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Movies / On DVD / Return to Oz
Return to Oz

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Return to Oz (1985)

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55 %
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Reviews Counted:20

Fresh:11

Rotten:9

Average Rating:5.7/10

Runtime: 2 hrs

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: A dark return visit to L. Frank Baum's astonishing world of Oz. After clicking her red shoes together and finally returning to Kansas, Dorothy finds that, in fact, there is someplace better than... A dark return visit to L. Frank Baum's astonishing world of Oz. After clicking her red shoes together and finally returning to Kansas, Dorothy finds that, in fact, there is someplace better than home -- especially when her family concludes that any girl who keeps insisting that she's visited a magical kingdom isn't right in the head. So young Dorothy journeys back into the magical realm of Oz, only to find a crumbling yellowbrick road and the Emerald City in an advanced state of decay. [More]

Starring: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie

Starring: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark

Director: Walter Murch

Director: Walter Murch
Producer: Paul Maslansky
Composer: David Shire

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Return to Oz

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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Best to see them as individual films with nothing in common apart from source material, one a classic, the other a strong enough picaresque amongst some decent fabulation.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/12/07
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite the presence of Billina the talking hen, the emphasis on insecurity and peril harks back to the treat-'em-rough days of children's fiction, and the disturbing/comforting ratio tilts conclusively towards the former.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Any movie in which a Midwestern prairie actually looks more attractive and more interesting than the enchanted land over the rainbow is in big trouble.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
03/09/09
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's bleak, creepy, and occasionally terrifying.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/12/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

There are some fine, Oscar-nominated special effects, but the excitement just isn't there.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/12/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A forgotten classic.

comment Comment
09/22/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

No review available.

comment Comment
07/05/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

I can see why the Judy Garland fans might not appreciate this weird little adaptation, but it's actually pretty good!

comment Comment
04/03/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

Director Walter Murch tries to infuse the story with the inventiveness and adventure of the Star Wars saga, but the results are disappointing.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/21/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
05/08/04
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

No review available.

comment Comment
04/18/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Faithfully brings the Oz books to life. A classic.

comment Comment
08/12/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

No review available.

comment Comment
05/27/03
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

The work of ingenious technicians who seem either not to know what gave the original film its magic, or not to care.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment 1 Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Return to Oz is hardly as kid-friendly as The Wizard of Oz, but older children with a taste for the fantastic will find it interesting. Adult Oz fans will find it entertaining as well.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix

Should've stuck to that yellow brick road

comment Comment
09/17/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
08/26/02
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/01/02
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Las Vegas Mercury

An underrated little romp, surprisingly faithful to L. Frank Baum's atmosphere... though obviously it's all overshadowed by that other Oz flick.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Return to Oz

December 12, 2007: Walter Murch on Youth Without Youth: The RT Interview (With Exclusive Photos and Clips!)
This week, Francis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth hits theaters in limited release. The tale of a writer who becomes young again after being struck by lightning is a... More...

August 22, 2007: Todd McFarlane, New Wizard of Oz
According to Variety, Todd McFarlane (creator of Spawn) will be working with screenwriter Josh Olson (A History of Violence) to produce what's being called "a revisionist take"... More...

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