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1939 Classic 'Wizard of Oz' Set for IMAX 3D Re-Release This Year
by Alex Billington
June 3, 2013
Source: USA Today
We knew it would happen one day. They finally converted The Wizard of Oz to glorious, gimmicky 3D. But - why?! The official announcements comes from USA Today (via SlashFilm), where they reveal plans for a limited one-week IMAX 3D special engagement of the 1939 Oscar-winning technicolor musical classic. The film is getting a restoration for another Blu-Ray release and is the first high profile classic 3D upgrade, now being compared to color in Oz. "The sound was exceptional, the sharpness was exceptional, but it's the color that stands out. What they could do is truly amazing, maybe what people felt when they first saw it."
The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow, Bert Lahr as the Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Billie Burke as Glinda and Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch, will get its IMAX 3D re-release starting September 20th later this year. The musical will play in 400 IMAX theaters nationwide for one week before the 75th Anniversary Blu-Ray hits shelves after. Referring to the experience of seeing so much vibrant color on film at that time, IMAX CEO Greg Foster says, "that must have been an amazing experience to see it then, to be truly taken away to another world. That's what we'd like to do [with IMAX 3D]." Do we really need this? I love Wizard of Oz, but I'm not into this 3D trend. What about you?
12 Comments
1
I'm so happy.
OfficialJab on Jun 3, 2013
2
Interesting. Not sure how I feel about that. The consummate believer in protecting a cinematic treasure would usually be against something like this, but the movie geek side thinks it's f$&#ing cool!
Quanah on Jun 3, 2013
3
Don't care about 3D but I love the film and I'll definitely be watching it for the theatre experience!
Gary Wright on Jun 3, 2013
4
I for 1 do not care for regular 3D, but I find that IMAX 3D is better, because it is brighter, bigger, and overall better handled. I will defiantly see this because I was pleased with the Jurassic Park IMAX 3D conversion and to say I saw the Wizard of Oz and Oz the great and powerful in IMAX 3D.
My name is Khan on Jun 3, 2013
5
I feel like I kind of have to draw the line here and say fuck that. But on the other hand if any movie before 1960 should be made in 3D it's this one.
Jon Odishaw on Jun 3, 2013
7
so that makes both of you losers.
David Banner on Jun 4, 2013
8
Years ago I saw The Wizard of Oz on the big screen at a special presentation. All I can say is: don't pass this up! The cyclone scene on the big screen alone will be worth the price of admission.
Michael Wolff on Jun 4, 2013
9
Now I'm all for rereleasing Wizard of Oz, but is it really the kind of movie to see on an IMAX screen. When they rereleased Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park were rereleased, it made sense because they were visually striking action movies but I don't see why The Wizard of Oz would fit into the format.
Clocker910 on Jun 4, 2013
11
Cool, would like to check it out.
Marco on Jun 5, 2013
12
I'm not a fan of the 3D trend either - I think it only works with certain films, and this is gonna be one of them. Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite film and the recent Oz: The Great and Powerful was beautiful in 3D. With today's technology playing a big part in that, the original should be even better since they didn't have as much access to effects. (for example: the witch's arrival in munchkinland injured margaret hamilton while filming)
Alex on Jun 12, 2013
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