Off to See the Wizard Once Again – in IMAX 3D

For anyone who grew up loving "The Wizard of Oz" (and really, who does not love that wonderful film?), this is a very important week.

For starting today, September 20, 2013, "The Wizard of Oz" is back in theaters! IMAX 3D theaters, in fact, as Warner Bros. has done an extensive restoration to the classic film. Celebrating its 75th anniversary (marked from the start of production in 1938; the movie released in theaters in 1939) with this incredible achievement, the studio is releasing Victor Fleming's masterpiece for one week only in IMAX theaters across the United States. It's a unique chance to see this eye-poppingly fantastic flick as never before.

We were lucky enough to catch an early screening of the film at the newly renovated TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in the heart of Hollywood (it's what used to be Grauman's Chinese Theatre). The theater reopens today, and it is an amazing transformation.

The gorgeously renovated TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Photo courtesy Greg Epstein Photography

Not only is it now the largest IMAX theater ever, with much more leg room and comfortable high-backed seats, it also retains all of the majesty and beauty that has made this a legendary place since 1927.

The theater now has a completely different pitch, so no more bad sight lines. Photo courtesy Greg Epstein Photography.

And the footprints of the stars are still right where you expect them to be, on the sidewalk outside the main entrance (the theater is on Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland and Orange streets). In fact, just this week, 93-year-old "Oz" Munchkin Jerry Maren (he's one of the Lollipop Kids) added his hand and foot prints into the cement there.

Even Judy Garland's Dorothy dress is on display in the lobby at the moment, another little slice of movie history:

Dorothy's dress on display in the lobby of the TCL Chinese Theatre. Photo by Jenny Peters.

And the movie? The movie is so wonderful on the big screen, I swear I was smiling the whole time. Not to mention singing along with some of the songs and giggling like the five-year-old kid I was when I first saw it on television. There's no comparison to seeing it in IMAX 3D (although the 3D effects are kept to a minimum); and considering that this was the first time I had ever seen "The Wizard of Oz" on a big screen, it fulfilled every expectation I had for it, and then some.

Watch for the swan flapping its wings in the background when Dorothy and the Scarecrow meet up with the Tin Man; my guess is that you've never noticed that before. The Cowardly Lion is even cuter than ever in this version and when they arrive at the Emerald City, the Horse of a Different Color will make your eyes pop out of your head! Speaking of the Emerald City, be sure to look closely at the costumes of the happy denizens of that bright-green city. They are amazingly detailed and in this version, you'll realize that you have never quite noticed them on a smaller screen, even if you've seen it as many times as I have over the years. And those flying monkeys? They still scare the bejesus out of me.

So run, don't walk, to the nearest IMAX theater that is showing this classic, and take the kids, grandkids and anyone else who wants the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go off to see the Wizard on the big screen.

The restored version will be available on a Blu-ray 75th Anniversary Edition on October 1, too. But go see it at the movies if you possibly can!