CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
Gene Wilder
Feature: Pure Imagination for Gene Wilder and Timothée Chalamet in Wonka vs. Wonka
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 6, 2024 - 1:36pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on January 4th, 2024, comparing “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) with “Wonka” (2023), which is currently in theaters.
Film Review: Charming Timothée Chalomet Brings the Willy to ‘Wonka’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 15, 2023 - 9:06amCHICAGO – “Wonka” is a sweet, perhaps too sweet, musical origin story of the world famous cantankerous candy man. Timothée Chalomet has got a song in his heart and sweets up his sleeve in a movie that threatens to give old fashioned “family films” a good name once again.
Film News: Gene Wilder of ‘Willy Wonka’ Fame Dies at 83
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 29, 2016 - 6:00pm- Blazing Saddles
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LOS ANGELES – The genius comedy of Gene Wilder was often in the subtlety. With a slow burn or a raised eyebrow, Wilder was able to draw big laughs. The star of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and “Young Frankenstein” died in Stamford, Connecticut, according to his nephew in Los Angeles. He was 83.
Blu-ray Review: Film Doesn’t Get Much Funnier Than ‘The Producers’
Submitted by BrianTT on July 17, 2013 - 11:59amCHICAGO – Mel Brooks’ “The Producers,” recently released in a perfect collector’s edition with both SD and HD versions accompanied by spectacular special features by Shout Factory, may be a perfect comedy. It has that perfect balance of incredibly smart humor and physical antics that would define a lot of Brooks’ best work. It won the Oscar for Best Screenplay and, unlike a lot of films from the ’60s, would win it again today were it released tomorrow.
TV Review: ‘Mel Brooks: Make a Noise’ Captures Comedy Genius
Submitted by BrianTT on May 20, 2013 - 9:47amCHICAGO – I’m a huge Mel Brooks fan, one of those critics who bows at the altar of arguably the two best comedies of all time, “Blazing Saddles” & “Young Frankenstein.” I’ve seen them both a dozen times and can’t wait to watch them again.
DVD Review: ‘The Incredible Mel Brooks’ Offers Timeless Comedy
Submitted by BrianTT on November 23, 2012 - 12:18pmCHICAGO – Mel Brooks is an indisputable genius and his comic mastery gets a perfect tribute in the 5-DVD-and-1-CD set from Shout Factory, “The Incredible Mel Brooks,” a treasure trove of rare clips, old TV shows, appearances, and recollections from one of comedy’s greatest writers. This is a fantastic set, a perfect gift for the comedy fan in your family.
Interview: ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ Star Peter Ostrum as Charlie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 26, 2011 - 4:43pmCHICAGO – One of the great children’s films is “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” released in 1971. As the movie celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a lavish new Blu-ray package, the main child star of film, Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), made an appearance at the 2011 Chicago Wizard World Comic Con.
Blu-Ray Review: Limited Edition Gift Set For ‘Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 26, 2011 - 1:38pmCHICAGO – Warner Bros. is unmatched when it comes to repackaging their beloved films for holiday season Blu-ray gift sets. Every season brings a handful of new limited edition gift sets with physical collectibles, HD transfers, and fan-centric packaging. Past releases include “A Christmas Story,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” and “Elf.”
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory’ in HD
Submitted by BrianTT on October 20, 2009 - 12:26amCHICAGO – You can keep Tim Burton’s remake of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with Johnny Depp. I’ll be watching the classic “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,” recently released on Blu-Ray, for years to come. It’s not a must-own family film release like the recent “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” or “Wizard of Oz” packages, but the film remains remarkably timeless.