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Summary: What a chillingly beautiful fairy-tale odyssey
Review: This Disney "sequel" (it holds the world record with the longest interval after the original movie) is far more serious, more adult, more Gothic, more artful, and nevertheless more true to the original Oz books from the turn of the century. In fact, Tim Burton himself could've made this brooding yet lovely movie!Based on two Oz books, "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Princess Ozma of Oz", Dorothy Gale (more like a real child than the post-pubescent Judy Garland) got whisked back to Oz after escaping the witch-like clutches of a tall, dark nurse at a mental hospital where she had been admitted for her "raving" fantasies. Thus she ran into the very colorful Wheelies who happened to be groveling servants of the wicked Mombie, who was so vain she would literally wear the heads of the most beautiful women in the whole land. And...the old witch WANTS the poor innocent little girl's pretty, long-braided head for her grisly collection! Fortunately, our young heroine meets a whole bunch of new Oz friends like Jack Pumpkinhead, Tik-Tok Man, and Gump the fantastic flying device to help her escape! However, our most favorite fairyland is being held fast in the ruthless iron fist of the evil Nome King, so it's up to Dorothy to SAVE the very land she had grown to love. What a wonderfully whimsical fantasy tale so deftly woven with the clever combination of puppetry and claymation (ooh...you should've seen the smooth transformation of the rock-faced old Nome King into a real human being!) And quite unlike the more circus-like 1939 film, this one will be more of a dreamy flight through the fanciest visions any fantasy lover could conjure up! Oh, and you'll get to meet your dearest old friends like Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and The Cowardly Lion, though they only appear for the briefest seconds.:(
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Summary: return to oz, out again
Review: I remember seeing this one at the theatre back when It first came out (I was about 6). I remember finding it a bit scary but really liking it. I happend to see this for sale here the other day and it brought back some of those childhood memories. I have since purchased it and can say that it's still a good movie. I like the darker twist in this one, the first was a little too la de da .
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Summary: Great Movie!
Review: This movie Return to oz is the best wizard of oz movie I have ever seen. I got this movie for my birthday and i couln't wait to get it and couldn't wait to open it up. This movie is more scary than the Wizard of oz because of Princess mombi and her heads that she can put on and off. Then Weehleers are sort of scary to my little sister. I have seen this movie a whole bunch of times and rented it whole bunch of times then it was on t.v and I taped it but it got taped over when i taped Full House. I think if someone is a big Oz fan you should see this movie it is great I mean really good.
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Summary: Loved the Return to Oz!
Review: I bought this movie out of pure curiosity. I was only 10 years old when this movie was released in 1985 and was curious at that age but if mom and pop were not into it, us kids were never given a chance. All that behind me, the first time I watched this movie, I found it very entertaining. The characters are shaped exactly like the original Oz book pictures. Also, the realism of the movie made it seem real and possible. The plot/storyline was cleverly put together and I wanted to movie to continue on when it was over. Why it was not a big hit when it came out, I'll never know! This is highly recommended!
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Summary: the real Oz
Review: Much as I love Judy Garland and her twinkling toes, Return to Oz is far the superior film. I hate having to write a review as a defense, but Disney's 'sequel' gets so much flak for not being the Wizard of Oz that it needs doing. More than a sequel, this substantial, satisfying and faithful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic children's series eschews the silly, dated song and dance routine for true and masterful storytelling. This Dorothy lives in both the real world - a gloomy Kansas of broken homes and mental asylums (just what would her Aunty Em do with her after she came home with a bump on her head talking about wizards and witches? hm?) - and the supreme fantasy world - an Oz of broken yellow brick roads, a rotting Emerald City, copper bots, pumpkin men, Mombis and wheelers and goblins oh my! THIS is the real Oz. For those parents uncomfortable in letting their children watch this richer, darker, creepier Oz, just let them read the books. There they will find children-eating beasts, sex-changing children, a whole host of creatures not suitable for younger viewers - and a wonderful world of Oz that will fire their imaginations and prepare them for troubled times. I thank my lucky stars for having discovered the real Oz at a young and impressionable age, because it not only helped make me a better dreamer, but also better equipped me to deal with a reality of mean kids and rotten schools. Childhood is hard and kids can be cruel; why is it that when we grow up we forget this and look sweetly upon youth as the perfectly innocent time devoid of baddies and nasties it was not? Protective parents, do your kids a favor: let them watch this movie (and watch it with them), let them read the books, let them be scared, let them dream, let them live a little. They'll thank you for it later.
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Summary: Return to Oz...it's back!
Review: I have loved this movie ever since the first time I saw it which was when I was 8 years old. It wasn't as scary for me at that age although people say it is. I am so glad that they re-released it. I have gone to every video store to try to find it and couldn't. The only part in the movie that kind of scared me a bit was the Wheelers but now that I think of it, they are cool.I can't wait to see this movie again.
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Summary: WALT DISNEY CLASSIC BUT DOES'NT TOP THE ORIGANAL!
Review: A dark and gloomy belated sequel to the 1939 classic, The Wizard Of Oz, which follows Dorothy on her second adventure to Oz which this times is in ruins. There is not such a feel good atmosphere here as there are none of the usual sing along songs and the atmosphere is chilling throughout, deeming it a little unsuitable for very small children. However despite its often gloomy feel this is a surprising classic with its stunning visual effects and great characters like Tik Tok and the wheelers which are all drawn from various Oz books by L.Frank Baum. Some of the sets are truly magnificent. Does not top The Wizard Of Oz but a classic never the less and one very much recommended.
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Summary: "Can I call you mom?"
Review: a line not unknown to those who have seen the movie. This is what Oz should have been in the first movie, grim, creepy and still an enchanting place you'd love to visit. It certainly clashes with the first movie and most, if not all, of the cartoon-series made about the wonderfull land of Oz. This movie was ignored when it first came out, people complained it was too dark and too depressing to be an Oz-movie. Oz symbolised a whole world made for little children who could smile while watching a happy, colorfull, world in which animals could talk and fairies and witches ruled the corners, a world in which only happy things could happen. Not the gloomy realistic and almost nightmarish world presented in this sequal... A pity, because the acting is done superb, Fairuza Balk showed that even as a ten-year old girl she had what it took to become a serious actress. She is the perfect Dorothy Gale, young and innocent and most of all, convincing. Her magical friends are funny and you actually feel sorry for poor Jack Pumpkinhead when seeing him. The villains are creepy and just plain evil. The really young children might even have nightmares after seeing the evil princess Mombi and her rather unusual collection, or the Gnome King and his evil plans for Oz. The special effex might not be computer-animated, state of the art special effect we are used to seeing nowadays, they are still enchanting enough to have you stuck to the screen begging for more. This movie is one of the best movies I have ever seen, it might not be what you expect from an Oz movie, but it will certainly leave an impression on you. This is how Oz was meant to be in the first place.
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Summary: reminiscent...
Review: I was 1 when it came out but I must have seen it when I was at least 5. I remember I loved it so much and I really was never frightened of it as a child. I just thought ti was the coolest thing and Ozma became my 'invisible friend' (i know, i know im wierd) anyway my parents thought i was becoming too obsessive about it. Even at that young age! And I remember it being on tv and i was not allowed to watch it! I was grounded from it. impossible to imagine but sadly yes. I havent seen it in since and it remains one of those childhood things thta just gives you that memory of childhood. If you know what I mean.
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Summary: one of my favorite Fantasies.
Review: this goes on my top fantasies with Dark Crystal, The Hobbit, Howard the Duck, The Last Unicorn, Labyrinth, Wizard of Oz, Neverending Story, City of Lost Children, Big Trouble in little China, Terry Gilliam's Brazil, Stargate, Legend, Who framed Roger Rabbit, Black Cauldron, and Conan. for anyone who is a fan of these Movies should check this one out, it's very entertaining and fun as well. it maybe too scary for little Children but enjoy.
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