Dorothy, Toto and their friends have landed at Sphere in Las Vegas amid a hurricane of technological wizardry.
"The Wizard of Oz at Sphere" employs 21st century artistic techniques, artificial intelligence, traditional visual effects and original photography to adapt the 1939 classic to the biggest screen imaginable.
"What you're about to see tonight is our most powerful example yet of experiential storytelling in this media," James Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment, said at the film's premiere on Aug. 28. "'The Wizard of Oz' is timeless, and it's a story that's inspired generations of fans, and, for the first time, you're going to feel like you're part of the story."
What fans will experience
A traditional theater setting with what appears to be an approachable, familiar-size screen greets guests. Soon after the opening credits, however, the film explodes to fill Sphere's 160,000-square-foot LED display plane, which wraps up, over and around the audiences. Following a pristine rendering of Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow," the howling of a tornado begins.
In addition to the harrowing, high-tech-enhanced images, low-tech fans in Sphere create strong tornadic winds, even pausing in the eye of the storm. The vibration of the haptic seats adds to the special effects.
The tornado effects of “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” are created with three high-powered fans, 20 fog units and nine haze machines, with more than 360 hours of in-venue testing. Photo Credit: Sphere Entertainment
"From the very beginning, our vision for Sphere was clear: Use cutting-edge technologies to activate the senses -- sight, sound, smell and touch. We still haven't figured out taste," Dolan said.
Throughout the 77-minute film, fog, snow and bursts of fire augment the action on the screen. Tiny paper leaves and sponge-like apples drop from above, as do drone-operated flying monkeys. Just as moviegoers were transfixed by the original film's transition from black-and-white to lush color spectacle more than 80 years ago, Sphere audiences will be amazed by the size, color and vivid detail of this version.
Film purists may balk at the use of AI and other artistic choices to convert a film with an aspect ratio of 4:3 to a spectacle that fills a 16K screen roughly the size of three football fields. Landscape and characters that were off-screen in the original -- above, below and to the sides in the original film's tight framing -- were added using source material. Some scenes were deleted for a shorter running time, a decision that made business sense for Sphere.
"The Wizard of Oz at Sphere," a reportedly $80 million effort, was created by Sphere Studios in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery, Google and Magnopus.
Before and after the show
Programming on Sphere's exterior and in its Atrium is dedicated to the movie. Before the screening, the Atrium has a sepia tone for a Kansas-themed space featuring a replica of Professor Marvel's caravan and other elements. Afterward, the Atrium transforms into the brighter Emerald City for an after-show with a holographic wall.
While AI was used for other elements, landscapes in “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” were created with traditional visual effects and original photography. Photo Credit: Sphere Entertainment
Through the end of the year, the neighboring Venetian Resort's Waterfall Atrium features life-size versions of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion on the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. Fans can also pose with Glinda the good witch for a photo in her pink bubble.
Tickets, with multiple showtimes daily, start at $104 (plus tax and fees). For groups of nine or more, call (725) 258-7775 or email [email protected].