Rare is the occasion where the week biggest release isn't a new blockbuster but rather a septuagenarian, but that's the case this time as a young girl from Kanas eclipses anything New Hollywood has to throw at us. This is your DVD Report for Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
Since the advent of Blu-ray, studios have casually mined their catalogues for suitable re-releases, and while the results have often been notable, they're usually nothing to stop the presses over. But every once in a while, that little extra effort is made that blows something out of the water and we get something like MGM's timeless "The Wizard of Oz," which breezes into its 70th birthday with one of the best Blu-ray collections of all time.
Presented in a large hardbound rectangular case, the 70th Anniversary Edition of "Oz" comes as a three-disc Blu-ray set featuring a whopping 20+ hours of bonus content, and is highlighted by a completely remastered audio and video package that transports the 1939 fairy-tale into the high-def realm. The musical classic has never looked or sounded better; the film pioneered the use of color and that achievement is heralded in this release with unparalleled ease. Read more...
This week, fans get to celebrate almost a century of "The Wizard of Oz" with a 70th Anniversary DVD/Blu-ray release of the 1939 film. It's fitting then that we have some exclusive new information to share with you on the screen adaptation of Todd McFarlane's "The Twisted Land of Oz" toy line.
MTV Splash Page editor Rick Marshall spoke to the man himself recently, and he was more than happy to delve into the project's genesis, some basic story elements and what the future holds. There's new stuff in here, things you haven't heard yet. The short version: this ain't your granddaddy's "Wizard of Oz." "Spawn" creator McFarlane has some dark ideas kicking around in his head, and they mesh very well with the inherently creepy qualities of "Oz." Read more...
In the first "Wizard of Oz" movie, Dorothy sure wasn't in Kansas anymore -- but in Todd McFarlane's proposed reimagining of the franchise, it's unclear if Dorothy is even in Oz anymore.
Based on his "Twisted Land of Oz" action figure line, McFarlane's upcoming "Wizard of Oz" film promises a lot more mayhem and mischief than a winged monkey could ever muster, and you don't have to take McFarlane's word for it -- the action figures themselves speak volumes about this dark and dangerous new Oz.
Given the horrifying look of the toys, it's tough to imagine who could play these mangled versions of L. Frank Baum's classic characters -- but that's not stopping me from trying! After the jump, check out the five actors that I'd like to see in McFarlane's new "Oz" film. Read more...
There's a rumor on the street that "New Moon" actress Dakota Fanning is slipping on Dorothy Gale's ruby red slippers for a twisted take on "The Wizard of Oz," based on a line of action figures from "Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane -- but the toymaker himself has heard nothing of the sort.
While McFarlane verified that such a film is in development, he told Empirethat he's completely unfamiliar with the rumors of Fanning starring in the movie, though he's not necessarily against the idea. Read more...
I totally dropped the ball yesterday on eBay Prop-Watch. With Michael Jackson's memorial service playing in the background and all sorts of cool happenings on the MTV blog network, it just kinda got away from me. I'm back today, and with a pair of cool items to make up for my absence.
On the blog yesterday I ran a small photo gallery featuring stills from Sidney Lumet's silver screen adaptation of the Broadway musical "The Wiz." The story is an urbanized reimagining of L. Frank Baum's classic book "The Wizard of Oz," which most know for Victor Fleming's 1939 Judy Garland-led movie. In a weird "six degrees of separation" twist, the two eBay items I stumbled across this morning both come from that earlier film. Read more...
