Small correction, I kept saying "Frank L Baum" instead of "L, Frank Baum" (my dyslexia shining through) which is the correct name, im pointing it out here, so I don't continue to get annoying messages about it.
Hey man, no worries on a tiny mistake in yet another fantastic video, to be honest I only caught it consciously once. Once again you made a ton of great and interesting points about yet another underappreciated classic I've always loved (Like for you, I always held Return in the sort of regard which I had seen amongst adults for Wizard as I was growing up). On a much different note, I'm sorry but I just finished watching the Netflix series "Midnight Mass" (by Mike Flanagan of Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game fame) and I have to ask if you've seen it yet. It's 7 parts (and hours) long and starts as a bit of a slow burn, but I went in to it almost totally blind (only knowing it's nature as a horror) and I'm now convinced it is a future classic. As a long time fan I'd love to hear your thoughts on it in a video if you can find the time for it, but either way my true point was that I really can't recommend a watch enough if you haven't caught it yet, what with your current schedule.
In the later books it's explained that Toto, just like Billina got the power to speak when he came to Oz but chooses not to, what I like is that this implies that throughout the first adventure it means Toto fully understood what was happening.
Was part of the premiere but wanted to say this after wards "it's too dark for kids" is a baffling statement, most kids actively seek out the dark stuff, when I was a kid I would read stuff like goosebumps and scary stories to tell in the dark and nowadays what kids are into is fnaf, bendy and poppy all horror games,regardless of what you think of these properties they are still pretty dark stuff, kids are more willing to go out of their comfort zones as long as it doesn't go to far out like say explicit gore or real world evil kids are not helpless victims they are so much stronger then the media gives them credit for
When I was a kid I was scared of just about everything. I still sought out scary entertainment. I kept my Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book in my closet. I loved it but it scared the piss out of me. I’m sick of people thinking kids don’t deserve good entertainment because they’re young.
Kids love dark and scary stuff. I think there's quite a distinction between something that might spook the little 'uns and something that is inappropriate.
There's a quote floating around that I've seen time and time again, but can never remember from who. To paraphrase: Kids don't need scary stories to tell them monsters are real. Kids need scary stories to tell them the monsters can be fought.
I loved dark and macabre stuff as a kid. In fact the first horror film I saw was dog soliders. Followed by resident evil, and jaws the same year twenty years ago. I was 5
Frank L. Baum received a lot of letters from children. It's really sweet. They loved his books and he seemed humble and pleased about it. So, as you can plainly see, even with the strangeness and darkness, lots of children loved his works! Shows how aware Siskel was!
Holy shit Return to Oz i love this film. My gandma had it on VHS when i was a kid and i would watch it every time we visited. I used to have nightmares about the Wheelers and to this day things with wheels instead of limbs give me the heebie-jeebies but its that fun kind of uncomfortable. So awesome.
I will never get over how even though they don't follow the books faithfully the level of details from the books... It's a gorgeous love letter to FLB and Oz in general even taking a bit from the MGM film. Sadly because it wasn't the MGM sequel it wasn't appreciated. I loved this way more than the musical (that isn't the Wiz which is this with black NY culture for me). Edit: during the hospital escape Ozma told Dorothy the screaming was from people in the basement damaged by the machine.
Because its common sense. You should NEVER try making a film where your following the book beat for beat. Some things are not able to be filmed, some thing are not even in the realm of affordable to be filmed, some thing may be good written but would be garbage in a film. Its an ADAPTATION, they ADAPT a book into a film.
@@lutherheggs451 Yeah, with the exception of Sin City, that was nearly panel for panel from the comics. But still very much agreed, I can't put it to words because everything just contradicts. You have to take from the source but not be exactly like the source. You have to tell the same story but not tell the same story. You have to give people something new but not something different, something different but not new and different. You have to go 'If they were making a movie what would they do?" without losing focus on what you want to do. Modernize it without losing the old. It's something some just can't get right.
I always thought that was really dumb since it's later, but she's younger... I get your point but you're expecting the character you've already seen in a super famous movie...
@@anonamatron yeah but that was old Hollywood being unwilling to give a child a leading role. 50 years later you can do better. Would another 16 year old girl pretending to be 8 be the better choice?
@@robertyeah2259this is old, but I’m pretty sure they simply aged up the character. Sure, Judy had her chest binded down, but the studio always hid her figure and tried to keep it understated. I never got the impression her acting was attempting to act like an 8-10 year old. Younger, sure, but not that young. The studio promised Judy the role. But they also said, don’t get your hopes up, kid because we want Shirley temple. Fox didn’t want to hand over Shirley and Shirley simply didn’t have the voice they were looking for. Can you image Shirley singing somewhere over the rainbow? In a cutesy and aw sort of way? Not in that grand way Judy managed to do it at only 17? That’s why she got it. It’s funny how everyone’s being critical on the fact Judy made the character mainstream famous, yet fairuza is literally doing an impression of Judy’s cadence/voice. She’s baked into pop culture and I don’t think it was a ‘dumb move’ for her to be Dorothy. We shouldn’t even be super excited about child stars even existing with how it tracks, I have no issue for older girls doing gruelling lead parts.
I never even knew this existed, much less that they'd even go there with a sequel thats this dark. That said, I gotta thank Daeus for introducing me to it, now I gotta track it down and watch it.
This is a treat! One of my favorite reviewers discussing one of my favorite childhood nightmares. Edit: it was every bit as good as expected, and then some. Off to find this magical novelisation!
The critics of this movie were familiar with the first movie and not the books. That's basically the entire thing about it. Siskel and Ebert should seriously be given the side-eye with time, they were a laughingstock to me!
Nah. Sorry movie reviewers are reviewing a movie based on the movie. Not on the book it might be tied to, not on a video game, not on a comic book, but what was put on film.....There is no universe where film reviewers should be required to have an attachment or deep knowledge of source material.....IF your meant to do homework to enjoy a film, you've failed as a filmmaker, your shit at your job and should be fired.
@@lutherheggs451 PFF. Wow. You don't need to do homework to enjoy a film but you DO need to do it to offer valid criticism. This is why people go to school for this stuff. If you're comparing a movie to another movie it's not at all tied to, as if it was a direct follow up rather than return to subject, your criticism is invalid. Film critics are professionals and should act as such. You want to be an internet chump REVIEWER, that's on you. You want the proper job title of critic, you put in the work. 'This doesn't taste like an apple!' isn't valid criticism of a peach.
Siskel and Ebert were morons. I never heard those guys open their mouth to say anything mildly decent about a movie, and I don't mean praise only. It's very easy to be a critic when you are a TV celebrity and don't need any theoretical background to back your ideas up.
@@lutherheggs451 Then video game movies have all been falsely judged. They are always judged against the base material, as were most movies based on books, like LotR and Harry Potter. Many people STILL have no clue the Oz movies were based on books whatsoever.
It's kind of funny how similar this is to the Alice Mcgee video games, where Alice's damaged mind corrupts and twists Wonderland into a nightmare realm. Wonder if the creators of that game took notes after watching this movie.
27:38 - 28:42 Recently, I started watching the series The Maxx, based on Image Comics Darker Image #1 debut, and subsequent spin off series. In the story, it was explained that both the main characters, Maxx and Julie have this weird counterpart that exists in this subconscious primeval dream world known as "The Outback". To Maxx, he sees himself as this brute animalistic force of nature hero who protects his "Leopard Queen" that Julie represents. But in the real world, he's just a homeless vagrant wearing a strange costume and Julie is a social worker. But through the series, the Outback tends to bleed through to the real world despite of maybe only taking place in the mind. I could be stretching it, but I see a bit of what Wizard of Oz does with their characters in that show, The Maxx. Also, recently saw Babes in Toyland (1986) which also does the Wizard of Oz route with their story, but that one is definitely fiction of imagination. But it's nice to see how far both Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves have come in the last 35 years since then.
In Jack's defense with the "mom" bit, Dorothy may have been 9 or 10, but he was all of a few *days* old. And I figured the crack from Dorothy about how people speak without thinking all the time was a mild jab at thoughtless words/actions rather than mental health issues.
I get your point, although jacks not a few das old from what I could interpret he was created before Ozma was imprisoned so in theory before the destruction of oz which going by how old and dusty everything looks was a very long time indeed
@Deusdaecon Reviews that's one part that often confused me and really gets messed up when you try to figure out the timeline and continuity. Rambling and theorizing incoming, it's not that serious so feel free to ignore. From Jack's words Mombi was already present in the Emerald City when he was given life then tossed into the tower. Or at least that is what he seems to imply or infer (can't remember which to use). Meaning Ozma was in the Emerald City as well. But the problem arises when you take into account that the Wizard (who originally gave Ozma to Mombi to hide, I know it's been retconned but i like it better when he did it) then the Scarecrow were acting as rulers in the place of the missing royal family. So where in Oz was Ozma and where does the birth of Jack fall? Meshing this info together Ozma had been missing before Dorothy first arrived via the tornado (books and both movies confirms this). So that leaves a few possibilities: Ozma was just a kid who made Jack a long time ago to scare Mombi who may have lived in the EC. Mombi tests the powder of life on him them locks him up before everything gets turned to stone (except him and Tick Tock somehow). A possibility but we know that's likely not the case. Another possibility is a bit convoluted but given the events of the movie is a but more likely. Ozma had been captured by the nomes and put in mombi's care as per the book events with Tip and before the events of WoO. He tells her he'll reward her with 30 pretty heads and the EC once it's weak enough without a ruler or he's strong enough if she keeps Ozma hidden. But then Oz pinhead comes and convinces everyone he's great and powerful, even the Nome king falls for it So he waits. So the EC hadn't been conquered and ozmaisn't behind the mirror yet just elsewhere during Dorothy's first visit. Why isn't she behind the mirrors yet? Same reason the powder of life is rare. Magic takes time. Mombi isn't one of the stronger witches and she doesn't have a magic item like shoes, wand, a belt, or house so it's gonna take time or she hasn't decided exactly how to imprison her. But then Dorothy returns home dropping the slippers into the Nome king's lap. Now he has the power and he puts his plan into action. Conquering oz doesn't take a single day. First all of the humans were turned to stone leaving the animals and inhumans active. They try to fight off the nomes...somehow. But then they later get petrified. Scarecrow sees it's all gone FUBAR puts Tick Tock in the storage then has the key sent to Dorothy before he's captured. Now the nomes take their dismantling the emerald city and getting mombi her head collection. Once it's all done Mombi and Ozma return to the destroyed city. A day or so before Mombi's finally able to cast ozma into the mirror Ozma makes Jack. Mombi tries the powder on him and locks him up. Ozma gives Jack the run down on being his mom and how he came to be before Mombi finally works her magic putting her in the mirror. Leaving Jack perhaps a few weeks to a month old by the time Dorothy returns.
I remember watching this with my dad (who really loved this movie) and when it was finished, I turned to him and said, "I think I like this (movie) more than the original". He was so proud lol.
I had this movie on VHS taped from TV & would watch it regularly as a kid. It holds a special place in my heart. I love how the electroshock machine becomes Tick-Tock, the orderlies become the wheelers, and the Doctor becomes the Nome King in her mind (or not?). It was this movie that made me start reading the books, taking out 2 or 3 at a time & immersing myself in the mythology. Love this film. BTW, I always thought the same about Tick Tock being the manifestation of the machine.
Thank you for this. I never understood this, and as such, I never watched it. The mental health aspect was never on my radar. Now I can't wait to give it a proper try!!
I have ALWAYS loved this movie. I agree with Siskel and Ebert "Talking out of their ass". I think people underestimate kids. They are sometimes able to handle things that even adults can't.
I first saw Return to Oz when I had a blistering 103 degree fever and loved what I remembered of it. However I thought it was a fever dream for years because when I told anyone of it they hadn't heard of it and my mother didn't believe the story I told her about the plot. I felt so vindicated when I found a VHS of it when I was 12.
The impression I always got was that Ozma was NOT, strictly speaking, imprisoned in the mirror; she was imprisoned between worlds. In Kansas, she could briefly make appearances as her actual, physical self (albeit without her royal finery), but never for very long before disappearing, while in Oz, she could only appear as a ghostly blob of light. Because of Dorothy's ties to Oz (and, it's implied, because on some level she's Dorothy's Oz counterpart), she could be seen by her, but no one else - except the Nurse, because she, too, has an Oz counterpart; like Mombi, she's Ozma's jailer.
I was in the target audience when this film came out and I loved it. I also enjoyed Gremlins, The Dark Crystal, and other "too dark for kids" movies. They scared the heck out of me, but I still loved them, and continue to enjoy them as an adult. This was a wonderful review. I appreciate the background details on the novels and the film itself.
You don't know me but you were such a huge part of the last 6 years of my life. You were my favorite channel to listen to at my shitty retail job and I just quit recently and remembered your channel. Sorry that was long but yeah thanks i appreciate the awesome content!!!
Thanks for letting us know why you're shows aren't regular right now. I really missed Lovecraft month and your Hannibal reviews, so I'm glad to know there's a good reason they're not coming. Good luck with your degree.
I distinctly remember my parents bringing me to see this as a child and apologizing as I cried the whole way home. Now it's dope, but my child mind was broken by it at the time.
So happy you did this film! I watched it when I was younger and I was so confused how it fitted into oz as it was so different and haven’t watched it as an adult but will now :)
I think a good question would be, "Does TikTok WANT to be alive?" I think, as a soldier he may prefer to stay mechanical to make him better at his job. If he's mechanical, he is effectively an immortal soldier.
Not to mention, as a machine he'd be bereft of emotion(at least that's the implication of being a machine), which, speaking as a combat vet, I can relate to...
Fine video.... I absolutely enjoy a long video essay on one of my favorite childhood films. I was horrified by the wheelers but they were always oddly fascinating. Thanks for the content.
All the 80's kids I knew who had seen it loved it, I've yet to meet a single person who saw it as a kid and was "too scared" by it. It was the adults deciding to for kids without ever consulting actual kids. Like have you even met kids? Me and my friends would tell each other ghost stories about deranged murderers, and read books about supposed real life haunted houses, and play D&D when we were 6 and 7. There's scarier stuff in The Bible that adults made me read as a toddler like the Devil as a snake, the literal Devil tempting Jesus, Jesus performing exorcisms, genocides, crucifixions, people being thrown in ovens to burn alive, etc., etc., etc. but somehow those are all just fine to tell a little kid and make them read about the second they learn how lol
Thank you Tipper Gore for buying into scare tactics. I agree, as an 11 yo I accidentally rented alien, thinking it was something else. My penny-pinching parents said, "you rent it, you watch it." It may have taken 15 years, but eventually i could eat cottage cheese again! Children are resilient!!
Not to mention a father trying to kill his son, because he thinks God told him too, that does make you a bit suspicious of your parents. I had brothers Grimm's stories in two volumes as a child, I vividly remember one story about a mother (or stepmother) decapitating her son with a heavy chest's lid, cooking him in a stew than serving to his father. Apparently later addictions didn't had it as people in one of my book groups on face, were surprised. Same for the one about a girl with silver hands.
In regards to children being able to handle darkness in their entertainment, as a child of the 80s I couldn't agree more. Movies like Time Bandits, Secret of NIMH, and Labyrinth? Those are the kind of films that stuck with me the most over the years and I keep finding myself coming back to. The only movie in the last 20 years that even comes close to that IMO is Coraline. I feel sort of bad for kids who came before and after me who got so much sanitized saccharin crap in their childhoods.
I also have a special place in my hart for sf series and movies for kids from Australia and New Zealand like "Children of the Dog" Star" or "Boy from Andromeda" I called it kid's Predator actually.
its so interesting to see someone who grew up watching a lot of the same movies and reading the same comics talking about things I'm nostalgic about... good god I just saw the code... oh shit the agents are coming for me.
58:05 - 59:10 As a kid, this imagery did freak me out a bit, but growing up, I had grown up with watching movies with stop-motion art, such as with work done in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which had a cyclops centaur in it who got stabbed and they show blood. So while being jarring and disturbing, I had grown used to it and admire the technique as well as the effectiveness.
I remember seeing this as a kid, and sure, it was dark, and quite the departure from the first movie for anyone (like me) who hadn't read the books. But it wasn't too dark by any means, it was simply.. dark and different. Loved the behind the scenes on the Wheelers, those skillful movements are really impressive!
I'm a huge fan of all the Oz content from L. frank Baum, Gregory Maguire, the 39 film, and the Broadway show as well 👌awesome video as always man! thank you
This is SUCH a fantastically done review,and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved all the background info you sprinkled throughout the video,it's rare to come across reviews that are this informative & well researched! It's perfect timing for me to stumble on this video actually,because I just watched Return to Oz after not having seen it since I was a child. I only saw it once,but it was something that fascinated (aaaand mildly traumatized lmao) me,and the imagery of the "head room" in particular was absolutely SEARED into my little brain. It has that same eerie,haunting feel to it as films like The Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, Little Nemo,Last Unicorn,etc. The '80s/early '90s really produced some uniquely bizarre kids movies,eh?
This was a film I initially thought of as a cheap cash-grab when I first saw it as a child. Man, was I wrong about that! Also, I can't help but notice the particular theme of "escapist fantasy to avoid/explain away traumatic events" throughout this film.
Hey Friend, I stumbled upon your video in late 2019 as my father was very ill and me and my Ex where going through a break up and eventual split. All this to say, I really appreciate your content. You are so sincere, and honest, and you give this vibe that you really enjoy what you do and it makes your content so much more enjoyable. I hope you continue to have fun and I hope you continue to make content (If that is what makes you happy) Have a great new your Deus!
As someone who grew up being read the oz books, the original Wizard of Oz was my first exposure to movies not being accurate to the books. When I saw Return to Oz later as a kid, while I did notice the handful of inaccuracies, I was still blown away by how spot on the design of everything looked and how all the characters acted. It killed me how this wasn't as loved by others like the original movie
While it does seem like it would make sense for Dorothy to give tick tock life, when he was first activated he said "thank goodness" to not being alive. Also, he later stated, "I have always valued my lifelessness". So even if she offered it to him, he would probably refuse, and Dorothy would be much to polite to make him alive if he didn't want it.
Congrats on working on your degree. I was wondering why there wasn't as much content. I remember that killer opening you used to have and watching HP Lovecraft month. Thanks for this video and look forward to your future endeavors.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in 1900 and the illustrations were all art nouveau of the Gibson girl era. The MGM movie avoids pretty much all reference to the era, but Emerald City is clearly Art Deco. There are no autos in that movie but there is a tire swing at the farm. Also, I just read where someone pointed out a date is visible on the death certificate of the first witch, being 1939. The day and month were of some significance in his memory but I don't remember what. But another thing I love about this movie is they were faithful to the styles of the original era.
sweet! after some boxing day traveling i now got to sit down to a review/dissection of a classic from my childhood. awesome! i will face the Wheelers now as a grown man! now knowing their true weakness....STAIRS!!!!😁
I cannot remember which book it was but they do address Toto not talking in one of the books. After much pressuring from Dorothy and her friends total finally says one thing and then just goes back to barking like a dog again. Effectively Toto just doesn't like to talk
Small correction, I kept saying "Frank L Baum" instead of "L, Frank Baum" (my dyslexia shining through) which is the correct name, im pointing it out here, so I don't continue to get annoying messages about it.
How dare you take my ability to tell you you were wrong. The nerve. Now what am I gonna do?
Great video!!!
Don't feel bad. I always referred to him the same way.
yes all of them were written several decades before the original film it was made long after Baums death
Hey man, no worries on a tiny mistake in yet another fantastic video, to be honest I only caught it consciously once. Once again you made a ton of great and interesting points about yet another underappreciated classic I've always loved (Like for you, I always held Return in the sort of regard which I had seen amongst adults for Wizard as I was growing up).
On a much different note, I'm sorry but I just finished watching the Netflix series "Midnight Mass" (by Mike Flanagan of Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game fame) and I have to ask if you've seen it yet. It's 7 parts (and hours) long and starts as a bit of a slow burn, but I went in to it almost totally blind (only knowing it's nature as a horror) and I'm now convinced it is a future classic. As a long time fan I'd love to hear your thoughts on it in a video if you can find the time for it, but either way my true point was that I really can't recommend a watch enough if you haven't caught it yet, what with your current schedule.
In the later books it's explained that Toto, just like Billina got the power to speak when he came to Oz but chooses not to, what I like is that this implies that throughout the first adventure it means Toto fully understood what was happening.
Was part of the premiere but wanted to say this after wards "it's too dark for kids" is a baffling statement, most kids actively seek out the dark stuff, when I was a kid I would read stuff like goosebumps and scary stories to tell in the dark and nowadays what kids are into is fnaf, bendy and poppy all horror games,regardless of what you think of these properties they are still pretty dark stuff, kids are more willing to go out of their comfort zones as long as it doesn't go to far out like say explicit gore or real world evil kids are not helpless victims they are so much stronger then the media gives them credit for
Agreed. The PNB nutcracker is dark,but my favorite
When I was a kid I was scared of just about everything. I still sought out scary entertainment. I kept my Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book in my closet. I loved it but it scared the piss out of me. I’m sick of people thinking kids don’t deserve good entertainment because they’re young.
Kids love dark and scary stuff.
I think there's quite a distinction between something that might spook the little 'uns
and something that is inappropriate.
There's a quote floating around that I've seen time and time again, but can never remember from who. To paraphrase: Kids don't need scary stories to tell them monsters are real. Kids need scary stories to tell them the monsters can be fought.
I loved dark and macabre stuff as a kid. In fact the first horror film I saw was dog soliders. Followed by resident evil, and jaws the same year twenty years ago. I was 5
1 hour long. Holy crap. Deus has really been working behind the scenes. Also all that weight loss. Fine job mate.
And still not long enough hahaha. Love this guys reviews!
Please come back 😢
Yes, please come back!
I second this, I've only found this channel yesterday and seriously like this guy's content.
I've binged this guy's videos for years, sad that he stopped. Anybody know what happened?
@@dawncracker6250 I think the real world happened but he is on Twitch some.
@@dawncracker6250he's working on a college degree. He is still writing scripts for videos, he's just primarily focusing on school. Good for him.
Frank L. Baum received a lot of letters from children. It's really sweet. They loved his books and he seemed humble and pleased about it. So, as you can plainly see, even with the strangeness and darkness, lots of children loved his works! Shows how aware Siskel was!
Holy shit Return to Oz i love this film. My gandma had it on VHS when i was a kid and i would watch it every time we visited. I used to have nightmares about the Wheelers and to this day things with wheels instead of limbs give me the heebie-jeebies but its that fun kind of uncomfortable. So awesome.
I will never get over how even though they don't follow the books faithfully the level of details from the books... It's a gorgeous love letter to FLB and Oz in general even taking a bit from the MGM film. Sadly because it wasn't the MGM sequel it wasn't appreciated. I loved this way more than the musical (that isn't the Wiz which is this with black NY culture for me).
Edit: during the hospital escape Ozma told Dorothy the screaming was from people in the basement damaged by the machine.
This is how to do an adaptation. Not exactly like the source but really close.
Because its common sense. You should NEVER try making a film where your following the book beat for beat. Some things are not able to be filmed, some thing are not even in the realm of affordable to be filmed, some thing may be good written but would be garbage in a film. Its an ADAPTATION, they ADAPT a book into a film.
@@lutherheggs451 Yeah, with the exception of Sin City, that was nearly panel for panel from the comics.
But still very much agreed, I can't put it to words because everything just contradicts. You have to take from the source but not be exactly like the source. You have to tell the same story but not tell the same story. You have to give people something new but not something different, something different but not new and different. You have to go 'If they were making a movie what would they do?" without losing focus on what you want to do. Modernize it without losing the old.
It's something some just can't get right.
Off the top, I appreciated that the "Return's" actress was ACTUALLY a little girl, during its production. 👧🏻
I always thought that was really dumb since it's later, but she's younger... I get your point but you're expecting the character you've already seen in a super famous movie...
@@anonamatron yeah but that was old Hollywood being unwilling to give a child a leading role. 50 years later you can do better. Would another 16 year old girl pretending to be 8 be the better choice?
@@robertyeah2259this is old, but I’m pretty sure they simply aged up the character. Sure, Judy had her chest binded down, but the studio always hid her figure and tried to keep it understated. I never got the impression her acting was attempting to act like an 8-10 year old. Younger, sure, but not that young.
The studio promised Judy the role. But they also said, don’t get your hopes up, kid because we want Shirley temple. Fox didn’t want to hand over Shirley and Shirley simply didn’t have the voice they were looking for. Can you image Shirley singing somewhere over the rainbow? In a cutesy and aw sort of way? Not in that grand way Judy managed to do it at only 17? That’s why she got it.
It’s funny how everyone’s being critical on the fact Judy made the character mainstream famous, yet fairuza is literally doing an impression of Judy’s cadence/voice.
She’s baked into pop culture and I don’t think it was a ‘dumb move’ for her to be Dorothy. We shouldn’t even be super excited about child stars even existing with how it tracks, I have no issue for older girls doing gruelling lead parts.
This is, honestly, one of the best reviews I feel you’ve ever done, and was a great Christmas present. Thank you, good sir.
I never even knew this existed, much less that they'd even go there with a sequel thats this dark.
That said, I gotta thank Daeus for introducing me to it, now I gotta track it down and watch it.
A delicious christmas treat, jolly good show old chap!
Holy shit! A late Christmas present! One of my favorite Oz movies reviewed by one of my favorite UA-camrs. This is going to be great!!!!
This is a treat! One of my favorite reviewers discussing one of my favorite childhood nightmares.
Edit: it was every bit as good as expected, and then some. Off to find this magical novelisation!
Now to rewatch over and over again. Deus' reviews are *chef's kiss*👌
The critics of this movie were familiar with the first movie and not the books. That's basically the entire thing about it. Siskel and Ebert should seriously be given the side-eye with time, they were a laughingstock to me!
Same
Nah. Sorry movie reviewers are reviewing a movie based on the movie. Not on the book it might be tied to, not on a video game, not on a comic book, but what was put on film.....There is no universe where film reviewers should be required to have an attachment or deep knowledge of source material.....IF your meant to do homework to enjoy a film, you've failed as a filmmaker, your shit at your job and should be fired.
@@lutherheggs451 PFF. Wow. You don't need to do homework to enjoy a film but you DO need to do it to offer valid criticism. This is why people go to school for this stuff. If you're comparing a movie to another movie it's not at all tied to, as if it was a direct follow up rather than return to subject, your criticism is invalid. Film critics are professionals and should act as such. You want to be an internet chump REVIEWER, that's on you. You want the proper job title of critic, you put in the work. 'This doesn't taste like an apple!' isn't valid criticism of a peach.
Siskel and Ebert were morons. I never heard those guys open their mouth to say anything mildly decent about a movie, and I don't mean praise only. It's very easy to be a critic when you are a TV celebrity and don't need any theoretical background to back your ideas up.
@@lutherheggs451 Then video game movies have all been falsely judged. They are always judged against the base material, as were most movies based on books, like LotR and Harry Potter.
Many people STILL have no clue the Oz movies were based on books whatsoever.
A new upload on this channel is always a welcome reminder to rewatch your older reviews
It's kind of funny how similar this is to the Alice Mcgee video games, where Alice's damaged mind corrupts and twists Wonderland into a nightmare realm. Wonder if the creators of that game took notes after watching this movie.
Arg that was my FAV PC game, and no one appreciated the madness of those games!!!!
@@dwilson9546 I still have my case book that came with the game.
American McGee is working on the Alice: Asylum game though.
American McGee worked on an Oz game which was eventually cancelled, so I have no doubt that you are correct.
27:38 - 28:42 Recently, I started watching the series The Maxx, based on Image Comics Darker Image #1 debut, and subsequent spin off series. In the story, it was explained that both the main characters, Maxx and Julie have this weird counterpart that exists in this subconscious primeval dream world known as "The Outback". To Maxx, he sees himself as this brute animalistic force of nature hero who protects his "Leopard Queen" that Julie represents. But in the real world, he's just a homeless vagrant wearing a strange costume and Julie is a social worker. But through the series, the Outback tends to bleed through to the real world despite of maybe only taking place in the mind. I could be stretching it, but I see a bit of what Wizard of Oz does with their characters in that show, The Maxx. Also, recently saw Babes in Toyland (1986) which also does the Wizard of Oz route with their story, but that one is definitely fiction of imagination. But it's nice to see how far both Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves have come in the last 35 years since then.
Hell of a way to end 2021! Awesome, awesome!
In Jack's defense with the "mom" bit, Dorothy may have been 9 or 10, but he was all of a few *days* old. And I figured the crack from Dorothy about how people speak without thinking all the time was a mild jab at thoughtless words/actions rather than mental health issues.
I get your point, although jacks not a few das old from what I could interpret he was created before Ozma was imprisoned so in theory before the destruction of oz which going by how old and dusty everything looks was a very long time indeed
@Deusdaecon Reviews that's one part that often confused me and really gets messed up when you try to figure out the timeline and continuity.
Rambling and theorizing incoming, it's not that serious so feel free to ignore.
From Jack's words Mombi was already present in the Emerald City when he was given life then tossed into the tower. Or at least that is what he seems to imply or infer (can't remember which to use). Meaning Ozma was in the Emerald City as well.
But the problem arises when you take into account that the Wizard (who originally gave Ozma to Mombi to hide, I know it's been retconned but i like it better when he did it) then the Scarecrow were acting as rulers in the place of the missing royal family.
So where in Oz was Ozma and where does the birth of Jack fall?
Meshing this info together Ozma had been missing before Dorothy first arrived via the tornado (books and both movies confirms this).
So that leaves a few possibilities:
Ozma was just a kid who made Jack a long time ago to scare Mombi who may have lived in the EC. Mombi tests the powder of life on him them locks him up before everything gets turned to stone (except him and Tick Tock somehow).
A possibility but we know that's likely not the case.
Another possibility is a bit convoluted but given the events of the movie is a but more likely. Ozma had been captured by the nomes and put in mombi's care as per the book events with Tip and before the events of WoO. He tells her he'll reward her with 30 pretty heads and the EC once it's weak enough without a ruler or he's strong enough if she keeps Ozma hidden. But then Oz pinhead comes and convinces everyone he's great and powerful, even the Nome king falls for it So he waits.
So the EC hadn't been conquered and ozmaisn't behind the mirror yet just elsewhere during Dorothy's first visit. Why isn't she behind the mirrors yet?
Same reason the powder of life is rare. Magic takes time. Mombi isn't one of the stronger witches and she doesn't have a magic item like shoes, wand, a belt, or house so it's gonna take time or she hasn't decided exactly how to imprison her.
But then Dorothy returns home dropping the slippers into the Nome king's lap. Now he has the power and he puts his plan into action.
Conquering oz doesn't take a single day. First all of the humans were turned to stone leaving the animals and inhumans active. They try to fight off the nomes...somehow. But then they later get petrified. Scarecrow sees it's all gone FUBAR puts Tick Tock in the storage then has the key sent to Dorothy before he's captured.
Now the nomes take their dismantling the emerald city and getting mombi her head collection.
Once it's all done Mombi and Ozma return to the destroyed city. A day or so before Mombi's finally able to cast ozma into the mirror Ozma makes Jack. Mombi tries the powder on him and locks him up. Ozma gives Jack the run down on being his mom and how he came to be before Mombi finally works her magic putting her in the mirror. Leaving Jack perhaps a few weeks to a month old by the time Dorothy returns.
I remember watching this with my dad (who really loved this movie) and when it was finished, I turned to him and said, "I think I like this (movie) more than the original". He was so proud lol.
and yes, everyone clapped afterwards lol.
((Sorry, I had to roast my own story cause it does sound kinda...self-applauding lol))
I had this movie on VHS taped from TV & would watch it regularly as a kid. It holds a special place in my heart. I love how the electroshock machine becomes Tick-Tock, the orderlies become the wheelers, and the Doctor becomes the Nome King in her mind (or not?). It was this movie that made me start reading the books, taking out 2 or 3 at a time & immersing myself in the mythology. Love this film. BTW, I always thought the same about Tick Tock being the manifestation of the machine.
Man I love your work. Plz never stop. Thanks to you I k ow how to get a real Poets drink.
Thank you for this. I never understood this, and as such, I never watched it. The mental health aspect was never on my radar. Now I can't wait to give it a proper try!!
Excellent review and synopsis. I need to add this to the list of films for my kids. Thanks!
I have ALWAYS loved this movie. I agree with Siskel and Ebert "Talking out of their ass". I think people underestimate kids. They are sometimes able to handle things that even adults can't.
Exactly, at least kids don't get "offended" watching things
I saw this in threatres at least 3 times when it came out. And it is one of my absolute favorites…thank you so much for this!!!
I first saw Return to Oz when I had a blistering 103 degree fever and loved what I remembered of it. However I thought it was a fever dream for years because when I told anyone of it they hadn't heard of it and my mother didn't believe the story I told her about the plot. I felt so vindicated when I found a VHS of it when I was 12.
HOORAY!!! Perfect on a snowy day. Thank you
A Christmas gift, loved this movie as a kid. The gnome Kings death scene always stuck with me
The impression I always got was that Ozma was NOT, strictly speaking, imprisoned in the mirror; she was imprisoned between worlds. In Kansas, she could briefly make appearances as her actual, physical self (albeit without her royal finery), but never for very long before disappearing, while in Oz, she could only appear as a ghostly blob of light. Because of Dorothy's ties to Oz (and, it's implied, because on some level she's Dorothy's Oz counterpart), she could be seen by her, but no one else - except the Nurse, because she, too, has an Oz counterpart; like Mombi, she's Ozma's jailer.
I was in the target audience when this film came out and I loved it. I also enjoyed Gremlins, The Dark Crystal, and other "too dark for kids" movies. They scared the heck out of me, but I still loved them, and continue to enjoy them as an adult.
This was a wonderful review. I appreciate the background details on the novels and the film itself.
We need more dark and intense kids movies as long as they have good characters and happy endings.
Always a great time. Thanks for all your hard work.
You don't know me but you were such a huge part of the last 6 years of my life. You were my favorite channel to listen to at my shitty retail job and I just quit recently and remembered your channel. Sorry that was long but yeah thanks i appreciate the awesome content!!!
Thanks for letting us know why you're shows aren't regular right now. I really missed Lovecraft month and your Hannibal reviews, so I'm glad to know there's a good reason they're not coming. Good luck with your degree.
Great video as always. Thanks. Looking forward to the next one.
I don't remember how I found your channel, but I'm glad I did. Awesome work, as always, thank you
Always enjoy your videos. You bring so much more to your videos than most others critics on the platform. Also, lovin the beard.
I miss this channel man it was my little hidden gem.. please come back to YT ...
I distinctly remember my parents bringing me to see this as a child and apologizing as I cried the whole way home.
Now it's dope, but my child mind was broken by it at the time.
How old of a kid were you?
So happy you did this film! I watched it when I was younger and I was so confused how it fitted into oz as it was so different and haven’t watched it as an adult but will now :)
A Great review Deus Keep it up and keep your self well I hope we have more reviews
Hi, I keep returning to your videos and I enjoy them very much - I hope you are doing OK.
I think a good question would be, "Does TikTok WANT to be alive?" I think, as a soldier he may prefer to stay mechanical to make him better at his job. If he's mechanical, he is effectively an immortal soldier.
Not to mention, as a machine he'd be bereft of emotion(at least that's the implication of being a machine), which, speaking as a combat vet, I can relate to...
its ticktock
@@Sate12 so it is
He says a couple times thank goodness that he isn’t. He does not want to be.
Looking forward to it
I do believe what Mombi was playinh was a mandolin
My dad has one that is sadly in need of repair very badly as of now but it does look a lot like one
God how I missed videos gonna sit down have a blackbush and enjoy this thank you sir for once again setting the standard
This was an excellent review. Well done.
What a treat- such a lovely review and homage to a treasured childhood memory. Thank you as always Deusdaecon
Fine video.... I absolutely enjoy a long video essay on one of my favorite childhood films. I was horrified by the wheelers but they were always oddly fascinating. Thanks for the content.
All the 80's kids I knew who had seen it loved it, I've yet to meet a single person who saw it as a kid and was "too scared" by it. It was the adults deciding to for kids without ever consulting actual kids. Like have you even met kids? Me and my friends would tell each other ghost stories about deranged murderers, and read books about supposed real life haunted houses, and play D&D when we were 6 and 7. There's scarier stuff in The Bible that adults made me read as a toddler like the Devil as a snake, the literal Devil tempting Jesus, Jesus performing exorcisms, genocides, crucifixions, people being thrown in ovens to burn alive, etc., etc., etc. but somehow those are all just fine to tell a little kid and make them read about the second they learn how lol
Thank you Tipper Gore for buying into scare tactics. I agree, as an 11 yo I accidentally rented alien, thinking it was something else. My penny-pinching parents said, "you rent it, you watch it." It may have taken 15 years, but eventually i could eat cottage cheese again! Children are resilient!!
Not to mention a father trying to kill his son, because he thinks God told him too, that does make you a bit suspicious of your parents. I had brothers Grimm's stories in two volumes as a child, I vividly remember one story about a mother (or stepmother) decapitating her son with a heavy chest's lid, cooking him in a stew than serving to his father. Apparently later addictions didn't had it as people in one of my book groups on face, were surprised. Same for the one about a girl with silver hands.
The Wheelers scared the hell out of me as a kid but I was a little chicken as well
Quite the overlooked gem. Glad to see you covering it. Frankly, I always found this film far more compelling than the original.
This is a great gift thx yo 😆
Always happy to see your content. I wish you the best with your university coursed, forensics sounds like a very interesting science to follow.
In regards to children being able to handle darkness in their entertainment, as a child of the 80s I couldn't agree more. Movies like Time Bandits, Secret of NIMH, and Labyrinth? Those are the kind of films that stuck with me the most over the years and I keep finding myself coming back to. The only movie in the last 20 years that even comes close to that IMO is Coraline. I feel sort of bad for kids who came before and after me who got so much sanitized saccharin crap in their childhoods.
I also have a special place in my hart for sf series and movies for kids from Australia and New Zealand like "Children of the Dog" Star" or "Boy from Andromeda" I called it kid's Predator actually.
its so interesting to see someone who grew up watching a lot of the same movies and reading the same comics talking about things I'm nostalgic about... good god I just saw the code... oh shit the agents are coming for me.
58:05 - 59:10 As a kid, this imagery did freak me out a bit, but growing up, I had grown up with watching movies with stop-motion art, such as with work done in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, which had a cyclops centaur in it who got stabbed and they show blood. So while being jarring and disturbing, I had grown used to it and admire the technique as well as the effectiveness.
I remember seeing this as a kid, and sure, it was dark, and quite the departure from the first movie for anyone (like me) who hadn't read the books. But it wasn't too dark by any means, it was simply.. dark and different. Loved the behind the scenes on the Wheelers, those skillful movements are really impressive!
Great review, as always. 🙌
So many childhood nightmares from this film. :D
Favorite movie of all time, really resonated with me as a kid.
I've always adored this film. I got to see it as a young boy, and it always stayed with me.
I'm a huge fan of all the Oz content from L. frank Baum, Gregory Maguire, the 39 film, and the Broadway show as well 👌awesome video as always man! thank you
Maguire is a hack. He makes things edgy for edges sake. Such trash.
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid!!!! Thank you for covering this movie!
Thank you again a great video, and a child hood favourite always loved darker tales
I do rather have fond memories of this movie. I never read the books, but that's beside the point.
This channel is my comfort space. I keep returning to it, hoping to see a new video. Alas!
I have been under Fairuza's spell ever since I saw The Craft where she ironically played a wickedly hot witch.
Love this film!
Can't wait to have my heart broken!
I love this movie. I watched it as a kid.
This is SUCH a fantastically done review,and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved all the background info you sprinkled throughout the video,it's rare to come across reviews that are this informative & well researched! It's perfect timing for me to stumble on this video actually,because I just watched Return to Oz after not having seen it since I was a child. I only saw it once,but it was something that fascinated (aaaand mildly traumatized lmao) me,and the imagery of the "head room" in particular was absolutely SEARED into my little brain. It has that same eerie,haunting feel to it as films like The Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, Little Nemo,Last Unicorn,etc. The '80s/early '90s really produced some uniquely bizarre kids movies,eh?
Scared the shit out of me as a kid but god do I love and remember this film so well. Excellent video as per always.
17:00 it's revealed in a later novel by Toto that he can speak, he always could, but he's never saw the need to.
46:00. I thought the emerald city only Looked emerald because of the green glasses they had to wear. ??
This was a film I initially thought of as a cheap cash-grab when I first saw it as a child.
Man, was I wrong about that!
Also, I can't help but notice the particular theme of "escapist fantasy to avoid/explain away traumatic events" throughout this film.
Great review
This in-depth analysis was exactly what the internet needed. Thank you so much for this.
You're very welcome!
Cant wait for your next video and good luck in your courses
An inappropriately forgotten film.
Hey Friend, I stumbled upon your video in late 2019 as my father was very ill and me and my Ex where going through a break up and eventual split. All this to say, I really appreciate your content. You are so sincere, and honest, and you give this vibe that you really enjoy what you do and it makes your content so much more enjoyable.
I hope you continue to have fun and I hope you continue to make content (If that is what makes you happy)
Have a great new your Deus!
thanks for watching I really appreciate it, I'm sorry you went through such a tough time hope things are improving for you.
Come back soon friend, miss your voice and your videos. Hope you're well.
I'm currently working on 5 reviews that I'm hoping to get done and released before September, no promises but that's the plan.
I used to watch your reviews when I was a freshman in high school! Now in my mid 20’s I’m so happy you still make videos! Binging the reviews I missed
As someone who grew up being read the oz books, the original Wizard of Oz was my first exposure to movies not being accurate to the books. When I saw Return to Oz later as a kid, while I did notice the handful of inaccuracies, I was still blown away by how spot on the design of everything looked and how all the characters acted. It killed me how this wasn't as loved by others like the original movie
While it does seem like it would make sense for Dorothy to give tick tock life, when he was first activated he said "thank goodness" to not being alive. Also, he later stated, "I have always valued my lifelessness". So even if she offered it to him, he would probably refuse, and Dorothy would be much to polite to make him alive if he didn't want it.
I miss you man!
Bless ya , your in love
This was amazing. Thank you.
Congrats on working on your degree. I was wondering why there wasn't as much content. I remember that killer opening you used to have and watching HP Lovecraft month. Thanks for this video and look forward to your future endeavors.
Looking forward to your next vid. Would love to hear your takes on all the new horror that's come out in the last few years!
next video being edited currently also i discuss all that kind of thing on my twitch channel if you are interested
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in 1900 and the illustrations were all art nouveau of the Gibson girl era. The MGM movie avoids pretty much all reference to the era, but Emerald City is clearly Art Deco. There are no autos in that movie but there is a tire swing at the farm. Also, I just read where someone pointed out a date is visible on the death certificate of the first witch, being 1939. The day and month were of some significance in his memory but I don't remember what.
But another thing I love about this movie is they were faithful to the styles of the original era.
Amazing and so in depth. Loved this movie as a child. For what it's worth you've gained one more subscriber. Thank you
sweet! after some boxing day traveling i now got to sit down to a review/dissection of a classic from my childhood. awesome! i will face the Wheelers now as a grown man! now knowing their true weakness....STAIRS!!!!😁
I cannot remember which book it was but they do address Toto not talking in one of the books. After much pressuring from Dorothy and her friends total finally says one thing and then just goes back to barking like a dog again. Effectively Toto just doesn't like to talk
Whatever journey you are on, I think it's working! Love and light hun 😁.
When you think about it, this is the kind of thing people probably would've expected when they hear Sam Raimi doing a Wizard of Oz film.
I never had any desire to watch this film until now. Great review.
I love your reviews! Your voice is so silky and soothing and you're very astute in your analyses
Hey, haven't watched Deusdaecon for a bit. Looking good dude! Happy New Year!
Omg UA-cam unsubscribed me from this channel and i couldn't remember the name of it amd FINALLY i found it again.
Apologies for that, UA-cam does that sometimes, glad you could find your way back.
@@deusdeaconReviews thank you so much for creating quality reviews.