Return to Oz

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P F The comparisons to the 1939 original were always going to be there. They knew that before they began production. Perhaps the comparison is unfair but when The Wizard of Oz is such an enduring classic comparing both was inevitable. Walter Murch’s sequel is therefore a victim of its previous success. What should we expect to be optimistic is dark, what should be a musical is replaced with a bittersweet score full of melancholy. It raises the question was the director at fault for making a sequel he knew would be compared to a classic or was the audience at fault here for making the comparisons rather than letting the film stand on its own? The film’s strengths and there are many end up being its failures because it’s so different to what came before. Under Murch’s direction, the film tries at times to embrace what made people like the original with specific call-backs to characters or events yet it contributes to a tonally off movie. It’s an infuriating film to review as I can defend the design decisions made with the script yet can completely understand the obvious criticisms of this sequel. After forty years and the degenerating quality of cinema, I think it’s finally time to embrace Return to Oz. Expectations were too high; our bar for quality raised too high. Creativity should be praised and the fond memories of it people have grown up with are a testament to how special it managed to be: with modern movies being nothing more than ‘content’ for social media-addicted younger generations Walter Murch’s sequel shows a filmmaking competence regrettably not seen today. Let’s just hope they don’t keep waiting 46 years between adapting the books otherwise, I’ll wear down like Tik-Tok. Return to Oz isn’t the 1939 movie and that’s fine. The film still does a commendable job of teaching us through Dorothy how important imagination is. I guess both films are more similar than we thought... Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Audience Member A real creepypasta like Oz film. The fact that this dark, twisted take on the world of Oz was made by Disney is almost as bizarre as the film itself! This being the most disturbing film in the loose Oz franchise is an impressive feat, considering on of the later Oz films was directed by iconic horror director, Sam Rami. Its utilization of a wide variety of practical effects like puppetry, stop-motion and using contortionists adds to the film’s timeliness as well as to its creepiness. While it appears to run on dream logic at times, it also includes a high amount of nightmarish moments for a children’s movie. A flop turned cult classic, this film is an interesting surprise for viewers diving into the trenches of Oz. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/29/25 Full Review Micslinger T Been watching this off and on since the movie first came out. Never really paid that much attention to it, except for the visuals. Finally sitting down for the first time and really taking in what is being portrayed, and I'm a little more than surprised. Give it a REAL chance.... I wish I had before now. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/25 Full Review Jake P Basically the better sequel to the wizard of oz. I don't get why this movie gets so much hate. Great for a movie night! 🍿 Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/06/25 Full Review Garrett B A solid adaptation with great visual effects Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Teddy B Despite the darkness, 'Return to Oz' retains the folksy fantastical charm of L Frank Baum's original writing in a surprisingly hyper-faithful adaptation of 'Ozma of Oz'. The effects-work and lead child performance echo these praises. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Return to Oz

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