Rückkehr nach Oz - Ein Zaubermärchen

There is a HUGE problem with any film based on "The Wizard of Oz" books by Frank Baum. The 1939 film version is such a classic, so iconic, that no follow-up film could satisfy audiences. This is a huge problem with this cartoon sequel...you cannot help but compare it and it always comes up short. Now this isn't to say it's terrible...it just is a film that couldn't have been a success and I'm surprised the Filmation folks didn't consider this more.

As for Filmation and the production of the picture, it' was a VERY difficult project as the tiny studio barely had any money. As a result, it took about a decade to actually finish the movie and release it! Because of this, the voice of Dorothy provided by Liza Minelli actually sounds young because she was a teen when she voiced the character.

So is the picture any good? Well, animation-wise it's not very good. After all, Filmation was not exactly Disney or Looney Tunes! The frame-rate for the picture is low, the quality of the art is fair at best and it didn't look much better than any of their TV work, such as "Bill Cosby and the Cosby Kids".

As for the story and voice acting, it's okay...but really suffers when compared to the famous MGM film. Much of it is because adults and kids alike can enjoy "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) but this sequel is strictly kids stuff...and for very undemanding kids.

I haven't seen this film for years, but I remember loving it when I was about six years old - the main thing I remember about it was the song 'an elephant never forgets' which I thought was amazing and went around singing for weeks which drove my parents mad because they didn't like the movie very much. I'm glad Liza played Dorothy - it's only right that Judy Garland's daughter played her character in this cartoon sequel. *goes to dig out the video* I know it's the same character, and played by Judy's daughter who looks and sounds a lot like her, but No comparison can really be drawn from Journey Back to Oz and The Wizard of Oz as they are two completely different things - each with their merits and their weaknesses - but both (in my opinion) are brilliant and well worth a watch!

This movie is excellent! Liza sounds just like her mother when she did the film that it gives me chills every time! I love the new songs and the wonderful plotline which is mesh of "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz". A fantastic sequel =)

At first, I had never even heard of this film, let alone that this film was intended to be a sequel to the 1939 live-action film "The Wizard of Oz," but I think it's meant as a sequel to the original book. I've bought the movie on DVD, and after watching it, I found it an excellent sequel film, but as a sequel to the original book. I was shocked and surprised by the negative reviews I would see on the Web.

I love the talents of Paul Lynde, who played Uncle Arthur in TV's live-action comedy series "Bewitched," and Liza Minnelli, who provided the voice of Dorothy, reprising the role originally played by her mother Judy Garland. And Liza does sound a lot like her mother when she says, "You wicked old witch!" I love Judy; I have a few of her films.

I don't think it is quite as good as the 1939 classic, which was and still is my childhood favourite, but it is an enjoyable underrated film, that is nowhere near as bad as some people say it is. The animation while simple, is colourful and adds to the charm of the film. The songs, while not as fabulous as the 1939 film, are still very nice and quite charming, even "Carousel". Liza Minelli does an excellent job as Dorothy, and I think her singing voice here was beautiful, and here she sounds like her mother, the wonderful Judy Garland. I loved the characters Pumpkinhead, Glinda (voiced by beautiful opera singer Rise Steevens) and the Horse, but the biggest surprise was Ethel Merman as the witch Mombi. This is still the same person who has the big, brassy voice from films like Call Me Madam, yet she does this film, and manages to do a truly excellent voice over, that is both sinister and fun. Even Margaret Hamilton, the wicked Witch in the 1939 film, voices Aunt Em here The story is like the animation, cute and charming, not the best story line in the world, but stays fairly true to the film it obviously drew its inspiration from. All in all, an enjoyable, charming film. It's not perfect, but I've honestly seen worse. 8/10 Bethany Cox.