caligulathegod

I'm getting it, but damn. I already blew more than that on the Ultimate Oz laserdisc back in the day, then they put nearly all the material on DVD for less than $20, which I bought again, and again and again. It's really unfair to be exploited with a movie that they know I have to buy each upgrade. And, no, I can't just not buy it. It's the freaking Wizard of Oz. Probably the only movie I would ever spend the hundreds of dollars I've already spent on it, and will continue to. Oh well.

Drexl

But, you guys don't understand that MSRP is meaningless. After all, it's only $58.99 on Amazon!

Not only would I want a standard version, but I even wouldn't mind one with less extras for a cheaper price (like they did with the Matrix films). A commentary and documentary are nice, but I really don't need the silent films and a TV movie about L. Frank Baum. The last DVD release handled this well, with a cheaper (but still loaded) 2-disc set, and a 3-disc set available for those who wanted everything.

PerryD

It'll be interesting if the 2 other versions of Oz included are also in high-def or if they will be presented in 480p. Getting 3 movies for $50+ will make the price easier to swallow.

dx23

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/549...er-2009-a.html

discussed since February

obidawsn

I was excited about Wizard of Oz on Blu-ray until I saw that they were releasing a huge box set for it, making the price huge as well. But seeing the extras with this, my excitement is a little higher. I already had the DVD when they released the deluxe set, but I wanted it for the additional short films. I had heard about them before and jumped on the chance to get them. I was wondering if they were going to copy over those to the blu-ray release. Looks like it, plus more of them. They were probably the only special features I watched (other than the deleted scenes, but I can't remember if they were on my first DVD or not). I doubt they're in HD, though. Even though they may have been shot on film, the ones that were on the DVD were really rough. I also want to see the Dreamer of Oz made-for-TV movie. My wife told me about it one time and it sounded interesting (she called it the L. Frank Baum story, but I think she may have just been wrong about the title of it because clips of it on YouTube looks like what she was talking about). The price point is a little icky, though, but maybe I can find someone willing to give it as a Christmas gift (though I'll also probably be asking for Lost S5 at the same time as well as looking at the Gone with the Wind Blu-ray release that seems to be along the same lines as this, though Wizard of Oz is a higher priority for me). Now the ultimate feature, for me, would be to include Return to Oz, as I would like to have that as well, but since it is a Disney film, that's unlikely, and I doubt Disney will ever want to spend the money to give us a high quality release of it.

obidawsn

I was thinking the same thing, but I think it would be nice for each film to get their own separate thread. Now that there's an official announcement, I think it's a good of time as any for that to happen.

slimdude

Consumers who'll purchase Collectible Editions Blu-rays is only by personal preference. Manufacturers are not coercing the consumers to buy them, which is the reason why the regular edition will also be released.

dx23

They were separate at first but the mods here decided to merge them together.

kevin75

While yes, techinically manufacturers aren't forcing people to but the fancy collectible editions, in reality when it comes to movies like Casablanca that's been out for 7 months with no stand alone version in sight, if you want it on BR, then yes, they are forcing you to buy all of the other crap as well. While I love all three of these movies, Warners can go screw themselves, I'm not paying that much money for all of that other junk that I don't care about. I'll either wait for the standalone versions or until a REALLY good price hits.

Giles

even though "theatrical rereleasing" is a thing of the past, I wish Warner's would release these on the big screen (prior to the bluray releases) in actual 4K resolution and projected as such at theatre's with Sony 4K Digital Projectors.

obidawsn

I agree Joe and kevin. If we want the movie on Blu-ray, then we are being forced to buy the collector's set. Granted, we can decide to wait and hope that they will come out with a regular edition, but who knows how long that will be...if ever? They're putting these out there without a regular edition to get a little extra money from us knowing people will buy it because they want the movie when it comes out. My wife had to watch Casablanca for a project in one of her classes, and even though we have the DVD, I really wanted to see it on blu-ray, so we came close to spending the $41 that Amazon wanted because you can't get a regular version of it. We eventually kept putting it off until it was too late to get it in time, so we watched the DVD instead (luckily we did, as I then bought the HD DVD cheap and got in on the Red2Blu program, if it ever comes in).

But why merge them? Just because they are from the same studio? I only kind of understand it since they were both general rumors about WB releases that came out about the same time. But this is an official announcement, thus not making it a rumor, anymore. There should be separate threads for each title as the official announcements come in. Because even though I may be interested in both movies, someone else may not be, so why should they have to read through a bunch of posts about Gone with the Wind when they want to read about Wizard of Oz? I'm not trying to argue, just bringing up a valid point.

I remember seeing Gone with the Wind when it was re-released in 1998. It was nice to see it on the big screen. I missed out on the re-release of The Wizard of Oz, though . A girl I worked with wanted to go, so we were making plans to go and they never worked out. I would have loved to see that on the big screen. As for a digital projection of it, I doubt that will ever happen (at least for a long time), since digital theaters are very limited and can barely schedule all the 3D releases. I was pretty upset when I wanted to see Star Trek on a digital screen and they didn't have any matinees of it because they had Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D during the matinee times. I hate paying full price for a movie, so I gave in to the non-digital version. (Though before I walked into the theater my mom called me because a tornado had just went by where they live. So I got rainchecks so I could get home where they were babysitting our son and they could go check on their house. Luckily everything was OK with their house and I got to use the rainchecks for an evening showing of the digital screening.)

WMAangel

There IS NO "regular edition" being released....Warner has you by the short hairs: either buy the overpriced & oversized super deluxe box with extra junk a lot of people don't want or no high def Oz for you....

Look, I'd be willing to pay $30 for a nice 2-disc Blu-ray of Oz (in a regular size double disc Blu case) to make the wife happy....but there is no way I am paying double that for some giant packaging and extraneous useless bullshit! Warner is basically just walking away from what I am sure would be PILES of cash by only offering one overpriced option that I am willing to bet a lot of people will not purchase for the same reasons I have stated....

What's even crazier is that they are giving an option for standard DVD purchasers....way to try and push the new format there!

Jaymole

Another poor marketing decision by Warner, which is starting to become the norm rather than the exception lately....very sad.

Giles

phew! that'd rattle me, glad they were okay.

As for the planned digital conversion, both AMC and Regal have just announced and committed to the implementation of Sony 4K digital projectors throughout their entire chains and theatres nationally - alternate programming is key [i.e, Fathom events, Sony's Big Ticket] releasing all these 4K video transfers to a one-night event would be a more than ideal way for moviegoers to experience these films on the big screen. Warner's showed 'Blade Runner' in 4K at the Landmark (LA), Sony's presented the 4K restoration of 'Dr. Strangelove' also at the Landmark, why can't Warner's make such presentations more readily to theatres like the Landmark that have 4K DP systems. [would I want to buy the film on bluray?, yeah. Would I want to see the 4K restoration on a huge 50 foot screen? - hell, yeah]

GenPion

Let's face it. Warner Bros. just doesn't want to make any money on this Blu-ray release. That's clearly the case, as most of us won't buy it at such a ridiculous price.

Mr. Cinema

I think if catalog titles were selling really well, we'd have a standalone movie-only option. But since they're not, they're going to try and get as much as they can from those who will buy this regardless of price.

dx23

I agree, but this was a mod decision.

GenPion

No doubt. Unfortunately, they don't seem to realize that this is exactly the kind of title that needs a semi-affordable release for people to see this in stores and decide "I guess it's time I buy a Blu-ray player!". This is the kind of movie that will help sell the format to a wider variety of consumers.

Joe Molotov

If catalog titles were priced better, wouldn't they also sell better? I mean, I went into Best Buy yesterday and you've got Gran Torino and The International selling for $25.99, then you've got a minor catalog title with no promotion or fanfare like Predator 2 marked at $29.99, and then you've got a major catalog release like Woodstock marked at $49.99. Forget "Joe 6-Pack", even HD enthusiasts have a hard time plonking down that much money.

WMAangel

BINGO! We have a winner folks.....

Look at recent catalog reissues for Terminator 2 (which is actually a Blu double dip!) and Ghostbusters....these are available for $14.99 and have been in the top sellers at Amazon, not to mention reports of empty store shelves at BB for T2 on release day, even when that one was at $19.99....
What about A Bug's Life? Many people passed on it at $27.99, but then went racing to their local Toys R Us when they quietly put it on sale for only $19.99....
Catalog prices should be $20 maximum to entice consumers to upgrade if it is a straight port/carry over from the previous SE DVD....they could maybe justify a little more like $25 if they made an all new SE with a bunch of new features....I'm sorry, even though the new Oz Blu probably will look better than the previous DVD I have, it doesn't look $60 better!

NoirFan

Bah, first Casablanca, then Woodstock, and now these. WB are really starting to irk me by forcing us to shell out cash in a recession for these overpriced, trinket-laden sets. It's a really tacky way to operate, from a studio who had been among the classiest in the business.

TheJoker

I would love to just get an edition with all bonus features but without the book and the watch and those so called "collectibles".

Seeing as I have a $20 rewardzone card and a $20 giftcard though, I think I will justify my purchase from Bestbuy on this release.

JackBurton

As much as it pains me, I won't be picking up either of these (nor Casablanca) on Blu until they are released in regular editions - or if the price comes down drastically (even then, I'm not crazy about getting a big box of crap)

atlantamoi

Ditto. What a disappointment. I'm not the kind of person who cares about steelbook or figurines. I want a good looking movie in a regular box at a $15 or lower price. I realize Oz could command a little more, but I'm just not going to be a consumer of $50+ no matter how much I like it.

truelies

Ditto