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elizadolots
Reviews
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Fantastic Fantasy
I love this film, possibly because I have a three year old who becomes totally absorbed in the story whenever he sees it. I've rediscovered the eye-popping delights of a secret world dedicated to the guilt-free invention and sampling of scrumptious chocolate and sugar confections. It's a cautionary tale of course - a concept my son has yet to grasp, bless him - warning against the evils of excess and over-indulgence and celebrating virtue and honesty. I love the three main characters - they all play their roles to perfection, particularly Gene Wilder who was just perfect casting. His Willy Wonka is, naturally, a reclusive oddball who, in the course of the factory tour, proves to be an intriguing combination of secretive, controlling, unpredictable grown-up and candid, excitable, mischievous, capricious child. Dated special-effects and appalling singing included, this film is a joy from start to finish. The saccharine ending is the icing on the cake.
The Riff Raff Element (1993)
That Was The Show That Was
I agree with (almost) everything the only other person to have bothered to put fingertips to keyboard has said about this comedy/drama show. I remember raving about it to my family and friends and the old bloke next door at the time but, alas, have yet to encounter another fellow viewer yet alone fan. With the passing of time - and no repeats - my memory has dimmed and I have trouble recalling the plot let alone the names of the characters/actors. Greg Wise was too nice to be true - which is possibly why I started fancying him and followed his career with interest, until he found happiness and bliss with Emma, sigh - and I was shocked by his sudden demise in the show. Don't get me wrong, the other characters were well-written but Greg's role was pivotal: the sexual tension of his character's relationship with Pet was central to the whole drama. The whole series fizzled out after his departure and I gave up hope of a third series and some sort of "closure" when he never reappeared (I don't know why but I always thought/hoped he would).
Anyway the show was darned good and surely merited a decent ending and a re-run.