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.
Comment
12/12/07
Return to Oz (1985)
55
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
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... [More]
Starring: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie
Director: Walter Murch
Reviews for Return to Oz
Top CriticDespite 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.
06/24/06
Top CriticClick to read the article
03/26/09
Top CriticAny movie in which a Midwestern prairie actually looks more attractive and more interesting than the enchanted land over the rainbow is in big trouble.
03/09/09
Top CriticIt's bleak, creepy, and occasionally terrifying.
12/12/07
There are some fine, Oscar-nominated special effects, but the excitement just isn't there.
12/12/07
Top CriticA forgotten classic.
09/22/05
No review available.
07/05/05
I can see why the Judy Garland fans might not appreciate this weird little adaptation, but it's actually pretty good!
04/03/05
Director Walter Murch tries to infuse the story with the inventiveness and adventure of the Star Wars saga, but the results are disappointing.
08/21/04
No review available.
05/08/04
No review available.
04/18/04
Faithfully brings the Oz books to life. A classic.
08/12/03
No review available.
05/27/03
The work of ingenious technicians who seem either not to know what gave the original film its magic, or not to care.
05/20/03
Top CriticReturn 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.
11/07/02
No review available.
08/26/02
No review available.
08/01/02
An underrated little romp, surprisingly faithful to L. Frank Baum's atmosphere... though obviously it's all overshadowed by that other Oz flick.
07/26/02
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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