Return to Oz

UPC: 786936233780

Studio: Walt Disney Video

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Mild Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Scary Moments]

Summary: This '80s follow-up to The Wizard of Oz is based upon two of L. Frank Baum's later Oz books. In Return to Oz (a version that may be a bit too scary for young children), Auntie Em sends Dorothy to a sanitarium where hopefully she will clear her head from all of the "Oz nonsense." This doesn't work, for soon Dorothy manages to return to Oz, but things have definitely changed. She finds her old friends turned to stone and discovers that the awful Nome King has taken over Oz. ~ Rovi

Category: Fantasy

Awards: Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Visual Effects – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Features: "Fairuza Balk Returns to Oz" interview
Original TV spots
Original theatrical trailer
French-language track

Return to Oz

Format: DVD

Release Date: 02/03/2004

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 110 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. Opening Credits/A Shooting Star [9:19]
2. Electrical Marvel [9:54]
3. "Run, Dorothy, Run!" [9:23]
4. The Yellow Brick Road [11:59]
5. Princess Mombi [5:41]
6. Jack Pumpkinhead [5:54]
7. Powder of Life [2:01]
8. Crash Landing [10:22]
9. Three Chances [6:11]
10. Scarecrow [1:43]
11. Emerald City [11:49]
12. End Credits [1:58]

Andrea LeVasseur

A dark fantasy-adventure, Return to Oz follows in the tone of the original L. Frank Baum books, Ozma of Oz and Land of Oz, rather than posing as a sequel to the classic of all family films, The Wizard of Oz. While seeming pretty creepy for younger viewers, older audiences may just be disturbed at the faded post-apocalyptic settings and bleak story when compared to the cheery and bright Technicolor of the 1939 Judy Garland Hollywood version. Opting for depressing and evil characters in lieu of the beloved simple types of the first is only one example of how a comparison puts this new version at a disadvantage. However, Return to Oz is stylistically compelling, doing its best to cinematically render Baum's original character drawings of the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. Will Vinton (creator of the stop-motion California Raisins) did some award-winning work on some of the creatures and special effects. By avoiding the musical genre trappings and casting a Dorothy (Fairuza Balk, in her first screen role) of actual kid age, it doesn't seem to patronize the youth audience with sugar-coated moralizing. Not known for his work in family entertainment anyway, writer/director Walter Murch previously worked as an editor and sound designer for Apocalypse Now and The Godfather. By offering a family-friendly way into a nightmare fantasy, Return to Oz is one of the few creature-laden '80s movies that allowed curious kids to venture into the dark side. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Alisa Berk  Actor 
Swee Lim  Actor 
Mark Hopkins  Actor 
Philip Tan  Actor 
David Greenaway  Actor 
Sarah White  Actor 
Geoff Felix  Actor 
Deep Roy  Actor 
Susan Dacre  Actor 
Tansy the Dog  Actor 
Cheryl Brown  Actor 
Nicola Roche  Actor 
Michel Sundin  Actor 
Roger Ennals  Actor 
Robert Thirtle  Actor 
Ken Stevens  Actor 
Robbie Barnett  Actor 
Pons Maar  Actor 
Colin Skeaping  Actor 
Michele Hine  Actor 
Bruce Boa  Actor 
Rachel Ashton  Actor 
Alison Lynn  Actor 
Sadie Corré  Actor 
Peter Elliott  Actor 
Gill Dennis  Screenwriter 
Gary Kurtz  Executive Producer 
Paul Maslansky  Producer 
Walter Murch  Director 
Walter Murch  Screenwriter 
David Shire  Composer (Music Score) 
Ken Kolb  Screenwriter 
Nicol Williamson  Actor 
Jean Marsh  Actor 
Fairuza Balk  Actor 
Piper Laurie  Actor 
Matt Clark  Actor 
Sean Barrett  Actor 
Tim Rose  Actor 
Mak Wilson  Actor 
Denise Bryer  Actor 
Brian Henson  Actor 
Stewart Larange  Actor 
Lyle Conway  Actor 
Steve Norrington  Actor 
Justin Case  Actor 
John Alexander  Actor 
Emma Ridley  Actor 
Sophie Ward  Actor 
Fiona Victory  Actor 
Pons Maar  Actor 

Country: USA