A lot of technical (and Technicolor) wizardry went into making the The Wizard of Oz, so it’s probably less of a heresy than you’d think that the classic has now been converted into 3-D for its 75th anniversary theatrical release. It also helps that the restoration is actually rather subtle, pulling certain elements into the third dimension without ever being distracting. It’s more a method of immersion than an opportunity to send flying monkeys zooming at your head.
Oz is by far the oldest movie to undergo the conversion and if anything, it has made the classic film look as sharp as ever — even if its eye-popping reds, greens, and yellows are muted somewhat by the 3-D shades. In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome. Even if you’ve seen it dozens of times before — and who among us hasn’t? — it’s a different experience with an audience. For one, you’ll be surprised at just how funny the film is. And even if you think adding 3-D is as useful as the Wicked Witch's shower, it would take a whole lot more to dispel the film's magic. A
