland, but while this is scary and may give some kids nightmares, it's not a horror film, it's a magical fantasy that is dark in comparison to Garland's Oz. I've never read the books, not yet anyway, but I hear this one is far more loyal. The effects are wonderful! People who call them laughable must only be doing so out of spite! I notice that a lot in reviews lately. This is a visually stunning movie, and as every other fan here has said, it by no means is a sequel to the '39 version. I realize it's called Return To Oz, but that just means the character has been there before!! Still, there are several throwbacks to the '39 classic for those of us who are loyal fans. While I would never want to change the old classic, Fairuza Balk was probably waaaaay more appropriate for the role, and all the other characters were far more like they would actually appear had it been real as well! This film is done in a serious mode, and that works fine. Just don't watch this thinking it's a Judy Garland sequel! Come on, it's from the '80's! I don't remember if I saw this one in theaters or not, but I think I did. It probably would have done much better had it been released today! By the way, this is a great movie to watch around Halloween, and if you enjoy it I strongly recommend the Worst Witch, also starring Fairuza Balk and made shortly after.

The latest release of "Return to OZ" (a re-release despite Disney saying it's new to DVD on the box) is a mixed blessing. While it's nice to have an anamorphic transfer of the film, the film itself is a disappointing transfer. At least the Anchor Bay version wasn't filled with scratches and dirt as this Dsiney reissue of the film is. Also, I couldn't pick a chapter by pressing a number on the remote but had to hit the forward button to get to the one I wanted. This wasn't a problem with the Anchor Bay version but is on the Disney one. On the other hand, the Disney version has a few more extras than the old release. Besides the short featurette that was on the old release, we have a trailer and some tv spots. The trailer is alright but why bother with those tv spots when they are in such lousy condition. They were pieced together from various sources (most look like 2nd-3rd generation video copies complete with timecode). Anyway, if you have the Anchor Bay version of "Return to Oz", hold on to it but if you want a version that'll fit your widescreen televisions, get the Disney DVD of the film.

I can still remember seeing this for the first time when I was 5 years old. "Return To Oz" has to be one of the most haunting and beautiful films I have ever seen and remains one of my favorites to this day even as I watch it time after time. The new widescreen version offers even more depth into Walter Murch's new and exciting vision for Oz. Yes it's dark and at times creepy, but that's what makes it so wonderful. Fairuza Balk is memorable as a wide eyed, and haunted Dorothy, troubled by memories of Oz and seemingly trapped by her longing to return there. The sets, which have a lovely, 1900's look, are magnificent and add a whole dimension to the film. The images of a crumbled Yellow Brick Road, and an Emerald City in ruins still give me an uneasy feeling, and Mombi is still terrifying, as well as a trip to a Kansas insane asylum. The underrated score by David Shire is nothing short of magnificent and one of the best. Many fans have praised the movie, and deservedly so, for keeping in line with the more dark nature of the original Oz books. Don't get me wrong, I will always treasure the original as a fun filled, frothy Technicolor escape, but "Return To Oz" will always be head and shoulders my favorite. This is a haunting yet beautiful favorite that sorely needs to be rediscovered.

Perhaps one of the greatest film versions to be spawned by children's literature, RETURN TO OZ, unlike it's immensely popular predecessor, lives and breathes in a storybook realm. Through illusive special effects, a whimsical score, and true-to-life depictions of the inhuman characters, RETURN TO OZ becomes a dream unto itself, and surpasses, through its vivid style and mystical appearance, the poignancy of the MGM prequel. Fairuza Balk is outstanding as Dorothy; here, with her wide, questioning eyes and her neat little braids, she proves to be one of the most talented child actresses. She brings an air to the film that few children could have done: she gives it its life, and presents a much more picturesque Dorothy than fifteen year-old Judy Garland did in 1939. The film remains a masterpiece, despite harsh criticisms in reference to the films rather frightening scenes. The film is frightening, no doubt, but for a child now it is no scarier than the Wicked Witch of the West was for us when we were little, and the movie remains virtuous to Baum's story. It captures the wild, fantastic life of the books far better than the MGM version, and continues to be innocent and well-intentioned entertainment: far more imaginatively stimulating than some of the wackier and more violent children's movies that we see today. For anyone, RETURN TO OZ is marvellous: masterfully-acted, deceptively realistic, mystical, and thoroughly enjoyable. To view it is to make an ascent into a realm of storybook lore, it remains whimisical and fantastic, yet sometimes frightening, and always treated with the utmost seriousness.

"Return to Oz" came at a time when the world of children's movies was at its darkest. In only a few short years, studios would release, in addition to "Oz," "The Neverending Story," "The Dark Crystal," "The Black Cauldron," and "Labyrinth." If there was ever a more frightening time to be a kid at the movies, I don't know when. And, like most of these, "Return to Oz" failed to earn money. In fact it lost money ... a lot of money.

But then again, "Return to Oz" was bound to fail from the start. It is impossible to make a sequel (and it's definitely a sequel, although many fans try to claim otherwise) of what's got to be the most beloved movie ever made and not fail. Audiences wanted "Return to Oz" to recapture all the old feelings that MGM's "The Wizard of Oz" brought to them. Instead, writer/director Walter Murch didn't even attempt to recreate the MGM version of Oz.

Too much of the movie was unfamiliar to audiences. Dorothy, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are all played by actors much younger than their MGM counterparts. Oz is filmed, for the most part, in the real world, with real trees and rocks and hills. MGM filmed its movie entirely on a sound stage, creating the plastic flowers that somehow flourish in Munchkinland. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion are little more than bit players in "Return to Oz," with only the Scarecrow receiving any lines -- and he only has about three lines of dialogue.

Lastly, audiences were turned off by the surprisingly intense violence and frightening images in "Return to Oz." There were reports of children being led, crying and trembling, from the theatres.

The movie was bound to fail.

"Return to Oz" has developed a sort of cult following (of which I am a member). A few of us, who saw the movie in the theatre, were frightened, but dazzled. Here was an Oz that actually existed -- I always hated those plastic Munchkinland flowers! If a scarecrow could actually walk on his own and a man could be made of tin, this is what they would look like -- not like men with face paint. "Return to Oz" made the land real for many of us, and it's those of us who hold on to movie.

As every other reviewer here has mentioned, "Return to Oz" is more faithful in tone and spirit to the original L. Frank Baum Oz books. But therein lies a major problem.

Reading about something scary and actually watching it on the screen are two very different things. Somehow, no one connected to the production of the movie seemed to have realized that. This forces an odd tone on the movie: the screenplay is strictly juvenile, with simplistic dialogue and goofy jokes. But the visuals are dark and geared more for adults. I personally think this is the only valid problem with the movie. It plays to both a young and old audience without ever truly providing a finished product to either.

If you like the books: you'll love "Return to Oz." If all you know is MGM's movie: you'll hate "Return to Oz."

It was a dark time for kids' movies and a dark time for Disney. But just because something is dark, doesn't mean it can't be wonderful.

Warning: If you're looking for a second helping of the Judy Garland movie, this is not the one. There is no singing or cute Munchkins !

I love this movie because it's based on some of the later books written by L. Frank Baum in his Oz series: "The Wizard of Oz" was only the first one! This movie is based on two of L. Frank Baum's later Oz books: "The Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz".

The movie is great in that it's very faithful to the series, and Oz readers will love it. I like how they paid attention to such details like Jack Pumpkinhead's clothing and Tik-tok's design; and even many of the lines spoken in the movie are straight from the books!

Oz books aside, if you enjoy fantasy films you'll like this one. It's in the same vein as "Labyrinth" and "The NeverEnding Story", two other movies that I enjoyed. There are creative characters and interesting effects: my favorite in this one is the Nome King. The acting is not bad. But I found the Wheelers, some of the villians, a bit tiring. There are definitely scary parts in this movie: You see the Deadly Desert in action, rocks sprout eyes, and someone dies.

Please read some of the other reviews: I think most are pretty accurate in their thoughts and opinions (esp the two by Steven W Hill and Jonathan Valuckas). The person who hated the movie probably only saw the first one and was expecting a cute musical. This movie is pretty dark but enjoyable. Oh yeah, can you believe it was produced by Disney? ^_^

"Return to Oz" and "Time Bandits" were two of the only children's films I saw as a kid that made me feel like I was in the hands of film-makers who respected me--these films were unflinching, even scary, but ultimately full of more wonder than anything most films for younger kids can hope to offer today.

"Oz" is a dark, almost gothic movie, but it manages to squeeze sweetness and golly-gee optimism in amidst the gloom--much more valuable an achievement than uniformly coating a film with chintz and labelling it "for children".

And while little kids may not be ready for it, especially ones who are still stuck on the splendor and color of the first film, I wouldn't advise you to write this clever flick off without seeing it--especially if your child is a budding fantasy or sci-fi fan.

I'm sorry to have done this, but in order to have my review of the 2004 Disney DVD of "Return to Oz", I have just had to delete my review of the 1999 Anchor Bay DVD - Amazon.com doesn't allow customers to have 2 reviews on a particular item, even if they are entirely different editions. But as you will see below, I am reviewing both DVDs on this review.
I first saw "Return to Oz" on TV when I was maybe only 6 months (yeah, I know that sounds weird), and I loved it. I saw it on video much later when I was in High school but the tape was so old that there was static almost all over the place and many times it slowed down, which 'killed' my VCR, which of course I had to replace soon.
I have of course L. Frank Baum's 'the Marvelous Land of Oz' and 'Ozma of Oz' which were used to make this movie, along with a few improvements, like Dorothy being the 'long-brown-haired-in braids' girl of Denslow's drawing instead of John R. Neil's 'short-blonde-hair', Nicol Williamson's portrayal of the Nome King is much better and more menacing than John's fat illustration, and Ozma was just perfectly beautiful! John gave her blonde hair in 'Marvelous Land' - shown here in the movie, but changed to dark in 'Ozma'. I wish Glinda had been in this movie though, as she was in both books. But I really liked seeing Dorothy's old house, the Yellow Brick Road and the Ruby Slippers returning in this movie. And the music is just terrific! Maybe one day I'll get and review the CD Soundtrack. Although, sometimes I think this movie should've kept the alternate scenes where the Lion and Tin Woodman help Dorothy and Scarecroow, along with maybe the 'Army of Oz', then that way it could've been a little closer to the 'Ozma' book, but anyway it's still good. (* You'll have to look around 'Google' for the 'Return to Oz Deleted Scenes' *). Not to mention that despite what happened in the beginning, the Emerald City is perfectly designed as a palace. As always, everything turns out right in the end before Dorothy returns home, and this movie proved that Oz wasn't a dream by MGM, even though I don't really believe that.
But in 2004 my Dad helped me to order the 1999 Anchor Bay, and even though it was 'out of stock', I still managed to get it in 1 week. I was so excited as I watched it, listening to the movie, watching the picture in perfection (even if there were a few little scratches, etc. but I didn't mind) and joining Fairuza Balk as Dorothy on her adventure back in Oz, picking up a few surprises that I had forgotten.
The ANCHOR BAY DVD allows you to watch the movie in Wide-Screen and Full-Frame, starts the movie with a 'Fairuza Balk Introduction' (she is grown-up, says Hi to us and comments on us seeing the movie. The Introduction is included in the Chapter Index of the 24 Scenes). The Main Menu sets up with a rotating 'OZ' symbol and has Dorothy and her friends around her, while the faces of Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, Ozma, Toto, etc. appear and disappear behind them with the opening music. I was disappointed how there was no Theatrical Trailer (some site made me think there was). The "Fairuza Returns to Oz" Interview Feature had Fairuza Balk talking about what it was like for her to be in the movie, the Special effects, Director Walter Murch, Cast, the Parade Scene, her career and about 'Oz' itself (we only see her face as she is talking, no footage from film). But despite the lack of Special Features, I was happy to have gotten my favourite movie in perfect watching condition. That DVD has no subtitles.
Later, I wrote and sent a letter to Disney Studios (along with lots of design sketches) on making a "Disney's Return to Oz: 20th Anniversary Edition" DVD for 2005, but unfortunately they couldn't because I don't work them. But I wasn't totally upset though. Disappointed, but not heartbroken.
This year, in getting ready for the official 20th Anniversary of Disney's Return to Oz on June 21, I had decided that I would order all the books and the new 2004 DISNEY DVD. I found this DVD to be an improvement over the previous edition, even if it wasn't the Special Edition all of us were hoping and wishing for, like "Mary Poppins". This new DVD not only has the Widescreen Presentation (no Full-frame version), the 'Fairuza Returns to Oz' Interview Featurette and the 'Fairuza Balk Introduction" (which you can see when you press 'Play', not included in the Scene Selection), but it also has the Original Theatrical Trailer - which plays us some unheard music and a few alternate takes/different angles of scenes not seen/heard in the movie) with 4 TV Spots, subtitles (great, since some lines are hard to understand/hear. Unfortunately not included on Anchor Bay) and the ORIGINAL 'Walt Disney Pictures (CASTLE)' Opening (not seen on Anchor Bay). An earlier review said that the picture was 'full of scratches and dirt'; I disagree - The picture has the same picture quality as on the previous DVD, but because it is in its original Wide-Screen presentaion, it actually looks quite a bit better and clearer. Just ignore the scratches/dirt. The Scene Selection has the movie in 12 chapters, though (but it's better than the 6 episodes of 'the Wizard of Oz' (1925) and 'His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz' (1914) DVDs. It would have been nice if "Return to Oz" actually had 2 Theatrical Trailers (the other being a bit longer) and for the TV Spots to look like the 'Mary Poppins TV Spots' on the "40th Annivesrary Edition" DVD, but watching them is pleasant enough. The menus, although they don't set-up like Anchor Bay, have the lovely ending credits music. The Main Menu has Dorothy looking at the Emerald City, with a rainbow and the movie title behind the palace. There is, of course, a 'Set-Up' Menu for the languages and subtitles. But I don't like how they manipulated the picture for this cover. The Oz background, though beautiful, has the Emerlad City looking almost exactly like the MGM towers instead of the realistic Disney Palace. Dorothy's face is unnatural, her dress is incorrectly all pink, and the Tin Woodman has been taken out of another photo and is now inserted into this picture.
One of (if not) the BEST thing about is this movie is that even though Dorothy meets, makes and is helped by new friends (Billian the 'Yellow' Hen, Tik-Tok the Mechaninal Man - Royal Army of Oz in this version, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Gump), Dorothy must rely on herself (and not Good Witches and/or her beloved friends) to save Oz, the Emerald City and her friends from Mombi and the Nome King, who in both Kansas and Oz/beyond the Deadly Desert, try to conquer Oz by making Dorothy forget. Also, despite combining with 'Ozma', this is possibly the only adaptation where 'Marvelous Land' has enough excitement so that it is not depicted as a little child's performance (no-one knows if the 1910 Selig film still survives, the 1987 Cinar series was faithful but later only half is on English Video/DVD, the 1969 version is absolutely baby-like in appearance and who knows what Shirley Temple's 1960 version is like - although I have yet to see the two 60's versions and find out if there was ever an Anime version). The only part I hate in the 'Marvelous Land of Oz' book is the Woggle-bug, who slows down the story, gets into useless discussions with the friends and is unimportant to the story, so therefore having Dorothy (somehow) return to Oz is much better, something which never happened in the actual story, although there is a tiny picture of her when Scarecrow and Nick Chopper the Tin Woodman make a reunion.
But a few weeks before the movie was released, some PBS Stations showed a 60 min Documentary called "the Whimsical World of Oz" (by Production Associates (UK),) which was both a 'Making of Return to Oz/General Oz' feature, (Colour & B&W). Starring and narrated by Mason Adams, it had many stars, among them being the Dorothy actresses of Fairuza Balk, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Romola Remus Dunlap, along with Ray Bolger, Jack Haley Jr., Dr. Robert Baum, Ozma Baum Mantele, and many others (you can read about it in "the International Wizard of Oz Club" and the "Inernet Movie Data-Base". I wish it had been released onto Video, then the DVD's could've been much better.
'Return to Oz' is available to buy/rent on DVD in Australia, but unfortunately it is a rip-off: the music has been taken out of the menus along with the title and there are no Special Features. So I would suggest ordering it from Amazon.com or buying it from Disneyland.
Even if there is no 'Return to Oz' Special Edition DVD, I am happy to have both DVDs in my possession and soon all the books as well - although I wish I had thought to order the CD Soundtrack too. Happy 20th Anniversary to "Disney's Return to Oz" on June 21. You made a great movie Walter Murch, you were an excellent Dorothy, Fairuza Balk. Emerald City, it was beautiful.