6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 3.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
A prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that tells how the Wizard arrived in Oz became the ruler.
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach BraffAdventure | 100% |
Family | 98% |
Fantasy | 85% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (as download)
DVD copy
Mobile features
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
News that The Wizard of Oz would be receiving a prequel -- from Disney no less, and without carte blanche access to all the elements from the original MGM classic -- was greeted with equal parts curious excitement and curious indignation. The announcement that Oz the Great and Powerful would be directed by practical effects master Sam Raimi and might just star Hollywood's current most valuable A-lister, Robert Downey, Jr., offered Oz travelers more hope, but only for a time. Downey, Jr. soon declined the role of the titular wizard, and Johnny Depp followed suit. James Franco eventually earned leading man status, having previously worked with Raimi on the director's Spider-Man trilogy, but Franco's casting didn't inspire much confidence. The film's subsequent theatrical trailers didn't help, no thanks to a glaring CG sheen and skewed design sense many criticized for being more akin to Alice in Wonderland than The Wizard of Oz. Curiosity obviously remained high for the duration -- the prequel grossed $220 million in the U.S. and $490 million worldwide -- but audiences and critics seem to agree: for all its grand fantasy-scapes and grander ideas, Oz the Great and Powerful lacks true intelligence, heart and courage.
Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer is a sight unto itself. Opening with a cramped, window-boxed 1.33:1 presentation, the film soon expands outward to 2.40:1, suddenly flooding with rich hues, lovely fleshtones and crackling primary power. Color and contrast remain vibrant and consistent from that point forward, backed by piercing reds, dazzling yellows, lush greens, brilliant blues and beautifully deep, at-times ominous blacks. Detail is impeccable throughout too, regardless of whether color graces the screen. Edge definition is crisp and thankfully clean (without any significant ringing to point to), textures are both wonderfully resolved and natural, and delineation is as revealing as Raimi allows at any given moment. There's a hint of minor crush and intermittent noise present in the film's darkest scenes -- among them Oscar's first encounter with Glinda -- and a few flushed faces along the way, but none of it is very noticeable, much less distracting. Macroblocking, aliasing, banding and other unwelcome flying monkeys are held at bay, and the film's CG, though rendered more problematic by such exacting clarity, pops just as it should, granting even the 2D image a notable 3D quality.
Oz the Great and Powerful exerts tremendous power by way of an energetic and enveloping DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. However, Disney has settled on a single "Near Field" mix, optimized for smaller listening environments rather than larger home theaters; something the studio does quite often, this simply being the first time the menus have labeled a near-field mix so clearly. Fortunately, a very small number of listeners (I'd estimate less than 1%) will actually be affected, as the soundstage hasn't been narrowed in any way perceivable outside of a very large, open environment. Two 7.1 mixes would, of course, be more ideal -- one near-field, one not -- but, again, the words "near field" will raise far more questions than the track itself will cause any real pause or concern. Dialogue is crystal clear, intuitively grounded and perfectly prioritized throughout, effects are bright and involving, and dynamics are outstanding. Rear speaker activity is full of transparent awe and directional wonder, creating a bountiful, bustling soundfield as immersive as it is engaging. LFE output, meanwhile, arrives with terrific fanfare, bolstering every element that requires its support or has need of its strength. All told, the mix is more magical than the film it accompanies, and goes a long way toward making Oz a more alluring and frightening land than it might be otherwise.
Oz the Great and Powerful never ascends to the heights of The Wizard of Oz, and certainly won't ever be hailed a timeless classic. Comparisons almost seem unfair. And yet that's precisely the comparison that haunts the production. Nothing quite clicks into place -- the script, the cast, the visual effects -- and there's more Alice in Oz than anything more substantial or magical. Still, Raimi eventually finds his footing and the film, for better or worse, hits a decent stride and finishes poised for a sequel. Disney's Blu-ray release is far more consistent and satisfying, though, with an excellent video transfer, a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track and a solid selection of supplements. Oz isn't the great and powerful prequel it could be, but its Blu-ray debut is a formidable powerhouse.
2013
2013
Disney Movie Rewards Exclusive / Disc Only
2013
2013
2014
2018
2010
80th Anniversary Edition
1939
2019
2016
2016
2018
2010
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
Collector's Edition
2012
2008
2015
2008
2015
2010
2013
2016
2007
2016