Rating: 
Summary: Incredible movie, So-So DVD
Review: This is one of my favorite childhood movies (also Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, and the Goonies). All of these movies are slightly scary and very "dark" - perfect examples of 80's treasures.
Fairuza Balk is even cuter as a 10-year-old then she is now (and that's pretty cute!) and she makes this movie precious.
This film was out of print for a while, but then was re-released as a collector's edition clamshell VHS and DVD. The DVD doesn't have anything more than the VHS - they both have an interview with a much older Fairuza.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves fantasy and the darker kind of movies.
(P.S. - it's NOT a musical)
Rating:
Summary: OH DEAR!!!!
Review: Bulina the talking chicken is the coolest and funniest chicken I've ever seen in my entire life!!!!!! She is awesome!!! She should never be destroyed by someone named Chelsea B. or anything like that!!! She says things like OH dear! Oz?!?!? Lunchpale tree!!!!! and many many other hilarious things. Behind My teacher ate my homework, and maybe the 5th element, this is one of the best movies I've recently seen!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful DVD
Review: I remember renting this one over and over again until a few years afterwards I couldn't remember the title of it anymore and it disapeared from the shelves. I think they could have done a better job with Dorothy being a bit older than what Judy Garland was in the first, but its neat to see the cast from a different light it kind of makes it fresh again, more like the storybook than hollywood. Get this one, Save it, Cherish it.
Rating:
Summary: A misunderstood Gem!!!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A sardonic twist of lemon to sour the sickening Wizard of Oz
Review: it's pretty damn funny, the idea that Dorothy was sent to a mental ward for shock therapy after she couldn't stop ranting about Oz to aunt Em. I mean, what sick twisted Twilight Zone version of the Wizard of Oz is this?!! Imagine that happening to Judy Garland! But the concept is only funny with the MGM movie association. As a film, respectively, this is a gem. For that highly imaginative age group ranging from 8 to 80.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Fairuza over Judy !
Review: I saw this movie when I was young on the Disney Channel and I was really scared, especially when Mombi takes off her heads, and when she sleeps headless and wants to catch Dorothy, it still gives me the chills. Anyway, a few months later, it played again and I taped it. Why? I have no clue but I must have liked it back then and after that it stayed on the shelf unwatched. A few years back, I started watching it again and again and I loved it (I still do), Fairuza Balk was definitely born to play the part of Dorothy. In the version I had taped, I noticed that some scenes had been taken out compared to the prior version I had seen and I remembered them so when I got this wonderful DVD, I saw that some missing scenes were quite important to the plot and that the editors carelessly cut them out. I also started to read the Oz books, so, if you're looking for accuracy in this movie, you have the wrong one, they completely mixed up The Marvelous Land Of Oz and Ozma Of Oz with an entirely new background story. But if there is one reason why you should watch this movie, it's for the mood, contrarily to the first one where you watched it for the munchkins. And although I liked that one, I find it too musical, too happy and too dramatic (Dorothy cries hysterically out of nothing, give me a break!). If you don't believe me here are the most important reason that make RTOz the best of the two: --This Oz is much closer to the one Baum invented --Dorothy looks her age --She is faced with real dangers (NOT Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!!) --She doesn't cry every ten minutes --She doesn't burst into song every ten minutes Anyhow, Return To Oz will amaze you and you'll never want to go back to Judy Garland. It's also made by Disney so you know it's gotta be good. Although it may not be suitable for young children, anyone who read the Oz books and who are not overly attached to Judy Garland and her version should love this indefinetly.
Rating: 
Summary: A SEQUAL.....
Review: I RATE THIS WITH 3 STARS BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING: 1. DOROTHY'S AUNT EM WOULD NEVER TAKE HER TO SHOCK THEROPY FOR BELEIVING IN SOMETHING. SHE WOULDN'T IN THE BOOKS OR THE 1939 CLASSIC. SHE IS (I THINK) SOMEWHAT CREUL. 2. I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE RUBY SLIPPERS MAKE THEIR APPERANCE. 3. OZMA AND OTHER OF THE NEW CHARECTORS FROM THE BOOKS ARE HERE.THE OLD CHARACTERS MAKE THIER APPEAANCE TOO. 4. MOMBI IS A LITTLE BIT TOO SCARY! THE HAUNTING WORDS "DOROTHY GALE, DOROHY GAAAALLLE" KEPT ME AWAKE FOR HOURS. 5. I WAS SURPRISED AT DISNEY, KNOWN FOR MAKING CLASSICE FILMS. TO MAKE A DARK MOVIE IS STRANGE.(FOR THEM) I DID BUY THIS ON TAPE BUT IT DOES TAKE A WHILE TO GET USED TO. IF YOU BUY IT, SOME GRAPICS AND SCENCES MAY BE INAPROPRIATE FOR KIDS UNDER 10.
Rating:
Summary: What, no Munchkins?
Review: Dorothy travels back to Oz, only to find it taken over by the Knome king. The cast is wonderful, but the story line is the real spledor here. It's not a sequal to the original, but rather an entirely new film that does the books proper justice. The bet scene by far is Princess Momby playing the Piccalo thing in the beautiful palace, before returning the head. It's just to classic! Please watch this movie, it's delightfully chilling and not too difficult to understand. Every detail is justified. Everything in Oz is some sort of subset of Dorethy's experience, but includes thed twist of the original, wondering whether Dorothy is dreaming, or if the reality of Oz is in actually a real place. It's just amazing!
Rating: 
Summary: A mystifying journey back to Oz
Review: 'Return To Oz' is a curious and intriging film in the fantasy film genre and a remarkable one. This film is a departure from the 1939 sunshine and beloved musical film 'The Wizard of Oz', as it stays closely to the books by Frank Baum. What is offered here ia a darker,sophiscated and stylish vision of Oz. This film is actually a tale combined from two novels in the Oz series, 'Ozma of Oz and The Land of Oz'. First time director, Walter Murch takes us on a journey which starts out rather disturbing and may not appeal to younger children, but as we flow with the proceedings, we are in for a fantastic trip into the imagination. In fact, this film will go down well with adults for it's seriousness and artful. The film opens in Kansas where we see Dorothy having diificulties sleeping after her return from the adventures in Oz. The fram is in disrepairs caused by the cyclone. Dorothy is then send to a psychological instuition to help her overcome her insomnia. It is here where the darker side of the Oz books is revealed and at the same time, the fantasy elements creepes in. She meets a mysterious girl and helps Dorothy to escape when a freak thunderstorm hits and burns the instuition down. Their escape leads them to a river and Dorothy is swept off by the running waters. When she awakes, she finds herself in Oz again and the mysterious girl is nowhere to be found, instead she finds, Belina (a talking hen from the farm). We are now in the world of fantasy and magic and her adventures begins once again. In this film, we are introduced to new and fascinating characters who befriends and help Dorothy, as well as deliciously created villains. Familiar characters from the original Oz plays a secondary role in this one. This version depicts the land of Oz decimated, the yellow brick road in ruins and the magnificient Emerald City completely ruined and the citizens of Emerald City turned to stone and it is up to Dorothy to save the day again. New characters like Tik Tok, Pumpkinhead, The Gump and Belina teams up with Dorothy to go against Princess Mombi and The Gnome King, the new ruler of Oz. The plot this time is to free Oz from the curse of the Gnome King and restores Ozma (who happnes to be the mysterious girl) to her rightful throne. Though the film opens on a sombre note, it ends nicely and on a happy note. A truimphant and joyful victory for all. Production design are superb and opulent especially the Palace sequence and the finale. Specail effects are impressive and for the first time, 'claymation' is utilise to portray and depict the Gnome King, his subjects and his palace and it is cleverly used to maximise the effect. This method is coutesy of Will Vinton productions. Music score is provided by David Shire and he comes up with a visual score. Fairuza Balk plays the pivotal role of Dorothy and she carries her role well and for a newcomer, she shows great potential. As for the adult cast, Nicol Williamson(The Gnome King), Jean Marsh(Princess Mombi). Piper Laurie (Aunt Em) and Matt Clark (Uncle Henry)gives a commendable role. Though uncredited, both Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola lend a helping hand to Walter Murch to tackle a mega budgeted fantasy film and their magic are seen every now and then during the proceedings. When it was released in 1985,'Return To Oz' was open to a very mixed reveies from both critics and the public, saying that the film was too heavy and the dark undertones scares younger audiences and coming from the Disney studios, it was totally different. Simple reason is that it is always compared to the 1939 classic. I do agree that the 1939 is indeed deserving, but this sequel stands on it's own merit and it is an achievement for the director, the production people and to Disney to take this brave new challenge and in my books they did. Watch this new 'underated' classic on it's own merit and enjoy this splendid journey.
Rating:
Summary: A Horror Movie for Kids
Review: Yeah so The Wizard of Oz is a classic. I am a big fan of that film. Love that film all you want, and then open your mind a bit and accept the fact that Dorothy went on to other adventures and I'm glad that Disney showed us a little bit more of L. Frank Baum's brilliant world. Disney could have easily tossed off a sugary sweet rendition of Oz, but director Walter Murch stepped up to the plate and instead produced a wholly unique film: a child's horror movie. OK, its not a typical horror movie - no blood or death or violence. Its tense, its eerie, its unflinching in painting life as hard and some people as bad. Its not REALLY scary if you're over 8 years old, but it is dark, it is disturbing, and it bravely shows how easily dreams and nightmares can evolve from one to the other. A particularly eerie scene, that is effective because of its simplicity, occurs shortly after Dorothy is locked in a hospital. As she stands in a stark white room, on a thin metal bed, the world is as un-magical as any Kansas in MGM's OZ. The difference: the reality here is not just plain, its downright oppressive. While looking out the single dirty window we are suddenly conscious of a the reflection of another entity. As Dorothy turns around she finds a frail young girl, quite pretty, yet abnormally mature and subdued. The camera films her from Dorothy's higher perspective, making her shrink even further into the corners of the room. Her countenance is so strangely adult, and so contrary to her appearance, you know she has to be an apparition. She's frightening, yet immediately we know she means no harm. There is nothing menacing about her sulleness, a truly remarkable combination of character composition and a brilliant rendering of spooky realism - all accomplished with no special effects, no startling sound cue, no threat of violence or gore. Old fashion macabre suspense. Best of all, this is done by two honest, focused, natural young women, and a director who obviously respects and trusts young people. Other horrors include the wheelers (again showing how easy it is to achieve the effect you want with talented performers rather than expensive computers) and the delightfully cruel witch Mombi, played to perfection by Jean Marsh. Fairuza Balk is good, simply because she lacks all that annoying child actor cuteness. She's never 'clever' or 'bratty' or 'heroic' or 'cloying'. She simply reacts to what happens to her. Nothing more, nothing less. Her Dorothy is a curious and self sufficient little girl, but still a little girl. Its refreshing to see a young actor simply 'be' on screen. People who hate this movie probably don't care for fantasy. If you like the genre, and if you like it a little on the dark side, then you will probably like this film. If you still relish in make-believe, see this film. If you are capable of re-imagining your surroundings, see this film. If you recognize and face life's most ugly characters and come away both stronger and more compassionate for it, see this film. If you want every movie to have dancing munchkins... well... I'm sure you know what to watch.
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