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WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

post #1 of 38
6/23/09 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 
images_willywonka.jpg
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Delectable Debut as Blu-ray Book
from Warner Home Video October 20

Burbank, CA – June 23, 2009 – Fans of the perennial family classic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory will scream “I want it now!” (like the character Veruca Salt) when the film makes its Blu-ray Book debut on October 20 from Warner Home Video. This favorite film of children around the world will now dazzle in premium Blu-ray packaging -- containing a 38-page book including sing-along song lyrics, fun cast bios, and colorful photos from the film. No “Golden Ticket” needed!

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Blu-ray Book will sell for $34.99 SRP.

About the Film:
Legendary Candy Man Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stars in the splendiferous movie that brings to the screen the endlessly appetizing delights of Roald Dahl’s classic book. Coated with flavorful tunes and production design that constantly dazzles the eye, this effervescent musical never fails to enchant young and old. On a whirlwind tour of Willy’s incredible, edible realm of chocolate waterfalls, elfish Oompa-Loompas and industrial-sized confections, a boy named Charlie (Peter Ostrum) will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart. And viewers will rediscover all the timeless magic as it was meant to be seen.

Special Features:
• Delicious documentary: Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• Mouth-watering commentary with the Wonka Kids
• Four scrumptious sing-along songs
• Tasty vintage featurette
• Theatrical trailer


Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Blu-ray Book
Street Date: October 20, 2009
Pricing: $34.99 SRP
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray Book) [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 38
6/23/09 at 10:20am
Thread Starter 

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Wonka Rocks!

Happy to see this finally out on Blu-ray.

Good Day Sir!
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post #3 of 38
6/23/09 at 11:29am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

I am sort of bummed out. Blu-ray.com is reporting that this in only a BD-25. Seems like a really cheap move for them to scrimp on this title. I would think movies getting the digibook treatment would warrant a top notch mastering.
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post #4 of 38
6/23/09 at 12:00pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

The HD-DVD was a 30 GB disc and I don't remember any complaints about the presentation. A BD25 should be fine.
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post #5 of 38
6/23/09 at 1:50pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

It's nice to see Willy Wonka on Blu-ray and the cover is really pretty, but all were getting is the same features from before?
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post #6 of 38
6/23/09 at 4:34pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Very good news indeed! A film from before 1990 - very heartening.
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post #7 of 38
6/23/09 at 5:29pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Very glad to see this coming to BR. One of my favorites as a kid, and I still love it.

(Would also love to see the Depp/Burton version as well, sooner rather than later. But I know that's another thread...)
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post #8 of 38
6/23/09 at 5:35pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyFeldman
Very good news indeed! A film from before 1990 - very heartening.

So true. But WB has been pretty good about that on their blu-ray book series: Bonnie and Clyde, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, Poltergeist, Batman just to name a few off the top of my head. And that doesn't even touch their non-book blu-rays like Bullitt, The Fugitive, and the Kubricks. A bit better than many studios.
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post #9 of 38
6/23/09 at 5:41pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMor
(Would also love to see the Depp/Burton version as well, sooner rather than later. But I know that's another thread...)
The disc is done and released in other territories. It'll probably hit the US when Alice In Wonderland gets released theatrically in March.
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post #10 of 38
6/23/09 at 6:28pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Great, Though I would rather have the oriinal poster art on the cover (Warner usually uses the poster art)
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post #11 of 38
6/23/09 at 7:30pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

true hd sound?
$34.95 srp is a bit high.
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post #12 of 38
6/24/09 at 7:11am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
The HD-DVD was a 30 GB disc and I don't remember any complaints about the presentation.

You don't? This was one of Warner Bros.' 1080i transfers when released on HD DVD. While it wasn't terrible, the jaggies were pretty evident on any writing throughout the film. Hopefully, a new transfer has been done, but I am not holding my breath.
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post #13 of 38
6/24/09 at 7:49am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Wait. Stop. Don't.

SOLD!

Sam
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post #14 of 38
6/24/09 at 1:42pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
You don't? This was one of Warner Bros.' 1080i transfers when released on HD DVD. While it wasn't terrible, the jaggies were pretty evident on any writing throughout the film. Hopefully, a new transfer has been done, but I am not holding my breath.
Ah, didn't know it was one of the 1080i discs. Well, yeah, hopefully they are doing a true 1080p transfer this time around. It should still fit just fine on a BD25, though.
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post #15 of 38
6/24/09 at 4:04pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

They'll probably do the same "fix" they did for The Perfect Storm.
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post #16 of 38
6/24/09 at 5:59pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_M
Great, Though I would rather have the oriinal poster art on the cover (Warner usually uses the poster art)
You mean this?
While I like the original poster art, this really isn't a deal breaker for me. A repurposed 1080i master would be, though.
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post #17 of 38
6/24/09 at 8:03pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave H
They'll probably do the same "fix" they did for The Perfect Storm.

What fix did they do?

I'm sure if they don't do right by it now, the 40th anniversary is (unbelievably) only two years away. They also reissued Full Metal Jacket with an improved transfer with the other Kubrick titles.
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post #18 of 38
6/24/09 at 9:47pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

THIS is actually my favorite part of Family Gu...er I mean Willy Wonka.
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post #19 of 38
6/24/09 at 11:41pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen_J_H
You mean this?
While I like the original poster art, this really isn't a deal breaker for me. A repurposed 1080i master would be, though.


Love the poster, but I'll still pick by the disc anyway - the art work isn't a deal breaker (and the cover art on the Blu-Ray isn't bad)
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post #20 of 38
6/25/09 at 2:21am
Thread Starter 

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Reminds me. Have to buy that poster.
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post #21 of 38
6/25/09 at 6:34am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
What fix did they do?

Yes, I am curious about this as well. Thanks.
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post #22 of 38
6/25/09 at 8:14am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Looking at that poster ;I never knew Willy Wonka was Paramount. I always thought it was a Warner title since the beginning.
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post #23 of 38
6/25/09 at 12:09pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Butler
Looking at that poster ;I never knew Willy Wonka was Paramount. I always thought it was a Warner title since the beginning.

It was originally a Paramount movie, but all subsequent theatrical, television, and home video prints (I don't believe there were any home video versions from Paramount themselves, if there were, please let me know) were released by Warner. This was a result of the film's poor performance at the box office when it was first released, and Paramount and Quaker Oats (sponsors for the movie), both of whom saw no financial advantage in the film, sold it to Warner.
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post #24 of 38
6/25/09 at 1:46pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Actually, part of the rights reverted back to producer David L. Wolper, who subsequently sold the distribution rights to Warner, who rereleased it theatrically and on video in 1984.
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post #25 of 38
6/25/09 at 5:04pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

I assumed Warner got it back when they bought David Wolper's company, around the time his production of "Roots" aired on TV.
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post #26 of 38
6/25/09 at 5:50pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

It's not a matter of "getting it back." Warner purchased Quaker's portion of the rights in 1977. Paramount was only the distributor, and opted not to renew its distribution contract on the film in 1978. The rights then went back to Wolper, who sold to Warner.
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post #27 of 38
6/25/09 at 9:08pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
What fix did they do?

I'm sure if they don't do right by it now, the 40th anniversary is (unbelievably) only two years away. They also reissued Full Metal Jacket with an improved transfer with the other Kubrick titles.

Warner's "fix" for The Perfect Storm was merely using a filtering/softening technique to smooth out the jaggies. A new master or transfer was never created.
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post #28 of 38
6/26/09 at 8:31am

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave H
Warner's "fix" for The Perfect Storm was merely using a filtering/softening technique to smooth out the jaggies. A new master or transfer was never created.

Fantastic.

Thanks for the explanation.
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post #29 of 38
6/26/09 at 2:40pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
The disc is done and released in other territories. It'll probably hit the US when Alice In Wonderland gets released theatrically in March.

I've heard rumours that the Burton film will be released on Blu-ray in the US in a new Director's Cut version.
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post #30 of 38
6/26/09 at 4:15pm

Re: WHV Press Release: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave H
Warner's "fix" for The Perfect Storm was merely using a filtering/softening technique to smooth out the jaggies. A new master or transfer was never created.

If that's what we get for Wonka then I will be the first to demand a new transfer, just like the MAR debacle of 2001.
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