The Wizard of Oz

Rating:
Summary: Botched DVD Presentation Of A Five Star Classic
Review: The ranting I've given is for the DVD, not the film which is five stars and one of the greatest of all time. If you've owned the previous DVD release of this film, and also have the magnificent "Ultimate Oz" laser disc set, I can guarantee you, you will be in for a disappointment with this new DVD release from Warners. The incredible deep color of the film's look in the "Ultimate Oz" set is shockingly gone from this transfer. Now instead of looking magical, Oz looks just....well, normal. John Fricke's wonderful audio commentary has been eliminated too (probably because it is technically licensed by MGM/UA video, which no longer owns the rights to the film), and while the rest of the supplements are duplicated there is one incredible goof that I can't believe no one else has caught on to before. For the "Jitterbug" deleted scene supplement Warners has erroneously used the stills/home movie segment and set them not to the finished song track (as laser disc supplement does) but instead to the choreography rehearsal track where we hear the flat monotone of Donna Massin standing in for Judy Garland with the rest of the cast to a piano track instead of the orchestrated version. It makes for a very unpleasant looking juxtaposition and left me feeling that I hadn't gained a thing with the DVD release. I plan on sticking to the laser disc set myself. And for a better picture that shows the magic of Oz as it *should* be seen snatch a copy of the out of print MGM DVD while you still can!

Rating:
Summary: There's No Place Like Home--And no film like Wizard Of Oz!
Review: Had Judy Garland never left us anything other than "The Wizard of Oz", we'd still be rich! -- The timeless story of Dorothy's visit to the magical Land of Oz has been a favorite with children and adults for generations. The immortal tune "Over The Rainbow" became Judy Garland's signature song. -- You are likely to have 'skipped along the yellow brick road' watching this film on TV. If you haven't yet seen the wide screen or DVD version, however, I highly recommend both!

Rating:
Summary: IT'S A CLASSIC- IT'LL NEVER DIE
Review: Can anyone die having never seeing this movie? I don't think so. This charming, always endearing, favorite film of millions is the personification of a classic masterpiece musical movie. Full of MGM jewels, and the most golden songbook ever heard in a movie, "The Wizard of Oz" is still magical and its blissful naivete is what makes it so wonderful to all age groups. The story of the little girl, Dorothy Gale, who went over the rainbow into the enchanting land of Oz, and her quest to get back home to Kansas. With the help of three new wonderful friends, a limber Scarecrow, a sentimental Tin Man, and a bumbling Lion, she makes her way to the Emerald City to find the one being who can help all of them - the wonderful Wizard of Oz... a better cast you'll never see in a film, the sparkling standout of course being, the wistful, wonderful Judy Garland. And never will you find a film with more memorable scenes: Garland's career-making "Over the Rainbow" sequence, the arrival in Munchkinland, the waltz down the Yellow Brick Road... all conspire to make perhaps the most memorable and most beloved motion picture of all time.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie will go on forever.Timeless
Review: How they made a movie in 1939 that still seems fresh today is a Classic.Judy Garland,Ray Bolger,Jack Haley,and Bert Lahr will be dancing down the yellow brick road forever. When I was a kid,I was so scared of the witch.I use to close my eyes everytime she apeared.Also,I was so bored when Bert Lahr sang,"If I was King of the Forest." Now,its my favorite part of the movie.He's fantastic,and I laugh everytime I see this part of the film. This movie wasn't even a hit when it came out in 1939,now its every Mothers baby siter when there trying to get a break from the everyday chore of taking care of there kids. The Wizard of OZ is part of all of our lives,and all of the lives to come after us.

Rating:
Summary: unforgettably pleasant
Review: I love this movie! The production values are excellent for it's day, EVERY charactor leaves it's a mark on you. The scene where Dorothy sings "Over The Rainbow" brings tears to my eyes even today. Judy Garland was by far the best choice for this role. The rest of the cast jell nicely as well. When Dorothy says goodbye to her friends it always brings a tear to my eye. There'll never be another "Wizard Of Oz!"

Rating:
Summary: A ten-star movie
Review: The first video I purchased for my new (!) VCR is my favorite movie of all time, The Wizard of Oz. The VHS version is delightful from beginning to end -- from the vivid colors of Oz to the wonderful behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film hosted by Angela Lansbury. I fondly remember waiting for that week in March when Oz would be shown on TV, and now I can watch it whenever I want (probably this weekend!).

Oz is the only film I can think of that qualifies as outstanding in every way. The score is unforgettable, the story is entertaining and moving, and the casting is perfect -- can you really imagine any other actors in those roles? I love Judy Garland's performance, but I think that the performances of her co-stars-- Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and Margaret Hamilton -- are simply amazing and too often underrated. Watching Oz as an adult has made appreciate how much talent each of these individuals brought to the film. Oz is one of those rare films that I find something new in every time I watch it (and for you Oz buffs, it's the Tin Man who releases the rope holding the Wizard's balloon, not the Scarecrow -- keep your eye on him in that scene!).

Give yourself a real treat and buy the remastered Oz in VHS or DVD. It's an investment that pays more each year, believe me.

Rating:
Summary: What Is There To Say!
Review: What can you say about "The Wizard of Oz"? It IS the finest, most cherished, and memorable film ever made. There is an incredible magic about the movie-it is absolutely spellbinding. The dimensions aren't flat, you can feel the movie-you are Dorothy Gale. It's incredible. In any format this is a fabulous movie-they could show it on the moon and I would go see it. The performances are irreplacable, all the characters are to die for. The sets are beautiful and "Over The Rainbow"...child pass me a tissue! This movie is a classic and deserves to be in everyone's hands-so do yourself a favor, treat yourself and buy this amazing movie!

Rating:
Summary: Didn't anybody else catch the deleted scene?
Review: Love the movie and this is a great version except for one thing, it's missing "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" from the castle scene after Dorothy "liquidates" her. What a tragedy.

Rating:
Summary: If you are new to DVDs, this should be your first purchase!
Review: Of the DVDs I own or have rented, this one is the most impressive. The special features are numerous and incredible. Who knew that Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tinman or that Ray Bolger had a wonderful dance scene that was deleted from the final cut of the movie? I especially enjoyed the interviews with the cast and the commentary on the other vintage movies that were also released in 1939 (if only we were so lucky to have as many outstanding movies to be released in one year as were released in 1939).

Besides the special features that make this DVD a must own, the sound and picture qualities are superior. Since I was old enough to remember, I watched The Wizard of Oz on TV every year. Now, I get to watch it with my daughter in all of its glory and splendor on DVD. Though the hallway to the Wizard doesn't seem nearly as long and the Wicked Witch is not quite as scary (as when I was a child), the magic of the movie remains. If you loved the movie as a child and you are looking for an exceptional quality DVD that your family will enjoy for years and years, you must buy this DVD! Recapture the magic of the first time you saw The Wizard of Oz by watching it on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Go somewhere over the rainbow and buy this film!
Review: When I first saw the movie when I was very young I was scared for various reasons, but once I was in my preteens, this movie was wonderful! The sound and picture were tons better than on the old rental VHS where I saw the first seventh of the movie, and the songs were billrant! The story is completly captavating, and the special effects stunned me when I really thought about them. Oh, and the ending, oh! If yov'e never seen the movie, the ending will suprise you the most! So go "somewhere over the rainbow" and find out how billrant this rerelease of the orginal OZ movie is!