Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Very Cool!!!

Just what I expected

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what I wound up viewing. I thought I would like the general feel of the thing but something about the movie felt off kilter. Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) seemed mean spirited at times, and almost indifferent at others, giving me the impression that the picture over all wasn't that kid friendly. I mean, four out of the five Golden Ticket winners wound up transported to some never never land never to be heard from again, while Charlie (Peter Ostrum) had to take it on the chin with his grandfather (Jack Albertson) for swiping some of the fizzy lifting drinks. That he wound up inheriting the Chocolate Factory seemed almost like a consolation prize given the tenor of the story.I did like the idea of the Golden Ticket contest, and have to wonder why more companies didn't follow up on the idea after this movie came out. It seemed like it would drive a lot of business and create excitement about a company's products. There's no denying the sets are colorful and imaginative, yet they seemed strangely surreal and fake at the same time. When I think back to the creativity on display in a film like "The Wizard of Oz" made three decades earlier, it's like this film didn't put the era's technology and artistry to any kind of use to look more polished. The thing is, the movie held out a lot of promise with the opening scenes of chocolate candy being made on a variety of assembly lines pumping out bars and candy kisses. And the scene in the candy shop took me back to the good old days of my youth when penny candy was the rule. I kind of feel sorry for today's youth who can't ever experience the thrill and/or frustration of making such a fateful decision with just a few available pennies in the sweaty palm of their hand. If you could pick up four of five pieces of penny candy today for under a buck you'd probably be lucky.

This film is an absolute masterpiece. I know that term gets thrown around a lot, but it truly is. It tells a simple story with pure imagination and love thrown into it. The characters are all so memorable, with a great cast to back them up, particularly Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket, and Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe. The songs are all magnificent, my favorite being Pure Imagination. The practical effects are groundbreaking even to this day. The ending is perfect, one of the best I've seen in cinematic history, one that leaves you thinking. If you haven't seen it you're missing out. High recommendation to everyone.Oh, and before you ask, the remake is just okay, in my opinion.

When a mysterious character by the name of Willy Wonka decides to open the gates of his secret chocolate factory, five golden tickets are hidden in his chocolate bars for kids to find. Thus, only the lucky finders will have the chance to see the factory and earn a life supply of chocolate. Among other very spoiled children, a very poor and generous boy tries his luck and to his surprise, finds the last golden ticket. Joined by his grandfather, he will discover that Willy and his factory have a lot of temptations prepared for their visitors.It's a wonderful movie about compassion, greed and how kids can become if they don't receive proper education. It's very enjoyable and amusing, while Willy's character is playing a great part in this unique atmosphere. In the end, we'll find Wonka's true intentions regarding his unexpected and special tour, a happy ending being mandatory here. It's a very good movie and a great achievement when taken into consideration the year it was produced and what special effects it includes.

Even though I prefer the more recent 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' as an overall package, the 1971 version has a certain charm that just isn't found in the 2005 film. The original will always go down as the timeless classic, even if the remake outdoes it in just about every area.In the family genre, this film is unrivaled. 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' will always be considered the ultimate family film and for many, one of their favourites growing up. This is an iconic film and one that everybody should watch at least once in their lifetime.