When I saw RETURN TO OZ the first time in 1985 I was (well, you name it-) spellbound. As a result I went to see the movie about 10-15 times (no kidding). When I couple of years later rented it as a video, my mother regarded the movie as being "very cold" and "phobic".

Today, some sixteen years later, I do realize why the movie was considered "witty, but charmless" - and furthermore, if someone was REALLY expecting a sequel to the MUSICAL "WIZARD OF OZ" (1939), then the shock must have been quite an enormous.

But, again - already in 1985 I myself didn't go to see a sequel to the musical, but a new movie on its own and liked it a lot. And I still like it - because it IS witty (and thank god they don't sing in it ).

But anyway, couple of nights ago I listened to David Shire's soundtrack after a VERY long time (couple of years atleast) - and I really made the shocking discovery: WHEN SEPARATED FROM THE MOVIE, THE SCORE IS MORE LIKE FROM A HORROR MOVIE THAN FROM A DISNEY-MOVIE. Really. An extremely GOOD horror score.

And then I remembered it all SO WELL; already in 1985 I really loved the dynamic power of Shire's manymany "orchestral turbulance" cues of the movie - and the extreme beauty of the score's more gentler parts. And already back then I thought that the music was SO right for the movie. And the movie was exciting, even horrific - but as good fairytales always are, this too had an enchanting happy ending. I thought it was all justified. And I was just ten years-old back then.

SO - again the classic question: Am I alone with this one ? In the Monday-night chat I learned from PeterK that the RETURN TO OZ soundtrack didn't even sell initially - and in fact, I might even understand it, because really, almost all the music on the soundtrack ends up being more aggressive and frightening than... OMEN or something. Seriously.

In my opinion the Main Title sequence (the very first seconds of the movie) is one of the most gripping ever created (- but it has to be experienced in a movie theater, to appreciate it). And much are due to the atmospheric opening cue by Shire. Simply magical.

Comments, anyone..?

And yes - I would die for getting this score on CD (- I only have it as a cassette copy transferred from LP; the sound is SO poor...)

I forgot to mention that although the score features some of the most powerful orchestral writing ever (for example, "The Flight in the Storm"), there is also some beguiling and wonderful themes like the March-theme for the Land of Oz and the themes for Tik Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead... not to mention the elegant "Ride to Dr. Worley's" and the noble and "pre-schindler's-listic" End Credits.

Check the above also Ken...its a great score, but I think monstersinmotion sells cdrs for $30, so buyer beware.

As the result of my restless night (and those morning hours) I couldn't get sleep before I watched the movie again, and I didn't even have problems of keeping my tired eyes open. (I have the movie on video). REALLY, the movie is extremely "phobic" all the way through - chilling strings, oppression of all kinds, horrific visuals; I'm amazed how I have considered the movie back in 1985 "ONLY" so "magical" - but as I said, it is extremely witty and kinda benign, soothing tale for a kid like myself who had - and still has - an enormous own world of imagination...