Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

I hadn't seen this movie in quite a while when I ordered this, but I was glad that I did. The late Gene Wilder has always been a favorite actor of mine. (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, et. al) But his performance as Willy Wonka is one of my favorites and this tale is a favorite of mine. I realize that the novel by Roald Dahl was a lot darker in nature than this film; but nevertheless, the morals presented in this movie is clear enough. This movie is excellent, in my opinion and no remake will ever compare.

I loved Roald Dahl books growing up. In my adulthood I've come to find out the less palatable things about him - but nevertheless this picture is as far as I'm aware his most notable foray into film. The only remotely close contender is Matilda. Gene Wilder's version of Wonka is the measuring a stick against which every subsequent actor seems to stand. And for good reason - he is nothing short of delightful. I must say though that Timothee Chalamet's recent depiction is a breath of fresh air compared to the oddball Johnny Depp rendition.

An incomparable performance by Gene Wilder who delivers the perfect, truest vision of Dahl’s vision.The film was what it was, so all of the digital magic to clean it up does nothing to alter the feel of the original.Make popcorn, dim the lights, gather the kids. This is a family event.

My daughter has watched the Johnny Depp version, so on a rainy night we sat her down to watch the original. After she got past the 1971 effects (you can see the styrofoam through some of the mushrooms), she got into the actual story and afterwards commented that she liked this version better (no knock on Johnny's acting, just that the original has a more engaging storyline).

I took my granddaughters to see Wonka and they had never seen the first one. We spent a wonderful evening with a classic movie. We all loved it!

Bought so we would always have it for him to watch because he loves the movie.

Having seen both versions several times I have to say I like both. Yes there are stark differences in the main character Willy Wonka and there were some other minor differences in the characters of the children and their parents. Actually, there are a great many differences between Tim Burton's version and the original Mel Stuart version. Mel Stuart's version was more like a musical, highlighted with several musical interludes presented by Gene Wilder and his portrayal of Willie Wonka and one other musical interlude given by the character Varuca Salt - the "I want it now" song. Both versions had Oompah-Loompah songs - after all, it wouldn't be the same without the Oompah Loompah's musical mantras touting the social problems of misbehaved, spoiled children. I did, however, prefer the original Oompah-Loompah performances. The lead up story, basically Charlie's story, for the most part is unaltered with Burton's version deviating slightly to include Charlie's father, a man who works at a toothpaste factory, and his mother is non-working to stay at home and take care of the ramshackle hut of a house and Charlie's grandparents. In the original, we do not know of Charlie's father and his mother works at a laundry, washing clothes. Tim Burton's remake also does not include "The Candy Man" song or Charlie's theme "Cheer up Charlie". There is one other song when Charlie's grandfather get's out of bed for the first time in twenty years. It's not in Burton's version either. In contrast, the only "musical" interlude in Burton's version aside from the Oompah-Loompah songs was a cheesy "Willie Wonka" mechanical doll performance at the entry to the Wonka Factory. This performance while starting out innocently enough soon transcends in to a scene more apropos for a "Chucky" film - hideous and revolting!Over all I give both versions equal ratings. In the following I discuss in general the differences I noticed and meant the most to me. If you for some odd reason have not seen either movie and wish not to know the details then please read no further. They have certainly been on TV several times.The parallels:Augustus Gloop, the gluttonous brat: No differences between the two versions.Violet Bueregard, the gum chewing brat: In both versions she takes the gum from Wonka and, at the behest of Wonka not to, begins to chew the gum. The 2 movies do deviate at the point only slightly where as Wilder's Wonka does, in a more nonchalant manner, say "stop, don't", Depp's Wonka simply bemoans where the process goes wrong. In both versions, Voilet turns violet and becomes very, very round and plump, like a blueberry, only in Burton's version, more so. The end is the same- to be rushed off to the blueberry squeezing room!Varuca Salt, the spoiled rotten brat who gets anything she wants: All through the movie (both versions) she demands her father to buy her this or get her that. The difference here is that in the original she sees giant geese that lay giant golden eggs - for Easter, of course. In Burton's version, and as I understand from the original book, there are squirrels - who test and shell walnuts. Of course, Varuca demands her father to buy her a squirrel, or in the case of the original, a goose. In either version she attempts to steal her prize and ends up going down the garbage chute to the "incinerator". Which we find out isn't working that day - whew, thank goodness for that ;).Mike Teevee, the brat with a television addiction: The same annoying "know it all" brat. The difference being that in the original he was addicted to westerns and in Burton's version he is a video-game addict. I liked the way in which both Wonka characters dealt with Mike through the course of the movie. The end for Mike was the same in both versions.The major differences (aside from the musical score and the characterization of the Oompa- Loompas);Willy Wonka: The eccentric chocolate mogul. There are stark differences between Mel Stuart's version and Tim Burton's version.Mel Stuart's Version of Wonka portrayed by Gene Wilder is a light hearted, whimsical and somewhat eccentric man where as Tim Burton's version portrayed by Johnnie Depp is a considerably darker character who has deep emotional evulsions toward parents - linked to an apparently overbearing father who was a dentist, as we are repeatedly shown in no less than 3 "flashback" scenes. Depp's Wonka was definitely eccentric. His portrayal, however, stopped well short of whimsical and was in no way light hearted, but rather more stogy with a slight after taste of stale comedy.Then finally to Charlie Bucket: The poor and destitute "good" child. Here, the story isn't quite the same, either. The differences are many; I'll touch on the most notable.In the original, there is no father figure. Charlie is closest to his grandfather, who hadn't stepped foot out of bed in 20 years. In Burton's version, Charlie has a father figure who had just been laid-off at the "toothpaste" factory, his job being replaced by a robot. In both versions, however, Charlie does go to the chocolate factory with his grandfather.In the original, Charlie and his grandfather DO get in to mischief by taking a sip of some "Fizzy Lifting Soda" and end up floating up in to a, for lack of better description, smokestack. They do return to ground unharmed and continue on with their adventure - after all, the story is about Charlie. In the remake, no such detours. Charlie was a perfect child all the way through. In the original, Charlie did not initially win. He had to prove his "goodness" by returning the "Everlasting Gobstopper" at the end of the adventure. At which point Wilder's Wonka awarded Charlie the factory; End of movie. In Burton's version, Depp's Wonka, since Charlie is the last remaining child, the factory is awarded to him, BUT, unlike the original, Wonka tells Charlie his family can't come with him. The movie languishes on with Charlie actually showing Depp's Wonka that having a family is a good thing and eventually Charlie wins out, reuniting Depp's Wonka with his father and then obtaining the factory and moving his family in as well. There is hardly a mention of the "Everlasting Gobstopper" in Burton's version. There was a "sub plot" in the original version that centered around honesty. Wonka's chief competitor was Slugworth Candies. A man posing as Slugworth approaches each child offering him/her cash fortune to get an "Everlasting Gobstopper". A tempting trial for each child, no doubt. While this sub-plot does make an appearance in the Burton version, it ends up fading away never to be seen again. In Stuart's version, this sub plot would be the deciding point for Charlie, had he not returned the Gobstopper to Wonka, he would not have won the "prize". This sub plot proves honesty above all else.Let's not forget the flyover in the glass elevator. While minor to the movie, it should be noted that in the original we never see the end result of the children who lose out. This would be the end of Stuart's version as Charlie, grandpa, and Wonka fly onward and the credits roll.In Burton's remake, we get to see each of children as they exit the factory in a cartoonish portrayal of what each child went through.Augustus covered in dried chocolate - attempting to eat the chocolate from his fingersViolet, still violet in color is now more flexible, but otherwise unharmed and apparently enjoying her new found flexibility.Varuca and her father exit covered in trash. Varuca spots the flying glass elevator and quips, obviously not learning her lesson, "Daddy, I must have a glass elevator!" This time, however, Mr. Salt retorts quite shortly "the only thing you're getting is a bath!"Mike Teevee, having been shrunk in the Wonka-vision is now considerably taller and very, very thin; having been stretched in the taffy pulling machine.Then we see the glass elevator crash through the roof of Charlie's house where Depp's Wonka delivers the prize to Charlie. Telling him he has won the factory, but then dashing his hopes by telling him his family can't come along. No, sadly, this is not the end of the movie as it languishes on. We see later Charlie working a shoe-shine stand and Wonka sitting, pretending to read a news paper, taunting Charlie about his decision and wondering why such a smart child would want his parents around. This continues with Charlie convincing Wonka to find his father, Wilber Wonka DDS. They do, they meet, the Wonka's engage in a rather reserved father/son embrace. We then see Charlie and Willie returning to Charlie's house for dinner - but this time, the house is actually IN the factory. Wonka did give the factory to Charlie AND allowed Charlies entire family move in.I did prefer Stuart's version of the Oompah-Loompahs. Burton's version seemed like a cloning production in overdrive. All looking exactly the same. Which, in reality it was. In Burton's version, Gordeep (Deep) Roy played ALL of the Oompah Loompahs - with a little help from technology, of course.All that said, I have not read Dahls original novel. I have read the introduction for the screenplay, however. The Intro scenes of Burton's version do, for the most part, follow the Dahl intro. From the point of the children gathering at the gates of the Wonka Factory and forward, I can't say. Perhaps I will have to obtain a copy of the novel and find out.

Movie with a message. Found a couple parts a little scary when I was little and my kids did too but the grandkids seem to be less unnerved. Fun fantasy movie with a moral about behaving with manners and honesty. I think it’s best for kids over 4 years old.

This video is great fun for anyone who watched it as a child. In the special "behind the scenes" interviews at the end of the video, the director claims that the movie was intended for adults and NOT for children, but children do indeed love it as well. The plot is a pretty cheesy and predictable one concerning the theme of "good vs. evil", with good winning, of course. However, the character of Willy Wonka, played by Gene Wilder, makes some pretty unpredictable and amusing comments throughout the film. The filmmakers had a good sense of humour concerning sets, characters, and dialogue, all of which makes for fun viewing. The set design inside Wonka's chocolate factory is pretty fabulous and colorful, and is a real treat for the imagination.--American Mom in Japan

Love this film. It’s a great classic to have

¡Es genial este Blu-ray aunque no lleve ningún extra porque al menos y por fin viene con el doblaje original en castellano de España de 1971 y no el latino, y con eso ya es más que suficiente!. ¡Muy buena compra y edición en Blu-ray muy recomendable!. ¡Un 10!.

Worked like it should

La película es un gran clásico que vale la pena para agregar a tu colección pero está edición en dvd es muy sencilla, el diseño del disco es simple la caja es muy frágil, pero cumple en su mayoría tiene variedad de idiomas y subtitulos y se ve muy bien.