Midnight Special: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Semi-Spoilers)

I think the best place to start is to write about the 1971 version of Roald Dahl's classic children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was renamed Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory for whatever reason but I do recall reading that Dahl wasn't on board with a few things like casting Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka or that he hated the musical aspect of it or that the filmmakers took liberties into changing several things from the book. Whatever the reason I thought this one was far better than the more book accurate 2005 version starring Johnny Depp. Willy Wonka starts off with the musical number The Candyman in a candy store which leads to the introduction of our main protagonist Charlie Bucket played by Peter Ostrum in his only film appearance and the build up of Wonka setting out five golden tickets to the world.

Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket in his only screen appearance, he later became a veterinarian.

There were things that I really enjoyed in this movie like the songs particularly The Candyman and Pure Imagination which were both memorable. Of course I can't help but compare it to the 2005 version the Charlie Bucket in this version isn't as precocious or pretentious, he's just a kid which is what Charlie is, Gene Wilder's performance as Wonka is less manic but mysterious, eccentric but more melancholic which is why his work here is still iconic and the inclusion of Slugworth as someone who offer the kids money in exchange for Wonka's everlasting gobstopper was actually smart. Everything in the movie implies something else going on underneath like how people were really so enraptured to find a golden ticket one of the scenes include a woman who won't give up her box of Wonka bars in exchange for her abducted husband. The scenes showing that Grandpa Joe was actually a bad influence was also clearer to me than the first time I saw it in 2004, Grandpa Joe in this version is a benefits cheat who leaches off his family for 20 years instead of getting a job and help his daughter to keep the family's finances afloat, his actions throughout the film also nearly influenced Charlie's decision in the ending which I thought was a great set-up to the scene but poor Jack Albertson having to deal with playing such a character. However my only disappointment was the chocolate factory that fell short of the hype and build up.

Grandpa Joe is a benefits cheat in this version.

In terms of its technical merits I thought the crew behind the scenes did such an impeccable job for a movie that was made with limited special effects, everything certainly looks real enough and the clothes the characters wear really pop out and say a lot about them. The cinematography is gorgeous to look at and compliments the sets as does the original music.

Gene Wilder (center) as Willy Wonka

I highly recommend this to anyone who grew up with the movie as well as for fans of the 2005 version and generally to anyone who's curious to know why Gene Wilder is still talked about today or anyone familiar with the theory that this is the prequel to the Bong Joon-ho film Snowpiercer starring Chris Evans, either way it's a great movie to just relax to with the whole family or just by yourself.

5/5 stars.