WIZARD OF OZ - REMASTERED Blu Ray 5-disc boxset - $49.99 at FYE!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/30/09 at 10:31pm

THE WIZARD OF OZ remastered in STUNNING 1080p Blu-Ray is pretty incredible. It may very well be the best remastering I have ever seen. GET IT.

There are, literally, 20 hours of Bonus Materials on the 4 disc deluxe edition, PLUS a 6 hour documentary about the entire history of MGM (only with the Blu-Ray box set, not the standard def one although the doc is in standard def (it's a flip disc so TECHNICALLY this is a 5 disc set))! WOW!

Most of the bonus features are hosted by Angela Lansbury to boot!

PLUS it comes with a beautiful hardback book and an entire reproduction of the promotional materials catalog AND a GORGEOUS leather banded and crystal specked watch that is worth the price of the whole set alone!

AND, this is the kicker: if you pick it up at FYE/COCONUTS it is $49.99 (if you send in the $10 rebate) AND with an FYE card you get an additional 10% off. Essentially you're paying less than $10 a disc for almost 30 hours of entertainment plus getting all the extras (a watch, 2 books, beautiful library-style display box, etc.)

The rebate offer and special pricing expires on 10/3/09 so get it while you can!

Retail: $89.99. I paid $45. Not bad, eh?

Do yourself a favor and take advantage of this amazing deal.

P

Updated On: 9/30/09 at 10:31 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/30/09 at 10:44pm

Or you could consider supporting a locally owned business in your community!

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 9/30/09 at 11:40pm

I saw the "remastered" Wizard of OZ in theatres. It looked better on my small tv screen. Seeing it on the huge screen with a packed audience was fun, but the picture quality was awful.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/30/09 at 11:47pm

Ugh, WHAT killjoys!

Isn't there a new Streisand album for you two to bash?

And you have NO IDEA what you're talking about Biff. This new remastering has only been shown in ONE theatre ONCE at the DVD premiere party earlier this month. The remaster you saw was NOT the HD remaster, it was the one from 1998. Enjoy your blurriness - why not follow it up with MAME for a real glaucoma-fest?!

:: HUGE EYE ROLL ::

P

[tazber]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 1:44am

So this is what, the 7,330 version they've released on home video? Or is it the 7,229? I lose track.

[saveusmike]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 2:54am

The picture is by far the brightest and sharpest, However the film grain is awful. I cant stress on that too much though as the film is 70 years old.

With the watch, 5 discs, books, etc I deffinetly feel I got my 50$ worth.

The numbered packaging alone is so stunning and worth every penny.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 5:18am

:: HUGE EYE ROLL ::

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 7:16am

I bought the last "ultimate collector's version," so I'm skipping this one.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 7:23am

I have "ultimate collectors final and definitive we promise this is the last re-issue ever deluxe" version.

That was 8 versions ago.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 7:47am

I have the last re-issue as well. I just watched it last week and it looks fine. This is just hyperbole to get people's money.
Updated On: 10/1/09 at 07:47 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 8:15am

Conan had a joke that this version is so amazingly remastered you can see the Tin Man get a hard-on.

Or something like that.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 8:26am

^ LMAO!!!!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 9:24am

I was really on the fence about getting this because as much as I love the movie, I can't even count how many versions of it I've bought in the past. However, I read the review of it over at digitalbits and what they said about the remastering changed my mind. Here's what they said -

"Warner has remastered Oz for Blu-ray using its trademark Ultra Resolution process, but this time at a stunning 8K resolution - the first time a feature-length dramatic film has been mastered at 8K! (MPI's Baraka documentary is the only other film to date to have been given such treatment.) What's even more amazing about this, is that each strip of the 3-strip Technicolor negative required 8K scanning, and then had to be repaired of imperfections and properly aligned to the other elements. From this, a "full film resolution" capture master was created in 4K, upon which additional scratch removal and color timing was done. The result of these exhaustive efforts is a jaw-dropping high-definition image, offered in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The Oz Blu-ray can truly be said to look as good as (or even better than) the original theatrical presentation. The color palette and saturation here is just extraordinary - rich, lush and completely evocative. Refined detailing abounds in everything from fabric to brick and even facial textures. There's a light wash of grain through the frame - very light but appropriate and obviously desired to retain the original filmic quality of the image. (Thankfully, it hasn't been digitally scrubbed away!) Contrast is also excellent, with deep, dark blacks and subtle shadow detailing. The image is occasionally a little soft looking here and there (thus the .5 reduction from a perfect video score in my grade above), but this is due to focal issues with the original on-set photography rather than any kind of mastering defect. This Blu-ray presentation is just glorious - as close to perfect as we may ever see for this film."

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 9:33am

Yes but the real question remains unanswered. With this new remaster will we finally be able to count how many rubies are indeed encrusted on Dorothy's slippers?





I don;t care if they raised Victor Fleming from the dead to supervise the remaster I ain't buying it.
Updated On: 10/1/09 at 09:33 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 10:58am

Other than the MGM documentary, are any of the bonus materials new? What can they dig up to release that they haven't done already?

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 1:40pm

Funny thing is in November Warners is re-releasing yet ANOTHER "SPECIAL EDITION" of GONE WITH THE WIND on standard DVD and Blu-Ray and guess what one of the special features on that set will be? The documentary MGM: WHEN THE LION ROARS!!!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 10:59pm

Ok, to all the nay-sayers, I am the type of person these things are created for (I own just about every release of Oz on home video, aside from one laser disc issue and the first DVD issue), but if I had to, I'd get rid of all of them just to keep this one.

It's beyond stunning. BEYOND. (I don't own a blu-ray so this is off packaging alone.) The book it comes with has pictures I've never seen before, including one of Fleming hosing down Margaret Hamilton before she melts.

Honestly, this was $50 well spent.

And for those looking for a reason still, it features the TV-movie "The Dreamer of Oz" starring John Ritter, Annette O'Toole, Rue McLanahan and a young John Cameron Mitchell.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/1/09 at 11:05pm

Fleming hosing down Margaret Hamilton before she melts.

Okay. Nothing before sold me, but THAT sold me.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 1:52am

Let's just say when Victor Fleming hosed down Margaret Hamilton they were both on fire in one way or another...



These are among the myriad facts one can learn spending 30 hours in Oz.

P

[misschung]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 11:47am

I just got the new, non-blu ray boxset with the watch yesterday. I haven't watched the DVDs yet, but it comes with the complete, original press booklet and a really nice hardcover "behind the curtain" book.

None of it is "must have" memorabilia, but it's still fun to look at if you're a fan of the movie.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 11:55am

Tell me it has a facsimile of the death certificate for that Munchkin who hanged himself, and I'm in.

[misschung]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 4:21pm

Husk - you bought it even without owning a blu ray player?

I have to be totally honest - the DVD features are repeats of the last deluxe edition. I'm still not through it all, but so far I'm not dazzled beyond belief.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 4:57pm

This is the illustrated book that comes with the Blu-Ray box set.



You can get it only with the box set or at Barnes and Noble. It's not available on its own anywhere else.
The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 5:06pm

Oh is that the book? I saw it yesterday at my local B&N and flipped through it. I may just pick up the book. I can get it with an extra discount off the $17.98 Member price.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 10/2/09 at 5:36pm

That is NOT the book that comes with the boxset.

THE WIZARD OF OZ : BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF PRODUCTION 1060 is the book that comes with it and it has an emerald green cover with the title in silver.

I have no idea what this B&N book is, but it ain't the book in the boxset. Maybe there's some sort of B&N exclusive? Target has their own edition (3 disc Emerald Edition), as does Wal-Mart (single disc blu-ray with most of the features on the 1st disc of the boxset).

P