The Corridor Crew has come together to heap praise on a somewhat infamous 1985 movie adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz”. This version stands out for its combination of stop-motion and VFX work used to bring a new creature to life.
The story of “The Wizard of Oz” has a long history on screen. It was first adapted from L. Frank Baum’s fantasy novel in 1910, but the 1939 version starring Judy Garland is the most renowned. In that classic, Dorothy Gale is transported to a magical world and must team up with her fantastical friends and dog Toto to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West and return home.
Since then, there have been numerous retellings and reimaginings across TV and film. Some continued the story, like “Journey Back to Oz” in 1972, while others explored the origins, such as “Oz The Great and Powerful” in 2013. In 2024, “Wicked” was released, telling a more sympathetic tale of the Wicked Witch of the West’s origin.
“Return to Oz”: A Dark and Creative Sequel
“Return to Oz”, released by the Walt Disney Company, is an unofficial sequel to the original. It sees Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) return to an Oz in distress, under the rule of the Nomes and their king. She has to work with a new group of magical misfits to save Oz. Despite a mixed reception upon release and underperforming at the box office, it has since gained a cult following, especially for its impact on young audiences.
The Corridor Crew focused on several aspects of the movie’s special effects. First, they looked at how the Nomes’ faces materialize in a rock. The effect used a unique stop-motion technique where individually-sculpted pieces were created instead of a full puppet. This gave a consistent stone look while a projector added the effect of firelight.
Sam also pointed out the complicated costumes of Tik-Tok. The performer had to contort into a ball shape to match the character’s proportions and use levers to operate the arms.
Finally, the process of bringing the headless Mombi was highlighted. The actresses had to carefully act out the motions of each head and body before costumes and matting obscured their bodies.
“Return to Oz”: A Reimagining Worth Another Look
The world of Oz has always allowed for different takes on the story. Each movie brings something unique, whether it’s exploring the origins of characters or offering sequels with alternate continuations.
“Return to Oz” is no different. Despite a critical drubbing that led to it being a box-office bomb, its bleak and somewhat dystopian reimagining of the world has been lauded for its distinct style and faithfulness to the source material. With the praise from the Corridor Crew, audiences might be interested in seeing how its painstakingly crafted effects add a darker layer to the story, even as “Wicked” takes them to a brighter side of the Yellow Brick Road.
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