 ***PLEASE NOTE: A Blu-ray 3D disc is only compatible with 3D Blu-ray players.*** 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray 2D) Tagline: "I'll get you, my pretty!" And pretty it is, in 2D and 3D... When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. --Jeff Shannon Storyline: In this charming film based on the popular L. Frank Baum stories, Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage. Written by Dale Roloff Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown on October 1, 2013 -- "For nearly forty years this story has given faithful service to the Young in Heart; and Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return, and to the Young in Heart, we dedicate this picture." So begins director Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz, a timeless, truly magnificent classic that's as charming and endearing today as it was seventy years ago. Born in an age when soul and spirit were invested in every frame, when digital effects had yet to be conceived, when craftsmanship sat upon the same cinematic throne as creativity, the seemingly simplistic story of a young girl's quest to escape a strange land of talking animals and sneering creatures has emerged as one of the most indelible, recognizable, and untouchable films in history. From actress Judy Garland's unforgettable rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to her cries of joy upon returning home, Oz has few equals. From the bustling land of the Munchkins to the frightening kingdom of the Wicked Witch of the West, it boasts stirring artistry and design. From Dorothy's declaration that she isn't in Kansas anymore to her first, hushed utterance of "there's no place like home," it transcends age, capturing the imagination of anyone, young or old, lucky enough to set their eyes on the majesty of its yellow-brick road. My affection for The Wizard of Oz traces back to my early childhood, when I was much too young to fully appreciate what was becoming one of the first major components in my cinematic consciousness. I just knew it made me laugh; that its songs made me smile; that its monstrous villains gave me chills; that its heroes provided me with a thrilling adventure in a colorful world filled with magic and wonder. Is there anyone who isn't already familiar with the story? Based on L. Frank Baum's turn-of-the-century children's book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Fleming's film tells the tale of Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), a young girl swept away by a tornado and deposited in the mysterious land of Oz, an enchanting kingdom ruled by an all-powerful wizard (Frank Morgan) and besieged by two evil witches. When Dorothy's tumbling house kills the Wicked Witch of the East, her sister -- the cruel Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) -- swears to exact revenge. But the young girl has other things to worry about. Namely getting home, a quest that requires her to travel across Oz, enter the fabled Emerald City, and seek help from the Wizard himself. Fortunately, Dorothy befriends a trio of bumbling warriors along the way: a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who doesn't have a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) who was never given a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who lacks courage. Oz has been an international sensation for seventy years now. During that time, it's become a part of global culture, influenced modern filmmaking as we know it, and solidified its place amongst the greatest films of all time. Even so, I didn't realize how timeless it had really become until I picked my son up from pre-school on a day when his teachers' had popped in The Wizard of Oz while the kids were eating lunch. Knowing his love for Pixar's finest, his affinity for comicbook flicks, and how much he enjoys watching the latest action-oriented, animated jaw-dropper, I was shocked by his sudden obsession with a 1939 Technicolor musical. Be it the songs, the characters, the world, or the exceedingly accessible storyline, he wanted to watch it again in its entirety. And again... and again... and again. My apologies if it seems like I'm drifting off target, but his instant attachment to Dorothy and her companions' story -- particularly in light of the faster, flashier, more expensive productions available to him -- is possibly the most telling testament I can offer about the still-palpable power of the film. Watching it with him is just as fulfilling. Chalk it up to nostalgia, delight, or respect, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Oz some twenty-five years after it first grabbed hold of my brain. Modern cinelitists may scoff at its idealism and era-specific performances, cynics may balk at its rosy-cheeked exclamations and bursts of song, but The Wizard of Oz defies generation gaps, so much so that it's capable of surviving the harsh terrain of the 21st Century. In 1939, its clash between good and evil -- at a time when the world was recovering from one World War and gearing up for another, when the Great Depression was still ravaging the masses, when hope was a fleeting commodity -- offered a brief respite to weary peoples. Its visuals widened eyes and captured imaginations. Its songs left many in tears and many more with a sense that dreams just might come true. It's not so different today. In an age of widespread political and economic upheaval, The Wizard of Oz doesn't register as a naive relic of childhood or a featherweight fantasy. It's a reminder that anti-heroes, gore, pulse-pounding soundtracks, and grim-n-gritty cinematography don't explore the human condition as readily as cinephiles have convinced themselves such things do. Those skipping this Technicolor marvel in favor of bigger, badder fare (releases featuring three-clawed muties, battery-licking action junkies, or time-traveling assassins) will miss the opportunity to watch a film that has something to say; a film whose message is as relevant and legitimate in 2009 and is it was in 1939. It may sound like hyperbole, or the skewed ramblings of a nostalgic thirtysomething looking to reconnect with his childhood, but the film's legacy and lasting appeal are a testament to its power and timelessness. Don't write off Warner's Technicolor masterpiece as a cinematic relic. Don't pass it by for lesser drivel lining the shelves. Don't assume it can't reach you in your twilight or captivate your children in their innocence. The Wizard of Oz is a true Hollywood treasure; a film that still has the ability to move, inspire and soften the most hardened heart and pessimistic scowl. "The 3D conversion was a long and complex project which Warner Bros. initiated with a very high resolution 8k scanning of the original Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and determine distances from the viewer's vantage point. This was followed by the long process (with the use of a rotoscope) to further refine viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects." (Note: Only the 3D disc (Disc 1) features the new restoration and MVC-encoded transfer. The 2D disc (Disc 2) features the same 2D VC-1 transfer as the 2009 Blu-ray release. Those with both a 3D Blu-ray player and 3D-ready display can switch off the 3D and watch the new presentation in 2D. Unfortunately, though, those who don't own a 3D Blu-ray player and display will not be able to view the new presentation in 2D.) If you already own the 2009 Blu-ray release of The Wizard of Oz and all the special features that go with it, if you have no need or want of further Oz collectibles, and if you'd like to add the film's 3D presentation and new feature-length production documentary to your collection, I strongly recommend going with the more affordable 2-disc Blu-ray edition of The Wizard of Oz 3D. If, however, you haven't purchased the 2009 release, want to feast your eyes on (almost) every special feature released thus far, and have a thing for photo books and collectibles, the more expensive 5-disc Collector's Edition may be more to your liking. Either way, prepare yourself for a magnificent new restoration and surprisingly effective 3D experience, an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a sprawling series of special features, chief among them the new documentary Warner has wisely seen fit to include with both editions. Cast Notes: Judy Garland (Dorothy Gale), Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel / The Gatekeeper / The Carriage Driver / The Doorman / The Wizard of Oz), Ray Bolger (Hunk / The Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (Zeke / The Cowardly Lion), Jack Haley (Hickory / The Tin Man), Billie Burke (Glinda), Margaret Hamilton (Elmira Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West / The Wicked Witch of the East), Charley Grapewin (Uncle Henry), Pat Walshe (Nikko), Clara Blandick (Auntie Em), Terry (Toto [as Toto]), The Singer Midgets (The Munchkins [also as The Munchkins]). IMDb Rating (05/01/14): 8.1/10 from 212,839 users Top 250: #179 IMDb Rating (02/15/10): 8.3/10 from 96,745 users Top 250: #120
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