WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Blu-ray Book Special Edition is your Golden Ticket to Pure Imagination! - Reviewed by John J. Puccio

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—> See Link to our Blu-ray Review (below)

Enter a world of pure imagination.
Your golden ticket to imagination and adventure!

"The psychedelic factory tour is a sugary version of Dante's inferno." -(Premiere)

It's Scrumdiddlyumptious!

WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Blu-ray Book Special Edition »
(now available - released October 6)

Burbank, CA — Fans of the perennial family classic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory will scream "I want it now!" (like the character Veruca Salt) as the film makes its Blu-ray Book debut (Oct 6) from Warner Home Video.

This favorite film of children around the world will now dazzle in premium Blu-ray packaging — contains a 38-page book including sing-along song lyrics, fun cast bios, trivia and colorful photos from the film... no "Golden Ticket" needed!

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Blu-ray Book sells for $34.99 SRP.

Oompa loompa doopadee doo...
I've got a perfect puzzle for you...

Legendary Candy Man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stars in the splendiferous movie that brings to the screen the endlessly appetizing delights of Roald Dahl's classic 1964 book. Coated with flavorful tunes and production design that constantly dazzles the eye, this effervescent musical never fails to enchant young and old. On a whirlwind tour of Willy's incredible, edible realm of chocolate waterfalls, elfish Oompa-Loompas and industrial-sized confections, a boy named Charlie (Peter Ostrum) will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart. And viewers will rediscover all the timeless magic as it was meant to be seen.

Blu-ray Book BONUS FEATURES include:
• Special Digibook packaging includes 38 pages of fascinating trivia and colorful photos
• Delicious documentary: "Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"
• Mouth-watering commentary with the Wonka Kids
• Four scrumptious sing-along songs
• Tasty vintage featurette
• Theatrical trailer

It's everybody's non-pollutionary, anti-institutionary, pro-confectionery factory of fun!

WILLIE WONKA — Explore further:
—> Blu-ray Review by John J. Puccio »
EXCERPT: As much as I admire Tim Burton's remake of the story, I prefer this original 1971 production, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" with Gene Wilder, for its sweeter nature and more amiable songs. So I rejoiced when Warner Bros. chose to transfer it to Blu-ray in a deluxe Blu-ray Book edition. Good things just get better.

The structure of "Willy Wonka" is much the same as "The Wizard of Oz." A child goes on a magical journey filled with laughter, adventure, fantasy, and song and learns a valuable lesson along the way. Children's writer Roald Dahl ("James and the Giant Peach," "The Witches") adapted the 1971 screenplay from his own book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and Mel Stuart ("If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," "One Is a Lonely Number") directed the film. Dahl was always a writer with more than children in mind, which is why "Willy Wonka" is so bizarre and entertaining for adults. It stars Gene Wilder as the world's greatest chocolate maker, a mysterious figure who long ago locked himself in his factory and hasn't been seen since. But for reasons that only become clear at the end of the movie, he decides to hold a contest to open up his plant to a few lucky people. Inside five Wonka Bars he has hidden Golden Tickets worth a trip inside his immense candy factory, plus a lifetime supply of chocolate. The world goes nuts trying to find the prize tickets.

"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" is great family entertainment, colorful and playful for kids, sophisticated and witty for adults. As creative as Tim Burton's remake is, I prefer the greater warmth of this original version. The movie is filled with good humor, good acting, especially from Wilder and Albertson, and good songs ("The Candy Man," "Cheer Up, Charlie," "I've Got a Golden Ticket," "Pure Imagination," "Oompa-Loompa-Doompa-De-Do," and "I Want It Now."). It's a little drippy at times, yes, but it's just off kilter enough to keep everyone's attention. It's a fun film, made all the better in Blu-ray high-definition picture and sound.

(Click thru the Link above for the full review)

Film Synopsis:
Enter a world of pure imagination.
Your golden ticket to imagination and adventure!
Join the expedition visiting legendary Candy Man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) in a splendiferous movie that wondrously brings to the screen the endlessly appetizing delights of Roald Dahl's classic book. Coated with flavorful tunes and production design that constantly dazzles the eye, this effervescent musical never fails to enchant young and old. On a whirlwind tour of Willy's incredible, edible realm of chocolate waterfalls, elfish Oompa-Loompas and industrial-sized confections, a boy named Charlie (Peter Ostrum) will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart. And you'll rediscover the timeless magic of a delicious family classic.

The one-and-only Willy Wonka "makes the world taste good" for a whole new generation in this magical family classic sparkling with brilliantly restored picture and sound! Also included is the all-new documentary "Pure Imagination", featuring interviews with Gene Wilder and the Wonka kids and revealing production secrets from the movie!

When they find prized Golden Tickets inside their Wonka candy bars, five lucky children win a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the legendary candy factory run by the mysterious Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder). Now, on a whirlwind tour of Willy's incredible, edible realm of milk chocolate waterfalls, elfish Oompa-Loompas and industrial-sized sugar-coated creations, one very special boy will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart.

Young, good-natured Charlie wins one of five golden tickets hidden amongst thousands of Wonka chocolate bars. What have Charlie and the other four kids won? A tour through Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, led by the eccentric but often mean-spirited Wonka himself. The factory itself is like a fantasy world: crazy color schemes, wild inventions, secret rooms, busy elves, and lots and lots of delectable sweets. But Wonka has a hidden agenda, and during the tour he tests each child's character and honesty. When it is clear that Charlie is the most trustworthy, kind-hearted and dependable kid, Wonka awards him with a gift that is every child's dream.

A wry and amusing musical about a world famous candymaker who hides five golden tickets in candy bars for five lucky children. Young, good-natured Charlie (Peter Ostrum) wins one of the tickets hidden amongst thousands of Wonka chocolate bars. What have Charlie and the other four kids won? A tour through Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, led by the loveable, eccentric, but often mean-spirited Wonka (Gene Wilder) himself. The factory itself is like a fantasy world: crazy color schemes, wild inventions, secret rooms, busy oompa-loompas, and lots and lots of delectable sweets. But Wonka has a hidden agenda, and during the tour he tests each child's character and honesty. Based on Roald Dahl's 1964 children's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Produced in partnership with Quaker Oats. Released theatrically in the USA June 30, 1971. The Academy Award-nominated original score and songs were composed by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, and musical direction was by Walter Scharf. The soundtrack was first released on Paramount Records in 1971. Songs include "Candy Man," "Oompa-Loompa Doopody Doo" and "Pure Imagination." Re-released theatrically, for its 25th anniversary, in Chicago on July 19, 1996. Filmed on location in Munich, Germany.

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