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The Wiz (30th Anniversary Edition w/ Bonus CD) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Nipsey Russell, Claude Brooks
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $13.12
You Save: $6.86 (34%)
New (41) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $11.02
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 2375
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 135
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD61100348D
UPC: 025195002844
EAN: 0025195002844
ASIN: B000XUOLNO
Theatrical Release Date: 1978
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New! Factory Sealed! US Retail DVD! Customer service is our #1 priority. Thank you for choosing MediaThrill.
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Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/12/2008 Run time: 135 minutes Rating: G
Amazon.com
Directed by Sidney Lumet (Serpico) and penned by Joel Schumacher (Batman and Robin), this lavish 1978 adaptation of the Broadway hit The Wiz was the biggest production filmed in New York City up to that point, utilizing the newly revamped Astoria Studios and locations around the city. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross (reprising his Tony-winning role as the Lion) star in this Academy Award-nominated musical for the whole family. The Wiz is probably the grandest take on L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz. The production team created sets with a sense of urban magic and spectacle: a New York subway station literally comes to life, and the massive plaza between the World Trade Center towers is transformed into the Emerald City, featuring nearly 400 dancers with three costume changes. Like all good musicals, the Quincy Jones arrangements are highly hummable long after viewing (especially the funky "Ease On Down the Road" and the inspirational "Brand New Day"). In an era before MTV, the camera stays nearly stationary as Ross and Lena Horne vocally soar through their numbers. Their stage-like performances successfully make the leap to film, making The Wiz a testament to their singing talents and star presence. The then-thirtysomething Ross raised some eyebrows playing the traditionally teenaged Dorothy, but she and her supporting cast (including Richard Pryor as the Wiz) carry the tunes with an infectious verve that will appeal to folks of all ages. --Shannon Gee
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
OZ 101 December 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
OZ 101.
There is a book that you may not have ever heard of. It is entitled THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, by L. [Lyman] Frank Baum. It was first published in 1900 and is the first significant American fairy tale. After the spectacular success of the 1903 Broadway musical version which ran for the better part of a decade, the title of the book was shortened to THE WIZARD OF OZ.
So great was this book's success, and such a landmark in American children's literature, that L. Frank Baum went on to write an entire series of Oz Books, totalling 14, along with a dozen or so other borderline-related fantasies (notably QUEEN ZIXI OF IX), ending in 1919. The first two of these (THE MARVELOUS LAND OF OZ/THE LAND OF OZ [1914] and OZMA OF OZ [1907] are the equal of the first and most famous Oz Book. Baum developed his American fairyland far beyond the boundaries of the story familiar to us from the classic 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland, which itself is a loose adaptation. Although the film version of THE WIZ reflects elements of the MGM movie, both stage and screen versions are primarily based on Baum's original book.
The official Oz series became such a beloved tradition that it was continued after Baum's death by five other writers, notably Ruth Plumly Thompson and Eloise McGraw, to a total of 40 titles, concluding with MERRY GO ROUND IN OZ in 1963. There have been over 100 semi-official or unofficial additions to the venerable series as well.
For those parroting the notion that Diana Ross was "too old to play Dorothy", let me point out that although Baum does not specify the character's precise age, internal textual evidence in the book and its sequels suggest that she was six-to-eight years old at the time of THE WIZARD OF OZ. The 1903 Broadway extravaganza, then the best-known version to the general public, presented Dorothy as a young woman with a romance. (There were no Cowardly Lion or Wicked Witch, and Toto was replaced by a cow named Imogene, but nobody minded.) The classic MGM film's Dorothy is a young teenager, although Judy Garland turned seventeen during filming. Diana Ross was hardly "too old" to play a role which, for that production of THE WIZ, was conceived and written as an adult.
For further information the following internet websites are highly recommended:
The International Wizard of Oz Club, Inc., was begun in 1957 and has celebrated its 50th anniversary. They have an informative internet website where initiates can get some information and education:
[...]
As always, the Wikipedia online encyclopedia is a peerless resource:
[...]
The entire text (without the delightful illustrations) of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and all of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, along with others of his many fantasies, are available free and online (for reading or print-out) at the ... site:
[...]
 Awsome November 23, 2008
This was one of my favorite childhood movies and it was absolutly great to watch. The picture was beautiful and my package came on time.
Old Oz on New DVD October 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I know I've already reviewed the old DVD, but I would like to have a good read for the Anniversary (even though I'm late for it).
If you've read my old review, you'll notice that I like this movie, even though I agree there could have been some improvements.
"The Wiz" movie was released into cinemas on October 24 1978, so now the film IS over 30 years old.
This New DVD, with a great new cover AND SHINY Slipcase - better than the one I designed in a letter to Universal mentioned in the old review - is both a great gift, and a slight disappointment:
GREAT: As said before the Picture and Sound have been Restored, so that you can see the shots and hear soundtrack more clearly - until now I never even noticed Dorothy/Diana removing her ear-rings upon deciding to kill Evilene! - and the colours certainly do appear CLEANER. You'd be surprised at how much better this new picture is compared to before!
DISAPPOINTMENT: I was hoping to see a slightly wider and longer version of the picture, but close comparison and attention have shown that the image is slightly zoomed in - look at the edges (sides and top/bottom) in the wide shot of Dorothy in her Emerald City Motel room for example, and you'll notice a bit missing. And when we see Dorothy and Toto being transported across the screen from New York to Oz, that is the one time it looks more-or-less the same as the old DVD (despite better detail and cleaner picture).
And as Diana finishes singing "I wish I was . . . " in 'Soon As I Get Home', I noticed how her lips mouth 'home'; Unfortunately, it seems she didn't say 'home' and that moment remains unspoken even in restoration.
Again the Chapter List stays the same: 20 scenes for the opening title, each song and end credits - but here they are presented by 4 screenshots instead of 3 like before.
The Menus, though quiet and simple, do have a bit of animation and Much more Colour to them. MAIN reuses the front cover characters (but rearranged, words appearing in afterwards), while SPECIAL and SET-UP use the back cover movie moments. Again, great English specific subtitles, audio selections are English 5.1 in Dolby and dts, with French 2.0 and subtitles.
When "PLAY" activated, there is a (unavoidable to skip or speed-up) new classification screen and the Universal Logo. When you do see the movie's (old) Universal opening with the Wiz music, you'll be surprised at how well the restoration shows! Unlike last time, there is no 'Universal on DVD' video-promo, and the menu comes up before the movie allowing you to choose what to do first.
Special Features are once again the Trailer and Making-of "Wiz on Down the Road", and unfortunately that's it. Still, they are fun to watch and hear.
Another disk with MORE Special Features (Galleries, music videos, trivia-facts using the old DVD notes, interviews, LOTS of things on the Original Broadway, etc.) would definitely have been welcome and made this DVD a better winner, but . . .
The only other bonus is an 8-track '30th Anniversary Edition Music CD' (inside DVD-case, unattached to anything with own slip-cover) with movie songs "He's the Wiz" by Thelma Carpenter, "You Can't Win" Michael Jackson, "Ease on Down the Road" Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, "Slide Some Oil to Me" Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross' "Mean Ole Lion", Emerald City, the Winkies' "Brand New Day" and "Home" with Diana Ross - some of which are fun and great to listen to.
The front cover of the characters (except Diana, of course) are from/can be seen in "the Wiz Scrapbook", and the Back cover of the DVD and slipcase are the same, except for the area with the barcode and an oval-like shape above the 'Special Features'.
Picture and Sound have been Restored Superbly (despite slight zoom in), and although the Special Features are a downgraded repeat (and slight overstatement) these are still fun videos to watch.
Once again, a very enjoyable DVD for a could-have-been-better movie, a "bad" movie which is still FAR BETTER than that of the 1976 Australian horrified modern-day "OZ (A Rock 'N' Roll Road Movie)" version, terribly unsuitable for children and families!!
Checking out this 30th Anniversary DVD is worth it, for the quality picture and sound, and simply good menus.
Look and . . . See a . . . Brand New Film!
"The Return of a late 70's Classic" October 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are a fan of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Disco Music and Broadway Musicals, then this a must-see film.
Based on the 1975 Broadway show and filmed entirely on location in New York City back in 1977, the film was released in 1978 to mixed reviews. Even though it was not a box-office smash, this film has become somewhat of a cult-classic over the years to millions.
The Quincy Jones-produced score still sounds as fresh today as it did 30 years ago, and the visual effects were way ahead of their time when this film was made.
The film's "Emerald City Sequence" musical number, which featured most of the main cast and hundreds of dancers, was shot in the plaza between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Like so many films that were shot over the years on or near the now "Ground Zero" site in Lower Manhattan, prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, this film may bring back memories of that fateful day. But at the same time it should also be a reminder of how much more at peace the world seemed to be all those years ago.
I have always enjoyed watching this film over the years, but like so many films that we have come to love, that were filmed on that site prior to 9/11, it is sad that even our culture in movies has been tarnished by the events of 9/11 as well.
Simply the Best! July 30, 2008
This is one of the best musicals ever made. I don't care what anyone says. Forget "The Sound of Music". Quincy Jones creates a true masterpiece with the sound track as well. And the acting is very good. I would have rather seen Stephanie Mills but you know the politics of the industry.
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