The Finest New Blu-Ray Releases: Wonka, Want, And Extra

In our fashionable film panorama, Hollywood has determined that all the things must be a recognizable model or a little bit of acquainted I.P. There is not any room for originality, gosh darn it! Which is why we find yourself with, oh, for example, a Willy Wonka prequel. The very thought appears foolish — a part of what makes Willy Wonka such a memorable character is that he is mysterious. We do not want to know his origin story. We simply settle for him as a unusual, probably homicidal chocolate maker. And but right here we’re, with “Wonka,” a movie with a tagline that asks us to “Discover Out How Willy Turned Wonka.” Certain. No matter. However wait, perhaps it is not all so dismal. For one factor, “Wonka” stars that charming Timothée Chalamet fellow. For an additional, it hails from Paul King, the director of the great “Paddington” and “Paddington 2.” Can “Wonka” truly justify its existence?

Eh, type of. The movie is innocent and considerably charming, though nowhere close to nearly as good as King’s “Paddington” movies. And Chalamet is a likable sufficient lead, though it is laborious to image him because the considerably deranged man who ultimately lets youngsters fall into chocolate rivers and get sucked up into probably lethal tubes with little greater than a smirk and a sarcastic remark. Just like the basic “Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility,” “Wonka” is a musical — and that is tremendous! I really like musicals! Alas, the entire songs listed here are, to be fairly frank, horrible. The one memorable quantity in the complete movie is a reprise of “Pure Creativeness” from the unique “Chocolate Manufacturing facility” movie. It was daring of them to make a musical the place each single tune stinks, however right here we’re. 

Particular options:

Unwrapping Wonka: Paul King’s Imaginative and prescient

• Revered director Paul King takes you on a deep dive into his expertise adapting the beloved story of Wonka.

The Whimsical Music of Wonka​

• Composer Joby Talbot and songwriter Neil Hannon take you into the studio to light up the craft behind the wondrous songs of the movie.

Welcome to Wonka Land ​

• Manufacturing designer Nathan Crowley and the remainder of the “Wonka” crew focus on creating the magical units that transport audiences to the worlds of the movie.

Hats Off to Wonka

• Costume designer Lindy Hemming breaks down the inspiration and intention behind every of the character’s great costumes.

Wonka’s Chocolatier ​

• Chocolatier Gabriella Cugno offers an in-depth take a look at the creation of the gorgeous sweets seen in “Wonka.”