16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a much sought-after movie finally gets released on DVD..., September 26, 2006
JOURNEY BACK TO OZ is a thoroughly delightful animated musical-sequel to THE WIZARD OF OZ, the big highlight being that Liza Minnelli voices the role of Dorothy (the role that catapulted her mother Judy Garland into the annals of film history).
Of course, no animated film could ever replicate the magic and scope of the 1939 masterpiece, but let's not carp. For what it sets out to achieve, JOURNEY BACK TO OZ delivers handsomely.
Dorothy (Liza Minnelli) gets swept back to Oz via another cyclone, and quickly sets about finding her old friends the Scarecrow (Mickey Rooney), Tin Man (Danny Thomas) and Cowardly Lion (Milton Berle). Instead, Dorothy discovers to her horror that an evil witch called Mombi (Ethel Merman) is plotting to invade the Emerald City with a hoard of enchanted green elephants.
With new friends; Jack Pumpkinhead (Paul Lynde) and Woodenhead the carousel horse (Herschel Bernardi), and some guidance from Glinda (Rise Stevens); Dorothy sets out to thwart Mombi and save her old friends from destruction.
The score by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy van Heusen contains some gems; Liza Minnelli sings "There's a Faraway Land" and "That Feeling for Home", whilst Ethel Merman camps it up with "Be a Witch" and Rise Stevens delivers Glinda's "You Have Only You" to perfection.
Another cute twist is Margaret Hamilton (who played the Wicked Witch and Miss Gulch in the original Judy Garland classic) voicing the role of Aunt Em!
Originally made and recorded by the Filmation Company in 1962, it was curiously kept out of cinemas until 1974. This new Special Edition from Brentwood marks the movie's DVD debut.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Passed down from Mother to Daughter!, April 10, 2008
As everyone knows, Judy Garland first played the role of Dorothy in the 1939 masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz". In Journey Back To Oz the torch has been passed to her daughter Liza Minnelli. Even though Liza only does the voice work for Dorothy I think she did a great job with the character, and It's a treat that Margaret Hamilton returned to do another Oz film even though it was to portray Auntie Em. I remember that this film was broadcast on T.V. several times years ago and I was always there to enjoy it as a child. If you are an Oz fan I believe you'll love this movie and already have it as a part of your Oz collection. For those who are not Oz fans, but animation fans I'd recommend renting it first to see what you think of it. This film didn't do so well at the box office, but I feel that it has a cult following.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful childhood favorite, May 14, 2007
This brings back happy memories! Journey Back to Oz was a wonderful part of my childhood. I loved watching it on TV as a kid. It's a great sequel with wonderful songs and a fantastic cast. I'm very happy that Journey Back to Oz is available on DVD.
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