UHD Review The Wiz UHD/Blu-ray Combo Review (2 Viewers)

[Matt Hough]

Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz is misguided almost from the get-go with central miscasting, a lumbering pace, and a new concept that only works in fits and starts.



The Wiz (1978)



Released: 24 Oct 1978
Rated: G
Runtime: 134 min




Director: Sidney Lumet
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy



Cast: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell
Writer(s): L. Frank Baum, William F. Brown, Joel Schumacher



Plot: When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy is miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz, she goes in search of the Wiz, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan, along with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowar...



IMDB rating: 5.5
MetaScore: 53





Disc Information



Studio: Universal
Distributed By:...

Continue reading...

 

[Konstantinos]

Thanks for the review. Would it be possible to address the subject of 2 dialogue lines that maybe are missing? See here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23143172&postcount=122

 

[Matt Hough]

Thanks for the review. Would it be possible to address the subject of 2 dialogue lines that maybe are missing? See here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23143172&postcount=122

I don't remember those lines to be honest, so they may in fact not be there, nor do I remember Dorothy saying "Home" before singing. But I'll have to wait a few days before checking. I'm kind of Wizzed out after working on it for two days, and I have another review I must start the process on.

 

[DarkVader]

Thanks for the review. Would it be possible to address the subject of 2 dialogue lines that maybe are missing? See here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23143172&postcount=122

Confirming that the dialogue in question is missing.

 

[Konstantinos]

Confirming that the dialogue in question is missing.

What a bummer!

 

[Ethan Riley]

Confirming that the dialogue in question is missing.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Matt, you absolutely nailed my thoughts on this film; a lot of squandered potential here to satisfy Miss Ross' ego.

 

[tenia]

Thanks for the review. Would it be possible to address the subject of 2 dialogue lines that maybe are missing? See here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23143172&postcount=122

There seemingly are other sound issues with the new Atmos track : https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23232276&postcount=147

It's quite a shame that this and Sugarland Express were the 2 projects marketed as the big on-going Universal projects during a Cassandra Moore's master-class, and one ended up being an AI-upscale mess, and the other one a musical with sound errors in the soundtrack. Oh well.

 

[Konstantinos]

Pity!
And I so wanted to buy this.
Now, I am not sure I will...

 

[Konstantinos]

Does anyone think this could be released in Europe with original audio included?
I'm on the fence about it. I have it in my amazon basket, but those missing lines (and added effects that I've read elsewhere) are too much for my purist self!

 

[tenia]

I suppose the issues were created during the creation of the Atmos track. I doubt this will be fixed, but maybe Universal will do it, and they're the only ones who can.
What other releases can do is sourcing other tracks than just the Atmos one, but since Criterion only included it, maybe Universal contractually makes it so.

 

[Konstantinos]

I doubt this will be fixed

Yeah, I don't care if they fix it or not. I'm not Atmos capable anyway.
I just want the original audio included, or the previous blu-ray's audio at least, which was without these problems.

maybe Universal contractually makes it so.

I hope not!

 

[John Dirk]

It's been a long time since I've watched this one and that's mostly because of the lackluster audio/video quality of the currently available options. Hearing this has been [to the extent possible] addressed renews my interest.

For me, "The Wiz" lives in a special place. Just like The [original] Blues Brothers and the Cannonball films, on paper and initial [box office] merit, they all disappoint. But in my mind they're classics I can't do without. The Wiz represented a time when the films [mostly Motown artists] stars were young, vibrant and able to offer their best. The fact this was even pulled together is enough for me.

I think you summed it up perfectly with this line.

Fans of the movie will enjoy hearing the film wildly celebrated, but this isn’t objective film analysis.

I'm a fan and can't wait.

 

[Robert Saccone]

I ordered this from B&Nks Criterion Sale. I haven’t seen it since I was a kid. Looking forward to it. If someone learns of a replacement fix is made available please post details.

 

[Brian Kidd]

Aside from the minor audio gaffes, I thought it looked and sounded tremendous on 4K disc. One of my lifelong favorite films. If you didn't like it then, you won't like it now. If you're a fan, though, it is so worth getting. I do wish there were more substantial supplements, though.

 

[Konstantinos]

I hope the fact that it shows as "currently unavailable" at Criterion site, means they're looking into it.
Here's a summary of the audio problems:

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edit: I've just sent an email too to Criterion, mentioning my concerns and hopes of the inclusion of the original audio track.