Vivien Davidhazy

Wish is much better than the majority of reviews would lead you to believe - also much more original than is given credit for. What other Disney animated film features characters coming together to rebel against a charismatic but corrupt authority figure - showing the power of solidarity and the call for revolution! The resistance, call to arms song sent shivers up my spine and the final song (spoiler alert) when it seems Asha is crushed and all is lost but everyone coming together in defiance and resistance is powerful enough to overcome the evilest of evil despots! What joy! Vive la révolution! (Didn't give it 5 stars only cause some of references to other Disney characters / movies were clumsy and also the animation was no where near as beautiful as Snow white from which it took so many references - what a shame )

This film manages to keep the spirit of the book while not being quite accurate retelling of the story. I do think all the parts they added were necessary to really underpin why Charlie deserved to win the grand prize in a short space of time - he is a good boy and having a secret agent from within pretending to be Slugworth was a good way to emphasise how Charlie would make the right decision in the end, how is is not swayed by greed at all like the others - Plus it also adds dramatic emphasis to the end of the film. Also the acting of all the main parts was spot on - most especially the actress playing Veruca Salt - I could watch her singing her solo in golden egg room again and again - she is just brilliant. I love also how we have no idea exactly where this story takes place - it is all kind of vague - after all - it is a story place and anything is possible! (In all this I have not even mentioned the sheer brilliance of Gene Wilder - he made the character his own - not quite like the book again - but with the correct charm and at the same time the right amount of eccentricity! In the Chocolate room - which can no way match the description in the book -in the book it is simply as amazing as only can exist in your imagination - but still - even though visually the film can't match it (AT ALL) - it manages with the song and the performances to create a most wonderfully magical atmosphere as they enter this place. SO...is it like the book ...not completely..but it is still a most chocolaty, wonderful, eccentric and most importantly warm film that celebrates kindness and goodness. (Thankfully the dodgy elements of the book were glossed over as well regarding the Oompa loompas!).