Is this Blu-Ray release worth adding to your collection? Find out in our review!
The Blu-Ray transfer of the film looks incredible. From the very moment you enter Oz, the bright colors and stunning visuals leap off of the screen. The set designs are great with the best being the Emerald City of Oz. The colors on the Blu-Ray are vibrant and show no signs of shadowing or dullness. The visuals look great until Oz enters The Dark Forest. The forest is so dark that it causes the heroes to look unnatural in the setting. The blacks are overpowering and when compared to the stars on screen, the action in the scene seems fake. Also, the forest is the location to one of the worst shots I have ever scene in a movie. When Glenda, Oz, Finley, and China Girl are running from the Flying Monkeys, it is obvious that it was done in front of a green screen with the actors running in place. The visuals also disappoint whenever Oz is holding China Girl. Even though they used a puppet while shooting to give the actors a point of reference, the position of the hands was never correct while holding China Girl. This may be a small misstep to some, but it took me out of the movie.
The stars of the film.
The special features on the Blu-Ray are good, but not great. Most of the features focus on the visual effects of the film. While it would have been nice to have a feature focusing on the history of Oz, the film is positioned as a prequel to the series and a potential franchise, so that feature may have been out of place. The standouts in the special features are Mila’s Metamorphosis and China Girl and the Suspension of Disbelief. In Mila’s Metamorphosis, you see the actress going through her transformation into the Wicked Witch. This is nothing new, yet seeing application process she had to endure for the film, as well as the original designs about the character, allow you to appreciate both her performance and her as an actress that much more. Once again, it is China Girl’s feature that stills the show.
A truly iconic visual.
