New on Blu: ‘The Wizard of Oz’ & more
Undeniably this week’s most noteworthy high-def title is not a recent blockbuster, but the 70-year-old classic, The Wizard of Oz, available today in an elaborate “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray priced at $84.99 (SRP). DVD Beaver writes, “Admittedly the non-digital supplements are pure class — a great booklet, vintage reproduction photos … all in a whopping big case,” but “do we all need the wristwatch?” For those who don’t, a standard, 3-disc Blu-ray package is available exclusively at Target for $34.99. (Bridging the gap for those on the fence, Amazon has the collector’s box for $51.99 as of this writing.) Update: There are also reports of a $19.99 Walmart exclusive Blu-ray edition that includes the 1st disc of the other editions. Hat-tip to Shivvy for this info. I expect the film to look incredible on Blu. DVD Talk calls the picture quality “breathtaking,” and writes: “I suspect that this is the best the film has ever looked.” The set is also packed with extra features.
Summit Entertainment continues its tradition of experimental home video strategies with the rental-only release of Rian Johnson’s hilarious and inventive The Brothers Bloom. Although it won’t be available for sale in the U.S. until some time next year, Amazon.ca has the Canadian-issue DVD and Blu-ray available now, and — barring any unexpected circumstances — both should play in any American DVD or Blu-ray player, respectively.
Also on Blu-ray this week are two Jim Henson films: Of The Dark Crystal, High-Def Digest says, “there’s no contest when it comes to comparing this with the standard DVD.” Looking at the screenshot comparisons, you can see the drastic difference in presentation compared to the previous DVDs, particularly when it comes to the colors. Though I’ve only seen the film once (and on DVD), the Blu-ray looks much more natural to my eye.
Labyrinth is the other Henson title to make its high-def debut. The Blu-ray presentation here does appear to be framed more tightly than the preceding DVDs, but this may be a more accurate reflection of the theatrical experience. DVD Talk writes that the disc is “consistently clean, crisp, and brimming with fine detail.”
Other notable titles?
One of my three favorite films so far this year, Away We Go, directed by Sam Mendes and starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. (You can read my review of Away We Go.)
Another Target exclusive: Joe Dante’s retro classic Gremlins, which has not been announced for a wide release on Blu-ray beyond its availability at the superstore.
The mega-hit Monsters vs. Aliens is released in a 2D-only Blu-ray edition. (3D glasses are included for a couple of supplements, including a short, that can be viewed in either format.)
The controversial cult classic Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which will show at the Columbus horror marathon later this month, is released on Blu-ray by Dark Sky. Three more genre catalog titles are also available today: Billy Jack, Snakes on a Plane and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake.
Two recent indies: Steven Soderbergh’s intriguing but distant film, The Girlfriend Experience, starring porn queen Sasha Gray, and Management, starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn. Both appear day-and-date with their DVD releases.
Finally, a pair of TV releases: How I Met Your Mother: Season 4 and The Unit: Season 4. Both shows are appearing on Blu-ray for the first time.
Don’t forget: Sir Critic has his weekly roundup of this week’s DVD releases.
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