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Amazon.co.uk Review
Return to Oz is a 1985 live-action sequel that split critics and audiences alike: you don't fool with Mother Nature, spit into the wind, remake Casablanca, or trash the land of Oz. The 1939 classic musical is so beloved that it's almost impossible to imagine seeing Dorothy in shock therapy, a crumbled yellow brick road, the ruins of Emerald City, and the Tin Man turned into stone. But L Frank Baum, the author of the original Oz books, portrayed just that with his continuing stories of Dorothy. When you get by these tough facts, the film version is solid entertainment for the over-seven set.
Dorothy (a 10-year-old Fairuza Balk in her debut) is back in Kansas, where Aunt Em (Piper Laurie) is at the end of her rope: her niece is not sleeping and going on about a place called Oz. Therapy may be the answer, but luckily the scary clinic goes dark before Dorothy can be, er, cured (but the lead-up will scare the munchkins out of most kids). She wakes up in the land of Oz, now in tatters, and searches for its king, the Scarecrow. A new set of friends, including a tin soldier, a talking chicken, and a pumpkin man, help her against new villains, including Princess Mombi (Jean Marsh)--complete with a set of detachable heads--and the evil Nome King (Nicol Williamson with a great assist from Will Vinton's Claymation). The sole directorial effort of Oscar-winning editor Walter Murch is stuffed with marvellous effects that foreshadow later works by Tim Burton and the Henson non-Muppet films. --Doug Thomas
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
i fell in love with this film when i saw it as a child and still adore it today. it's much darker than the original oz film and has some fantastic characters - mombi with her collection of heads being one of the best!
another aspect of the film that makes it so special is the way that the two worlds portrayed are parallels of each other; it's not just a childish disney film.
i advise anyone who hasn't seen this to get a copy!
another aspect of the film that makes it so special is the way that the two worlds portrayed are parallels of each other; it's not just a childish disney film.
i advise anyone who hasn't seen this to get a copy!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on two books in L. Frank Baum's OZ series, Return to Oz is a truly underated film, that is unfortuantly often overlooked by fans of the 1939 Judy Garland film.
The story takes place in the year 1899, unlike the first adventure which apparantly took place in 1938, and once again finds Dorothy on her Kansas farm, unable to sleep. It has been 6 months since she returned from Oz, and now her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are considering sending her to a mental institution.
Familiar characters from the 1939 film reappear as well as a group of new friends who accompany Dorothy through the new Oz. The look and atmosphere of this movie is very different from the original, and some young children could find some parts of the film quite scary. An example of this is the Wheelers, strange creatures with wheels for hands and feet that chase Dorothy around screaming madly.
Judge the film by itself, instead of making too many comparisons to the masterpiece of the first Oz, and the film is very enjoyable.
The dvd contains no special features, only an interactive menu and english subtitles.
The story takes place in the year 1899, unlike the first adventure which apparantly took place in 1938, and once again finds Dorothy on her Kansas farm, unable to sleep. It has been 6 months since she returned from Oz, and now her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are considering sending her to a mental institution.
Familiar characters from the 1939 film reappear as well as a group of new friends who accompany Dorothy through the new Oz. The look and atmosphere of this movie is very different from the original, and some young children could find some parts of the film quite scary. An example of this is the Wheelers, strange creatures with wheels for hands and feet that chase Dorothy around screaming madly.
Judge the film by itself, instead of making too many comparisons to the masterpiece of the first Oz, and the film is very enjoyable.
The dvd contains no special features, only an interactive menu and english subtitles.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Such a good childrens film- a truely underated classic and, if you have actually read the Oz books (there were 14 of them) you realise that this film matches the orignal vision of L Frank Baum far more than the 1939 version of the Wizard of Oz which deviated quite wildly from the original book. Scary and fun in all the right places it is an excellent family film. I actually prefer it to the 1939 film!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Give it a chance
Although this was technically made as a sequel to the Judy Garland film... the two are so different, they are very hard to compare. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. L. Gaughan
bit scary i think! :?
bought this when i got 'wizard of oz'. did not know before i searched the original that a follow on had been done. Read more
Published 4 months ago by casz
Well worth a look.
When watching this movie,it's perhaps best not to make comparisons with the classic 1939 movie. I found this movie thoroughly entertaining. Read more
Published 5 months ago by genre mania
I have always valued my lifelessness.
oh my what to say about this film other than it's utter quality and depending on your sensibilities could very well scare the pants off you. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Evilspartacus
TERRIFYING!
This movie terrified me as a child and after re-watching this as an adult I can honestly say I was still given the fear! Disney's twisted prank! Read more
Published 9 months ago by jackbauerslady
I want a talking chicken
What an amazing whimsical film! Colourful characters. I came across this in my recommendations and realised it was such a long time since I had seen it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jackiesmackie
Return to OZ
Obviously less well known than Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz but my kids (aged 8 & 9) love this just as much if not more. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bennett
Trip down a yellow-brick memory lane
Wow... I hadn't watched this for over ten years. I had it on video as a child, and used to watch it all the time. Read more
Published 12 months ago by EllieTheBeeEater
happy kids
Return To Oz I Didnt Know About, I Enjoyed Watching It With Our Granddaughters,Good Film For All The Family.Return To Oz [DVD] [1985]
Published 13 months ago by gilwood
Wonderful adventure for all the family!
I adore this film! As a child it captured my heart and at 24 it still does the same. Its a bit scary - more of a tension build up than the original Wizard of Oz - but with adult... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nva Skelton
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