Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Darryl Jason After reading many of the reviews already posted here, I think we can all agree that this movie RETURN TO OZ is an unofficial sequel to The Wizard Of Oz. Yes it is intended to follow on from the original 1939 classic, and one would hope to see Judy Garland once again reprise the role of Dorothy, had this unofficial sequel been made sooner and of course before Garland sadly passed (God rest her soul). Fairuza Balk however does exceptionally well as Dorothy Gale. One would wonder why, if this is a sequel, why she is younger than her original character in The Wizard Of Oz?? Surely she'd be slightly older in this one?I do like how the film has it's own intake to that completely different to the original - the chicken 'Billina' replacing the dog 'Toto'. Surely Dorothy isn't Dorothy without her dog. And a few people in these message boards think of this movie as a horror - I wouldn't say so exactly but it does have it's chilling moments - the heads in the glass cabinets and the dark dreary music during that scene... and yes "The Wheelers!"The Cast - All in the all, the cast are great. I only wish Piper Laurie (Aunt Em) was featured more in the film. Such a wonderful actress and she was just terrific in "Carrie" (1976). She also co-starred in a 1988 TV movie "Go Toward The Light" alongside Linda Hamilton, whom I have met twice at the London Film & Comic Con. I have also met Jean Marsh (Nurse Wilson/Princess Mombi) at the conventions. I had a lovely conversation with her regarding her role in this movie and who cannot forget her role as Queen Bavmorda in "Willow" (1988). Quality actress. I do think she plays both roles of Nurse Wilson & Mombi very well.I wonder where the lunch-pail comes into it? And it's a shame we never see much of the Yellow Brick Road. As I've mentioned already, maybe this film isn't untended to be that close to The Wizard Of Oz. It tells it's own story in it's own way. I've grown up watching this film, and at the age of 28 now, I still love it. It was however made 1-year before I was born but I was a huge 80s child. "Labyrinth" (1986) is definitely my film and I shall be reviewing about that film soon enough! RETURN TO OZ is definitely up there in my "Top 5 80s films" and if you do have kids that haven't already seen this, sit them down they will love it... just beware of The Wheelers!

reddragonhero17 When I first heard of this movie, I was expecting, like everyone else something bright and cheerful just like its original. However, I was surprised at what was in this that was actually creepy yet I still found it enjoyable despite what critics said about this. Even though this movie did give me nightmares for days (I was nine at the time I saw it) there was a magnet in this movie that had me coming back to it. The well designed sets and imaginative characters and the feel that is much closer to L. Frank Baum's works (even though I did not read them) made it more enjoyable than the original. The character that freaks me out the most? The Nome King and his Nomes. The idea of some demonic face peering at me from a wall or rock just gives me the feel of paranoia. Despite its creepy vibe, I would recommend it for the brave and adventurous (if not very young) of audiences.

Morbius Fitzgerald 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.

Gavin Cresswell (gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297) After having watched the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz", I heard that Hollywood made a sequel a few years later in the 80s and unlike the original, which was owned by MGM, this was owned by Disney. I first watched it when I was 14 years old and I seemed to be a bit impressed by it. OK, it's not as strong as the original due to it's flaws, but it's a very good sequel and a very underrated one at that.First of all, I like how the story doesn't repeat the original and it's darker tone is represented well throughout the film, but aside from it's decent character development, it does derive itself from two books of the Oz series "Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz". The script does have it's problems with several scenes that were completely cut.Flaws aside, everything is done perfectly. The cinematography is brilliant, the stop motion effects on the Nomes, although dated back then, are splendid, the scenery is beautiful, the costumes and make-up on the new characters including the villain Mombi, the Nome King, Jack the Pumpkinhead, and others are perfect. The direction from editor Walter Murch is solid and builds a lot of tense and atmosphere to the darker tone of the film; the music from David Shire is pretty good too. The best part goes to the cast of actors. Fairuza Balk did a fantastic job portraying a much younger Dorothy (don't get me wrong. Judy Garland's role as Dorothy was timeless), Jean Marsh is a menacing Mombi, Brian Henson is a wonderful sidekick Jack the Pumpkinhead and Nicol Williamson is a frightening Nome King.Overall, Return to Oz isn't as excellent as "The Wizard of Oz", but I can see why this got a cult following over the past few years and I would recommend this to those who haven't seen it.