The Wizard of Oz 4K UHD (1939) (80th, 85th Anniversary Edition)

[Vangeli]

Wow this is absolutely gorgeous! Lovely grain, lovely color, lovely detail, just lovely! Steelbook is nice too.

The audio is fine. Either the original mono mix or a new Atmos remaster could have been a little more of a treat.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Castor18

In this comparison of selected frames, as expected, the results apparently do not always favor the new 4K disc. The sepia sequence in Kansas now looks more photographic and less processed in 4k, maybe DNR previously applied gave the illusion of a sharper image, but now has better clarity and stability.
Once in the Land of Oz, probably the trend continues with improved clarity and detail given by the extra resolution, but again the illusion of a slightly sharper image from previous releases probably was traded off with more discernible texture, and maybe better matching whatever little softness was part of the original source.
It’s a mix bag, where some scenes looking darker (the witch castle) or slightly softer (Scarecrow, …) from previous releases, while other look really gorgeous, like the ruby sand clock, where now it’s possible to better distinguish sand grain.
In the end, some might think it’s not a huge improvement in PQ, but never the less an improvement … and might be interesting to know what would be the most popular way to watch it, knowing that they did a very good job when they released it in 3D, which might be a more rewarding alternative, compared to a not substantial improvement in PQ.
BD, 4K, … 3D all good to visit the Land of Oz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZXhx7PoPyA

As expected, that dude COMPLETELY ****s the colour on his "HDR" shots, like he's forcing the wrong colour space on them. The. Guy. Is. A. Hack.

In the end, don't go on what some astonishingly clueless youtube video has to say/show on the matter.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Grey2Grey

Yeah. The comparisons between the Blu-ray and UHD on that guys channel are always crap. Don't waste your time.

The most accurate BD/UHD comparison sites I know of are:

https://caps-a-holic.com/ (the best in the biz)
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/ (only occasionally does 4K reviews)
https://www.hdnumerique.com/ (mainly does 4K reviews, but rarely posts)

I don't trust Tooze's caps or opinions but yeah, the first site is solid (though HDR should not be taken as gospel due to SDR conversion) and HDNumerique are awesome. How their Shining comparison gets a few hundred views while that Moony dilbert gets 20K+ is a total mystery to me. It just seems to be the modern way: get it wrong and you'll have 'em eating out of the palm of your hand, get it right and nobody wants to know, it's not sensational enough that way. **** me.

Originally Posted by captainsolo

I dunno about very soft and warm. What would happen was the IB technicolor printing process could yield a different result from the negative due to it being a painstaking and manual process of printing that made for heartstoppingly gorgeous works of art-when done right. Like anything else they could have bad runs. And because it was done with the tools of the era no two prints turn out 100% identical. This is the end result three strip Technicolor was designed for and thus non fading IB prints should always be used as a reference when you have them available with the mindset in place that they can have differentiation and look different to the negative results.

Stating the obvious but they'll always look different to the negative (for better or worse) because they're not the negative which has very different characteristics. And as for that last part, I'm reminded of what RAH said when Universal were doing their recent restoration of Spartacus: they had three different IB Tech prints for 'reference' and all three were different so RAH had to enlist the opinion of other folks like Bruce Kimmel to get a consensus on which one(s) were actually "correct".

[UpsetSmiley]

Originally Posted by hoejunter

An American Werewolf in London turned up today but no Wizard of Oz even though it was dispatched on Wednesday

Same here, and to think Zavvi have the nerve to charge £2 for delivery now. I think it was quicker back when it was free!

[mar3o]

That guy's "comparisons" are completely phony. I got tricked before by one of his videos, then was made aware that his videos are totally bogus. His screenshots completely misrepresent the UHDs.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Bolty

A full week ago bill hunt from the digital bits said he had a copy complementary from Warner's of Wizard of Oz 4K and he would have the review up by today the 28th. His update came out today and surprise surprise no review of Wizard of Oz. He did say that his first impression was it it looks terrific. Wow that was a bold statement. Does anybody else get the suspicion that he's just going to run out tomorrow morning and buy one off the shelf and then post a quick review?
Does anybody believe that he's had a copy of this very anticipated 4K release for a week and couldn't find the time to watch 101 minute movie and post a review?
I guess the real question is does he believe anybody believes that.

Does anyone care?

[Brightstar]

The best thing to do is buy it and decide for yourself if the PQ is good

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I've felt this way for years. Most review sites, including this one, will spend 3/4 of their review talking about the film instead of the technical attributes of the disc in question.

Because that would reveal they have zero competence.

[Castor18]

Oh yeah, nothing like firsthand impression from home watching on your own, those videos never stop me from getting something I might like regardless of what they show.
We all hope it turns out much better of what he or others R showing in UT. Delivery until Wednesday, will check it out and comment further.

[hoejunter]

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

Same here, and to think Zavvi have the nerve to charge £2 for delivery now. I think it was quicker back when it was free!

I contacted Zavvi and they said it can take up to 10 working days to arrive... okay so why did another Blu Ray which was dispatched two days later turn up before it?

[mklar0427]

Originally Posted by hoejunter

I contacted Zavvi and they said it can take up to 10 working days to arrive... okay so why did another Blu Ray which was dispatched two days later turn up before it?

It is frustrating but I've encountered shipping like that before from them. Allegedly shipped at the same time but arrivals were like a week apart.

[mindset]

Received the zavvi steelbook today. Embossed title and peel-off rating label. Intend to take it apart to add the 3D disc for complete happiness. 4K disc is stunning. The ruby slippers glisten like never before (through the long grass when they meet the tin man, for instance) and Toto is alive with detail. Will never watch the blu again.

[UpsetSmiley]

Originally Posted by hoejunter

I contacted Zavvi and they said it can take up to 10 working days to arrive... okay so why did another Blu Ray which was dispatched two days later turn up before it?

It's a mystery, sometimes I wonder whether it was marked dispatched days before it actually was.

[Randy Miller III]

Review is live on the main page. Enjoy!

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray

[SleazyForWeasley]

I haven't owned it since VHS. I hope the 4k looks better than that.

[BluBonnet]

I watched the new 4k restoration in a Dolby Cinema over the weekend. It looks very good!

Only quibble is that today's projectionists just aren't taught to keep the proper masking on the screen depending on the aspect ratio of what's being shown.

[shinobipopcorn]

I got my BB steel today. Too bad I can't watch it in 4K.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by shinobipopcorn

I got my BB steel today. Too bad I can't watch it in 4K.

So you're just future-proofing?

[chewbabka]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So you're just future-proofing?

Same boat. At the point in my life where I can afford discs but not a $3K TV. Not doing 4k until i can afford to do it right, probably in a little over a year. And this way, once it’s plugged in, I’ll already have a nice 4k catalog to watch.

[shinobipopcorn]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So you're just future-proofing?

I actually never owned Oz on blu-ray, so why bother buying the old edition when I could get one that came with a future disc?