Wednesday
Sep232009
Awed By Oz
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 11:34AM
I used to daydream that I was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. I'd put a leash on my lazy, fat cockapoo and drag her along as I skipped down the sidewalk, singing, "We're off to see the wizard!"
Tiger, my version of Toto, was definitely less than enthused about the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz, which would bring the whole family into the den for this once-per-year television event. But I was starstruck each and every time. My reactions were always the same. The hurricane would scare me silly, as would the sight of the Wicked Witch of the East's toes curling up and disappearing underneath the house. And the flying monkeys – oh, my. The Wicked Witch of the West would leave me quivering, just like the lion. And then there was the weapy ending, Dorothy all melodramatic with loyal Scarecrow; me, clutching a Kleenex box.
Call me old-fashioned, but sometimes it bums me out that these classic movies are so accessible and therefore, the viewing of them less ceremonial. But the digital technology that makes them so accessible has some HUGE benefits – in the form of some amazing advancements in how we actually see the movie.
The Wizard of Oz has been remastered and reissued several times since it was made in 1939, but this 70th anniversary version, according to the experts at Warner Home Video, has been entirely remastered using the original Technicolor camera negatives, scanned at 8K resolution. When viewed on Blu-ray, the result is a view of Oz that is six times higher resolution than standard DVD.
You will see detail you've never been able to see before. Toto is actually shades of gray and not just a black blob on four feet. The witch's castle has some vibrant details in the set – such as the monkey stand holding up the crystal ball. Look closely, and I guarantee you'll be amazed – and not even a bit wistful for the bad dupe we all watched once a year on our small (non-plasma) "TV sets."
The Blu-ray release of The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition hits stores Sept. 29 and retails for $69.92 (DVD) and $84.99 (Blu-ray Hi-Def). The numbered, limited edition includes more than 16 hours of extras, including a sing-along track, a featurette that stars seven of the original Munchkins and a collectible 70th anniversary watch, among other extras.
So pop some corn, fire up the home theater and gather the children for your annual (or more often) escape to somewhere over the rainbow.
Tiger, my version of Toto, was definitely less than enthused about the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz, which would bring the whole family into the den for this once-per-year television event. But I was starstruck each and every time. My reactions were always the same. The hurricane would scare me silly, as would the sight of the Wicked Witch of the East's toes curling up and disappearing underneath the house. And the flying monkeys – oh, my. The Wicked Witch of the West would leave me quivering, just like the lion. And then there was the weapy ending, Dorothy all melodramatic with loyal Scarecrow; me, clutching a Kleenex box.
Call me old-fashioned, but sometimes it bums me out that these classic movies are so accessible and therefore, the viewing of them less ceremonial. But the digital technology that makes them so accessible has some HUGE benefits – in the form of some amazing advancements in how we actually see the movie.
The Wizard of Oz has been remastered and reissued several times since it was made in 1939, but this 70th anniversary version, according to the experts at Warner Home Video, has been entirely remastered using the original Technicolor camera negatives, scanned at 8K resolution. When viewed on Blu-ray, the result is a view of Oz that is six times higher resolution than standard DVD.
An original film still (before) and Ultra-Resolution (after) of Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), Dorothy (Judy Garland), Lion (Bert Lahr) and Tin Man (Jack Haley) are prepared to meet the Wizard.
Copyright © 1939 Turner Entertainment Company. A Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
You will see detail you've never been able to see before. Toto is actually shades of gray and not just a black blob on four feet. The witch's castle has some vibrant details in the set – such as the monkey stand holding up the crystal ball. Look closely, and I guarantee you'll be amazed – and not even a bit wistful for the bad dupe we all watched once a year on our small (non-plasma) "TV sets."
The Blu-ray release of The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition hits stores Sept. 29 and retails for $69.92 (DVD) and $84.99 (Blu-ray Hi-Def). The numbered, limited edition includes more than 16 hours of extras, including a sing-along track, a featurette that stars seven of the original Munchkins and a collectible 70th anniversary watch, among other extras.
So pop some corn, fire up the home theater and gather the children for your annual (or more often) escape to somewhere over the rainbow.
tagged Blu-ray, Wizard of Oz in Movies and Media
Blu-ray, Wizard of Oz in Movies and Media
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