Review of Return to Oz (1985) by Daniel H — 23 Mar 2009

Before reviewing this film, let me first explain that I was exposed to this film at an extremely young age (4 or 5) in the late 80's / early 90's. I say this because the major complaint that seems to preclude others from appreciating this truly great film seems to stem from the same source: this isn't a family movie. (I, personally, disagree with that assertion, as my family watched it together many times and found nothing objectionable about it) My family rented it one evening in 1989 because I had seen the MGM classic, The Wizard of Oz, and had since devoured every marginally related Oz-related material on film, in print, and any other format I could get my hands on.

As soon as the VCR started to play, I was mesmerized. I had loved the bright, showy musical that was The Wizard of Oz, but at its core, the MGM film had been an overblown Hollywood spectacular first, and an Oz film a distant second. In the Return to Oz, I watched a serious film - with no pointless (and to me, boring) musical interludes - and even a few somewhat frightening moments.

Here was a movie that emphasized the themes that L. Frank Baum himself had written about in the late-19th century. The concept of being a misunderstood child who wants nothing more than to fantasize and escape from mundane surroundings is one of the movie's prevailing themes, and it is treated much more seriously than in the original film, where it is basically bastardized and used as a title for a showy musical tune. Such themes are essential to the Oz books, and no film adaptation conveys it more effectively than Return to Oz. Take it from someone who has seen every last one.

The film's scariness has been overblown over the years. Yes, the movie depicts a much bleaker vision of the usually idyllic Oz, but apart from one scene, (we all know which one) I honestly can't think of any that actually made me jump. As a child, or otherwise. This slightly eerie feeling is actually one of the things that saves the film from being "just another Henson-influenced fantasy flick with animatronics from the 80's". It doesn't talk down to its target audience. It gets them a little scared, but it rewards them for sticking through it, as well. That is a merit, not a drawback.

On the technical side, the film benefits from spectacular cinematography and special effects that - looking back - make you long for less CG and more stop-motion and animatronics in modern film. They aren't seamless, but they are incredibly effective. Walter Murch's direction is superb, and although I have no other directoral works to compare it with (it was unfortunately Murch's first, and last, attempt at Directorship) I do get a definite sense that the director's quirky vision was effectively realized on film.

In fact, the only legitimate gripe that I have ever heard when discussing the film is the same one that I would level, myself: pacing. It's not a chronic issue, as with some other movies, but some indulgent pauses, coupled with the movie's somber, dreamy opening and a script that feels a bit long in the middle all make the film seem sluggish in parts. These are balanced out with memorable visuals that still hold up after more than twenty years, and some great performances, particularly by a young Fairuza Balk, (who would make her name as an adult actress in films like The Craft and The Waterboy) help prevent it from slowing to a crawl at any one part. In my view, this is the only chink in the film's armor, and the only reason I haven't given it a perfect ten. It really is that good, both as an Oz film, and as a fantasy film.

Today, I work as a comic book artist and make a very decent living. I credit this film, in particular, as a formative influence on me as a child, when I was first beginning to develop my own creative ideas and talents. I really cannot recommend it highly enough.