Wonderful Movie

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Blistering performances.

A Disney original film that takes the classic Wizard of Oz mythology and turns it on it's head in this dark fascinating none direct sequel. Aunt Em thinking Dorothy suffers from delusions takes her to a clinic for treatment only for the girl to find her way back to the magical land of Oz. Only now its not so merry since the Nome king wants to punish the citizens for taking a prized treasure away from him long ago.More faithful to the series we are introduced to new companions Tik-Tok, Jack pumpkin head and the terrifying Wheelers who do the bidding of their king. At first I was delusioned by the new direction took with a sequel, thinking it was a radical change from the happy go lucky 1930s classic until I read the books and knew even Baum would be proud of what they accomplished.The sets aren't colorful, but show how vastly different OZ looks once you leave the forest and cities with deserts, mountains along with ruins of ancient civilizations. The costumes were realistic, the music fit the scenes and The acting was top notch. Although I felt the ending was rushed once miss Gale saved her friends and not leaving enough room to say goodbye.Return to OZ is not a kid's movie and has scary imagery they may not be able to handle. 7/10

Wow - I hadn't seen this movie since I was about 5 years old and I remember thinking it was the most terrifying movie I had ever seen and loved every second of it. After a re-watch I must say that I wish Walter Murch would have directed more films in the 80's / early 90's because Return to Oz was an amazing debut. This movie really captured my imagination as a child and it holds up today. Audiences wrote the movie off because it wasn't a direct sequel to the 1939 Wizard of Oz musical and more of an adaptation of several of L. Frank Baum's novels. I remember getting over this fact pretty quickly as a kid and even more so now when major characters from Batman to Spiderman are re-cast every year. The real joy is just how dark and gruesome this is for a kid's movie. The truly twisted head swapping of Princess Mombi and the nightmarish post-apocalyptic Mad Max looking Wheelies juxtaposed with a friendly Pumpkin Head and talking Hen. This was more effective than Are You Afraid of the Dark or Goosebumps for me. This is how a children's horror movie should be made without insulting the intelligence of adults.10/10.

If I was to name my absolute favourite film in a second, Return To Oz would probably be the first one to come to mind. It has great acting, a good story and the most important aspect for a family film, it appeals to kids and adults while never talking down to either group ONCE. Kids see this movie and are swept away into the magic of Oz, adults get a taste of what its like to be a kid again for a couple of hours.So what is the plot to this film? Dorothy is sent to an "electric healer" by Aunt Em and Uncle Henry to cure her "dellusions of Oz". She escapes during a storm and gets swept into the magical world of Oz. Although if you're expecting munchkins and the overall delightful background of the last movie...you'll be beyond disappointed. The Yellow Brick Road is destroyed as is the Emerald City and the citizens of Oz are all turned to stone. She meets companions such as Bellina, Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead and a Gump (I'm not going to try and explain that, I don't even know how).The acting is absolutely marvelous, Fairuza Balk is who I think of whenever someone says "Dorothy Gale" to me because she just took that part and made it hers (which, considering the original was Judy Garland, thats not easy. Especially for an 8 year old!), Nicol Williamson and Jean Marsh play threatening villains incredibly well and the voice acting fits the puppet work and claymation to a tee.The visual effects still hold up as being impressive. I find this element the one that really does pull the audience into the fantasy world that Walter Murch created. Its also Oscar nominated visual effects (why the hell didn't they win?!).Okay, this film is actually one of the darkest family films you're likely to encounter however I think it comes with the medium pretty well. Kids like being scared, otherwise, why would they go out for Halloween? In fact, I think one family film director said "you can throw any emotions you want at kids, as long as you give them a happy ending" and this film does have that happy ending and somehow keeps the charm of the 1939 film.Now I've glorified this film (and for me that was as easy as counting) I should name some things I didn't like about it. The film does feel short and for me, that is a problem (although if this was a 3 hour epic, I'm sure I'd still be saying that), and for one that I feel is legitimate - The Nome King's plan is revealed very abruptly. Although one major complaint is not this film's fault - I never saw this as a kid. I would have loved to have seen this back then but sadly, that time has passed and all I can do is love it as an adult...the next best thing.The major thing that really does give this film strength against the other countless crap Oz sequels is that it actually has the heart and soul of a family film. Modern family films are "ooh, look at the great visual effects." and everything else in terms of story and characters are unengaging and dull, the script talks to the audience as if it needs to hold its audience's hand through everything. This film just entertains and pulls the audience into an experience through the film. A lot like the original Star Wars trilogy.Overall, yes, this review might be bias due to how much I respect and love it but despite what critics who saw this film back then said, this film is an enjoyable film if you can let it sink in that "there are Oz reboots", you'll find something to enjoy about this film. I put a guarantee on that, THATS how much I love this film.PS. The obvious question after this is "what did I think of the 1939 film?" I think its a great film yet, it falls short in comparison with this.

I dug this movie out because I've just met someone who has a child and I thought my step son may like to watch it as I did when I was a child and had my milk snatched from me. I never got to watch it with my step Son but I am sat watching it at home, on my own, with the lights out. This film immerses you in a world of dark emotion control and dare I say it, insanity. So real it's like looking out the window, so fantastic it's like reading strewlpeter for the first time. Do not be expecting this to be a continuation of the song and dance that was the wizard of oz, this is much closer to the books and far away from the rose tinted world of Judy Garland.If you don't like heads this film may be for you.