by Sam Juliano
Last night’s high definition screenings of the beloved classic The Wizard of Oz in over 400 theatres nationwide leaves one questioning if they were really privileged to be part of this 70th anniversary celebration, in spite of reported sell-outs in nearly every location showcasing the enhanced print. With a flat rate of $10 a ticket, including for even the youngest kids, the price point is comparable to what moviegoers are being asked to cough up for the recent spate of 3D versions of summer fare, much of which hasn’t measured up to the hype.
The 10:00 P. M. screening last night at the AMC multiplex in Clifton, New Jersey featured a print no better than any DVD of the film that has been released to date, and particularly disappointing sepia tone bookend sequences that failed to bring out the ‘sharp detail’ that was promised by distributors. While the larger image is of course a special treat for fans, it accomplished nothing by way of compositional enhancement or color saturation, two factors that motivated many to attend in the first place. True, the audio mix was lively, and the most minute orchestral cues were decipherable, but it’s a glass half-full. With this kind of shoddy execution, one can’t help but question the build-up and the motivation behind this aggressive promotion of a film that needs little publicity or marketing. (more…)