3.5/4  Follow the yellow brick road.
No film is taken more for granted than 'The Wizard of Oz'. As a Fantasy film, it probably ranks better than any other. As a musical, it probably ranks better than any other. As a family film, it probably ranks better than any other. Any wh... (read full)

1.5/4  We're Not In Kansas Anymore...Yeah Yeah Yeah
As amazing as this movie used to be at one point in the history of film, by today's standards, it really sucks. I appreciate it for its history and its innovations, but I can't watch it over and over again. In fact, when I was about 12, ... (read full)

4/4  Perfection
There are few motion pictures that have earned the right to be called, "perfect". The Wizard of Oz is one of them. It had the perfect cast, director, editor, and everyhting in between. This movie and everyone involved in it has been immort... (read full)

4/4  One of the Best Fantasy Movies.
The actors were completely believable for the most part. I know some people think they were a bit over the top. But I don't remember thinking that. Judy Garland, at least plays the part of Dorothy perfectly well (remember, I haven't read t... (read full)

2.5/4  There's no place like home
This is probably the film I have seen the most out of all the films in the world. Only I was three years old so I don't remember. I may have seen this film three times since then, though. From witty dialog to synching perfectly with The Da... (read full)

4/4  Lovely and charming masterpiece.
One of the best american movies ever, Wizard of Oz contains a timeless story, an acting that teaches, an unforgetable music and a direction that amazes. Technically spectacular for its time, it's a must see. Everytime you see it, it helps ... (read full)

3.5/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
A musical classic. It is a bit dated now, but still pretty awesome overall. Good songs and good for the whole family.

2/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
Far from being great. But, hey, at least it's colorful.

4/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
Probably the first truly great film that people are introduced to. The color is breathtaking. Everything about it is memorable, from the songs to the characters. And to think that this movie bombed when it was released in 1939.

4/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
Still the ABSOLUTE best movie of ALL time!! Great songs, great script, great scenery!

4/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
What can I say? This is a quintessential family classic. It has excellent music, great imagination, spectacular color and is guaranteed to entertain you no matter how many times you see it. A timeless film that will never lose its appeal.

4/4  The Wizard of Oz Quick Review
Great music, beautiful colors, great songs, a really good film for all ages. The mystery behind the film is also great. It is ageless.

3/5 product good, packaging busted
  by Bob Smith
all contents in packaging intact, and the box shipped in was also fine. The Green Display box that holds everything was broken at all four corners. It looked like it was on the bottom of a pallet and got bumped many times. The shipping box was fine which means it didn't happen in transit from location to my house, the distributor/shipper KNEW it was broken.

3/5 Back to the well again...
  by M. Larsen (BFE, IL United States)
Jeesh... How many times are they going to go back to the well? I thought the 2005 was the ultimate edition. So in 2009, it's the 70th year anniversary. Well, don't buy this one, there'll probably be a 75th and of course a 100th (and maybe an 80th, 85th, 90th, 95th as well).

I think I have 3 or 4 different sets on DVD now. I'm done with 'em. I don't think I watched the LAST two versions I bought.

If you don't own it, I suppose it's a great set. But how will you feel when they release another Ultimate set in 5 years? That's how I feel right now.

If you don't own it, I give it 5 stars. If you own the 3 disc set from 2005, I give it 1. Average is 3.

5/5 What is up with the release date??????
  by C. Oas (Highland, Mi USA)
I agree with reviewers questioning the release date... I have placed several pre-orders only to have them expire.....

5/5 A "Wonderful Wiz", Indeed
  by Zachary Koenig (Fergus Falls, MN)
After reading the novel "Wicked" (which I was thoroughly bored/disappointed with) and then picking up the book "The Making of Oz" (which I enjoyed immensely), the natural progression led me to sit down and watch the original "Wizard of Oz" film for the first time in 10 years or so. As people have likely been saying for 70 years now, I was transformed into a small child once again, inwardly dreading the exact second the Wicked Witch first comes on the screen in a big puff of smoke and singing along to each and every song/dance number.

Everyone knows the story...Dorothy Gale from Kansas "travels" to the magical city of Oz, where she meets such characters as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, while trying all the while just to get home. During her travels, she is tormented by the Wicked Witch of the East, as well as entering into a love/hate relationship with the Wizard himself.

What really strikes me, though, is how well this film has held up over time. With the possible exceptions of Casablanca and Gone With the Wind (and I believe an even stronger case for "Oz" can be made than either of those two), this film has charmed the hearts and minds of both children and adults alike for an incredibly long time. Just think of all the children's movies (e.g. Disney, Pixar, High School Musical) and television programs (e.g. Cartoons, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel) that have came and went over the years, yet children (like the younger sister I recently watched the film with) still watch with wonder as Dorothy opens that door into the wonderful world of Oz.

Thus, there really isn't anything bad that can be said about The Wizard of Oz. It is the consummate children's film, filled with incredible color, silly acting, and plenty of singing and dancing, while it still holds its appeal to all but the most crotchety of older folks, as the filmmaking was so well-constructed that it stands the test of time.

It is a long-held tradition that the film is shown once a year on network television, and I would recommend adhering to that "regime", even if you go the DVD route. Trust me, it will never get old.

5/5 Revisiting Oz Again (Release Date9/29/09) Numbered Collectible Packaging, Limited Time Rlease
  by Anne (Chattanooga, TN)
On September 29, 2009, Warner Home Video will release the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition of The Wizard of Oz on Blu-ray and DVD.

There will also be a dedicated official site for all Oz-related events and products: www.thewizardofoz.warnerbros.com

The colorful characters and unforgettable songs of Oz come alive as never before in this commemorative edition containing nearly four hours of all-new and never-before-available bonus features. The release comes housed in numbered collectible packaging, and will be available for a limited time only on DVD (4 discs) and Blu-ray (2 discs).

In order to bring all the visual splendor of The Wizard of Oz to the high-def world of Blu-ray, the film has been entirely remastered, with each of the original Technicolor camera negatives scanned using 8K resolution. Working in "full film Resolution," extreme care was taken to ensure that all of the image fidelity contained in the original negatives was properly captured for this new presentation. The sounds of Oz will come alive on Blu-ray utilizing the full audio spectrum capabilities available through Dolby TrueHD audio. The net result is one of unprecedented quality that is sure to make The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Edition a benchmark in the history of the Blu-ray format.

The following components are ALL-NEW and exclusive to the Ultimate Collector's Edition:

The Dreamer of Oz - which makes its long-awaited home video debut. Also remastered the occasion, this full-length motion picture was an NBC-TV special event in 1990 and thrilled critics and audiences as it told the back story of author L. Frank Baum, "the Royal Historian of Oz." John Ritter shines in the title role - the man who defied all odds to create the famous characters and stories. Annette O'Toole beautifully co-stars as his supportive wife, with Rue McClanahan as his challenging mother-in-law.

Victor Fleming, Master Craftsman - a new feature-length documentary produced specifically for this release about the Hollywood director who, in the same year, miraculously brought both Oz and Gone With the Wind to the screen.

Hollywood Celebrates Its Biggest Little Stars - a new featurette stars seven of the original "Munchkins of Oz" and tells the saga of the long journey, culminating in them receiving their own 2007 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Magic Cloak of Oz - the first release of the complete 1914 silent film, including lost footage never before included in a home video presentation of this feature (produced by Baum himself).

The Patchwork Girl of Oz - another 1914 Baum-produced, feature-length silent film, new to Warner Home Video.

The Wizard of Oz Sing-Along Track - here making its home entertainment debut.

Reproductions of Archival Material - extraordinary renderings of the original 1939 Oz campaign, exploitation, and press books. These materials constitute a Hollywood "holy grail" for Oz, Garland and motion picture fans alike and, for decades, have been among the most sought-after and impossible-to-find collectibles.

Behind The Curtain - a 52-page miniature coffee-table book, assembled by pre-eminent Oz historian John Fricke. Encompassing much previously unpublished material, the deluxe volume includes behind-the-scenes Oz photographs, studio memos and script pages for abandoned scenes and musical numbers.

Exclusive Wizard of Oz Watch - a collectible and numbered 70th anniversary watch, incorporating art from the film and enhanced with genuine crystals. Available nowhere else, this beautiful timepiece was created specially for this DVD edition.

And for the Blu-Ray Ultimate Collector's Edition, the original extended version of "If I Only Had a Brain" performed by Ray Bolger has been remastered in hi-definition especially for this release.

4-Disc DVD Ultimate Collector's Edition:
Includes 16 hours of enhanced content (4 of which are brand NEW)
Disc One:
* Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio (NEW)
* Sing-along Track (NEW)
* Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), Dona Massin (MGM choreographer), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, and Jerry Maren
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook
* Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
* We Haven't Really Met Properly
* Music and Effects Track
* Original Mono Track
Disc Two:
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic [1990 TV special]
* Memories of Oz [2001 TCM documentary]
* The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
* Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
* Harold Arlen's Home Movies
* Outtakes and Deleted Scenes
* It's a Twister! It's a Twister! The Tornado Tests
* Off to See the Wizard
* 3 Vault Shorts
* Audio Jukebox Selection
* Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo
* Good News of 1939 Radio Show
* 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
* Still Galleries
* Six Theatrical Trailers
Disc 3 & 4 are Exclusive to this edition
Disc Three:
* Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (NEW)
* L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
Celebrating Hollywood's Biggest Little Stars (NEW)
* The Dreamer of Oz [1990 TV special] (NEW)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
* The Wizard of Oz [1933]
Disc Four:
* His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz
* The Magic Cloak of Oz [1914] (NEW)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz [1914] (NEW)
* The Wizard of Oz [1925 feature]
* Collectible and numbered 70th Anniversary Wizard of Oz watch with genuine crystals
* Replica of the original film budget
* "Behind the Curtain" (a 52-page, coffee-table book)
* Reproduction of the original 1939 campaign book
* Bonus DIGITAL COPY (on the disc)

2-Disc Blu-ray Ultimate Collector's Edition:
Includes 16 hours of enhanced content (4 of which are brand NEW)
Disc One:
* Remastered feature with Dolby True HD 5.1 Audio (NEW)
* Sing-along Track (NEW)
* Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), Dona Massin (MGM choreographer), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, and Jerry Maren
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook
* Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
* We Haven't Really Met Properly
* Music and Effects Track
* Original Mono Track
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic [1990 TV special]
* Memories of Oz [2001 TCM documentary]
* The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
* Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
* Harold Arlen's Home Movies
* Outtakes and Deleted Scenes
* It's a Twister! It's a Twister! The Tornado Tests
* Off to See the Wizard
* 3 Vault Shorts
* Audio Jukebox Selection
* Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo
* Good News of 1939 Radio Show
* 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
* Still Galleries
* Six Theatrical Trailers
Disc 2 is Exclusive to this edition
Disc Two:
* Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (NEW)
* L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
* Celebrating Hollywood's Biggest Little Stars (NEW)
* The Dreamer of Oz [1990 TV special] (NEW)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
* The Wizard of Oz [1933]
* His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz
* The Magic Cloak of Oz [1914] (NEW)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz [1914] (NEW)
* The Wizard of Oz [1925 feature]
* Collectible and numbered 70th Anniversary Wizard of Oz watch with genuine crystals
* Replica of the original film budget
* "Behind the Curtain" (a 52-page, coffee-table book)
* Reproduction of the original 1939 campaign book
* Bonus DIGITAL COPY (on the disc)
* BD Collector's Exclusive: MGM: When The Lion Roars Documentary (not included on the DVD)
* Original extended version of "If I Only Had a Brain" performed by Ray Bolger (remastered in HD)

_________________________________________

Also available in 2-Disc DVD Special Edition or 1-Disc Blu-ray, both of which include the following:
* Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio [DVD] or Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Audio [Blu-ray] (NEW)
* Sing-along Track (NEW)
* Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), Dona Massin (MGM choreographer), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, and Jerry Maren
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook
* Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
* We Haven't Really Met Properly
* Music and Effects Track
* Original Mono Track
Disc Two:
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic [1990 TV special]
* Memories of Oz [2001 TCM documentary]
* The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
* Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
* Harold Arlen's Home Movies
* Outtakes and Deleted Scenes
* It's a Twister! It's a Twister! The Tornado Tests
* Off to See the Wizard
* 3 Vault Shorts
* Audio Jukebox Selection
* Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo
* Good News of 1939 Radio Show
* 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
* Still Galleries
* Six Theatrical Trailers

Film Synopsis:
When a nasty neighbor tries to have her dog put to sleep, Dorothy takes her dog Toto, to run away. A tornado appears and carries her to the magical land of oz. Wishing to return, she begins to travel to the city of Oz where a great wizard lives.

Adapted from L. Frank Baum's timeless children's tale about a Kansas girl's journey over the rainbow, THE WIZARD OF OZ opened at Grauman's Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including that of the "wonderful Wizard" himself. Dorothy was portrayed by a 4'11" sixteen year old girl who quickly earned her reputation as the world's greatest entertainer: the incomparable Judy Garland.

The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and captured two Oscars® -- Best Song (Over the Rainbow) and Best Original Score -- plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial release and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when M-G-M reissued the film in 1949 and 1955. The film made a new kind of history with its network television premiere in 1956 on CBS. Nearly 45 million people tuned in for this initial telecast, marking the beginning of an annual tradition. Ever since, The Wizard of Oz has been shown virtually annually on network (and then cable) television; its magical story and heartfelt performances have enabled it to grow from a perennial classic to its current status as a treasured icon of popular culture.