Region 4 Winners and Losers

    As comprehensive as the extras package here in Region 4 is, the 3 disc version available in Region 1 includes even more extras. Prior to receiving this 2 disc Region 4 set I purchased the 3 disc Region 1 edition and so am able to make direct comparisons between the two. First of all, the Region 1 misses out on the annoying Anti-piracy commercial at the beginning of the disc. This alone is reason enough for me to pull out the Region 1 if I want to watch the movie over our Region 4 version. When will local distributors realise they are just pissing off paying customers with these loud and obnoxious ads? Both transfers are excellent and I guarantee that they will satisfy even the fussiest viewer. On close observation, however, the Region 4 is ever so slightly brighter (I don’t know which is correct) and exhibits slightly improved image detail. This is most noticeable in some background detail. Again I stress these differences are very minor and both transfers really are nothing short of outstanding.

    The extras from the 3 disc edition missing from the Region 4 edition consist of a few silent Oz based films which I found less than engrossing. They also include some earlier versions of the story including a 1910 version, a 1925 version and a 1933 cartoon version. These may well be of interest to true fans of the Oz series. The best extra is a 30 minute featurette about L. Frank Baum, the creator of the Oz books. This really is a fascinating little featurette that contains a lot of very interesting information about Baum that I didn’t know. Rounding out the 3 disc version is a series of reproduction booklets, postcards and so on.

    So overall, despite the excellent transfer and comprehensive extras of our 2 disc special edition in Region 4 I must give my overall preference to the amazing 3 disc Region 1 special edition.