Dorothy and the Witches of Oz


Dorothy and the Witches of Oz is a 2012 film directed by Leigh Scott, based on the early 20th century novels The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Ozma of Oz, The Road to Oz and The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The film stars Paulie Redding, Billy Boyd, Eliza Swenson, Mia Sara, Lance Henriksen, and Christopher Lloyd. A longer version of the film was originally released as a TV miniseries in 2011 called The Witches of Oz, distributed by MarVista Entertainment. The miniseries was over an hour longer and had earlier versions of the special effects. The miniseries was originally released in 2011 in Europe, though its United Kingdom premiere was not until July 5, 2012 on the Sci-Fi Channel.
Development of the miniseries/film began while director Leigh Scott was making direct-to-video films for The Asylum. Production began in December 2009 and filming took place throughout Connecticut and New York City.

Plot

An adult Dorothy Gale is now a successful children's book author and has moved from Kansas to present day New York City. Dorothy quickly learns that her popular books are based on repressed childhood memories, and that the wonders of Oz are very, very real. When the Wicked Witch of the West shows up in Times Square, Dorothy must find the inner courage to stop her.

Cast

Dorothy and the Witches of Oz was released theatrically in the United States on February 17, 2012. The film opened in select AMC Theatres, Harkins Theatres, Rave Motion Pictures, and Marcus Theatres venues in Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. The film was then shown at film festivals and exclusive events in New York, Kentucky, California, Virginia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina throughout the course of the year.
The original version of the film, in the form of the miniseries The Witches of Oz, was released on home video in France on November 9, 2011, in Germany on December 8, 2011, and in the United States on April 10, 2012.

Reception

Despite an overall negative response from critics and audiences to the original miniseries version, the later film version Dorothy and the Witches of Oz received better, but still mixed, reviews during its theatrical run. Bob Fischbach of the Omaha World-Herald praised the film for its contemporary twist on the story, but stated that it was "cheesy, but fun for family." Patrick Luce of Monsters & Critics gave the film a positive review, and stated that "hopefully this won't be the only trip to Oz we'll get to take".

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to the film, composed by Eliza Swenson, was released on iTunes, and then on a soundtrack CD in February 2012.

Track listing

  1. "From the Beginning"
  2. "Billie Westbrook"
  3. "A Place Called Oz"
  4. "The Changing Word"
  5. "Friend and Foe"
  6. "This Ride's On Me"
  7. "The Emerald Key"
  8. "She Doesn't Like Surrender"
  9. "Memory Dust"
  10. "Good Witch?"
  11. "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
  12. "Kansas 1889"
  13. "Good Witch of Manhattan"
  14. "One Way Ticket to Oz"
  15. "Oz Suite"