Comments on: Return to Oz http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz Watching what no one else does Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:52:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: KBL http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-2713 KBL Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:41:52 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-2713 I remember watching this movie as a child (having been born in 1983). I remember the shock of being a youngster and not expecting the "sort of scarier parts" after glorifying the Wizard of Oz; however, I also remember my awe in watching the movie. My father made light of 'those eeeek parts' by teasing me, "Next, Pumpkinhead...Bwahahahah!" and chasing after me. While the background to my comment is that my parents always exposed to me the darker (read, More Realistic) tones of life, while accepting that I would sit quietly through grocery shopping if I could wear my tiara and tutu, I will always hold this movie as a dear childhood memory with subsequent/resulting memories to follow. In fact, my own daughter is now tucked away in bed and I am finishing the movie, now some 20 years later, since she fell asleep half way though. She has seen it a few times already and loves it, though a little jumpy at first, just as much as I did. I remember watching this movie as a child (having been born in 1983). I remember the shock of being a youngster and not expecting the “sort of scarier parts” after glorifying the Wizard of Oz; however, I also remember my awe in watching the movie. My father made light of ‘those eeeek parts’ by teasing me, “Next, Pumpkinhead…Bwahahahah!” and chasing after me. While the background to my comment is that my parents always exposed to me the darker (read, More Realistic) tones of life, while accepting that I would sit quietly through grocery shopping if I could wear my tiara and tutu, I will always hold this movie as a dear childhood memory with subsequent/resulting memories to follow. In fact, my own daughter is now tucked away in bed and I am finishing the movie, now some 20 years later, since she fell asleep half way though. She has seen it a few times already and loves it, though a little jumpy at first, just as much as I did.

]]> By: Where the Long Tail Ends Year End Top 10 | Where the Long Tail Ends http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-1694 Where the Long Tail Ends Year End Top 10 | Where the Long Tail Ends Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:10:10 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-1694 [...] 10 -  Return to Oz [...] [...] 10 –  Return to Oz [...]

]]> By: Return To Oz (1985) http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-1141 Return To Oz (1985) Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:47:25 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-1141 [...] Gamble at Where The Long Tail Ends writes, “Return to Oz is a decidedly different children’s film, with its dark themes and [...] [...] Gamble at Where The Long Tail Ends writes, “Return to Oz is a decidedly different children’s film, with its dark themes and [...]

]]> By: Daniel http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-722 Daniel Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:17:42 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-722 Great review of this, Matt. I especially love the entire story with Anna! As I wrote about this one I also discovered how well it had held up over time. Actually to be honest I didn't even watch it again, I just went off of clips and articles, but enough of it stayed in memory anyway (like, uh, the floating head room). It's probably worth mentioning that it was rated PG when it was released, at at time when PG-13 didn't exist. In that sense, then, it was already known to be not the typical Disney/kid's film. Either way there hasn't been nearly enough love given to this film over the years (especially considering how popular Wicked has been in the last 5 years), even though when you bring it up amongst friends, as you did, the reaction is unanimous praise. Weird. Great review of this, Matt. I especially love the entire story with Anna!

As I wrote about this one I also discovered how well it had held up over time. Actually to be honest I didn’t even watch it again, I just went off of clips and articles, but enough of it stayed in memory anyway (like, uh, the floating head room).

It’s probably worth mentioning that it was rated PG when it was released, at at time when PG-13 didn’t exist. In that sense, then, it was already known to be not the typical Disney/kid’s film. Either way there hasn’t been nearly enough love given to this film over the years (especially considering how popular Wicked has been in the last 5 years), even though when you bring it up amongst friends, as you did, the reaction is unanimous praise. Weird.

]]> By: Sam Juliano http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-720 Sam Juliano Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:28:33 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-720 This is a beautifully-written celebration of a challenging "children's film" that does improve and reveal more nuances with every subsequent viewing as you rightly contend. It certainly does have dark themes and horrific moments and a brooding intensity. The only thing I can add to this wonderful re-review is that David Shire's score is considered among the two or three greatest scores ever written for a children's film in the entire history of the cinema. A CD copy usually sells for at least $100 on e bay. I have held my own copy for many years, but a copy of the copy is all one needs. It is sublime and gorgeous. This is a beautifully-written celebration of a challenging “children’s film” that does improve and reveal more nuances with every subsequent viewing as you rightly contend. It certainly does have dark themes and horrific moments and a brooding intensity. The only thing I can add to this wonderful re-review is that David Shire’s score is considered among the two or three greatest scores ever written for a children’s film in the entire history of the cinema. A CD copy usually sells for at least $100 on e bay. I have held my own copy for many years, but a copy of the copy is all one needs. It is sublime and gorgeous.

]]> By: travelingblackbird http://wherethelongtailends.com/archives/return-to-oz/comment-page-1#comment-701 travelingblackbird Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:33:40 +0000 http://wherethelongtailends.com/?p=395#comment-701 Well, it certainly seems like the "Return to Oz" book I read as a kid is an accurate. I'm really surprised, because I was sure the electro-shock therapy scenes wouldn't have been in the movie. The tone of the book was certainly dark, although I've heard tell that tone is more in keeping with the original Oz books. Well, it certainly seems like the “Return to Oz” book I read as a kid is an accurate. I’m really surprised, because I was sure the electro-shock therapy scenes wouldn’t have been in the movie. The tone of the book was certainly dark, although I’ve heard tell that tone is more in keeping with the original Oz books.

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