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

[SpinDoctor]

Wow, what a great release and upgrade. Nothing really negative to say about this one, Warner Bros did the great and powerful Oz justice with the quality on display here. I can only hope we get more classics from the WB catalogue. I‘m surprised so many look at caps to judge PQ without seeing it on an actual HDR display. Never really compares well in my opinion. Better off just waiting for Geoff if you want a reliable impression.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I think you're misinterpreting this added point though, the actual IB prints themselves are contact printed from the dye-laden matrices otherwise how does the dye literally get imbibed onto the receiving stock? That's definitely not an 'optical' step, unless it's done via osmosis? In this quote they're referring to what you were saying first up about the negatives having to be optically printed to matrices, not about the actual final prints.

I know the only optical step is when printing the negatives to positive matrices and the final step in the process is a mechanical one to get the dyes on the matrices to imbibe into the blank carrier that forms the final release print. My wording about the final prints in earlier posts was misleading in retrospect. I was trying to say that as the final IB Tech print underwent an optical printing process in its journey from camera negative to release print, that optical process is a big part of why the print I saw in the theater was as grainy as it was. I did get a big chuckle from your suggestion of trying to transfer dyes from the matrices to the carrier with an optical printer!

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Interesting note about the orientation of the blue record though. It's bi-packed with the red record in-camera with its anti-halation backing removed and the two emulsions in contact so as to allow light to pass through it to hit the red layer underneath (which is why the red layer is slightly less sharp) and so it's because of that that the blue layer can't be contact printed, if you did you'd get a 'flopped' image. Don't you love it when you get an actual explanation for something being the way it is rather than simply "it is"? Such things excite my brain. Awesome!!

It is really awesome to learn how things work like that! I love the technical aspects behind film in particular from shooting to printing and development. Learning how things work and the enjoyment that comes from the process is a big reason why I became a mechanical engineer. Technology fascinates me and things like the three strip process are equal parts history and technology which is doubly exciting because I have always enjoyed both. I have a lot of respect for all of the folks who developed this process way back in the 1930s.

I think a big reason why I love film so much is because it is more tangible to me. The camera has to physically transport a piece of film and expose it. There's a whole world of chemistry to learn too. I started doing my own black and white film development and watched old '50s era educational films about how the film chemically changes when exposed to light, and what the developer, stop bath, fixer, wash, etc steps do. Then there's push and pull processing, bleach bypass for color film and all sorts of fun things to learn. Lenses are a whole world onto themselves and I try to keep up on those too.

I learn about the new Arri Alexa LF cameras and other digital tech which are also fascinating, but film has a special place in my heart and brain. When I am at work I often spend my breaks on Wikipedia looking up what 2-perf 35mm is and how it compares to 16mm, the differences between spherical and tabular grain, etc. I love it.

[Geoff D]

Learning is fun!

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Learning is fun!

Geoff, I feel like I learn something new every time you post. Learning is all the more fun when you're around!

[Geoff D]

And people like Chris Singh, only he's got a life so he doesn't spend most of it on the forums! Being wrong and understanding why is one of the most satisfying things though, I simply assumed that the Technicolor matrices were contact printed because I couldn't imagine why they wouldn't be, optical printing will lose you more quality than a contact printing. BUT because of the blue negative being 'reversed' they literally can't print it emulsion to emulsion, it had to be done optically, so they also did it for the other records and, as the excerpt noted, you get a contrastier image when doing so (which is why I've mentioned in prior reviews about how the dynamic range "hardens up" on conventional opticals, the added contrast is blowing out the range).

[bookcase]

Originally Posted by MEB

I'll be watching this as soon as my 4K disc arrives next week. But we will also be showing it in the Booth Bijou Garage Theater in a few months when we pair it with 'Judy' as the main feature.

What a combo!

Mark

I just got back from seeing Judy in the theater. You sure you want to pair the two? Renee is great (!) and it's definitely worth seeing, but you'll be sending everyone home feeling very depressed.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Geoff, I feel like I learn something new every time you post. Learning is all the more fun when you're around!

I agree too its great i love reading Geoff's posts

[Knrsa333]

So incredibly excited to view this transfer. Nothing excites me more than these 4k releases of vintage films. Also, the steelbook art they chose is glorious!

[moviebuff75]

The original prints were very soft and warm. The skin tones were very yellow. The version we have now is the color on the negatives...color that the original prints couldn't achieve at the time

[TravisTylerBlack]

Originally Posted by moviebuff75

The original prints were very soft and warm. The skin tones were very yellow. The version we have now is the color on the negatives...color that the original prints couldn't achieve at the time

A former classmate of mine recently rebuffed my invite to watch the Gone With The Wind blu upscaled on my 4K projector. I just wanted to do something fun at home with a few fellow film nerds as GWTW turns 80 this year as well.

He immediately exclaimed that classic films on blu-ray in general are revisionist, uneeded, and anything on disc would be incomparable with the beauty of an original Technicolor print that he'd seen 20 years ago.

Given his aggressive response I didn't even attempt a debate. Life is short and I've learned to pick my battles. May mail him a copy of OZ in 4K this Christmas though just to be an a**.

[Kellz]

Originally Posted by hansnfranz

This will probably be one of the best classic movie transfers along with Casablanca and Gone with the Wind when we eventually get them. I can just imagine how rich the Technicolor colors will be here.

I want a GWTW one so bad. I’m worried how some of the painted bg scenes will be but I don’t even care

[Knrsa333]

Walked into Target just now, and at my location at least they have copies of this release on the shelves 2 days early!

[kedavis]

I'll have to see the disc for myself, but on a YouTube review with both a b&W and color comparison screenshot, I preferred the Blu-ray shots. The 4K shots looked more blurry. Only when he zoomed in to the slippers did I see more detail on the 4K. Maybe it was an artifact of his camera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smol7-nabJs

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by kedavis

but on a YouTube review

Ignore YouTube reviews.

[bradnoyes]

There is a soft and diffuse look to the UHD but it sure isn't blurry. I'll leave it to the WoZ experts to provide more definitive statements on the transfer. As often is the case with these releases I just have to go with my gut, and amongst other things, my gut tells me this disc looks about right.

[MEB]

The 70th Anniversary Blu-ray transfer has a significant contrast boost. Such contrast boosts give an artificial appearance of sharpness. But when you look close you see that grain structure and noise are boosted too.

Based on screen captures that I've seen, the 4K version is, by far, the more natural looking transfer. Plenty sharp without looking fake.

Mark

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Knrsa333

Walked into Target just now, and at my location at least they have copies of this release on the shelves 2 days early!

were you able to purchase?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by flyry

were you able to purchase?

Every time I've seen a blu-ray that was put on the shelves before the street date at a BB/Target/Costco, a warning always came up when trying to pay for it - the system basically tells employees they aren't supposed to sell before street date. So there's no way they can sell it to you.

[Swissangel4616]

this might be a good example: any old movie can Looks very good so far the Studios taking care (remastering AND restoring Frame by Frame) .

[jaydecay]

i have the 70th anniversary edition but not the 75th. if i buy the 4K then do i need to hold onto both disc-1 and disc-2 from the 70th? or just disc-2? or keep both those discs and ditch the blu that comes with the 4k (which i believe is from the 75th?) Let me know, its all confusing, i don't like to have more than one edition on my shelf so i like to buy multi-disc cases and combine it all so i don't lose any special features. lemme know what to do, thanks (i don't care about the When The Lion Roars disc because I have the standalone DVD of that)