CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › The First Ever RETURN TO OZ Watch-along
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The First Ever RETURN TO OZ Watch-along

post #1 of 231
11/24/12 at 7:46am
Thread Starter 

The fabled wrecker of many a childhood's innocence, Return to Oz hit theatres in 1985 and parents were outraged that what they assumed was going to be another super happy Technicolor shot of whimsy turned out to be a bizarre and incredibly dark trip through an Oz that has become a wasteland. The very young were scarred forever, parents were pissed, BUT if you were the right kind of eight to twelve year old, this was the only time Oz was ever cool.

 

After bemusing its horrifying properties in several threads, someone suggested a watch along and here's a thread to drum up interest. Let's see if we can get enough people on board to outnumber the people who actually saw this in theatres in 1985 (hint: there weren't many).

 

SEE!

 

-A little girl getting electro shock therapy!

 

-The surreally terrifying prospect of THE WHEELERS, and what exactly it is that they wanted to do to that chicken!

 

-Tik-Tok, the Army of Oz, being a great argument for practical animatronics and puppetry.

 

-Princess Mombi's Shrieking Hall of Heads!

 

-The truly unsettling subtext of what the Gnome King is doing to Dorothy!

 

WITNESS!

 

-The expanse of total death that is THE DEADLY DESERT.

 

-The grumpy harrumph of The Gump.

 

-Lunch pail trees!

 

-Fairuza Balk not yet sounding like a raspy voiced sex kitten...because she's only eleven years old!

 

-Walter Murch's only directorial effort, despite this film being legitimately pretty damn good!

 

MARVEL

 

-That only in the 80s, when it was totally OK to scare the shit out of your kids, could this film have been made by DISNEY.

 

 

I'm thinking we should aim for next weekend, or sometime before the Holidays. It's available by disc from Netflix, is super cheap to buy on DVD, and you can also do Amazon Instant Video (in HD!) Chime in and let's get crackin'!

Reply
post #2 of 231
11/24/12 at 8:08am

I'm busy as hell from now until January.  Set the date and I'll see if I can make it.  I've never seen this, and it would be fun to share the experience with others.

Reply
post #3 of 231
11/24/12 at 9:56am

I vaguely remember seeing this in the theater with my mother during its original release. I think we were the only two. Haven't revisited it in over a decade, but I'd definitely be down for a watchalong.

Reply
post #4 of 231
11/25/12 at 1:54am
Anytime, anyplace, my body is ready.
Reply
post #5 of 231
11/25/12 at 10:00am

Should be able to make the next 2 weekends as long as its day/early evening.  I would never watch this without chewer support.

Reply
post #6 of 231
11/30/12 at 9:54pm

I watched this so much when I was a kid that my mother hid the VHS from me because, in her words, "it was warping your mind."  I'd be down as long as I wasn't working.

Reply
post #7 of 231
11/30/12 at 10:30pm

I'm late to chime in, but absolutely on board(with the whole if I'm not working I'll be there thingy)!

Reply
post #8 of 231
11/30/12 at 10:43pm

I'd go for this.

Reply
post #9 of 231
11/30/12 at 11:27pm
Have we set a date yet? I need to rent this leviathan from my neighborhood video store.
Reply
post #10 of 231
12/1/12 at 3:28am

I've never seen it before so I won't be posting much, if at all, but if the timing works I'm all aboard just so I'll at least have a ready-made support group.

Reply
post #11 of 231
12/1/12 at 7:37am

Calling it for 12/15/12.  2 pm EST. 

 

If that doesn't work, sound off.

Reply
post #12 of 231
12/1/12 at 10:51am

That's do-able for me.

Reply
post #13 of 231
12/1/12 at 6:42pm

Any hope of doing it on a Sunday? I work Saturday's..............because I don't have a grown up job.

Reply
post #14 of 231
12/2/12 at 10:59am
Thread Starter 

Yeah, I'm shooting for next Sunday afternoon, if people are on board.

Reply
post #15 of 231
12/2/12 at 11:44am

I'm in. Claymation with real clay!

Reply
post #16 of 231
12/4/12 at 3:21pm

So we're shooting for this Sunday? 

Reply
post #17 of 231
12/4/12 at 3:34pm

I may see Killing Them Softly around 12:00 on Sunday, but I can jump in late. If it could be moved an hour later, though, it would at least work better for me. 

Reply
post #18 of 231
12/4/12 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 

This coming Sunday, December 9th around 2-3pm in the afternoon (US Central Time). That cool with peeps?

Reply
post #19 of 231
12/4/12 at 10:12pm

That knocks me out but my schedule isn't normal. Carry on and I'll try to eavesdrop.

Reply
post #20 of 231
12/8/12 at 10:36am

We still on for tomorrow at 3 EST?

Reply
post #21 of 231
12/8/12 at 11:33am

I'm down.

Reply
post #22 of 231
12/8/12 at 11:42am

I'm afraid there will be few souls brave enough to face these terrors with us.  But I have to see.  I have to know the Fear, because the Fear, it already knows me.

Reply
post #23 of 231
12/8/12 at 11:50am

If I'm around, I'll participate.  Never seen it either.  Looks like it's on  youtube.

Reply
post #24 of 231
12/8/12 at 6:04pm

I'm in too.

Reply
post #25 of 231
12/8/12 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 

I'll be here to get you to the Gnome Mountain!

Reply
post #26 of 231
12/8/12 at 8:30pm
Rented a copy from the video store. What time are we starting, Mom?
Reply
post #27 of 231
12/8/12 at 8:38pm
Wish I could but Sunday US time is Monday NZ time. On the plus side I'm sick as a dog so might not be going to work tomorrow. If it's on YouTube and I can be awake I will totes try and make it.


Edit: On the plus side it'll be after work hours for me anyway. On the other side, what time is it? Central or Eastern?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post

... around 2-3pm in the afternoon (US Central Time) ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post

We still on for tomorrow at 3 EST?


Should we use the running time on the World Clock (bottom right of table shows UTC) to coordinate the exact time to hit "play" like we did with the other watchalongs.
Edited by Bucho - 12/8/12 at 9:07pm
Reply
post #28 of 231
12/9/12 at 6:17am
Thread Starter 

2PM Central American time! LET'S DO THIS.

 

(That's Chicago time zone for everyone using the World Clock).

Reply
post #29 of 231
12/9/12 at 9:48am

T minus two hours.  I'm just going to start drinking now, if it's all the same to everyone.

Reply
post #30 of 231
12/9/12 at 10:03am

Here's a link to Part 1 on youtube.  You can watch all of the other parts from the links on the side.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6n7WW9BRtg

Reply
post #31 of 231
12/9/12 at 10:54am

Since it's almost 11am here, I won't be drinking with you Schwartz. I've got errands to run after the film.

Reply
post #32 of 231
12/9/12 at 11:59am

Less than a minute to go!

Reply
post #33 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:02pm

Anyone else here?

Reply
post #34 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:03pm

I'm starting it up now.  Someone hold me.

Reply
post #35 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:04pm

What a shithole farm

Reply
post #36 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:04pm
Thread Starter 

Mine's going as of NOW.

 

I'll also be doing a running commentary in chat if anyone wants to cross-pollenate.

Reply
post #37 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:05pm

Auntie Em is Carrie's mom.

Reply
post #38 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:06pm

Jesus, this is relentlessly paced.

Reply
post #39 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 

Your first taste of David Shire's fucking fantastic score!

Reply
post #40 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:07pm

"Go home, Toto. Go home! Go home, Toto. Go home!"

Reply
post #41 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 

Looks like I won't be doing CHUD chat. Thing won't load for me.

Reply
post #42 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:08pm

late to the party trying to catch up!

Reply
post #43 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:08pm

Bless the rains down in Africa, Toto. Bless the rains.

Reply
post #44 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:08pm

I miss Ray Bolger 

Reply
post #45 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:09pm

Dorothy's story about Oz really does fall apart when she tries explaining it.

Reply
post #46 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:09pm

I didn't know Ulysses S. Grant was an electroshock therapist. 

Reply
post #47 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:10pm
Thread Starter 

I'll forever have a hard time reconciling little sweet-voiced Dorothy grows up to be throaty sex kitten Fairuza Balk.

Reply
post #48 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:11pm

Wow, check out the shoulder pads on that she-beast.

Reply
post #49 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 

Anyone else find the irony in Nicol Williamson (the electrotherapist) of all people being all "Yeah, magic, suuuuuuuure."

Reply
post #50 of 231
12/9/12 at 12:12pm

This is getting too close to Judy Garland's real life. 


Edited by Clarence Boddicker - 12/10/12 at 2:31pm
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Films in Release or On Video
CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › The First Ever RETURN TO OZ Watch-along