#Jim Atkinson

[scholarofgloom]

[adamwatchesmovies]

Wonka (2023)

Wonka practically steps onto the stage and declares itself a new favorite. When the film was announced, it was met with skepticism. We’ve already had two adaptations of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Going back to see how the book’s most memorable character became who he is felt like a desperate attempt to cram more chocolate down an already-filled stomach. Here’s what the naysayers should’ve paid attention to, however: writer/director Paul King. I know you loved Paddington and its sequel, Paddington 2. Everything that made those films great – except for the titular bear – is present here, along with catchy musical numbers. This is a lovingly assembled film the whole family will eat up.

After an extended journey around the world gathering the rarest ingredients and learning everything there is to know about sweets, Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) dreams of establishing his own chocolate shop. Unfortunately, his initial trip to the Galéries Gourmet sees him pushed out by the “Chocolate Cartel”. Shortly after, he’s swindled out of his savings and forced into indentured servitude by Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman) and her co-worker, Bleacher (Tom Davis). He’ll be doing laundry for the next twenty-five years unless he can settle his debts. The only way to do that is to become the chocolatier he's always dreamed of becoming.

Wonka has been called a “companion piece” to 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory but come on. It's a prequel. Two songs are reprised/expanded upon, several visual cues are ported over and Chalamet’s portrayal of the titular character is reminiscent of Gene Wilder’s. If you were to watch the films back-to-back, however, you would spot certain inconsistencies. Some, there’s no way you could’ve worked around, such as the character Hugh Grant plays. I won’t spoil what his part in the film is (even though he is on the poster) but if you were to watch this movie before the original, he would give away one of the latter’s biggest surprises. There’s also an aspect of Wonka’s character that’s a bit off. I personally think people label WW&tCF as being much darker and scarier than it is but you can understand why people would call it frightening, or "a gateway to children’s horror". This film has no cynicism or darkness in it whatsoever. It’s one of the reasons why it works so well but if this film is indeed a prequel, that's an inconsistency.

With those minor complaints out of the way, let’s talk about the many ways Wonka succeeds. First, the cast and tone. There are many villains in this movie. Keegan-Michael Key plays the corrupt, chocolate-addicted Chief-of-Police. Paterson Joseph is Arthur Slugworth, the leader of the Chocolate Cartel. He, along with his cohorts Gerald Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Felix Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton) are not above sending innocent people to be enslaved or even murdered. Then, there’s the extended Cartel, which includes a small, but funny role for Rowan Atkinson. Finally, the combo of Mrs. Scrubitt's & Bleacher. On paper, these characters are quite sinister - even children are being enslaved by Scrubitt and Bleacher. Despite that, you kind of… like them. They're all delightfully ridiculous and quirky. You can tell the performers are having a blast hamming it up – in the best way. They’re all evil. They all love being evil. You love seeing them do their thing.

Nearly everyone we meet is more eccentric than anyone in real life could ever be - including the other "inmates" at Scrubbit's boarding house (played by Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Rich Fulcher and Rakhee Thakrar), except for the friend Wonka makes once all his money is stolen: an orphan named Noodle (Calah Lane). She’s in a worse spot than anyone else, which makes her apprehensive and cynical but also most receptive to the idea of hope once Wonka gets going. You can bet that by the end, all of the heroes will have played an important part in the story, even if their skills seem to make them kind of useless. Seeing how they fit in the big picture is part of the fun.

Between the big laughs and musical numbers, we get scenes of magic and wonder - the kind you can only in worlds where people spontaneously burst into dance. There's something so earnest about Wonka. It knows exactly what it wants to be and isn't afraid of going for it. Paul King takes single gags and turns them into characters for the sake of a big punchline at the end. You can tell from the way the story flows that's going to be the case and there's almost a sense of suspense as you wonder what's going to happen with that. Wonka pokies fun at itself more than once but is willing to be serious when the scene calls for it. That's what makes it, why it's a great prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Wonka is the kind of movie I wish we’d see more often. You think back to the movies you used to see as a child and it feels like we used to get ones like this all the time but actually, we didn't. Movies like this one are rare, it's just that they're so much fun you never forget them and they get passed down from generation to generation so it feels like there's this large library you had before and haven't been able to add to. Push away any apprehension you might've had initially and you'll see. Wonka fits in with those childhood favorites. (November 22, 2024)

[moviemosaics]

Wonka

directed by Paul King, 2023

[demifiendrsa]

First official images of Wonka

[camyfilms]

WONKA 2023

I'm making chocolate, of course. How do you like it? Dark? White? Nutty? Absolutely insane?

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Lion King (1994, Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff)

09/02/2024

The Lion King is a 1994 animated film directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The 32nd Disney Classic, it was the fifth film released in the Disney Renaissance. It was produced by Don Hanh, and has a screenplay credited to Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton. The original voices cast includes Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Moira Kelly, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Cummings. The story takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa, and was influenced by William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The film tells the story of Simba, a young lion who must take his father Mufasa's place as king, but after his evil uncle Scar kills Mufasa, the prince must stop him from conquering the Pride Lands and avenge his father.

With a total gross of over $968 million worldwide, it is the highest-grossing traditional animated film theatrically in history, the most successful 2D animated film in the United States, and the 39th feature film in the ranking of the highest-grossing films in the history of cinema. The Lion King earned two Oscars for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Its songs, with an original score by Hans Zimmer, were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice. The film was dedicated to Disney president Frank Wells, who had died in a helicopter crash on April 3, 1994.

A Broadway adaptation of the film debuted in 1997, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

[halestromthewhoobsessed]

Strange to me how one of my favorite Dalek color schemes only exists within The Curse of Fatal Death

[michaelcoffeysthoughts]

DePaul Doctor Who Club: The Curse of Fatal Death (1999)

[moviehealthcommunity]

Wonka (2023)

This is a Movie Health Community evaluation. It is intended to inform people of potential health hazards in movies and does not reflect the quality of the film itself. The information presented here has not been reviewed by any medical professionals.

Wonka has a few instances of strobe effects that are very sudden and severe, but also very brief, never lasting more than a second or two. One of these involves a piece of machinery moments after the end of a flashback that introduces a parent. Another flashback has some severe lightning-related strobes.

All of the camera work is very smooth in this film, but there are moments of extreme heights, flying, and spinning, none of which last very long.

Flashing Lights: 7/10. Motion Sickness: 4/10.

TRIGGER WARNING: One person makes gagging noises at every mention of a specific word, and briefly comments "I've been sick in my mouth" after one of these incidents.

Image ID: a promotional poster for Wonka

[abs0luteb4stard]

W 🍬 T C H I N G

[duranduratulsa]

Up next on my 90's Fest Movie 🎬 🎞 🎥 🎦 📽 marathon...The Lion King (1994) on glorious vintage VHS 📼! ##movies #movie #animation #musical #comedy #thelionking #JeremyIrons #jamesearljones #RIPJamesEarlJones #matthewbroderick #jonathantaylorthomas #RobertGuillaume #riprobertguillaume #madgesinclair #NathanLane #rowanatkinson #moirakelly #jimcummings #erniesabello #cheechmarin #vintage #VHS #hakunamatata #90s #90sfest #durandurantulsas4thannual90sfest

[enchantingglittertyrant]

🎥 "Wonka"🍫

Yesterday I watched Wonka at my local cinema and I loved every second of it! 🌟🍭🍫

This film takes us on a whimsical journey into the life of the enigmatic Willy Wonka. Timothée Chalamet embodies the role of Wonka with charm and quirkiness, while the supporting cast including Matt Lucas, Matthew Baynton, Calah Lane, Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Grant adds layers of flavor to this cinematic confection.🌈 The film is a visual feast! The candy landscapes, whimsical inventions, and vibrant colors transport you to a world that's equal parts sweet and surreal.🎶

Loved the songs as they were both hearing and quirky aome aonga i was singing on repeat amd there were some references to the original film starring Gene Wilder.

If you haven't seen it i would totally recommend it!

🍬👇 #Wonka #FilmReview #MovieMagic

[alltrekvarnews]

La Alfombra Roja del Estreno Mundial de 'Wonka': Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant y Keegan-Michael Key en el Estreno en Londres.

[blissful-simp]

Hm🧐 so they did a Best of Sarah Hadland who (while she's a good actress, don't get me wrong) was more of a supporting actress than a front runner and a Best of Rowan Atkinson who was only in one episode before they did a Best of Jalaal Hartley who started the show in series 4 before becoming a main actor in series 6 and 7. They also don't have Richard or Naz who were front runners in their own right or Lolly who was a support actress in the later series🧐🧐

The HH YouTube channel sure does love white people🫡🫢

[demifiendrsa]

WONKA | Official Trailer

Poster

Synopsis

Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.

[camyfilms]

THE LION KING 1994

Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.