list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Return to Oz on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Return_to_Oz/28748/default.aspx Title: Return to Oz
Year: 1985
Director: Walter Murch
Plot: This '80s follow-up to The Wizard of Oz is based upon two of L. Frank Baum's later Oz books. In Return to Oz (a version that may be a bit too scary for young children), Auntie Em sends Dorothy to a sanitarium where hopefully she will clear her head from all of the "Oz nonsense." This doesn't work, for soon Dorothy manages to return to Oz, but things have definitely changed. She finds her old friends turned to stone and discovers that the awful Nome King has taken over Oz. ~ All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 10
Number of Lists: 9
Number of blog posts: 2
Number of discussion threads: 3
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:42:24 GMTReturn to Oz1985Walter MurchThis '80s follow-up to <a href=/films/38694/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Wizard of Oz</a> is based upon two of L. Frank Baum's later <i>Oz</i> books. In Return to Oz (a version that may be a bit too scary for young children), Auntie Em sends Dorothy to a sanitarium where hopefully she will clear her head from all of the "Oz nonsense." This doesn't work, for soon Dorothy manages to return to Oz, but things have definitely changed. She finds her old friends turned to stone and discovers that the awful Nome King has taken over Oz. ~ All Movie Guide10Taggedy Taggged (6-10)9233http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t39841oh9j6.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Return_to_Oz/28748/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Weekly_Theme_for_June_1_Through_A_Child_s_Eyes/625/42484/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 6/1/2009 2:42:24 PM
Body: As each of us ages and experiences the chaos of everyday life, most of us can agree that at one time or another we have uttered the phrase, "I wish I were young again" or pondered what ours lives would be like if we knew what we know now back when we were younger. But until that fateful day when time travel becomes reality and we all screw up the space time continuum trying to give our childhood selves unwarranted advice about the future, we'll just have to rely on reminiscing and watching films that take us on an adventure through a child's point of view. A filmmaker who has made many a film trying to capture the wonder, curiosity and imagination of youth is Terry Gilliam. In Time Bandits we follow a boy that falls into a time traveling odyssey after a traumatic event shocks him to his core. In The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, a young girl whose life doesn't afford her the opportunity to have an imagination is tested when a man whose sole existence is that of defying reality and embracing the fantastical. And of course Tideland, a similar example of a young girl exposed to the harsh realities of life at an early age whose damaged psyche catapults her into a twisted world of fantasy to protect her from the disturbing real world around her. When discussing films played out through a child's perspective, one cannot avoid mentioning The Wizard of Oz and it's (less than stellar but interesting nonetheless) sequel Return To Oz. The former being all lollipops and poppies, the latter being electro-shock therapy and a secret chamber full of young girls heads. Stepping away from fantasy and staying firmly planted in reality, films like Empire of the Sun and Lord of the Flies remind us of the fragility of youth and how easily that youthful curiosity can be brutally ripped out of us. Personally, I'm a huge fan of these films and love getting that feeling while watching them: imagining how my childhood could have been different and how fun and exhilarating that naivete about everything was. Yes? No? Join the Discussion and Let Us Know!
]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:42:24 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme6/1/2009 2:42:24 PMAs each of us ages and experiences the chaos of everyday life, most of us can agree that at one time or another we have uttered the phrase, "I wish I were young again" or pondered what ours lives would be like if we knew what we know now back when we were younger. But until that fateful day when time travel becomes reality and we all screw up the space time continuum trying to give our childhood selves unwarranted advice about the future, we'll just have to rely on reminiscing and watching films that take us on an adventure through a child's point of view. A filmmaker who has made many a film trying to capture the wonder, curiosity and imagination of youth is Terry Gilliam. In Time Bandits we follow a boy that falls into a time traveling odyssey after a traumatic event shocks him to his core. In The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, a young girl whose life doesn't afford her the opportunity to have an imagination is tested when a man whose sole existence is that of defying reality and embracing the fantastical. And of course Tideland, a similar example of a young girl exposed to the harsh realities of life at an early age whose damaged psyche catapults her into a twisted world of fantasy to protect her from the disturbing real world around her. When discussing films played out through a child's perspective, one cannot avoid mentioning The Wizard of Oz and it's (less than stellar but interesting nonetheless) sequel Return To Oz. The former being all lollipops and poppies, the latter being electro-shock therapy and a secret chamber full of young girls heads. Stepping away from fantasy and staying firmly planted in reality, films like Empire of the Sun and Lord of the Flies remind us of the fragility of youth and how easily that youthful curiosity can be brutally ripped out of us. Personally, I'm a huge fan of these films and love getting that feeling while watching them: imagining how my childhood could have been different and how fun and exhilarating that naivete about everything was. Yes? No? Join the Discussion and Let Us Know! http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_October_27_I_Put_A_Spell_On_Y/625/36903/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 11/3/2008 1:09:20 PM
Body: Well, here are a few more that were overlooked: The Addams Family & Addams Family Values Morticia and Grandma were hilariously sadistic witches. Army of Darkness Great scene with Ash and a witch . . . Big Trouble in Little China Wasn't it all about that ancient Chinese warlock coming back? Dune The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood were just a bunch of bald witches. Excalibur Merlin and Morgana Le Fey fit the bill perfectly. Love Potion No. 9 Anne Bancroft was more of a witch than a psychic right? Return to Oz That creepy witch that rotated her heads depending on her mood. Sleepy Hollow Spooky eyeless witch that admittedly scared the poop out of me when I first saw the film. The Little Mermaid Ursula was a sea witch. Still a witch. The Nightmare Before Christmas There were some typical broomstick and wart witches flying around. Willow Great old lady fight between the good and bad witches. Howl's Moving Castle incredible anime flick about witches and warlocks in a steampunk like world. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves & Robin Hood: Men In Tights Shithouse crazy witches with freaky eyes. Enchanted Fun semi-spoof of classic Disney. With a witch. and lastly, probably my favorite: Four Rooms A coven of witches including Madonna in a tight leather dress, Alicia Witt with pasties, and the rest bare breasted trying to resurrect their dominatrix leader from the dead. Good times.
]]>Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:09:20 GMTmercurialWeekly Theme11/3/2008 1:09:20 PMWell, here are a few more that were overlooked: The Addams Family &amp; Addams Family Values Morticia and Grandma were hilariously sadistic witches. Army of Darkness Great scene with Ash and a witch . . . Big Trouble in Little China Wasn't it all about that ancient Chinese warlock coming back? Dune The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood were just a bunch of bald witches. Excalibur Merlin and Morgana Le Fey fit the bill perfectly. Love Potion No. 9 Anne Bancroft was more of a witch than a psychic right? Return to Oz That creepy witch that rotated her heads depending on her mood. Sleepy Hollow Spooky eyeless witch that admittedly scared the poop out of me when I first saw the film. The Little Mermaid Ursula was a sea witch. Still a witch. The Nightmare Before Christmas There were some typical broomstick and wart witches flying around. Willow Great old lady fight between the good and bad witches. Howl's Moving Castle incredible anime flick about witches and warlocks in a steampunk like world. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves &amp; Robin Hood: Men In Tights Shithouse crazy witches with freaky eyes. Enchanted Fun semi-spoof of classic Disney. With a witch. and lastly, probably my favorite: Four Rooms A coven of witches including Madonna in a tight leather dress, Alicia Witt with pasties, and the rest bare breasted trying to resurrect their dominatrix leader from the dead. Good times. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/9/34950.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/9/2008 4:01:08 PM
Body: Anticipating the worst from Diane English’s new remake of The Women is not just typical low expectations regarding remakes in general. My dread is specifically based on dissatisfaction with remakes and updates of films from the 1930s, arguably the best decade in cinema (it is certainly my favorite). While I may recognize and appreciate some favorable redos, such as DePalma’s Scarface (of which I’ve never really been a fan), Mazursky’s Down and Out in Beverly Hills and the multiple repeats from Hitchcock, I am more often disappointed with attempts to recreate ‘30s classics, even when I approach them with already low standards. Worst, for me, doesn’t necessarily have to do with the quality of the film alone, especially when related to remakes and updates. The titles and versions I’ve selected are hardly the worst in terms of craft or production value — you’ll note there are no Dracula movies on this list — and a few would almost be acceptable if they were more unique or solitary works. 10. Return to Oz (1985) I begin with a film that is not a remake in any form but tone. Yet I still see it as a kind of response to and update of the far more popular classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), which was viewed by some as not faithful enough to the source literature of L. Frank Baum.  It was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me growing up, but I lost regard for the film after suffering through a professor’s defensive screening of it on the last day of a film history course. Sure, it’s truer to Baum and the illustrations of W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill, but as MGM’s beautiful 1939 interpretation shows, it’s better to be imaginative than loyal when translating works between mediums. 9. The Front Page (1974) Billy Wilder’s version of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play, which was first adapted to film in 1931, is plenty hilarious thanks to stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, as well as to a slew of terrific character actors, including Vincent Gardenia, Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton and Dick O’Neill. Also, the film’s homosexual innuendo is an interesting way of acknowledging Howard Hawks’ 1940 gender altering redo, His Girl Friday. I’d definitely choose Wilder’s film over the subsequent big screen version, the 1988 update Switching Channels, but compared to earlier adaptations and to Wilder’s earlier work, the ’74 Front Page is still quite a dissatisfying effort. My biggest problems are with the film’s artificial look, particularly its use of costumes that look more appropriate for a costume party than a period film, the gaudiness of the dialogue, especially the double entendres, and the miscasting of both Carol Burnett and Susan Sarandon (though my annoyance with the women in the film provide further acceptance of the gay undertones). 8. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) This loose and uncredited reworking of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) could have been a worthy update had it included more laughs and more of a bite. The concept of placing a small-time con man in the big-time con of politics is ripe for good comedy and satire, plus it makes me think of the respectable crook/crooked respectability angle of Lubitsch’s Trouble in Paradise. Too bad the script was unsatisfactory (not surprising given it came partly from the screenwriter behind Leonard Part 6) and star Eddie Murphy was at the awkward moment of his career when he somehow lost his usual talent for comedy. 7. Flash Gordon (1980) I have to admit that I do actually love this movie. Well, to be fair, I only really love Queen’s score, Brian Blessed’s voice and Max Von Sydow’s makeup. The rest I just like. Anyway, despite my guilty pleasure in watching the thing on television throughout my childhood, it’s neither a good movie nor a successful update. It doesn’t really do the ‘30s Flash Gordon serials justice by being either a big-budget improvement or a tonally and narratively faithful throwback (comparatively, Star Wars succeeded at doing both). 6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Disney’s idea to animate Victor Hugo’s novel was of questionable taste, but the studio’s need to so closely imitate William Dieterle’s 1939 adaptation was of questionable creative judgment. When I watch Disney’s Robin Hood, I’m not reminded of how much better Michael Curtiz’s 1938 version is; similarly, I’m able to appreciate the animated Beauty and the Beast and Alice and Wonderland without thinking of previous adaptations. Especially given the controversial lewdness and the simplification of the story, Disney’s version of Hunchback seems an insult to the source novel, Dieterle’s film and Charles Laughton’s characterization. 5. Meet Joe Black (1998) I’m a hypocrite to criticize anyone’s inability to be concise, but a three-hour remake of a 78-minute film (1934’s Death Takes a Holiday) displays a level of excess that even my meandering can’t compare to. Don’t get me wrong, though; I’m no hater of long films. But if you can make a long story short, it’s preferred that you do so. 4. The Mummy (1999) There’s no problem with reimagining a classic horror film as a blockbuster action movie, but taking something so iconically frightening as Boris Karloff’s Imhotep (in the ‘32 version) and updating the look with laughably cartoonish CGI is unfortunate. I know I’m on the other side of the fence from the moviegoers who made this a hit, but I would have actually enjoyed it more if the villain were depicted as a guy wrapped in bandages. 3. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) Of course, CG may have been better than this. In fact, the only thing worse than Robert De Niro as the Creature would have been a hand-drawn animated Frankenberry in the role. 2. King Kong (2005) Technically, the 1976 remake with Jeff Bridges is a worse film, but that version at least took some interesting liberties in updating the 1933 classic. Peter Jackson’s intention seemed to be only to faithfully recreate the original with better special effects. And given the fact that many of the CG sequences are embarrassingly awful, I have to say this film was a more monumental failure in terms of purpose and promise. Jackson gave me yet another reason for questioning the point of filmmakers remaking their favorite films. 1. Mr. Deeds (2002) Other than the minor way in which this comedy updates the conservative message of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), there is really no reason for Capra’s film to have been remade, especially with such broad, immature comedy from Adam Sandler. While the original Mr. Deeds completely speaks to and of its time, this includes no topicality, no compelling historical or contemporary relevancy and no lasting cultural significance. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:01:08 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com9/9/2008 4:01:08 PM Anticipating the worst from Diane English’s new remake of The Women is not just typical low expectations regarding remakes in general. My dread is specifically based on dissatisfaction with remakes and updates of films from the 1930s, arguably the best decade in cinema (it is certainly my favorite). While I may recognize and appreciate some favorable redos, such as DePalma’s Scarface (of which I’ve never really been a fan), Mazursky’s Down and Out in Beverly Hills and the multiple repeats from Hitchcock, I am more often disappointed with attempts to recreate ‘30s classics, even when I approach them with already low standards. Worst, for me, doesn’t necessarily have to do with the quality of the film alone, especially when related to remakes and updates. The titles and versions I’ve selected are hardly the worst in terms of craft or production value — you’ll note there are no Dracula movies on this list — and a few would almost be acceptable if they were more unique or solitary works. 10. Return to Oz (1985) I begin with a film that is not a remake in any form but tone. Yet I still see it as a kind of response to and update of the far more popular classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), which was viewed by some as not faithful enough to the source literature of L. Frank Baum.  It was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me growing up, but I lost regard for the film after suffering through a professor’s defensive screening of it on the last day of a film history course. Sure, it’s truer to Baum and the illustrations of W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill, but as MGM’s beautiful 1939 interpretation shows, it’s better to be imaginative than loyal when translating works between mediums. 9. The Front Page (1974) Billy Wilder’s version of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play, which was first adapted to film in 1931, is plenty hilarious thanks to stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, as well as to a slew of terrific character actors, including Vincent Gardenia, Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton and Dick O’Neill. Also, the film’s homosexual innuendo is an interesting way of acknowledging Howard Hawks’ 1940 gender altering redo, His Girl Friday. I’d definitely choose Wilder’s film over the subsequent big screen version, the 1988 update Switching Channels, but compared to earlier adaptations and to Wilder’s earlier work, the ’74 Front Page is still quite a dissatisfying effort. My biggest problems are with the film’s artificial look, particularly its use of costumes that look more appropriate for a costume party than a period film, the gaudiness of the dialogue, especially the double entendres, and the miscasting of both Carol Burnett and Susan Sarandon (though my annoyance with the women in the film provide further acceptance of the gay undertones). 8. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) This loose and uncredited reworking of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) could have been a worthy update had it included more laughs and more of a bite. The concept of placing a small-time con man in the big-time con of politics is ripe for good comedy and satire, plus it makes me think of the respectable crook/crooked respectability angle of Lubitsch’s Trouble in Paradise. Too bad the script was unsatisfactory (not surprising given it came partly from the screenwriter behind Leonard Part 6) and star Eddie Murphy was at the awkward moment of his career when he somehow lost his usual talent for comedy. 7. Flash Gordon (1980) I have to admit that I do actually love this movie. Well, to be fair, I only really love Queen’s score, Brian Blessed’s voice and Max Von Sydow’s makeup. The rest I just like. Anyway, despite my guilty pleasure in watching the thing on television throughout my childhood, it’s neither a good movie nor a successful update. It doesn’t really do the ‘30s Flash Gordon serials justice by being either a big-budget improvement or a tonally and narratively faithful throwback (comparatively, Star Wars succeeded at doing both). 6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Disney’s idea to animate Victor Hugo’s novel was of questionable taste, but the studio’s need to so closely imitate William Dieterle’s 1939 adaptation was of questionable creative judgment. When I watch Disney’s Robin Hood, I’m not reminded of how much better Michael Curtiz’s 1938 version is; similarly, I’m able to appreciate the animated Beauty and the Beast and Alice and Wonderland without thinking of previous adaptations. Especially given the controversial lewdness and the simplification of the story, Disney’s version of Hunchback seems an insult to the source novel, Dieterle’s film and Charles Laughton’s characterization. 5. Meet Joe Black (1998) I’m a hypocrite to criticize anyone’s inability to be concise, but a three-hour remake of a 78-minute film (1934’s Death Takes a Holiday) displays a level of excess that even my meandering can’t compare to. Don’t get me wrong, though; I’m no hater of long films. But if you can make a long story short, it’s preferred that you do so. 4. The Mummy (1999) There’s no problem with reimagining a classic horror film as a blockbuster action movie, but taking something so iconically frightening as Boris Karloff’s Imhotep (in the ‘32 version) and updating the look with laughably cartoonish CGI is unfortunate. I know I’m on the other side of the fence from the moviegoers who made this a hit, but I would have actually enjoyed it more if the villain were depicted as a guy wrapped in bandages. 3. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) Of course, CG may have been better than this. In fact, the only thing worse than Robert De Niro as the Creature would have been a hand-drawn animated Frankenberry in the role. 2. King Kong (2005) Technically, the 1976 remake with Jeff Bridges is a worse film, but that version at least took some interesting liberties in updating the 1933 classic. Peter Jackson’s intention seemed to be only to faithfully recreate the original with better special effects. And given the fact that many of the CG sequences are embarrassingly awful, I have to say this film was a more monumental failure in terms of purpose and promise. Jackson gave me yet another reason for questioning the point of filmmakers remaking their favorite films. 1. Mr. Deeds (2002) Other than the minor way in which this comedy updates the conservative message of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), there is really no reason for Capra’s film to have been remade, especially with such broad, immature comedy from Adam Sandler. While the original Mr. Deeds completely speaks to and of its time, this includes no topicality, no compelling historical or contemporary relevancy and no lasting cultural significance. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/7/8/32292.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/8/2008 3:01:14 PM
Body: (photo: La Jetée, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters this Friday. Del Toro is a rare filmmaker who, despite his unique vision, often works on projects based on material from an outside source (Pan’s Labyrinth being a notable exception). Assuming all the legal issues get ironed out,  he’ll next direct a two part film adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the most prestigious property to date to get the del Toro treatment. Here are seven either failed or unjustly obscure movies ripe for being remade by Hellboy’s father. 1. Spawn - Todd McFarlane’s comic about a Hell-trotting anti-hero indebted to the Devil opened my young eyes to genuinely dark storytelling. While the 90s were a simpler time in terms of comic to movie adaptations, I was already dreaming about a big screen adaptation after reading the first issue. Unfortunately, my dream came true in 1997, when Mark A.Z. Dippé’s god-awful Spawn slumped into theaters. 2. The Never Ending Story - If you were to describe Pan’s Labyrinth as a story about a little girl with a cruel stepfather who escapes into a fantasy world with fairies and magical pan, it could sound like many tame children’s movies of the ’80s. The Never Ending Story del Toro style: the gnome is evil (or a least a little sadistic), the giant flying dog thing eats at least one sentient being, and the kid dies in the end. 3. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - This 1920 German Expressionist classic is one of the first horror films, and maybe the first ever movie with a twist ending. A black and white sound version was made by David Lee Fisher in 2006, where green screen was used to incorporate the original backgrounds. I picture del Toro’s version in color, with a few added plot flourishes. Who knows, maybe it could be the genesis of a new genre: Mexican Neo-Expressionism. 4. Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (watch the video, sorry it won’t embed)- While compiling this list, Adam Forrest started telling me about an episode of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller called The Heartless Giant. It felt like he was describing nightmares I had when I was seven (turns out the nightmare was actually a memory I had of watching this very episode). While still slightly goofy at times, it’s Henson at his creepiest, and I’d love to see del Toro pick up where the puppet master left off. Other freaky Henson classics like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (keeping David Bowie in the cast, of course) would also be great, but I picked The Storyteller because del Toro could really kill in this semi-episodic TV format. 5. La Jetée (entire 27 minute film is embedded above)- This 1962 French short film consists only of a series of black and white photos accompanied by narration. It’s a stunning post-apocalyptic downer and an absolute must-see. Terry Gilliam already remade it as Twelve Monkeys, where he added a lot of story content in addition to quadrupling the original run time. I’d like to see del Toro build something different, but equally good, using La Jetée’s bare-bones structure. 6. Dungeons & Dragons - In 2000, the undisputed king of tabletop role playing games became the undisputed king of shitty movie adaptations. There are inherent problems in adapting a game like D&D to the screen, for one thing, the game is really just a rules system, the players provide the story. That being said, there have been countless supplemental “campaign settings” published which describe immensely imaginative worlds. I would particularly like to see what del Toro would do with Keith Baker’s fantasy-noir Eberron. 7. The Wizard of Oz - It would be pretty ballsy of del Toro to take this one on. In 1985 Walter Murch, known mostly for his stellar editing work, directed the wonderfully dark Return to Oz. While not a perfect film, it exploited the more disturbing dimensions of the Oz story, namely a lost girl in a strange world targeted by a supernatural evil. If all goes well with del Torro’s take on The Hobbit, I think the world will be ready to go back to an Oz where munchkins hanging themselves would no longer be confined to shadowy backgrounds. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:01:14 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/8/2008 3:01:14 PM (photo: La Jetée, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army hits theaters this Friday. Del Toro is a rare filmmaker who, despite his unique vision, often works on projects based on material from an outside source (Pan’s Labyrinth being a notable exception). Assuming all the legal issues get ironed out,  he’ll next direct a two part film adaptation of Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the most prestigious property to date to get the del Toro treatment. Here are seven either failed or unjustly obscure movies ripe for being remade by Hellboy’s father. 1. Spawn - Todd McFarlane’s comic about a Hell-trotting anti-hero indebted to the Devil opened my young eyes to genuinely dark storytelling. While the 90s were a simpler time in terms of comic to movie adaptations, I was already dreaming about a big screen adaptation after reading the first issue. Unfortunately, my dream came true in 1997, when Mark A.Z. Dippé’s god-awful Spawn slumped into theaters. 2. The Never Ending Story - If you were to describe Pan’s Labyrinth as a story about a little girl with a cruel stepfather who escapes into a fantasy world with fairies and magical pan, it could sound like many tame children’s movies of the ’80s. The Never Ending Story del Toro style: the gnome is evil (or a least a little sadistic), the giant flying dog thing eats at least one sentient being, and the kid dies in the end. 3. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - This 1920 German Expressionist classic is one of the first horror films, and maybe the first ever movie with a twist ending. A black and white sound version was made by David Lee Fisher in 2006, where green screen was used to incorporate the original backgrounds. I picture del Toro’s version in color, with a few added plot flourishes. Who knows, maybe it could be the genesis of a new genre: Mexican Neo-Expressionism. 4. Jim Henson’s The Storyteller (watch the video, sorry it won’t embed)- While compiling this list, Adam Forrest started telling me about an episode of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller called The Heartless Giant. It felt like he was describing nightmares I had when I was seven (turns out the nightmare was actually a memory I had of watching this very episode). While still slightly goofy at times, it’s Henson at his creepiest, and I’d love to see del Toro pick up where the puppet master left off. Other freaky Henson classics like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth (keeping David Bowie in the cast, of course) would also be great, but I picked The Storyteller because del Toro could really kill in this semi-episodic TV format. 5. La Jetée (entire 27 minute film is embedded above)- This 1962 French short film consists only of a series of black and white photos accompanied by narration. It’s a stunning post-apocalyptic downer and an absolute must-see. Terry Gilliam already remade it as Twelve Monkeys, where he added a lot of story content in addition to quadrupling the original run time. I’d like to see del Toro build something different, but equally good, using La Jetée’s bare-bones structure. 6. Dungeons & Dragons - In 2000, the undisputed king of tabletop role playing games became the undisputed king of shitty movie adaptations. There are inherent problems in adapting a game like D&D to the screen, for one thing, the game is really just a rules system, the players provide the story. That being said, there have been countless supplemental “campaign settings” published which describe immensely imaginative worlds. I would particularly like to see what del Toro would do with Keith Baker’s fantasy-noir Eberron. 7. The Wizard of Oz - It would be pretty ballsy of del Toro to take this one on. In 1985 Walter Murch, known mostly for his stellar editing work, directed the wonderfully dark Return to Oz. While not a perfect film, it exploited the more disturbing dimensions of the Oz story, namely a lost girl in a strange world targeted by a supernatural evil. If all goes well with del Torro’s take on The Hobbit, I think the world will be ready to go back to an Oz where munchkins hanging themselves would no longer be confined to shadowy backgrounds. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_robot_sidekicks/4/13192/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: sci-fi
Post Date: 7/5/2007 5:42:35 PM
Body: MST3K!!!! The movie and the showCambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo, Crooooooooowwwww! And would you count Return to Oz? Is Tik-Tok a robot?
]]>Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:42:35 GMTRisseladasci-fi7/5/2007 5:42:35 PMMST3K!!!! The movie and the showCambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo, Crooooooooowwwww! And would you count Return to Oz? Is Tik-Tok a robot? http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/family/MemberTagFilms.aspxfamily
Number of films tagged: 6288

Number of people who tagged: 226

Number of times used: 1138

]]>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:09:21 GMT62882261138Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/friendship/MemberTagFilms.aspxfriendship
Number of films tagged: 6791

Number of people who tagged: 154

Number of times used: 980

]]>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:42:20 GMT6791154980Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/escape/MemberTagFilms.aspxescape
Number of films tagged: 2868

Number of people who tagged: 76

Number of times used: 279

]]>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:51:44 GMT286876279Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/magic/MemberTagFilms.aspxmagic
Number of films tagged: 818

Number of people who tagged: 69

Number of times used: 173

]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:58:47 GMT81869173Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/journey/MemberTagFilms.aspxjourney
Number of films tagged: 1175

Number of people who tagged: 50

Number of times used: 124

]]>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:02:52 GMT117550124Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/chase/MemberTagFilms.aspxchase
Number of films tagged: 880

Number of people who tagged: 44

Number of times used: 109

]]>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:13:34 GMT88044109Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/princess/MemberTagFilms.aspxprincess
Number of films tagged: 612

Number of people who tagged: 33

Number of times used: 72

]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:53:48 GMT6123372Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/desert/MemberTagFilms.aspxdesert
Number of films tagged: 567

Number of people who tagged: 29

Number of times used: 52

]]>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:19:55 GMT5672952Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/king/MemberTagFilms.aspxking
Number of films tagged: 619

Number of people who tagged: 29

Number of times used: 54

]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:07:18 GMT6192954Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/goodvsevil/MemberTagFilms.aspxgoodvsevil
Number of films tagged: 742

Number of people who tagged: 25

Number of times used: 67

]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:42:51 GMT7422567Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/wizard/MemberTagFilms.aspxwizard
Number of films tagged: 127

Number of people who tagged: 21

Number of times used: 41

]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:23:27 GMT1272141Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Jack/MemberTagFilms.aspxJack
Number of films tagged: 18

Number of people who tagged: 17

Number of times used: 28

]]>Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:59:13 GMT181728Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/witchcraft/MemberTagFilms.aspxwitchcraft
Number of films tagged: 224

Number of people who tagged: 16

Number of times used: 31

]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:19:10 GMT2241631Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/fantasyworld/MemberTagFilms.aspxfantasyworld
Number of films tagged: 247

Number of people who tagged: 15

Number of times used: 22

]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:42:51 GMT2471522Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/mentalinstitution/MemberTagFilms.aspxmentalinstitution
Number of films tagged: 321

Number of people who tagged: 11

Number of times used: 18

]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:02:27 GMT3211118Tag