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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)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3/5

Ian Nathan

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: | comment Comment | Dec., 12 2007 01:58 PM

Empire Magazine

splat

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: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 04:24 AM

Time Out

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 26 2009 03:18 AM

Variety

splat

Richard Schickel

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: | comment Comment | Mar., 09 2009 10:05 AM

TIME Magazine

tomato

Dave Kehr

It's bleak, creepy, and occasionally terrifying.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 12 2007 01:57 PM

Chicago Reader

splat
2.5/4

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 12 2007 01:55 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato
4/5

Kevin Carr

A forgotten classic.

comment Comment | Sep., 22 2005 09:07 AM

7M Pictures

splat
2/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 05 2005 09:12 AM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
3/5

Scott Weinberg

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

comment Comment | Apr., 03 2005 04:42 AM

eFilmCritic.com

splat
1/5

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

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: | comment Comment | Aug., 21 2004 08:12 AM

Spirituality and Practice

tomato
3/5

Ryan Cracknell

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 08 2004 08:51 PM

Movie Views

splat
2/5

Daniel M. Kimmel

No review available.

comment Comment | Apr., 18 2004 04:46 PM

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

tomato
5/5

Alex Sandell

Faithfully brings the Oz books to life. A classic.

comment Comment | Aug., 12 2003 11:01 PM

Juicy Cerebellum

tomato
4/5

Walter Chaw

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 27 2003 01:20 PM

Film Freak Central

splat
2/5

Janet Maslin

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: | comment 1 Comment | May., 20 2003 05:00 PM

New York Times

tomato
3.5/5

James Rocchi

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: | comment Comment | Nov., 07 2002 01:22 PM

Netflix

splat
2/5

Clint Morris

Should've stuck to that yellow brick road

comment Comment | Sep., 17 2002 09:47 PM

Moviehole

tomato
4/5

Mark Palermo

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 26 2002 08:20 PM

Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

splat
2/5

Bob Grimm

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 01 2002 03:48 PM

Las Vegas Mercury

tomato
3/5

Rob Vaux

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 | Jul., 26 2002 07:21 PM

Flipside Movie Emporium

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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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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