Rating: 
Summary: Chocolate covered psychedelic dream
Review: I don't like this movie. It's dated, the 'mod' and 'psychedelic' effects clearly placing it in the late '60s/early '70s.Wonka is a corporate CEO for the new millenium, though. He closes his factory, throwing the town into ecomomic chaos. Then he brings in slave labor (the Oompa-loomps) to make his candy. The only song worth remembering is "The Candy Man".
Rating: 
Summary: Sometimes Creepy, but Overall Real Funny and Witty.
Review: This film is easily misunderstood. Adult viewers have too many presumtions to watch this film with an open mind, hence the waste of space 1 star reviews. For kids this movie is about the possibility that life holds. And yes there are some sequences that are quite unnerving. But lets not forget this movie was made during a period of heavy drug use in this country, and that might have something to do with it. But all in all the literary quotes, and wonderful music redeem this great old movie from my childhood. I never had nightmares about it so unless your child is very sensitive I think it is appropriate. For all the old adults who have never seen this movie you probably won't like it but kids love this film and for that it will always be a CLASSIC.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I just saw this movie for the first time the other night. I was so disappointed. The movie is about a candy factory owner who has 5 golden tickets inserted into 5 Wonka bars that are distributed around the world. The 5 people who find the golden tickets are given a tour of his factory. The movie does teach a lesson in morals & ethics. I can't really say much about that because it would give the ending away.
I didn't particularly like this movie, but it was interesting to see.
Rating:
Summary: Widescreen is not what everyone will want for Wonka because:
Review: Firstly, despite what one reviewer says, the widescreen edition is NOT simply the deceptively named 'full screen' version with the top and bottom chopped off (no, it's not a 'faked' widescreen) it was originally filmed 'open-matte' in a 1.33:1 ratio (same as a 4:3 television), a process which involves covering up (matting out) the top and bottom of the image for presentation in theatres to create a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. I do not like this method of filming as it gives widescreen movies an underserved bad name. The widescreen shape is what the director intended to be seen but ,alas, it does offer less visible image than the open matte version so can make one feel ripped off! However, that said, keep in mind that when movies filmed this way are seen 'full frame' the artistic composition of the shot is often lost and sometimes things that shouldn't be visible such as microphones are seen. Widescreen is easily the way to go if you want to see the most image on the vast majority of releases as 'open-matte' is really not all that common a format. I would not say 'buyer beware' just 'buyer be aware' that there are a myriad of formats. I would encourage anyone who isn't familiar about the different film formats to do a web search for the letterbox and widescreen advocacy page for an excellent visual description of the various formats and matting techniques used in films. Finally, this movie is a lot of fun and I recommend it to children and adults alike. Yes, the boat ride is kind of bizarre and perhaps could be a bit unsettling for some, but it's no more scary (in my opinion) than a lot of scenes in 'The Wizard Of Oz' such as the witches legs curling up after she gets crushed by Dorothy's house. Children can't be so sheltered from life so as to not see a bit of darkness at times. Also, the worm in the 'Willy Wonka' boat ride scene crawls across a living person's face not a dead person...you can see their eyes follow the movement of the worm. One more comment on the boat ride scene...despite what a reviewer said, the widescreen version DOES have violet picking her nose while saying "spitting is such a dirty habbit" - my copy certainly does anyhow. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could but will have to round it off at 5. p.s. I must mention that Amazon.com incorrectly shows the widescreen ratio of this DVD as being 2.35:1 instead of its actual 1.85:1 ratio.
Rating:
Summary: What's that sound you make while wretching? MBLWAH?
Review: I hate this movie. Not because it's scary for little kids, but because it's just so awful. It's bad enough that it's a freakin' musical, but why, oh why, did they have to cast Gene Wilder as the quintessential stranger-with-candy. I think it's telling that he hires adults who look like children (Oompa-Loompas) to work in his "factory."
It has come to my attention that there are hardly any bad reviews of this movie, much to my dismay. Upon further inspection, I found that of those precious few who gave this movie a one-star review, most were concerned about the effect it would have on their kids (not surprising given that Willy Wonka has a penchant for undressing the child-actors with his eyes), and at least one guy loved the movie but mistakenly reversed the rating system (I am as baffled as you are). To clarify--because this is becoming an ever-increasing problem with reviewers--ONE STAR = BAD, FIVE STARS = GOOD. Also, I think too many people are equating tired and old with classic. The only way Willy Wankit and the Chocolate Factory is a classic, is that it's a classic example of a bad film.
Rating:
Summary: You Must Own This DVD!
Review: This is one of the most beloved movies of all time, and a definite necessity for any movie lover's DVD library! I've read the book by Roald Dahl on which this movie is based, and I have to admit that this is one of the rare occasions in which the movie is actually better than the book. The movie is far more vivid than what my own imagination is capable of conjuring. This movie is the story of Charlie Bucket, a young well-intentioned boy who comes from a loving but destitute household. He is one of five children who finds a Golden Ticket inside the wrapper of a Wonka Bar and earns a trip to Willa Wonka's chocolate factory. The other four children include a glutton, a spoiled brat, a lazy boy who does nothing but watch TV all day, and a girl who incessantly chews gum. These children and their relatives are taken inside the factory where they are singled out one at a time for their flaws and eliminated from the tour. The real star of the movie is Willa Wonka, who is engeniously played by Gene Wilder. I don't know if he was ever nominated for an Academy Award for this performance, but he sure deserved to be. His character is both psychotic and brilliant at the same time. I've seen this movie many times, but I never tire of Wilder's acting ability. Overall, the plot is not as important as the way in which it is presented. The viewer will be taken to a wonderous place with chocolate waterfalls and edible flowers and cute Oompa Loompas. Your senses will be overloaded with colorful things to see and catchy songs to hear. I don't know what Heaven is like, but I doubt it's much better than Willa Wonka's chocolate factory. This is a tremendous movie and it deserves to be watched over and over again. You NEED to buy this DVD!
Rating:
Summary: The widescreen version is pan & scanned from the fullscreen!
Review: This DVD is an outrage! I had previously purchased the fullscreen version of this movie and liked it so much that I wanted to see what I was "missing" and decided to get the widescreen version. After reviewing each movie side by side on 2 DVD players, I found the widescreen version is nothing more that the fullscreen version clipped off at the top and bottom. An outrage! The result is lower quality resolution and missing images. One would be wiser to purchase the fullscreen version and zoom it in to pretend it is widescreen yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Review: Easily another soon to be classic, Willy Wonka and the Choclate Factory is a delight for any admirers of the book and the entire family. On this 30th Anniversary DVD you get the great movie in almost new looking, vibrant colors and sound and also a few extras like a commentary by all 5 Golden Ticket winners, all grown up talking about the film. Adapated from the book, it starts out as Willy Wonka, the famed and mysterious candyman finally decides to open the gates to his chocolate factory, but only to 5 lucky people who find A Golden Ticket. Inside, his factory a world of wonder, sweets, pure imagination and more sweets await! I'd pick this up in a heart beat! This is a great family buy and every child should see this movie (if not read the book). If you're shopping around for more movies, check out WIZARD OF OZ as well. It's another great, classic family movie sing a long. You'll remember all those good times and you're kids will love it!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic!
Review: In my own opinion, Willy Wonka And The Chocolate factory stands as one of the greatest childrens movies ever made, along with other such notable classics like The Wizard Of Oz (1939) and E.T.(1982). Strangely enough though this has never enjoyed quite such recognition yet is an out and out classic regardless and will have both kids and adults enthralled. Adapted from Roald Dahls famous book, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, this film makes compelling viewing from beginning to end with wild-eyed Gene Wilder playing Willy Wonka who ruthlessly sorts out the honest from the two faced when they visit his extravagent chocolate factory. The child performers in this are all excellent with Julie Dawn in particular putting in an amusing and effective performance as spoilt brat, Veruca Salt. The chocolate factory sets are stunning and extravagent and the film is packed full of surprises and on moments even has much darker undertones. Yet on the whole this film is fun for all the family and it stands as a truly timeless classic!
Rating:
Summary: Essential for your collection
Review: I have always loved this movie, and this version includes an interview section with the principals. I especially enjoyed seeing Gene Wilder's comments. Of course this is a kid's movie, but it has wit that can be appreciated at any age.
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