Return To Oz Discussion

[my chicken is infected]

I am VERY happy to see that Disney has finally released this on DVD with a theatrical trailer. I heard that Anchor Bay's DVD didn't have one. Oi.

Ok, I'm a HUGE fan of the 1939 classic. It's one of my top 10 favorites. But I still LOVE Return To Oz. I treat it as a separate movie, because it's so unlike the 1939 classic. In fact, the only thing that keeps me aware that it's a sequel to that one is the fact that they used the ruby slippers instead of the book's silver ones. But I digress.

RTO is definitely MUCH truer to the original Oz books than the 1939 film was. *cough Not that I still don't love it beyond sanity cough* I quite enjoy it and look forward to eventually getting Disney's DVD of it. I do own the Anchor Bay widescreen video, so I'm in no rush.

[Disneykid]

My thoughts exactly. The 1939 film is one of my favorite films of all time, but there's no denying that Return to Oz is closer to the mood and style of Baum's books than the MGM film was. It bugs me that people think this is a sequel to that film when it's actually a sequel to the book (notice how unlike the MGM movie, this wasn't a dream because it wasn't a dream in the original novel, either). I love how twisted and dark this Oz is and I really hope one day someone makes a Wizard of Oz movie in this style. It's a very underrated film, in my opinion, but I'm glad that it has a nice cult following, at least.

[Wonderlicious]

My thoughts exactly. The 1939 film is one of my favorite films of all time, but there's no denying that Return to Oz is closer to the mood and style of Baum's books than the MGM film was. It bugs me that people think this is a sequel to that film when it's actually a sequel to the book (notice how unlike the MGM movie, this wasn't a dream because it wasn't a dream in the original novel, either). I love how twisted and dark this Oz is and I really hope one day someone makes a Wizard of Oz movie in this style. It's a very underrated film, in my opinion, but I'm glad that it has a nice cult following, at least.

Oh my god! We share exactly the same thought! I think Disney should make Oz into an animated film soon.

[MickeyMousePal]

Return To Oz wasn't a powerful sequel like the original Wizard of Oz.
I liked the Return of Oz but not that much I thought it was kind of silly and should have been better. Anyway what happen to Toto in Return to Oz it's a different dog.

[Just Myself]

I've never seen this.

[ArabianJewel]

Return To Oz wasn't a powerful sequel like the original Wizard of Oz.
I liked the Return of Oz but not that much I thought it was kind of silly and should have been better. Anyway what happen to Toto in Return to Oz it's a different dog.

But the books ARE silly, outrageous, and dark at the same time. I thought Return was a far more powerful movie and the seriousness allowed me to get into the more a bit more than it's predecessor. Wizard is a nice movie, but is just a bit to light hearted for me these days. I hope someone makes a faithful adaption of The Wonderful Wizard of OZ before I die...

[deathie mouse]

I like Return To Oz too

I like that it has the different view of Oz

I keep my laserdisc copy of it inside the huge white/emerald green box of the special deluxe laserdisc Wizard of Oz (which also is holding yet another differently color-mastered copy of W of Oz too )

And then there's Wicked the musical which Prince Adam is eagerly awaiting on DVD

It would be fascinating if Disney continued exploring Oz in a deluxe animated version. maybe a combination of live action and CGI worlds



So many Oz's, so little time

[pinkrenata]

This thread reminds me of a few years ago when I was teaching piano lessons, a (not so bright yet older) student of mine tried to inform me that The Wizard of Oz is the sequel to Return to Oz because Dorothy is older in the first one. Ugh.

[reyquila]

I loved it. A little shocking for my four years old girl, but very good.

[MickeyMouseboy]

I love return to Oz! It's darker than the first movie I thought. That's one reason i like it so much!

[Luke]

You can't view this and <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> with the same critical eye. MGM's film was a grand, ground-breaking production at what many consider the apex of early Hollywood. <i>Return to Oz</i> is a somewhat low-profile mid-'80s Disney film. Yes, they have a couple of the same characters and a general setting/storyline in common, but other than that, there's not much.

All that said, I think <i>Return to Oz</i> is a very enjoyable film. To me, it has more in common with the kind of "thinking children's films" that cropped up elsewhere in the '80s (examples aren't really coming to mind). Maybe the easiest parallel today would be the <i>Harry Potter</i> movies.

I like the quirky characters, the no "out-of-bounds" approach to fantastic subject material, and the brain puzzlers that kind of color the whole film. A little dark, and perhaps a bit too intense for very young children, but I think it has a good deal of appeal to mid-elementary school students, particularly those with fondness of books and using their imagination.

[Prince Adam]

I saw the first half of this years ago on the "Magical World of Disney", but my parents turned it off because they deemed it "too much" for me.
Since my Oz obsession began this summer, I've really wanted to see it, but can't find it in stores (should have gotten it months ago when I had the chance).

Anyway, I found an old movie-storybook of it the other night at the library, and the pics of the film look perfect-all the characters (except Dorothy and the Nome King) look perfect, and I really want to see it! I love the GUMP!

[Udvarnoky]

You can buy the film. Disney released their DVD of Return to Oz just this past February, and it's still very much in print if slightly harder to find than the company's "big name" titles. If you can't find it in a store near you, you can always order it online.