imbatman-2

I don't view films as if I'm watching them as the intended audience; I watch them for myself. And that's why I found it odd at how engrossed I was when I watched this film for the first time at the age of eighteen. Aside from the great gothic flair of the mansion, two superbly placed cameos, and nice laughable black humour from the "trio," the film took off because of its emotional core. It's something that a youngster can really get into, but also anyone who finds it sad that a child can die. When Casper plays with his toys, I just wanted to start crying. This eternal child--lost and stuck in an age of mystery and wonder. And yet, he's smitten with a girl--he's starting to go through puberty. And it's just so sad . . . and beautiful.

And then there's the father, and his sway into the afterlife, his daughter's plight, her struggle with her wish to help Casper. It's all so simple and written for kids, but I was so engrossed by the romanticism of it all.

The villains mostly butt into the greatness of all of it, but you just have to grant that in a kid's picture. And now comes my but . . . in the end, when the mother does appear, she's supposed to be this amazing, angelic, deux es machinal, she floats through the stain glass window, her long hair flows around her, her gown flows all around her but--what the hell! why is her dress such a deep red!? she looks like satan! Oh well. Bad costume choice made a really bad moment. But mostly, I loved this film for it's good parts, despite the childishness of much of it.

Return To Oz was the first horror film i ever saw, and i love it today just as much as i did when i was 5. yes, i do believe Return To Oz is a horror, but one that children should see. it is horror just as the brothers Grim are horror. it is horror because everything in the eyes of a child can be very frightening. and yes, i do believe this horror is better than The Wizard of Oz, despite what all my contempories might believe. as a kid, i could not get over the fact the Judy Garland was too old, that they would not stop singing and dancing. come on, this was my childhood, i needed a good rush, not a bunch of eye-candy and disturbing munchkin voices. little dorothy walking down a corridor of decapitated head in ornate display cases, afraid that she might wake them, that the decapitated body would come in search of her in her terrifying gothic splendor-this moment has stayed with me, has always frightened me, but i'm glad that i experienced it, it is healthy for a child to be afraid, humility is something everyone needs to embrace, and this film with its lush terror and build up to a phenomenal climax as apocolyptic as anything today still inspires me toward something the silly set pieces and hammy emotion of Wizard of Oz, cannot do. Return to Oz is a lost masterpiece, terrifying, energetic, creative, and wonderful.

To quote Roger Ebert, "I hated, hated, hated this movie." I worked in a movie house which showed this film to millions of patriotic Americans, all leaving the theatre with a tear in their eyes. I sat down to watch this film with my father. My father liked it. I expected that. But why do people actually believe life is like this? Is it good action? Sure. I can understand people enjoying the film on that level, but if this film moved you in any way then I say you have a lot of books to read.

The boy asks for war recruits in church (quite blasphemous, isn't it, the fact that he totally interupts the minister, oh but the minister is supposed to be more patriotic than he is Christian, more blasphemy!) and then that stupid girl stands up out of nowhere and whines, "I only wish that you stand by the ideas of which you so fervently believe." And then the congregration lowers their heads in shame. Oh, my, one man stands proud and courageous. The music swells (poor John Williams, why did you score this trash?) and then everyone's standing. God bless America! If this scene didn't make you laugh out loud then I suggest you go back to school and learn about real drama and inspiration.

This is not a stunning war-epic, this isn't Braveheart in America, this isn't even Lethal Weapon with a musket. This is formula propaganda at its best (worst) meant only to make people buy more fireworks during the 4th of July. If you thought this was a good film for any reason other than fine battle scenes then I know for a fact that the American spirit is truly dead.