Wizard of Oz 3D IMAX

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:24pm

Just got back from seeing Oz 3D IMAX. Felt like I was seeing it for the first time. Yes, I'm a sucker. Yes, I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat for nearly all of the screening. Yes, you know this already if you know me (probably even if you don't). They did an incredible job with a film entering its 75th year. Highlights: the tornado, the rolling hills in Munchkinland, Glinda's tracking bubble, the flying monkeys, the floating Oz head in the throne room, the witch's castle, her crystal ball, the crane shots in Munchkinland, the Kansas backgrounds. I noticed so many things I'd never seen before (which is astonishing at this point). If you love this movie, or if you are into visual FX, 3D conversions, 3D modeling, or if you're just bored this weekend, go rediscover this film. It was pure magic from start to finish. I applaud every single person who worked on it, then and now! I don't think I was prepared for that much attention to detail. It was money well spent, and a labor of love. So much thought and care went into every single shot.

Random observances: The witch points her finger right at you, and it's freaky ... in a good way. Actually, I was reminded of how/why some of this stuff is considered genuinely scary for kids. The tornado, the flying monkeys, and the witch's face in the crystal ball all made me recoil a bit. I don't think I've done that watching this movie since I was six years old.

Just so you don't think this is a paid advertisement, I did have a couple of minor drawbacks or quibbles. For some reason, the one shot I thought that sort of lacked extra depth (compared to everything else) is the "money shot" of the Emerald City on the horizon. They brought a few of the lower domes and towers out with the Z-space depth, but the majority of the background (matte painting) looks very flat. Considering how well they did with all the other matte shots, I was surprised this one didn't quite measure up. Also, because this is in IMAX, I was very aware of the makeup seams on two of the "living" characters: the lion and the witch. Whereas the makeup on the Scarecrow and Tinman looked fantastic.

Back to good stuff: I noticed giant clay pots in the witch's castle outside her door that I hadn't noticed before. The character painted on the back of Professor Marvel's wooden chair inside his wagon. I noticed a live white cat sitting on the "granny's" lap as she flies by outside Dorothy's window during the tornado. Oh! One more fantastic shot ... the long corridor leading into the Wizard's throne room. So great. And a touch that I thought was really nice: On the static matte shot of the Wizard waiting to depart in his balloon ... they made the balloon (in the matte) actually sway ever so slightly. Very effective.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:28pm

That's wonderful! I was on the fence, but now I've fallen right into the pig pen.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:30pm

LOL

I think you'll love it, Reg. No doubt about it.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:45pm

I don't know -- I just don't know if I can do this. Does it have to be 3D? Can't they just run the movie in full Technicolor radiance?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:52pm

3D version will hit store shelves on 10/01/2013.

i will catch it this weekend...sounds like fun




info via blu-ray.com Updated On: 9/20/13 at 04:52 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:55pm

a 5 disc set will also hit store shelves on 10/01/2013.

3 blu-ray discs and 2 dvd's


info via blu-ray.com

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 4:57pm

a 1 disc 75th anniversary edition will also be released.

it has one of the ugliest covers ever designed
damn that's one ugly-ass cover

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 5:00pm

Roscoe---Of course! There are 2D screenings all the time. It's been re-released many times. I saw it at the Chinese Theatre about five years ago or so myself.

This (quite literally) adds a new dimension. There is something very strange about seeing a film that's 75 years old with stars like Garland and Bolger and Burke just as if they were appearing in a film today. It feels old, and new, and classic, and experimental.

I really was emotionally swept away by it. And I wasn't prepared for that. I thought I would have a more "technical" reaction to it.

I've worked on 3D projects before. I've also rotoscoped before, frame by frame, and bezier path by bezier path, and I know how painstaking it is. But so much of that went out the window while I was watching this. I felt like I was on the sets while they were making the movie. I was aware of camera angles and dolly shots and crane shots like I never had been before. And the added depth in the painted backdrops really pushed it into another realm.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 7:49pm

Well, now that it has best12's endorsement I guess I'm not so worried to see it (and I do genuinely mean it, as I find my taste and views on movies tend to often run right in line with yours).

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 9:51pm

Thanks for the vote of confidence, AEA! Keep in mind that I absolutely love this film. It's been my favorite movie almost since I knew what movies were (at age five).

But I definitely went in with a discerning eye. I expected to be impressed by certain aspects of it and perhaps a bit disappointed by others ... but I was blown away.

Still thinking about it. By the way, there was a small but noticeable gasp right at the beginning when you see the old MGM "Leo the lion" logo in sepia tone, and it's fully realized in 3D. Even the ribbon curling around the bottom with the latin slogan on it had all sorts of depth to it. Right away, I could tell, with that kind of attention to detail, I wasn't going to be disappointed.

Far from it. I was transported.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 10:02pm

Oh Jesus, this thread is making me want to hit the theatre this weekend!

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 10:11pm

It's only in theatres for one week, and to be honest, it's probably not going to generate big crowds (or even medium crowds). Not a lot of people at my screening, but I chalked it up to being a Friday daytime showing (11:30 am). I have heard other folks (Facebook friends) saying their audiences were pretty meager in size as well. Everyone who is seeing it (among the people who said so) has been wowed by it.

Anyway, I doubt seriously if there will be any extension, unless the word of mouth is so good, people start flocking to it. (Not very likely). I think most people feel they've seen this movie way too many times. And I'm sure they have. But this doesn't compare to any previous experiences I've had seeing this film in a theatre. And I've probably seen it on a big screen at least six or seven times.

It really felt the closest I've come to experiencing it for the very first time as a child. That sense of awe and wonder was back, rather than simply admiring the talent and the story and the work that went into it.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/20/13 at 10:32pm

best1212 I am so excited to see this now! If it dazzled you I know it will be a special treat.
How Warner Bros Transformed The Wizard of Oz into an IMAX Classic

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 12:35am

Besty, I was wondering if this would have your seal of approval or if you'd be annoyed they were messing with "your" movie. Thought of you several times during the movie. Glad to see you approved. I went to a 7:00 showing tonight, theatre was maybe 1/4 full. Loved, loved, LOVED it!! So many of the things you mentioned, thrilled me, too. It was spectacular, and I wish I could find some time to see it again!

Updated On: 9/21/13 at 12:35 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 6:09am

bdwaygirl--I'm so glad you enjoyed it, too!

morosco---thanks for posting that featurette!

Maybe because we live in an age of "director's cuts," "special editions," mono movies remixed into 5.1 surround, and films with new alternate scores (particularly silent films, but even things like Universal's 1932 Dracula)) with newly composed music scores sometimes performed live ... I don't have a problem with a new way of seeing a film. As long as it's "in addition to" and not "instead of" the original.

This 3D version of Oz isn't taking the place of the original. That's why I don't have a problem with it. And the reason I love it so much is that it manages to capture an element of awe and a feeling of being "immersed" in the film that I haven't felt since I was a child. It's really emotionally powerful.

Updated On: 9/21/13 at 06:09 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 12:34pm

For what it's worth, it's on track for an impressive $2.5 million weekend. I can't wait to see it!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/21/13 at 11:24pm

I just returned from seeing the movie and it was wonderful. The 3D worked extremely well. Oz was looking more beautiful than before. When the house landed during the twister it looked like it was coming towards me. The sound was amazing as well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 12:13pm

It's doing much better than I initially thought it would:

the 3D re-release of "The Wizard of Oz" triumphs in exclusive Imax run.
Imax's exclusive 3D re-release of The Wizard of Oz paid off, grossing north of $3 million from 318 theaters, second only to the re-release of Jurassic Park. The iconic film -- now 75 years old -- was converted to 3D under the supervision of Warners.

Hollywood Reporter link

[AllisonBWW]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 12:20pm

Caught this last night.

The movie has never looked better. Sometimes you see 3D added to movies, and it really doesn't work. This was not the case here. OZ looked absolutely stunning - obviously a big effort was put in to restore and convert this frame by frame to 3D.

The movie has also never sounded better. Whatever they did to it - it sounds like it was recorded yesterday.

One thing I noticed was strange cut during the professor Marvel scene where it goes right from "He's more than welcome to it" (the hotdog) to "Why can't we go with you to see the crown heads of Europe?". It was strange, and I'm wondering what happend to the few lines in between.

Also, the background details have never been more clear. BTW, the supposed "Munchkin suicide" is now 100% undeniably false, it is for sure an exotic bird (A crane? I think) in the background, as the details are so clear on this print.

So glad they restored this film the right way. Can't wait to own it on Blu Ray.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 1:27pm

"Also, the background details have never been more clear. BTW, the supposed "Munchkin suicide" is now 100% undeniably false, it is for sure an exotic bird (A crane? I think) in the background, as the details are so clear on this print."

Yes, I noticed that too. It was very clear that it was a bird in the background.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 2:02pm

You didn't need this version to confirm that, did you? This myth was debunked years and years ago. For context: http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/ozsuicide.asp

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 2:33pm

^ I've known that it was debunked for a while now and I think bwayto did too. It's just that the clarity of this version makes it look 100% clear that it was a bird.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 3:27pm

Maybe the Munchkin was dressed as a bird....

Seeing it this afternoon at the Chinese Theatre! I'm very excited!

[jasonf]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 3:36pm

I just got back from seeing it and it really was spectacular. It looked WAY better than I've ever seen the movie before (and I've seen this movie COUNTLESS times). The tornado scene was particularly well done. I've never been anxious during it before, but for the first time it actually had me a little jumpy. The makeup on the characters was so much crisper - the patchwork skin on the Scarecrow, the rivets on the Tin Man, the whiskers on the Lion, even Dorothy's freckles and the hair on the witch's mole all were very clear.

The munchkin hanging myth was DEFINITELY a bird. I knew that before, but you can clearly see it now.

The only real quibble I have with this (and it's really just with 3D in general) is if you move your head to the right or left it goes a little blurry. It's annoying, but that's just part of the technology, I guess. You have to center yourself to snap it back into place.

It did make me realize how abruptly the witch is killed - maybe just because I wanted it to last longer, but that's a plot point that's always bothered me.

Otherwise, the movie really looked better than I've ever seen it before.

[AllisonBWW]

Posted: 9/22/13 at 7:35pm

Yes, I was aware that it was a myth before seeing this movie.

I just meant that it's SO clear now that you can hardly believe anyone ever thought otherwise. The picture was insanely clear.