Wonka (2023)

CinemaSerf

7.0

Dec 11, 2023

The opening bars of "Pure Imagination" give us a clue as to what's coming next, and for the most part it's a strong testament to the engaging and charismatic man playing the eponymous chocolatier. He arrives is a town controlled by a chocolate cartel that is determined to use any means possible to ensure he can't fulfil his dream. That dream? Well ever since he was a child, he has wanted to make chocolate as well as his mother (Sally Hawkins). To do that, though, he needs a shop - and without a silver sovereign to his name that's not going to happen. It's winter, so his first order of business…

r96sk

8.0

Dec 13, 2023

Enjoyed this! 2023's <em>'Wonka'</em> is very good! It's an original story based upon the Roald Dahl novel, so it isn't an adaptation as such like the 1971 and 2005 flicks. With that I didn't find it quite as interesting as what's portrayed in the aforementioned films, but I do appreciate (and prefer, tbh) that they went a different way with it here. And it comes out nicely. Timothée Chalamet gives a strong performance in the lead role. Those behind Chalamet are entertaining, from Calah Lane to Keegan-Michael Key to the trio of Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton - the latter…

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/review-paul-kings-wonka-musical-is-a-truly-delightful-origin-story/ "Wonka offers a fresh perspective on the iconic character while paying homage to Roald Dahl's timeless tale of morality. Paul King succeeds in delivering a jolly, entertaining, visually dazzling take on the origins of Willy Wonka, featuring a fearlessly committed cast, tons of humor, and colorful, immersive technical achievements. Despite the predictable, formulaic narrative lacking the same creativity of other filmmaking departments, it remains a sweet, har…