372. Return To Oz (1985)

Starring: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh

Director: Walter Murch

Running Time: 113 mins

Return To Oz is an American film, and sort of the sequel to The Wizard Of Oz. After having been sent to the psychiatrist’s, Dorothy is soon returned to Oz, where she sees it has been destroyed by a vain witch, and the insane Nome King.

Well, this was disappointing. After my fantastic enjoyment of the previous film, this managed to shoot down almost everything I loved about it. It had a very poor story, the actress playing Dorothy was annoying beyond belief, and the new derelict world of Oz completely shattered my awe of what I had seen in the last film.

I have to say that this film did take itself way too seriously. Rather than continuing the fun atmosphere created in The Wizard Of Oz, it chose a sad and depressing world, with complicated characters, seemingly very sinister and occasionally frightening.

I think that may be quite a problem for the film’s image. Because it’s a Disney, it is extremely cheesy and irritatingly child-oriented to watch, but the problem is some of the themes in the film are surely too dark and scary for kids, meaning that absolutely nobody would really want to watch this film, not adults, and not children.

The story was also overly complex to follow with enjoyment. It seemed to be aiming for this dramatic, action-packed, CGI-filled story, which let me down by the end, because the climax was both completely predictable, yet very disappointing.

So, I’ll give this a 4.9, because it ruined everything I loved about Oz, by putting some terrible characteristics together. Plus, they replace Toto with a chicken, and that’s just not on.