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Editorial Reviews
Dorothy Gale (Paulie Rojas) is a simple girl in rural Kansas who writes children's books based on the land of Oz created by her grandfather. Her mundane life is turned upside down when she receives an offer from a big New York agency to represent her books. In New York, Dorothy soon realizes her books, and her grandfather's stories, are based in reality. The magical world of Oz and all of its inhabitants are very real and they are coming to New York City! Dorothy and her friends are the only ones who can stop the evil Wicked Witch of the West and her plans for global domination. Also starring Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, Ethan Embry, Mia Sara, Lance Henriksen, Christopher Lloyd.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I had high hopes for this miniseries, After all, "Tin Man" is one of my favorite miniseries ever, and this one stars Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, Jeffrey Combs and Christopher Lloyd.
Sadly, "The Witches of Oz" is a massive misfire right from the beginning -- it tries to be both an epic, intense adventure story and a kid-friendly all-you-need-is-love fairy tale at the same time. Lloyd, Boyd and a handful of other actors do what little they can to salvage the story, but the hammy acting, bad CGI and slapworthy ending make it impossible.
Budding writer Dorothy Gale (Paulie Rojas) is stunned when prominent agent Billie Westbrook (Eliza Swenson) develops an interest in the Oz books she's been writing with her friend Allen (Ari Zagaris). Dorothy and Allen move to New York City, unaware that the Wicked Witch of the West and her head-swapping minion Princess Langwidere (Mia Sara) are plotting against her.
Specifically, they want a key to a magic book which Dorothy had when she returned from Oz many years ago. But Dorothy has forgotten about her time in Oz, so she can't remember where she put the key. Along with Allen, her new buddy Bryan (Barry J. Ratcliffe) and love interest Nick (Boyd), she must find the key before the Witch has a chance to take over all worlds.
"The Witches of Oz" is a schizophrenic mess of a story. It wants to be a big, dark save-the-world story, but it also wants to be a kiddie-friendly family film. Even worse, it seems to have been made up as it went -- foreshadowing comes to naught (Nick's identity), important items go unmentioned until they're needed, and random characters pop out of the woodwork without warning.
It also feels like the budget was somebody allowance -- the costumes are silly (Glinda looks like a cut-rate Valkyrie) and the special effects are simply embarrassing. I will admit that there are some really moving moments, such as Jeffrey Combs as a grieving father whose child has been swept away to Oz.
But the rest of the movie is just so cheesy and campy, and riddled with gaping plot holes that you could fly a taxi through. It all climaxes in a truly horrendous battle through a magically-ravaged NYC, where the Evil Minions of the Evil Witch... lightly annoy the New York residents. Apparently flying monkeys, dragons and evil gnomes don't kill people -- they just sort of whack them with sticks.
Oh, and the ending? It completely negates everything that has gone on before it, by revealing that everything both the heroes and villains did was TOTALLY POINTLESS. And its "all you need is love/friendship" message is completely negated by what happens at the climax.
Some of the actors are really, really good. Boyd is charming, low-key and resolutely normal, Combs is heartbreakingly good, Astin and Ethan Embry are fun, and Christopher Walken is slyly clever in his brief role. Sadly, Rojas seems to be stuck in "wide-eyed ingenue" mode, and that's how she plays every emotion that Dorothy is supposed to experience.
And the actors playing the villains are just awful, especially since they're all played for bad comic relief. None of them are even slightly scary! Swenson is particularly tragic -- she gives a very good performance when she looks human, but transforms into a hissing growling parody of Margaret Hamilton buried under bad green makeup as the Witch. She's less frightening than the Kardashians.
"The Witches of Oz" tries to be too many things, and ends up as nothing -- a whimsically candy-sweet mess that makes absolutely no sense by the end. Just watch "Tin Man."
Sadly, "The Witches of Oz" is a massive misfire right from the beginning -- it tries to be both an epic, intense adventure story and a kid-friendly all-you-need-is-love fairy tale at the same time. Lloyd, Boyd and a handful of other actors do what little they can to salvage the story, but the hammy acting, bad CGI and slapworthy ending make it impossible.
Budding writer Dorothy Gale (Paulie Rojas) is stunned when prominent agent Billie Westbrook (Eliza Swenson) develops an interest in the Oz books she's been writing with her friend Allen (Ari Zagaris). Dorothy and Allen move to New York City, unaware that the Wicked Witch of the West and her head-swapping minion Princess Langwidere (Mia Sara) are plotting against her.
Specifically, they want a key to a magic book which Dorothy had when she returned from Oz many years ago. But Dorothy has forgotten about her time in Oz, so she can't remember where she put the key. Along with Allen, her new buddy Bryan (Barry J. Ratcliffe) and love interest Nick (Boyd), she must find the key before the Witch has a chance to take over all worlds.
"The Witches of Oz" is a schizophrenic mess of a story. It wants to be a big, dark save-the-world story, but it also wants to be a kiddie-friendly family film. Even worse, it seems to have been made up as it went -- foreshadowing comes to naught (Nick's identity), important items go unmentioned until they're needed, and random characters pop out of the woodwork without warning.
It also feels like the budget was somebody allowance -- the costumes are silly (Glinda looks like a cut-rate Valkyrie) and the special effects are simply embarrassing. I will admit that there are some really moving moments, such as Jeffrey Combs as a grieving father whose child has been swept away to Oz.
But the rest of the movie is just so cheesy and campy, and riddled with gaping plot holes that you could fly a taxi through. It all climaxes in a truly horrendous battle through a magically-ravaged NYC, where the Evil Minions of the Evil Witch... lightly annoy the New York residents. Apparently flying monkeys, dragons and evil gnomes don't kill people -- they just sort of whack them with sticks.
Oh, and the ending? It completely negates everything that has gone on before it, by revealing that everything both the heroes and villains did was TOTALLY POINTLESS. And its "all you need is love/friendship" message is completely negated by what happens at the climax.
Some of the actors are really, really good. Boyd is charming, low-key and resolutely normal, Combs is heartbreakingly good, Astin and Ethan Embry are fun, and Christopher Walken is slyly clever in his brief role. Sadly, Rojas seems to be stuck in "wide-eyed ingenue" mode, and that's how she plays every emotion that Dorothy is supposed to experience.
And the actors playing the villains are just awful, especially since they're all played for bad comic relief. None of them are even slightly scary! Swenson is particularly tragic -- she gives a very good performance when she looks human, but transforms into a hissing growling parody of Margaret Hamilton buried under bad green makeup as the Witch. She's less frightening than the Kardashians.
"The Witches of Oz" tries to be too many things, and ends up as nothing -- a whimsically candy-sweet mess that makes absolutely no sense by the end. Just watch "Tin Man."
21 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This movie isn't perfect, but it has a lot going for it. It is nearly three hours long, but that's because it's an edited version of a two-part mini-series that aired in the United Kingdom. So, the editing causes the story to be a little hard to follow in the middle.
Acting: 7/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Story: 8/10
Costumes/Make-up: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
TOTAL: 34/50 (68% D)
There is a theatrical cut of the movie (re-named "Dorothy and the Witches of Oz") that's being released in select U.S. theaters as well, and it's a big improvement on this version. The theatrical cut is an hour shorter, has improved visual effects, and fifteen minutes of added footage. The editing and sound is much better in that version, too. So, if you weren't satisfied with this version, I can assure you that the theatrical is much better and easier to sit through.
Acting: 7/10
Special Effects: 6/10
Story: 8/10
Costumes/Make-up: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
TOTAL: 34/50 (68% D)
There is a theatrical cut of the movie (re-named "Dorothy and the Witches of Oz") that's being released in select U.S. theaters as well, and it's a big improvement on this version. The theatrical cut is an hour shorter, has improved visual effects, and fifteen minutes of added footage. The editing and sound is much better in that version, too. So, if you weren't satisfied with this version, I can assure you that the theatrical is much better and easier to sit through.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By CWATKINS
Format:DVD
Saw this last night on Encore Family..3 1/2 hours I will never get back.You will not need sleeping pills if you try and watch this.. Save your money and your time...watch the original "THE WIZARD OF OZ"
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best, but I really did like it!
Some of the plot is silly, and some of the performances are campy and over-the-top, but honestly, it's one of the best "Wizard of Oz" related movies I have watched of late. Read more
Published 1 hour ago by Kylie Corcoran
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful
Only three words to describe it. I hated it. What a waste of time. Don't waste your time trying to watch this.
Published 13 days ago by Sam
4.0 out of 5 stars
A New Take On An Old Classic
Witches is an old story with a new take. Witches stays true to the OZ books. Eliza Swenson is amazing as the witch, loved Dorothy, both very talented. Read more
Published 19 days ago by Sarah
3.0 out of 5 stars
Its good
I like the twist of the story. It was a bit cheesy in some areas but overall not a bad movie.
Published 24 days ago by tageer0881
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected!
Couldn't finish watching, my 11 yr old picked it. He started watching then got distracted with something else. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Denise
4.0 out of 5 stars
For a made for TV movie - A must watch
I originally saw this movie on Pay-Per-View. I instantly liked it. Any Wizard of Oz Fan would definitly like this movie. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark S. Speltz
2.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly made
I just hate to watch a movie that leaves me wanting more in every aspect. This is one of those. Bad acting, writing and filming.
Published 1 month ago by KimBomar
1.0 out of 5 stars
This movie sucks
This movie is so stupid. I cant say one good thing about this movie. It dragged on for so long I do not know why i bothered completing it other than to see if it would ever get... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Matt
4.0 out of 5 stars
thought it was good
i thought the movie was good,yes it was a little under the special affects,the story was back words it gave it a twist,i cant wait for part 2
Published 2 months ago by snoopy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oz the Great & Powerful, it's not, but still fun
Nev3er knew this existed. I'm a huge fan and I thought it was a little cheesy at first but got better. My 7 year old liked it as well as me.
Published 2 months ago by mskulls
