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Blu-ray Review

The Wizard Of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition

Official Synopsis:

Journey over the rainbow in sparkling Hi-Def splendor! A four-disc edition of the most magical movie in Hollywood history with refreshed 1080p picture clarity and revitalized Dolby TrueHD audio fidelity.

Our Take:

I feel kind of stupid reviewing The Wizard of Oz.

Not because I don't like the movie or anything, though; quite the opposite in fact. I think this is a great film, perfect for kids of all ages. I was obsessed with the Oz books when I was a kid, and this film will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember the days when you could only see it once a year on television and it was something of an event. I have nothing bad to say about this movie at all.

But that's just it: The Wizard of Oz is one of the indisputable classics. I don't think you'll find a soul on the planet who thinks this is a bad movie, or who doesn't have fond memories of watching it. It simply is a classic, through and through. So what am I going to add to that? I can't tell you to rush out and see it, because I know that if you're reading this review (or you simply don't live in a cave) you have seen this movie at some point in your life. I can say, however, that you probably haven't really seen it until you've watched this new Blu-ray edition of the film. It's that good.

Audio & Video:

While this should probably be the longest section of the review, I'm going to keep it pretty simple, if for no other reason than because it's hard to find new and interesting ways to talk about how great something is. Yes, this film is 70 years old, but Warner Brothers have restored it so carefully and impressively that the film looks absolutely and utterly gorgeous. Image clarity is amazing considering the film's age, colors are incredibly vibrant, and there's even a healthy (and perfect) amount of grain to retain the cinematic feel of the film, all without any noticeable edge enhancement or Digital Noise Reduction. There are a few minor blemishes on the print still (some film scratches and the like that couldn't be removed) but they're few and far between and never distracting.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround soundtrack is also a wonder to behold. I'm not sure how Warner managed to bring this soundtrack firmly into the 21st century without losing any of its 1939 charm, but that's exactly what they did. Generous surround usage, lush music, and clear dialogue are all present, and even if things occasionally sound just a little bit tinny, you'll be amazed by the depth and breadth of this soundtrack.

Special Features (Blu-ray Exclusive):

I believe all of the extra features listed below are included on both the Blu-ray set and the DVD set, but I didn't have a DVD set in hand to compare to, so I could be mistaken on that.

Special Features (Standard):

Audio Commentary - With a collection of people involved in the film, and hosted by the late Sydney Pollack.
The Making of a Movie Classic (50 minutes) - A documentary from 1990
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz (30 minutes) - Also hosted by Pollack, this is a 2005 documentary discussing the film.
The Legacy of Oz (26 minutes) - Another 2005 documentary.
Memories of Oz (29 minutes): A 2001 documentary that interviews surviving family memebers of the cast.
Jukebox (70 minutes) - Original audio recordings, including rehearsals, final songs, and outtakes.
Stills Galleries - A massive photo gallery that takes almost two hours to get through in slideshow mode.
We Haven't Really Met Properly (20 minutes) - A collection of short bio featurettes on the cast.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook (10 minutes) - A sort-of animated, truncated version of Baum's story..
Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz (11 minutes) - How the film was made to look so gorgeous.
Music and Effects Track - Watch the film with just the music and sound effects.
Radio Material (134 minutes) - An extended radio promo and two hour-long radio shows.
Sing Along - A subtitle track that allows you to sing along.
Archival Short Films - A number of vintage reels that run 2-4 minutes each.
Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (35 minutes minutes) - A profile of director Victor Fleming.
L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain (30 minutes)- A profile of Baum.
Hollywood Celebrates its Biggest Little Stars! (10 minutes) - A look at the Munchkin actors, including some interviews.
The Dreamer of Oz (90 minutes) - A 1990 TV-Movie biopic of Baum.
The "... of Oz" Films - About five hours of silent films, all previous adaptations of Baum's works
Bonus Movie: MGM: When The Lion Roars
Limited Edition 70th-Anniversary Watch With Genuine Crystals
Original 1939 Campaign Book Reproduction
Behind The Curtain Of Production 1060 52-Page Commemorative Book
Replica Of Original Movie Budget
Digital Copy of the Film

Conclusion:

Wow. Just... wow. What else do I really need to say?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Overall Picture:

Movie: A
Video: A+
Audio: A+
Extra Features: A+++

- Mike Spring
Editor