
Return to Oz (1985)

Originally released - 21 June 1985
Director - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004555/">Walter Murch</a>
Based on the novels <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ozma-Oz-L-Frank-B ... ooks">Ozma of Oz</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Land-Oz-L-Frank-B ... books">The Land of Oz</a> by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000875/">L. Frank Baum</a>
Main Cast
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000103/">Fairuza Balk</a> - Dorothy
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0932116/">Nicol Williamson</a> - Dr Worley / Nome King
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550577/">Jean Marsh</a> - Miss Wilson / Princess Mombi
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001453/">Piper Laurie</a> - Aunt Em
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164273/">Matt Clark</a> - Uncle Henry
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005008/">Brian Henson</a> - Jack Pumpkinhead (voice)
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0057278/">Sean Barrett</a> - Tik Tok (voice)
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0117350/">Denise Bryer</a> - Billina (voice)
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176732/">Lyle Conway</a> - Gump (voice)
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0143225/">Justin Case</a> - Scarecrow
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018515/">John Alexander</a> - Cowardly Lion</a>
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746989/">Deep Roy</a> - Tin Man
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725973/">Emma Ridley</a> - Ozma
Academy Award Nominations
Best Effects
Domestic Gross - $11,137,801 ($20,644,149 adjusted)</center>
If you loved THE WIZARD OF OZ, you`ll love accompanying Dorothy on this second thrilling adventure based on L. Frank Baum`s "Oz" books! Dorothy finds herself back in the land of her dreams ... and makes delightful new friends (like Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gump) ... and dangerous new enemies (the creepy Wheelers, the head-hunting Princess Mombi, and the evil Nome King). With every twist in the yellow brick road, you`ll find awesome new surprises and special effects that will astound you!
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Well being a follow up to undoubtedly one of the word's most popular and beloved films is never going to be easy. Coming more than 40 years after The Wizard of Oz, it's a film of a completely different nature.
The Oz books have been adapted many times in many different ways, as we know in the 1950s Walt envisaged a film called 'The Rainbow Road to Oz', which would star the mousketeers, but that fell through and it wasn't until 1985 that Disney and Oz combined. Although some feel the original Oz cannot be criticised, I have to say its saccharineness I do find slightly overbearing, and Return to Oz is in direct contrast. Oz is dark, mysterious and incredibly eerie right from its twighlight-zone esque opening. Creepy fantasy is something I find works much better than happy fantasy, which for me is why I find Return to Oz to be slightly better than the Judy Garland classic.
And creepy this film most certainly is, from Dorothy being sent away for electric treatment to a creepy hospital to stop her thinking about Oz, to the villainous Nome King and the Wheelers, to the vicious Princess Mombi who can change heads. When Dorothy finally makes her way to Oz, the yellow brick road has been destroyed, the emerald city lies in ruin and its citizens along with the tin man and the cowardly lion have been turned to stone, the evil Mombi has decapitated the girls to have the heads for herself.
Return to Oz is a wonderful combination of live action, stop-motion animation, animatronics and puppetry. One of the 80s production with the Silver Screen Partners as a production company, the effects vary from stunning to slightly outdated. The stop motion Nome King and his henchman, seem slightly dated. Some of the sets however are stunning with wonderfully elaborate, embellished glass and gold ornaments particularly where Mombi resides.
However the film is not far from perfect for two main reasons. Some of the dialogue is pretty corny, particularly between the villains such as the wheelers, the nome king and his henchmen. It's very "Mwah ha ha ha [insert villainous laugh]" if you get what I mean and it does distract, especially the whole quaking in fear at the very mention of chickens nonsense.
But the main reason that prevents the film being wonderful is that the I feel the second half lets it down. The first half of the film is amazing. The drama of Dorothy, her being taken to the hospital, her dramatic escape, her rescuing of Pumpkinhead, Tik Tok and trying to steal the powder from Mombi to bring the Gump to life is all wonderful but then as they approach the Nome King's home and we reach the climax of the film it all just slows down and becomes slightly lackadaisical and after all the creativity and action we come to what is in effect an elaborate guessing game of who is hidden where.
Whilst it does have its faults, it's still a solid piece of entertainment. Even though its not as rememberd or entertaining as "The Wizard of Oz", it does have a much stronger overall story and more drama, but perhaps it lacks the charm of the Judy Garland adaptation.
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Next time: Kidnapped
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