Return to Oz is Shockingly Nice

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Talking about a film I think has been long misunderstood, by its supporters as much as its critics. It's not just a dark alternative to the original 1939 Wizard of Oz. Return to Oz is so, so much more.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:23 A history of Oz
06:51 The Return to Oz
08:27 Building Oz
17:04 The Context of Oz
24:45 Adapting Oz
29:48 The king of Oz
37:33 The point of Oz
41:48 Me and Oz
44:30 End Card
Links to cool stuff from this video
I Killed the Nome King: • Return to Oz : I Kille...
Wheelers Interview: • Return to Oz - Pons Ma...
Walter Murch interviews: • Walter Murch - Disney ...

[@MorriganAtwood]

I never feared the Wheelers as a kid because Tick Tock is made to look like a little army man, and he therefore strongly resembled my dad. Who was also a little army man with a moustache. So the Wheelers being onscreen just translated to my toddler brain as "dad is about to come kick their asses for being scary."

[@michelangelomichaelmorrice6910]

That's so sweet : >

[@Kh-bs7mg]

That's so cute

[@michaelhegwood9977]

Babe, wake up, B-Mask just made a video essay about an obscure piece of childhood media I have nostalgia for.

[@edwarddorey4480]

*for which I have nostalgia.

[@lemonade-ct1bh]

Not obscure

[@shadowapple8890]

To this day, my mother and I still quote "An egg? Poison!" in the exact same tone the film used whenever we are together using eggs in cooking.

[@Silenced23]

Fo shizzle my nizzle dizzle

[@millyshona5007]

Lol, I’m allergic to eggs.. so I thought 💭 at first that everyone is. Later I discovered that only I was allergic to the “Poison”: eggs. So my little brain 🧠 thought that the movie was made for me, or a secret message was hidden in there for me. So I watched it dozens of times all the while praying I can go to Oz. 🤔

[@masamune2984]

As someone who absolutely ABHORS eggs (🤢🤮 🙅🏻‍♂️🚫❌🥚 ), I totally agree, and do the same 😅🙂☺️👍

[@MaxOakland]

That's awesome! :D

[@fmsyntheses]

You and your mom sound like good eggs

[@thedarkboidankmatter6263]

My favorite type of genre in ANYTHING is a story with full of love and heart having the most insanely scary stuff in it, seemingly juxtaposed with everything, when in motion makes the entire thing have this kind of charm you will never see in anything else. It’s the reason why I love Gremlins, The Witches, or the first season of Stranger Things so much.

[@BuddySweyzer]

2:28 "Tik-Tok of Oz" Ugh, even L. Frank Baum had to chase trends to appeal to the kids

[@BMask]

Dammit I knew there was a way to make that joke work

[@Gibbypastrami]

Can we just take a second and acknowledge how amazing the original Trio look? They’re straight out of the books, when I saw Scarecrow in the books for the first time, just, wow

[@shoogles_]

Adults nervously insisting that children's material is actually super dark and literal, often to justify their enjoying it, seems like exactly the opposite of the point the movie was making, then?

[@BMask]

Pretty much! But you know how the KZbin game goes and what people are more likely to click on...

[@sketchsskotch1073]

Me going back to headcanon that the Sonic series is super dark and literal.

[@taterboob]

I put this in the same category as Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Neverending Story, and Legend as movies that I loathed as a kid, because I thought they were too scary, but absolutely love now. Add Conan, Excalibur, Dragon Slayer, and Willow to the mix, and the 80s were kind of an awesome decade for fantasy, huh? I don't know what was going on in the 80s, but every genre was killing it back then.

[@thesapphireone]

I grew up with The Neverending Story, and love it to this day. And all this time, I didn’t now it was from the director of another personal favourite, Das Boot until years later!

[@eldritchcupcakes3195]

Judging by the results I think lsd was going on in the 80s

[@cadendicky1855]

I would've also put "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" even if it was comparable more light-hearted than the others, but it was nevertheless pretty dark and serious at points, yet enjoyable.

[@londonjackson8986]

I'm so happy you brought up Eric & Skottie's Marvel Graphic OZ Comics!!! Back in 2019 to 2020, when I was interested in the first 3 OZ books, I found out there were Marvel Comics that adapted the first 6 books. So I check them out, gave them a read & I was (and still am) shocked at how little recognition or acknowledgment these comics got over the years. Skottie's fantastic, colorful, & cartoony art style, combined with Eric's faithfulness to the original text makes these comics an fantastic introduction for the children of today to Baum's work. They were so good, that I ended up looking into Skottie's other work, like I Hate Fairyland (which has a sequel series that recently started in Last Year) & checked out Baum's Life & Adventures of Santa Claus.

[@BMask]

I was a little shocked too! Luckily they've recently collected them, very recently, in a bunch of editions like the complete collection series and a full omnibus. Sadly, the complete collection doesn't feature all the information Shanhower would preface each story with in the single volumes, which is so crucial to what's changed in each story or what's been emphasised, though they may be in the omnibus.

[@gnbman]

Your conclusion about the meaning of the conflict between Dorothy and the Nome King actually made me cry a little. I've loved this movie for most of my life but never saw it that way.

[@h_works2965]

Trust me, as someone who has long considered Watership Down one of their favourite movies, I’m very used to seeing something get discussed purely in terms of how ‘dark’ or traumatising’ it is. When in fact the film in question is far more uplifting and intelligently made than it’s given credit for outside of ‘edge’ appeal. So while I haven’t seen Return to Oz, I can definitely relate to that experience. And this video has honestly peaked my interest to watch it myself. Another splendid video. Thanks so much for making this.

[@Late0NightPC]

That's something that I've always hated seeing, when a work intended for a younger audience is only looked at on a surface level for how dark it is, and it ends up being treated by both sides of the argument as though that is all it is, entirely ignoring the actual depth or quality of the work. "Darkness", like anything else in a story, is a tool, and how it's used it what makes it good or bad. The entire point of fiction is that it isn't real, but isn't "not real" either. In regards to stories for kids, it's a place where they can confront ideas or situations in a safe and controlled environment, letting them get some sort of experience before they have to eventually face those kinds of things in the real world. If it's too much, just put the book down or pause the TV and walk away, then, when you are feeling better, come back and try and go a little further.

[@MaxOakland]

You should watch Return to Oz. It's very good

[@williamhanekom9882]

I can't be thankful enough that you're defending this films intentions. It's an honest, sincere fairytale film where whimsical and perilous things exist tangentially, not many movies nowadays come close to that balance. A good comparison I can make to this film is Guillermo Del Toro's Pinnochio in which a lot of the darker real world themes are present but the endearing lead character perseveres in spite of it.

[@catherineholden6388]

The 1939 movie is one of the greatest films of all time. THIS is the greatest Oz film of all time. I loved it when very few people did. I saw it at the theater when it came out, and as an adult AND as an Oz fan - books and 1939 movie. This was Oz, not Hollywood.

[@sarafontanini7051]

the wya I see it its not that the nome king CARES about being human, its mroe the IDEA of it, one more thing to TAKE and haord to himself from others. Since the largely human people of Oz took from him, dared to think they were somehow BETTER than him (despite not knowing he even existed), he'll take that idea from THEM, make himself in their image so that HE can lord himself over THEM while they're trapped in his vault forever, as the human image makes HIM more real than THEM. he's jsut such a BASTARD. Great villain.

[@BMask]

Which is definitely how a quack doctor would view his patients. Especially children.

[@KhakiCube]

I will absolutely adore this film for introducing me to the aesthetic and fantasy of Oz, that the 1939 film didn't entirely capture. It's rustic, whimsical, succinct, and charming.

[@the_real_Kurt_Yarish]

As a kid, I always held this film in higher regards than _The Wizard of Oz_ , it captured a kind of magic in me that the other film never did. I'm not sure if it's the visuals, the subtle terror, or if I just jived with what they were putting down. In any case, I hold it in my heart as a true classic.

[@lesliemartin3]

When my mom rented this for my sisters and I when we were little we loved it so much we begged my mom to just like keep the rental. Years later my sisters and I would still go to Blockbuster and rent this thing when we were like 17 and 18. The movie is just so good. Like even if you never knew what the wizard of Oz was if somebody set you in front of the TV in this was playing you'd be into it.

[@JayMaverick]

Love this film. It was like returning to a place you remember as magical and colorful from the first visit, but when you come back all the cracks start to show. Was it ever as perfect as you first thought? Bleak, nightmareish, but whimsical and full of heart. And amazing special effects that definitely have stood the test of time. Thanks for the review, brought back a lot of memories.

[@Working_Dreamer]

This is such a wonderful video! I have always seen this movie as a great example of melancholy that is rarely exemplified in kid’s media but is a very real part of growing up. There’s an element of realizing that you are growing older and things aren’t as simple as they used to be. Sometimes visiting the past only highlights that disconnect. When Dorothy sees the portrait of her friends and that haunting violin plays, that was the moment that stuck with me for years. She longs for a piece of her that’s missing but she’s being forced to grow up by the adults that surround her. And I feel like every child has had a similar moment when adults (or other children pretending to be grown up) try to force the whimsy out of them. “How old are you? That’s stuff is for babies? You seriously still play with toys/watch cartoons?” Every kid has had that disconnect growing up where they feel the need to throw away the things that made them feel happy during childhood. I feel like this movie is very important in presenting the idea that childhood doesn’t have an age limit. While we can naturally grow out of things we should never throw away the value those things gave to us. This movie also seems to speak for those who had to grow up through tough circumstances (trauma, death, manipulation by adults who don’t have their best intentions at heart) and this movie earnestly encourages those people to never give up on the child inside that believes in magic and wonderful lands. People may have hurt you. Life may have taken advantage of you. You might have been forced to grow up early in life. But never give up on that innocent child within yourself. They still believe in a place that is made perfectly for them. They still believe in a safe world where they can have wonderful adventures with friends who care deeply for them. And no matter how difficult life is, we need to protect that inner child. Dorothy’s Oz became lost and corrupted by circumstances she couldn’t control but she restored Oz and returned home as a more complete person than she ever had before. I love this movie so much! This is an amazing video!

[@MaxOakland]

That's a beautiful interpretation

[@Working_Dreamer]

@@MaxOakland Thank you! Return to Oz is one of my favorite movies of all time! 💚

[@m.c.s1306]

I nearly teared up reading that, well said.

[@BroadwayGuy]

Thank You for this!! "RETURN TO OZ" always made me melancholic, not downright scared. MGM'S "THE WIZARD OF OZ" always gave me several ultimately uplifting emotions. I'll have to look at "RETURN" again through the perspective you present here. Another connection: In "RETURN", adults whom Dorothy can't trust, try to destroy "OZ" forever. At the end of MGM'S movie, Aunt Em says, "You've just had a bad dream", dismissing Oz. But Judy Garland replies, with intense conviction, "No, Aunt Em. This was a REAL, TRULY LIVE place."

[@moffie-moff5044]

When I first found out about Return to Oz I was a little apprehensive, because of how many elements from different books they utilized, afraid it wouldn’t have a clear direction. Then they sent Dorothy to a mental hospital and I was HOOKED. This is how you make an adaptation that’s insanely different from the source material but amazing in its own right

[@wren_bean]

When i was tiny, my oldest sister described the scene in princess Momby's Castle and i was fascinated. Jump forward about 20 years, i was working for a used media retail chain and a dvd copy of 'return' turned up and i knew i had to watch it. It's one of my favorite movies now. You express beautifully how wholesome, endearing and actually encouraging this film and its characters are in spite of the darker aesthetic. Loved this video

[@Nightman221k]

I love the movie and how much it celebrates the books. I wish more adaptations of the books were available cause they’re so good.

[@NeptuneCactus]

Oh man, this film sounds more of like what I wanted Labyrinth to be. Based on your description it sounds like they operate on similar ideas. But this sounds like it works on justifying fears young people have in a really cool way. Those are some of my favorite kinds of stories when they're done well (see: The Owl House if you're into Disney products that touch on escapism), and I'd heard for years this was exactly the opposite of what you described. I think I'll finally give it a watch!

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I read the original books more than I saw the MGM movie (until my dad splurged on the anniversary VHS) and that's probably why I've always preferred Return to Oz. It takes some creative liberties, but it looks and feels the way I always imagined Oz and the characters.

[@shady9118]

This video is great! I love how you broke down that thing people always say that "this childs film was so dark and edgy omg!!!!" It drives me insane and is one of my least favorite things people have to say about children's media, especially since half the time it's not that dark or edgy. It is just a piece of media that's accessible to children, but doesn't absolutely cater to them. People overlook the actual qualities and intentions behind a piece of media, just so they can claim that something was "so traumatizing".

[@otaku-sempai2197]

In contrast to many of the other critics of the day, Return to Oz was one of the late Harlan Ellison's favorite films.

[@BMask]

That makes way too much sense

[@bellboy7809]

You mentioned Jean Marsh and, Dr. Who fan that I am, took a couple minute to confirm that yes, it’s the same Jean Marsh that played an obscure 1st Doctor companion for one story involving the Daleks. That wouldn’t normally get me out of bed, but she also played the same part again in a few audio dramas decades after the fact. … I think I have a problem.

[@AtlantisTheLostEmpire]

She also played the evil Queen Bavmorda, in the 1988 movie "Willow".

[@BabyCharmander]

Return to Oz is my all-time favorite movie and it's SO GOOD finally seeing more and more people recognize what a fantastic movie it is and actually giving it the reviews and analysis that it deserves!! (Also THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS TO THE INTERVIEWS!! I always try to absorb as much stuff about this movie as possible so it's fantastic seeing more interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff!) It's funny because I watched this film as a small child and, while it scared me (and slightly confused me--"why was Dorothy in this movie younger than the Dorothy in Wizard of Oz?" wondered younger!me), I still absolutely adored it. (It probably helped a tiny bit that I saw it on the Disney Channel, which cut tiny bits of some of the scarier scenes, like a few clips of the heads, the Nome King's eye glazing over, and a shot of headless!Mombi... though it also, for some reason, cut Ozma's line explaining that the screams Dorothy was hearing were the "damaged patients," which made the head nurse's arrest at the end rather confusing, but I digress.) While I did love the original musical, this movie always stood out to me so much more, on the same level as other films from that era like The Neverending Story and Labyrinth and Dark Crystal, but... more than all of them, too--those all still rank among my favorite movies, but I think RtO rises above them for the reasons you explain, the tenderness and hopefulness that the film embodies, that shine all the more brighter because of the darkness. I really loved your analysis of the film, even though I don't fully agree with part of your interpretation. Not to say the analysis is wrong or bad in any way--it's truly fantastic! I just personally like to look at RtO from the lens of Oz being a real place, as it is from the books. The original musical makes it firmly a dream Dorothy had (although if you've seen the newer stage version of the same musical, that's changed--the big reveal at the end is that Dorothy STILL has her ruby slippers!), but RtO I see as being a bit different. Yes, we do see the parallels between the nurse and Mombi, Doctor Worley and the Nome King, and the orderlies and the wheelers, but I like to see that more as Dorothy seeing the Oz villains that way because she's reminded of the awful people in Kansas that she just escaped. The wheelers are unsettling and make creaking noises, Mombi is trying to imprison her, and the Nome King is trying to take Oz away from her. That said, I also 100% understand interpreting this from the lens of Oz NOT being a real place, and your analysis of it in that way makes a lot of sense. One small note is that the novelization of the book clarifies why the Nome King wants to be human. From the scene where Dorothy makes a correct guess, and the Nome King starts to turn back: "And this time, instead of thunder, the Nome King heard the distant chime of a bell--the fateful sound that told him a transformation had been broken. Looking down at himself, he saw that he had become suddenly more rocklike, instead of more human. Instead of being free from his imprisoning bonds of rock, he was being reabsorbed; the source of all his awesome power was still his prison." So he does have an in-universe reason for it--it's just not fully clarified in the final film. Overall, I LOVED this video. Thank you SO MUCH for giving a fair look at this underrated piece of media!!

[@shaycrowley3262]

I was obsessed with this movie as a kid. Scary at first but once you've watched it 100 times, it's so fun!

[@justinshelton5026]

I always liked it. I saw it in the theater as a kid. And rented it many times from the video store.

[@Nightman221k]

Oh hey B-Mask if you are interested in quirky Oz adaptations I just recently saw Tom and Jerry Back to Oz and it is a fun film I think it was Paul Dini who wrote it and it comes off as an Oz fan’s fantasy for a sequel to the Original film using elements of the books. Plus Tom and Jerry happen to be there (it’s goofy fun)

[@BMask]

I did wonder who put the Nome King in there- knowing it was Paul makes so much sense!

[@wildfire9280]

You know what else is shockingly nice? This video. 🤠

[@BMask]

❤️

[@joeeljalapeno1816]

So your telling me this is the mgs 2 of the Oz franchise

[@spenceduggs8449]

I was a huge fan of the sequel books when I was little, but I had never seen this movie before! There's something deeply surreal about seeing such faithful film interpretations of characters I only knew as static drawings. Tick Tock especially was always so stiff in the books, but seeing him in motion was truly special. Thanks for covering this :)

[@catimari7879]

i'm so glad this popped up in my recommended. return to oz has been a very cherished movie of mine ever since i saw it. i'd always really liked the original, had fond memories of it, but the way this movie had such a different tone to the almost stage-like production before it made me so intrigued, and seeing the characters from other books tie into it , and HOW they tied them in, was perfect and i was obsessed. thank you for making such a sound case as to why this film has so much life and is so underappreciated !!!!

[@pestergeist]

Lumpy man is real, ive seen him at the hospital once.

[@montecristo1845]

I was one of the few kids in the theater who knew what the heck was going on in Return to Oz. My parents took my sister and me on long cross country trips growing up and one of the things we did was get read to from the front seat when we weren’t doing other activities. We had gone through the first seven Oz books both at home and on the road by the time the film was released. I now have read all fourteen Oz books (plus a few of his other works) to my five kids and they love the imagination of L. Frank Baum.

[@fromagenoir7220]

I ADORE David Shire's Music for this film. Everyone loves 39's songs and score (I do too) but this score IS Oz. Thank you for your review. The reading of the movie's themes and ideas are spot on.

[@peterparker3839]

This was released at the perfect time, I just attended a Wizard of Oz play the other day. So the original film and the world of Oz have been on my mind lately. Excellently crafted video as always :)

[@foreignparticle1320]

I loved this film as a kid. Along with The Dark Crystal, I found it scary, but thrilling - and imbued with a kind of "real magicalism" that made me feel connected to the worlds.

[@crogurk8459]

Man looking back at it, this is one of those films that I wish I watched when I was young in a way. Also holy frick, 31:58 I didn't expect to hear Evil Twin music here, that game despite playing like butt deserves more attention for it's style. Please make a video talking about it.

[@BMask]

Yeah, the guy who made it sadly passed away but he made one of the most incredible soundtracks to a very interesting concept before he did. Terrible 'game' as it stands, but fascinating project.

[@crogurk8459]

@@BMask It's so strange that there are certain games with really bad gameplay but amazing presentation. I do hope some day someone makes a video talking about it. Though good luck playing that game really, I beat it and man it was Rough. Worst part is I remember reading that originally it was going to be a movie instead of a game which is one of the few examples where I wish they went with it being a movie instead considering how beatiful and artistic it is.

[@alexblackmore7744]

@@BMask Bertrand Eluerd's music is amazing - I've his entire discography of soundtrack work on my computer. No idea how I managed to get all of it, as some of it's pretty difficult to come by now, but there's not a single bad track in the bunch.

[@BMask]

@@alexblackmore7744 You've just sent me down a wonderful rabbit hole back to discover more of his work. It hasn't disappointed, thank you!

[@MaxOakland]

8:27 - This is one of my favorite things about the first oz movie. It looks so handmade. But handmade by some of the most talented people alive at the time. It gives it something *very* special that we don't see anymore since movies are made to look "real"

[@thedevilgoose2482]

Well, hey, this perfectly explains why the Oz books are still my favorite in the fantasy genre! The Wonderland duology, too. They're equals in my eyes. A lot of similarities, I think.

[@AnnPaper0322]

Rewatched this movie tonight with my friend as part of a woo/rto double feature and kept this video in mind. I’ve seen the movie maybe 3 times total and this was the first time watching it with a sense of awe and a warmed heart. It truly is a life-affirming celebration of childlike wonder and I’m so grateful for this video for pointing that out to me and allowing me to get the most out of my viewing experience with it. Thank you for pouring so much time, effort and care into this. The importance of media analysis cannot be understated, especially with a piece of art as widely misunderstood as Return To Oz.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

I love Return to Ox. It was Dark, Creepy, based more on the book and completely imaginative !!!! I still adore all of Gnome Kings transformations and even Mombies many heads! Trust me, it was weird watching this on Disney Channel late at night back in the early 90s...it was hard to imagine today!

[@Lonestarz95]

8:00 only my dude B-mask would know about Zoombeanies. Truly a man of good taste. 👍🏽

[@BMask]

MAKE ME A PIZZA (

[@Okapi540]

Loving that combo of old Oz illustrations with the Fairy Council music from Rayman 3.

[@annabunovsky5628]

I love Return To Oz to pieces, and so much of the conversation surrounding this film is how “messed up” it is, and while yes, it is a dark film, I feel like people are blindsided to what a sincere, sweet and empowering film it actually is. Thank you for making a video devoted to uncovering that!

[@m.c.s1306]

32:57 - 33:16 that still gives me chills

[@LyricNear]

I always watch every Return to Oz video analysis on my recommended for one very self-indulgent reason: it will always give me something new to think about regarding a completely unrelated Broadway musical. Like Return to Oz, it stars a young girl escaping a harsh reality of the Great Depression into a world that may or may not be a dream, aided by colorful and wacky friends as she stands up to a calm but terrifying old man, and was created by a wonderfully talented group of people. Also like Return to Oz, as soon as it came out it was accused of corrupting the supposedly carefree and innocent media it was based on, is actually much more loyal to the idea of the original books, while at the same time playing with your expectations. The musical is 1984’s Raggedy Ann, which appeared on Broadway in 1986 and closed after five performances. Depending on the kind of person you are it’s completely skippable, a train wreck you can’t look away from, or a half-baked idea with so much potential your brain can’t stop spinning with what it would take to do it *right*. With some digging you find the playwright never wanted to write a children’s story, and was finally inspired by the legend of the creator of Raggedy Ann creating the stories for his dying daughter. He set off to make a “modern” fairy tale, just as dark and disturbing as the ones he had when he was a kid. And at first, it worked. Though some parents complained that the show was far too dark for children, the producers responded by bringing in child physiologist Bruno Bettelheim to give a lecture in the same theater and prove them all wrong. It was considered too dark and esoteric for children (depicting a solipsistic and existential Death figure, as well as a suicide attempt) and too childish for adults (her bed becomes a boat, a camel flies, clouds sing) and the sponsors were not happy. It got butchered for Broadway- large special effects, bigger dance numbers, and a happily-ever-after attempting to distract you from the inherent bleakness of the story’s premise. Undermining whatever genuine heart it had been praised for two years prior. I always love watching videos on Return to Oz because the similarities help me pick out the issues with that original script, so many critics were unwilling to really pick the thing apart critically and just call it a disturbing childish wash. It could use a stronger protagonist with more agency, and as funny as the gang’s mean-spirited antics are they should actually respect her sometime, something to talk to the children in the audience, which we know the playwright wasn’t writing for as his adult characters (the girl’s parents, Raggedy Ann) are far more engaging. On a musical note, the book and music could complement each other far more. The figure of death attempts to be comforting, characters shown to die willingly follow him, and it’s only through the love and care of her friends that Marcella sees life as worth the effort to keep living. I think it’s too bad we never see in depth reactions from kids about the show, the closest thing would be reviews from Russia, where it is still immensely popular and better understood there than by any audiences here. If you read this far thank you for listening to me ramble. I honestly tried to keep it short so I'm sorry for omitting a plot synopsis. Also I love this video and it’s incredibly well-made to get me thinking all of these thoughts. Genuinely my favorite take on Return To Oz’s relationship with the original film, and I hope you make more videos like it!!!

[@hectormanuel8360]

Will Vinton's VFX masterpiece

[@BMask]

He'll be missed. Great guy.

[@NeptuneCactus]

I literally just sat down for my lunch break and the notification arrived! Awesome!

[@lichlame]

I love not being able to predict what your next video will be. This is a fun surprise!

[@Esskaden]

Your videos always inspire me and give me hope in life ahah. Amazing as always. And on something i knew nothing about. Thank you for your hard work

[@cmeow]

first the kickassia video and now this one, I just subscribed. This has always been my favorite oz film

[@bellboy7809]

What a lovely video. Thanks for surprise me again! Always great to be surprised, gives me something new to sit and think on! :)

[@spacecase13]

Thanks for covering this ! I loved watching this on daytime TV in the 80's as child. It's still a favorite now. A truly amazing movie, love it love it.

[@animefan77]

29:10- While on first glance, Dorothy is freaked out at such an ugly head being in this cabinet and could potentially wake up to warn the others and the main body. It's goes a much subtler horror if you watch the MGM first. In the MGM, aside from the Wicked Witch being the Oz counterpart of Glutch, that Dorothy never brings up- taking the Witch as her own character, every other major character is a helpful ally that was already a beneficial person in her life. With the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion being the Farmhands and the Wizard being the traveling fortune teller, it's a sign of comfort that she doesn't have to feel isolated as these people share the same tenderness and concern for her as the Oz counterparts. In this moment, Dorothy had managed to escape a harrowing situation in almost becoming a victim of shock therapy that would rob her of her agency, escaping to Oz, her place of comfort, but finding it ruined. While one of the Wheelers- the head of the group- resembles the orderly, this isn't as emphasized. And while the Nome King sounds similar to the doctor, she hadn't met the Nome King yet to realize it. Mombi is initially normal but gradually becomes terrifying as she reveals herself to be a head-hunting monster that collects the heads of beautiful women like hats and intends to groom Dorothy into another of her gallery. While the looming threat of being found out by the head-hunting witch waking up to take her away as the heads alert her is scary enough, the revelation of the true face of Mombi being the head nurse- the last person she ever expected to see again, somehow manifesting in Oz is surreal. In spite of it being a moment of joy, it's an existential nightmare of reality somehow allowing these awful people to follow Dorothy no matter where she goes, even breaking the laws of time and space to do so.

[@TheMelloyMan]

Needed this video so much, really puts to words my own thoughts of the film I couldn’t articulate myself 🙇‍♂

[@michaelgiesbrecht9452]

Man I didn't even know this existed, thanks for drawing my attention to such an interesting and lovingly crafted piece of art.

[@nathanmarkel3390]

B-Mask made me a Fantastic Four fan in 2 hours, and now made me interested in looking into the Oz books. Great video!

[@ryancarless7921]

Awesome video, I like the puppetry used in this film! It looks like an interesting film to try around Halloween.

[@Soynereh]

Keep it up. Always love to hear about media that passionates.

[@bweepy]

This is my favorite video on this movie period, and honestly I can say it's the best analysis of the movie I've ever seen. Thank you so much for the time you took to research, compile, and share your passion for this movie and highlight the amount of passion it's filled with that a lot of people can't seem to appreciate

[@mathieuleader8601]

the claymation is superb

[@cgaussie]

What an absolutely beautiful look back at a wonderful film. You have such a way with words that I don’t see in other yt look backs at this film.

[@stinkbanana2522]

Great video, keep it up bud. Channel deserves a lot more subs than it has with the quality of your videos. Keep it up, you'll be big in no time.

[@felixchu8444]

The score for this film was outstanding, especially at the films final moments during the credits. This is one of my all time favourite films and I highly praise it

[@brianblast391]

Another amazing video dude you always make stuff that hits the happy spot on my brain. Had no idea that marvel made an Oz adaptation so me and my girlfriend and are gonna start reading that asap

[@Neyebureturns]

A great video about a great movie. Is really a shame that so many people took the wrong lesson of this movie and it seems that this was one of the last good and faithful adaptation of the Oz series, with all future adaptations wanting to be darker, edgy or to create their own Wicked. PD Would love to know your full opinion about Wicked, book and musical 😉

[@gnbman]

Best movie. Near perfect. Haven't even watched this video, but I'm gonna. I'm just _that_ glad to see that you covered this piece of art history.

[@smoogieboogie1694]

I've never watched this movie but I've always adored the character design. I'm excited to watch it now. Also you made me want to get into the world of Oz as a whole after this.

[@madamkoifish]

I like how you added whimsical music on the gnome king’s death.

[@rigorgrynn4469]

This should have been in my feed 2 days ago, screw you KZbin. Bmask deserves better.

[@MeanMrMustard5]

Great job! I so enjoyed this Return to Oz. This has been a favorite movie of mine since I first saw it as an obsessed Oz fanatic. Your take on the human transformation of the gnome king went above my head in the past and it really ties the theme back together. Thanks for making this!

[@iBenjamin1000]

I'm going to cry this is such a thoughtful analysis of oz. I've never even seen the movies

[@HAM-sb2ns]

Thank you for making this video. Its perfect.

[@davidhudson3534]

Thank you for acknowledging the soundtrack and that amazing ragtime march. The Emerald City finale is absolutely a 1901 fantasy utopia.

[@NCTStudio]

RIP Brian Henson. He brought Jack to life

[@Peweskimooxy]

Oh that was lovely :) I'm very glad I had the chance to watch "Return to Oz" last year, not only just to see it, but also so I could get so much out of this review! Thanks, that was wonderful!

[@hardtfelt]

OMG I love this high-level analysis! Gave me a lot to think about. I went to see this when it came out and thought it was fine, but I agree that an unbelievably under-appreciated aspect is the soundtrack. Once you get several of those themes in your head they are just there to stay.

[@kundlas100]

It’s funny, but I actually went and saw Wicked for the first time the day before yesterday, and while I enjoyed my time with it (mainly Guh-linda), I was mostly thinking about the production and the history and I only came off of it thinking “yep, I had fun with that, I see why people like that”. It actually gave me the push to rewatch Wizard and finally give Return a look, and I know which of these three got my full attention and tears. While I respect the original Wizard, both in terms of its production and what it meant to audiences at the time, Return really does steep you in a truly fantastical darkness to make the light and triumphs of the characters all the more earned. It’s classic Disney/KH stuff, you need the dark to appreciate the light, and having such a likable and earnest cast there made it all the better. Like I just genuinely couldn’t stop smiling at how charming and, for lack of a better word, engaging it all was. Gave me Majora’s Mask vibes, seeing such a dire state brought right by the hero with sheer creativity and heart clearly on the screen and tons to think about and dissect out, and that’s always a great thing.

[@biraptor6205]

The yellow brick road was a normal road once, but then thanks to the wizard everyone had seen the future of what would come after the wicked witch defeat and 'The Soiled Path' didn't have a nice ring to it

[@hyperballadbradx6486]

Amazing video 🙌🏻

[@montgomerygator4732]

0:38 "Autobots, roll out."

[@ThePonderer]

Excellent video as always man.

[@kevinmyles6369]

Brilliant study and explanation of a misunderstood masterpiece! Instant like and sub. Very good!! Will share! 👍🏻👍🏻⭐

[@newcreature222]

I love this film so much even if it deemed underrated by people who don’t see it genius beyond their view of Oz and how you have to scratch beyond the surface to find its messages of fighting for what you love, never give up your voice and creativity, and always the power of friendship,🌈💚🌪

[@MegapiemanPHD]

Return to Oz is one of those great peices of childrens media that doesn't talk down to them or treat them like idiots.

[@SamAM16]

I enjoyed your video praising this film! And I liked the images and music you used! I wanted to know where you get them from!

[@Jay.T4NA]

This was one of my favourite movies growing up. Fucked loved the weird movies!

[@strongbad635]

I am SO glad I'm not the only one who fully appreciates David Shire's MASTERFUL score for this film. One of the best I've ever heard!

[@robertdabob8939]

Well done sir!! 👏👏

[@jodijoya-clark7741]

With this explanation of the movie, Return to Oz is VERY similar to Alice: Madness Returns. Both deal with adults’ influences on the iconic magical lands because of how they mocked the young protagonists in real life; and it’s up those protagonists to prove them wrong and undo them.

[@alessandrorusso3822]

Great video, as always. Did I spot some bits of the Herdy Gerdy soundtrack sprinkled here and there?

[@BMask]

You did! A great soundtrack for any niche fantasy based discussion.

[@alessandrorusso3822]

@@BMask I haven't played the game in a while (more than a decade, in fact) but the soundtrack is so iconic I could recognize it almost right away. Such a vibe!

[@kadran3263]

Brilliant critique.

[@KaminoKatie]

I haven't seen this movie until I watched it on Disney+ with my aunt while my mom and sister went to the state zoo last summer, glad that I get to see it as an adult tbh (The 1939 film has such a deathgrip on OZ adaptations in the US though)

[@beyondz55]

The film is pure cinema. I love it and it's very underrated!!!

[@ballerinafromtheblock]

Grew up with a love for OZ, one of my earliest memories is finding this VHS tape. The scarecrow was on the side I could pick an Oz character out anywhere! Never bothered me as a child but my love for Oz trumps human emotions 😭😭😭✨

[@Gibbypastrami]

Such an amazing film, sparked my joy in special effects