Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Wizard of Oz blu-ray @ Target

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Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 09-29-2009, 08:56 AM:

Since I have this in my hands I thought I'd confirm for those of you trying to make a buying decision that the "Emerald Edition" available today at Target does in fact have the "When the Lion Roars" documentary DVD in addition to the two blu-ray discs. This is as Claude's contact at his local Target store had stated. It is in the standard Amaray-type blu-ray package with a cardboard slipcase.

Note that I had to go to two stores to find it. The first, obviously, had none and the second had only five pieces. If you want it in this configuration (and at a price of $34.99) you might want to pick it up ASAP. Store #2 held it for me until I arrived.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 09-29-2009, 02:40 PM:

The Target store I go to at Kapolei Hawaii opens at 8:00 in the morning and when I got there an half hour later today, there were only four copies of THE WIZARD OF OZ in Blu Ray left on the shelf. I do not know if the store have more copies in a back room but if that was all they have, I feel for those who could not get there until they get off from work this afternoon because the remaining copies should be sold out by that time.

In addition to the three disc set Joe and I bought, my Target store had three copies of the deluxe edition in Blu Ray and there was no way I would have bought that because of the huge clumsy box that houses the set of discs and other material and cost $20.00 more. Warner has been releasing all of their special deluxe set this way lately and I do not like them al all. I thought the special packaging for CASABLANCA and THE NOTEBOOK were fine as well as the discs that comes in a digipac book package. THE WIZARD OF OZ is in a nice package that includes a standard BD case holding the three discs and housed in a very nice and thick slip case like the kind Fox uses for many of their classic films on DVD. Tonight cannot come fast enough when I will watch it as soon as I am finished with my dinner.

-Claude

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 09-29-2009, 06:31 PM:

So the Target version has an additional documentary on DVD in addition to the blu ray, right? Do any of the other versions (best buy, etc) have something different?

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 09-30-2009, 01:49 PM:

Mike - The Target exclusive included the MGM Documentary DVD that is also in the UCE box. The larger boxed set also has a digital copy of the movie. I am not aware of any other retailers having additional video content.

Claude - the boxed set does have a digi-pak inside to house the discs. Would have been nice had they used a real Amaray blu-ray case. In any case I am very pleased with the "Target Edition".

BTW - it is gorgeous to look at. I don't think anyone on this forum will be disappointed by this disc. It delivers on every level.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 09-30-2009, 07:32 PM:

Joe,

Yes, THE WIZARD OF OZ was gorgeous in Blu Ray and they finally got it right in my opinion. I found the color image lacking in all of the previous video versions of the movie including the VHS, laserdiscs and the DVD. They made a very big deal about the image quality of the DVD that was released about five years ago when Warner said the color was the closest it will ever be to the original three strip Technicolor. From the experience I had watching three strip Technicolor movies early in my life, I remembered what Technicolor should look like and the DVD of TWOO was good but not good enough.

I am sure all of the Target stores does not have any more of the three disc set but I saw the Honolulu Walmart store at Ala Moana had a lot of the single edition disc edition on their shelf today. If I was not able to buy the Target three disc, I probably would have bought the single disc from Walmart because there was no way I would have paid over fifty dollars for the special edition. I understand the special edition of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFF will be even more pricier with a price tag over two hundred dollars.

-Claude

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-30-2009, 08:47 PM:

Ummm, did you say the "Emerald Edition"?

Lame.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 10-02-2009, 02:03 PM:

Yes Brad - that's what it says on the package. I wonder what the single-disc BR version at Best Buy is called? The "Poppy Field Edition" perhaps?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-04-2009, 04:20 PM:

Got mine today... last one they had in stock. Looks much better than ANY film version I've seen or run of it including I.B. prints!! I was surprised at how grainy it is... I don't remember any film prints being this grainy but perhaps they were... Also, perfect YCM registration!!!

Mark

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-05-2009, 11:16 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
Ummm, did you say the "Emerald Edition"?

Lame.

That's better than a lot of the other cutesy names they assign to special edition. I have the "Holy Schnike! Edition" of Tommy Boy, the "Double Secret Probation Edition" of Animal House, the "Lockdown Edition" of the original Longest Yard, the "Don't Call Me Shirley" edition of Airplane, etc.

Posted by Scott Jentsch (Member # 1681) on 10-05-2009, 11:50 AM:

I rented it from Netflix and I agree that it looks very good!

While it's good to see the Target and WalMart-specific choices available, I question the logic of not making the choice available everywhere. Perhaps Target and WM paid handsomely for the ability to offer less expensive choices, but doing it this way makes it difficult for the average person to make the purchase.

Enthusiasts are going to know about these options, but how many people picked up on the fact that there was a movie-only choice out there? Selling the $50+ box set is great for absolute fans of the movie, but I would imagine that there are plenty of casual fans that just want the movie and some extras, without the extra fluff, like a watch. That stuff just ends up getting tossed or shoved in a closet for a vast majority of people.

Produce a standard version (either Target's or WalMart's) and the big gift set and let the market choose, I say.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 10-05-2009, 09:52 PM:

HA! Wal-Mart here didn't even have the movie... but Target located right across the street did.

Mark