Review: 21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Posted by Huw,
I think it's fair to say that LEGO would not have made a set based on the 1971 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were it not for LEGO Ideas.
21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, based on Brickup's project which passed review last year, will be released in a couple of weeks.
I've already taken a look at the minifigs, so this article examines the remainder of the set.
Summary
21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 2,025 pieces.
£199.99 / $219.99 / €219.99 | 9.9p/10.9c/10.9c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A fun and colourful model that takes inspiration from one of the film's main sets.
- Excellent minifigures
- Wonderfully detailed
- None really, even the price seems reasonable, and on a par with similar sets
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Reference
If you've not seen the 1971 film, or it's been a while since you have, it's worth watching the trailer of the 4K remaster which shows the film set and boat upon which this model is based, as well as many of the main characters.
Construction
The decorated parts in the set are a mixture of stickers and prints. There are quite a few prints on curved pieces, but also a fair number of stickers.
Construction is straightforward and, other than around the water -- sorry, chocolatefall, largely studs-up. The base is angled using hinges and wedge plates to create a seamless surface: an increasingly common technique most recently seen in 21359 Italian Riviera. It certainly makes it more interesting than a square one.
The chocolatefall is built upon 5-wide Technic caterpillar tracks.
Minifigures
The set's nine minifigures are all excellent, and you can read my detailed examination of them here.
The completed model
The layout of the model broadly matches the film set seen in the trailer, with a chocolate river flowing through fields of colourful 'flowers', in front of a rocky backdrop with chocolate cascading down like a waterfall.
Behind the rocks is a section of wall, reminding us that this confectionery wonderland is inside a factory building.
There was some criticism that it was too brown when it was revealed, but I don't think that's the case: if anything, it looks brighter and more colourful than the film set, particularly the backdrop.
Forced perspective has been attempted by making the lampposts different sizes, with the largest at the front, and a tiny one right the back. It's not entirely convincing, but it's a good effort.
Colourful pipes run down the right-hand side and a bridge spans the chocolate river in which the boat that takes the golden ticket holders through a spooky tunnel to the inventing room floats.
The grassy areas either side of the river are wonderfully decorated with edible 'vegetation' which you'll see in more detail in the photos a bit further down.
The space behind the rocks has not been wasted: there you'll find Wonka's office and a variety of equipment stashed away, including a wheelbarrow.
The red three-pronged wheel to the right of it operates the chocolatefall.
The rock face conceals a secret door to the room behind. Despite building the set, I was not aware of it until reading the set's description!
The edible treats sprouting from the lawns are very similar to those visible in the trailer. The budget for printed parts has been expended here, on the lollipops and mushroom heads.
The trailer also shows small trees with multicoloured leaves and two of them are positioned at either side of the model.
It all looks good enough to eat!
The boat is quite substantial and incorporates some interesting techniques to form the angled bow.
It has six seats -- enough for all five kids plus Grandpa Joe -- and room for an Oompa Loompa to stand at the front to drive it. There's not quite room at the back for the other one to stand to turn the paddle wheel, though.
The gold thing at the front is supposed to be a bell, but it's too big, so it obscures the Oompa Loompa's view somewhat.
Verdict
LEGO designers do not now always improve on LEGO Ideas submissions (see 21359 Italian Riviera) but in this case I think they have. The addition of the boat makes it more playable and adds contrasting colours to the scene. The 'vegetation' is much more varied, colourful, and imaginative, closely matching that in the film.
There's nothing really to criticise: it's a nicely-detailed, attractive and vibrant model that reproduces the source material fairly accurately, and the minifigures are wonderful.
I am sure fans of the film will love it!
It'll be available at LEGO.com from the 15th of September.
I'll leave you with this...
125 likes
48 comments on this article
"Rachmaninoff."
As someone who doesn’t care for the film or have any interest, it looks like a jumbled mess of stuff. But glad it’s good for fans!
I think Huw's review, especially the last picture, is better than the set. The review does move my interest towards acquisition.
I wish the figs had greater attention to detail, and the colors were less neutral and earthy.
I say this as someone whom was deeply affected/scarred by the original movie. ;)
That piece count
@Huw - So I have a silly question on the build. Once the base is done there is an upside-down yellow 2X2 plate. In the finished pictures it appears that is where the front lamp post sits. Why the upside-down plate? It does not appear that needed to be done as there is really nothing special I can see (without seeing the instructions).
@dreisbaugh said:
" @Huw - So I have a silly question on the build. Once the base is done there is an upside-down yellow 2X2 plate. In the finished pictures it appears that is where the front lamp post sits. Why the upside-down plate? It does not appear that needed to be done as there is really nothing special I can see (without seeing the instructions)."
The pillars use corner arch bricks on top and inverted on the bottom. The upside down plate allows those inverted bottom arches to attach.
Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_.
@qingthings said:
" @dreisbaugh said:
" @Huw - So I have a silly question on the build. Once the base is done there is an upside-down yellow 2X2 plate. In the finished pictures it appears that is where the front lamp post sits. Why the upside-down plate? It does not appear that needed to be done as there is really nothing special I can see (without seeing the instructions)."
The pillars use corner arch bricks on top and inverted on the bottom. The upside down plate allows those inverted bottom arches to attach."
Correct.
@Crux said:
"Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_."
Augustus Poop?
@Crux said:
"Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_."
Are we just making stuff up now? There's 1x1 pieces in the river, no swirly brown pieces.
@chrisaw said:
" @Crux said:
"Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_."
Are we just making stuff up now? There's 1x1 pieces in the river, no swirly brown pieces."
I count 5 floaters. :)
@chrisaw said:
" @Crux said:
"Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_."
Are we just making stuff up now? There's 1x1 pieces in the river, no swirly brown pieces."
Look at the very base of the falls, in what I can only - and very regrettably - call the splash-zone.
The set looks much better in this review, certainly the brown takes over less. Not for me, I think, but probably quite a nice display for fans of the movie.
Funny, I didn't realize the lampposts were supposed to be forced perspective, but I see it now. I just thought they were going for surrealism.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
" @chrisaw said:
" @Crux said:
"Augustus Gloop, Augustus Gloop
What's with that expression while you're wading in poop
I mean, seriously. Why are you glossing over the actual poop-pieces used in this river? This stream is the natural evolution of Ninjago City's disgusting river, and Gloop here seems _way too happy about that_."
Are we just making stuff up now? There's 1x1 pieces in the river, no swirly brown pieces."
I count 5 floaters. :)"
Yes, there are a few floaters in the 'water' :-)
I'm legitimately astonished to see such a positive review of this set. As someone who adores the source material, this set is, to put it simply, REALLY bad. The main build is full of significant inaccuracies to the film - the layout with two small islands and the rocks in the middle is totally wrong (the entire "grassy" area was on one side of the river with the rocky Oompa Loompa area on the other), the bridge featured in the set doesn't exist in the film (and it looks nothing like the tunnel if that's what it's meant to represent), the path is far too small and skinny, the interior "office" is a combination of three separate locations (the foyer, the lickable wallpaper hallway, and Wonka's office) that fails to really represent any of them, and the rockwork absolutely should be gray to be accurate - not only is medium nougat the wrong color, it also robs the build of some much needed color contrast. Combine that with the studded river and weird chunks in the waterfall, and it results in a build that just looks horifically unappealing. Not to mention the many cut corners and strange inaccuracies on the minifigures - Charlie is the main character and yet has no new prints and a completely inaccurate hairstyle, Violet and Veruca desparately needed new face prints to properly convey their personalities (and ideally for Violet to get an alternate face where she's starting to turn purple) and Violet's hairpiece is also bizarrely inaccurate when better pieces exist, and Grandpa Joe's suit should all be one color as should be his hairpiece and moustache.
The original Ideas submission was an incredibly faithful representation of the 2005 version of the story. While I am very glad that LEGO decided to base the final set off of the 1971 film (which I greatly prefer), I dearly wish that the designers had taken the care to make this set as great a representation of the source material (as if they'd done even an alright job this would've by default been my most desired set of the year), because this just isn't it.
That said, they did an amazing job on Augustus Gloop. I'm not sure why he of all characters got so much effort and more unique pieces than the other four children all put together, but that's a 10/10 minifigure and I'll definitely be Bricklinking him alongside an Oompa Loompa and a few of the torsos from the other characters.
@monkyby87 said:
"As someone who doesn’t care for the film or have any interest, it looks like a jumbled mess of stuff. But glad it’s good for fans!"
You must be one of the few beings on this planet that doesn't care for the film.
Oompa Loompa Doo pity dact, here’s a Willy Wonka fact
Oompa Loompa Doo pity doot, Augustus Gloop in this movie wasn’t played in a fat suit
@DJ_Hamford
If you look at photos from the movie set, the layout is fairly accurate. Of course things are squashed and distilled down because it's a Lego set designed for display. The biggest change is making the tunnel more of a bridge, which I think is a fair compromise because it's lets the terrain flow a bit better.
I also do not care for the film but highly admire certain aspects of the production design when practically everything on screen had to be created or represented physically.
I acknowledge credit to the original designer for the set and to Lego for a fair effort reducing the poo pieces if I’m not mistaken -look under the original bridge.
If you experienced x-mansion level disappointment here, I feel your pain.
Like many if us, I had imagined my own book-based MOC WW factory but will probably never realise;
a maze of corridors, a glass elevator that travels to all rooms with a trans-pink boiled sweet boat that goes from the choco-fall down tunnels, with all rooms and scenes included, wrapped up in an opening factory building (and all with a mild steampunk twist).
So while it’s not for me, and I’d rather chocolate ‘bubbles’ in lighter shades than those floaters I think this is worth fans perhaps getting on discount to customise the choc out of until they feel satisfied.
Pooper-scooper at the ready!
@B_Space_Man said:
" @DJ_Hamford
If you look at photos from the movie set, the layout is fairly accurate. Of course things are squashed and distilled down because it's a Lego set designed for display. The biggest change is making the tunnel more of a bridge, which I think is a fair compromise because it's lets the terrain flow a bit better. "
I've seen the movie at least 100 times (not an exaggeration), and I double-checked by rewatching the entire sequence before making my comment. The layout is objectively incorrect. The Chocolate Room in which the characters run around and Wonka sings "Pure Imagination" is all one connected landmass. The river cuts through the room, but there is zero way to cross the river and none of the characters ever do. On the other side of the river is the rocky area where the Oompa Loompas work, which has some "sweets" growing on the coast but otherwise is visually very different, and has none of the green grass or stone path. The tunnel and Chocolate Room are also opposite from one another rather than being right next to each other - I don't mind changing that as the canonical orientation wouldn't work for a display model, but it doesn't help the set's case. I think a much better compromise would have been to have the rockwork with the waterfall and Oompa Loompas be the back wall to the set, with the river stretching horizontally across the model, the Chocolate Room being a single connected area out in front stretching the same width as the river, and the tunnel fully to the left side of the model stretching between the Chocolate Room and the rocky area. Still not perfectly accurate, but keeping everything at accurate representations and the relatively correct distances from each other.
As for the idea of the set being squashed and distilled down... I wish! I would have greatly preferred a smaller, cheaper, but faithful-to-the-film model over this one which feels both bloated and careless.
@monkyby87 said:
"As someone who doesn’t care for the film or have any interest, it looks like a jumbled mess of stuff. But glad it’s good for fans!"
This franchise is a jumbled mess of stuff. We love it for that.
@DJ_Hamford said:
" @B_Space_Man said:
" @DJ_Hamford
If you look at photos from the movie set, the layout is fairly accurate. Of course things are squashed and distilled down because it's a Lego set designed for display. The biggest change is making the tunnel more of a bridge, which I think is a fair compromise because it's lets the terrain flow a bit better. "
I've seen the movie at least 100 times (not an exaggeration), and I double-checked by rewatching the entire sequence before making my comment. The layout is objectively incorrect. The Chocolate Room in which the characters run around and Wonka sings "Pure Imagination" is all one connected landmass. The river cuts through the room, but there is zero way to cross the river and none of the characters ever do. On the other side of the river is the rocky area where the Oompa Loompas work, which has some "sweets" growing on the coast but otherwise is visually very different, and has none of the green grass or stone path. The tunnel and Chocolate Room are also opposite from one another rather than being right next to each other - I don't mind changing that as the canonical orientation wouldn't work for a display model, but it doesn't help the set's case. I think a much better compromise would have been to have the rockwork with the waterfall and Oompa Loompas be the back wall to the set, with the river stretching horizontally across the model, the Chocolate Room being a single connected area out in front stretching the same width as the river, and the tunnel fully to the left side of the model stretching between the Chocolate Room and the rocky area. Still not perfectly accurate, but keeping everything at accurate representations and the relatively correct distances from each other.
As for the idea of the set being squashed and distilled down... I wish! I would have greatly preferred a smaller, cheaper, but faithful-to-the-film model over this one which feels both bloated and careless."
After reviewing the footage, I have to agree almost completely. Everything you've said is true, and I think if they had connected the two sections of grass into one area in front of the river, it would have done wonders to make the set look more appealing. I'm not so sure about the tunnel, though.
While they do enter the tunnel which would be opposite the display area, I think the bridge is representing the tunnel the boat enters from, which is on the right of the waterfall, although it is much further in the movie and also obviously not a bridge.
I also think dark tan mixed in to grey rockwork would be the best option.
Regardless, I've really put far too much thought in a set I probably wouldn't buy anyway for a property I don't really have any interest in. I'm really not sure why or how this is bigger than the Jaws set, for example, it seems unnecessary.
… That piece gets used for multipurposes all the time. Very popular for things like cupcake icing, for instance.
>Make a set based of movie
>Make it inaccurate
?????
@Hiratha said:
"… That piece gets used for multipurposes all the time. Very popular for things like cupcake icing, for instance."
There is a lesser-known X-Man character who goes by the name 'Soft Serve'. I feel like you two could be friends.
@Maxbricks14 said:
You must be one of the few beings on this planet that doesn't care for the film.
They're not the only one.
No love for the film or the book so this set is another easy pass for me.
Money saved for other stuff :)
I guess I'm in the minority, but I love this set and think they did an awesome job designing it. Also, another great review from Huw!
I'm aware of the book and the movie, although I've never viewed either first-hand (although I did watch the Johnny Depp version).
But, leaving aside the source material, I think this set forces us to confront an unchangeable fact about Lego pieces.
Reddish-brown is just not a great colour.
I know this set is meant to portray a river of liquid chocolate?
But look at it.
Look at it.
That looks like a river of ... well, something a lot less edible.
And surrounding it, you have blobs of lighter brown and beige-y brown and more orange-y brown, and it's all still just overwhelming-levels of brown, what isn't a visually-pleasing colour in the first place. I keep thinking, maybe if they'd used the dark-brown colour for the chocolate river? But even then, it'd still look the same.
Maybe that's just the curse that all rivers of chocolate have to carry.
Look, I like the minifigures and I adore all the printed pieces (and I think the candy foliage looks bright and cheerful and, frankly, delicious).
But I'm sorry, I just can't.
New Elementary’s just-posted set review has some interesting quotes from the set designers about the choices they made (apparently they did test a side-to-side river and it didn’t look as good) that complements Huw’s review and the discussion in the comments quite well.
I think the set looks nice. I certainly don’t have room in the budget (or any room in my room) for a large set for a film I’m not a big fan of, but execution wise I don’t think I can fault it on much. The chocolatefall action is cool, the boat is very pretty, I personally quite like the balance of colours, the pipes and plants are lovely… I don’t think there’s yet been an Ideas kits I didn’t like more after the Lego designer treatment. Including the Italian Riviera.
If I didn’t prefer the book to the film I might well have been tempted.
I wish they’d had a couple more Easter eggs - fizzy lifting bottle(s), golden egg and for sure a glass elevator side build.
@monkyby87 said:
"As someone who doesn’t care for the film or have any interest, it looks like a jumbled mess of stuff. But glad it’s good for fans!"
Are you serious?
If so, it might be the first time you and I are in total agreement over something here on Brickset ;-)
Probably out of left field a bit here, and it's an opinion I assume will not be shared by many others, but the layout of this makes me think of Rivendell, and makes me wish they'd done it closer to this size and piece count...maybe +1000pc so roughly half the size. Beautiful as it is, my favorite sets tend to be those in the 2-3K size range -- large enough to create depth and detail but not so large to be burdensome for display or prohibitively expensive. For locations, the standard for that is set by the modular buildings series, which has shown how much can be done within this framework (Boutique Hotel perhaps the best example).
I'm not a big fan of Wonka but I grew up watching this movie so it's a fun set. Finding a lot more to appreciate from this review though.
@monkyby87 said:
"As someone who doesn’t care for the film or have any interest, it looks like a jumbled mess of stuff. But glad it’s good for fans!"
I'm a huge fan of the film, and I 100% agree. It's a horrible set, like a moc-Mario play set, which makes me sad as I was hoping for something better. Maybe when it's heavily discounted, just for the figures.
In Wonka's office next to the wheelbarrow, isn't that the WonkaVision monitor with a tiny representation of Mike Teevee in it?
@Modok said:
"In Wonka's office next to the wheelbarrow, isn't that the WonkaVision monitor with a tiny representation of Mike Teevee in it?"
Ah, so that's what it is. Thanks!
Wow! What a fun set that captures the spirit of the film!
I would have liked to see more photos of the space inside the rocks and discussion of the items and references within. I’m surprised because usually Huw’s reviews get into these details!
For example:
- The items in Wonka’s office are cut in half & missing their 2nd half – matching how Wonka’s bizarre office is portrayed in the film. This includes: half a sink, half a painting, half a chair, and half a desk lamp.
- The lickable wallpaper that tastes like fruit can be seen.
- The release of liability contract / waiver that the children sign.
- Above the laboratory appears to be the experimental Wonkavision TV where Mike Teevee is teleported.
I’m glad to see so many printed pieces. The lollipops look amazing!
I would have liked to seen more Oompa Loompas included. Many scenes in the film show 4 to 6 Oompa Loompas at a time!
This set a HUGE improvement over the ideas submission! As a fan of the 1971 film, it is a very tempting buy!
I think this set captures the spirit of the 1971 film very well, including the song lyrics:
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you’ll be free if you truly wish to be!”
@Doodicus said:
"Wow! What a fun set that captures the spirit of the film!
I would have liked to see more photos of the space inside the rocks and discussion of the items and references within. I’m surprised because usually Huw’s reviews get into these details!
For example:
- The items in Wonka’s office are cut in half & missing their 2nd half – matching how Wonka’s bizarre office is portrayed in the film. This includes: half a sink, half a painting, half a chair, and half a desk lamp.
- The lickable wallpaper that tastes like fruit can be seen.
- The release of liability contract / waiver that the children sign.
- Above the laboratory appears to be the experimental Wonkavision TV where Mike Teevee is teleported.
I’m glad to see so many printed pieces. The lollipops look amazing!
I would have liked to seen more Oompa Loompas included. Many scenes in the film show 4 to 6 Oompa Loompas at a time!
This set a HUGE improvement over the ideas submission! As a fan of the 1971 film, it is a very tempting buy!
I think this set captures the spirit of the 1971 film very well, including the song lyrics:
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you’ll be free if you truly wish to be!”
"
Spot on. I understand the design, the choices. I'm guessing too, if they went with the grey rock/stone walls like in the movie, the set wouldn't look as good, too flat and almost 'castle' like.
I love the easter-eggs throughout, and am hoping there is a fizzy lifting bottle and a golden egg somewhere ;)
And the best thing with Lego, if not in the kit, we can add to it as we like.
"Afol's,...if you want to view Lego-paradise
Simply look around your parts collection and view it
Anything you want to build, do it
Want to change the kit?
There's nothing to it..."
@legoDad42 said:
" @Doodicus said:
"Wow! What a fun set that captures the spirit of the film!
I would have liked to see more photos of the space inside the rocks and discussion of the items and references within. I’m surprised because usually Huw’s reviews get into these details!
For example:
- The items in Wonka’s office are cut in half & missing their 2nd half – matching how Wonka’s bizarre office is portrayed in the film. This includes: half a sink, half a painting, half a chair, and half a desk lamp.
- The lickable wallpaper that tastes like fruit can be seen.
- The release of liability contract / waiver that the children sign.
- Above the laboratory appears to be the experimental Wonkavision TV where Mike Teevee is teleported.
I’m glad to see so many printed pieces. The lollipops look amazing!
I would have liked to seen more Oompa Loompas included. Many scenes in the film show 4 to 6 Oompa Loompas at a time!
This set a HUGE improvement over the ideas submission! As a fan of the 1971 film, it is a very tempting buy!
I think this set captures the spirit of the 1971 film very well, including the song lyrics:
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you’ll be free if you truly wish to be!”
"
Spot on. I understand the design, the choices. I'm guessing too, if they went with the grey rock/stone walls like in the movie, the set wouldn't look as good, too flat and almost 'castle' like.
I love the easter-eggs throughout, and am hoping there is a fizzy lifting bottle and a golden egg somewhere ;)
And the best thing with Lego, if not in the kit, we can add to it as we like.
"Afol's,...if you want to view Lego-paradise
Simply look around your parts collection and view it
Anything you want to build, do it
Want to change the kit?
There's nothing to it...""
Ha ha – I love the alternate song lyrics! You definitely get bonus points for that!
Yes, including some bottles for the fizzy lifting drinks and a golden egg would have been good additions!
I'm wondering if there will be a gift with purchase to compliment the set, such as the glass elevator or perhaps a lab scene with an inflated blueberry Violet Beauregard & extra Oompa Loompas?
I suspect they went with the beige color rock so the dark brown of the chocolate waterfall stood out more. Also I think the lighter rock color makes the set more cheerful. Additionally, if they used grey for the rock color then the grey chute for milk/cream wouldn’t stand out. Personally I’m ok with the color change for the rock.
I just realized the wheelbarrow is also used by the Oompa Loompas when they bring out cane sugar to pour into the chocolate river!
@Doodicus said:
"This set a HUGE improvement over the ideas submission!"
I'm sure, somewhere, right now, the fan designer is all, "Awesome, they made my set based on the wrong freaking movie, just like I wanted!"
@legoDad42 said:
"And the best thing with Lego, if not in the kit, we can add to it as we like."
Except the minifigs are wearing the wrong outfits, and look like the wrong actors.
@PurpleDave said:
" @legoDad42 said:
"And the best thing with Lego, if not in the kit, we can add to it as we like."
Except the minifigs are wearing the wrong outfits, and look like the wrong actors."
Hmmmm, true to a point.
Breaking down the figures...
- Wonka minifig looks close enough to Gene Wilder (needs maybe a small graphic showing his chin)and his costume in the flick. Good detail all around. Maybe a deeper purple tone on his jacket. But overall, it's Willy Wonka/Wilder.
- The Oompa Loompa's are good (face, torso,) except for their wigs. I guess Lego didn't want the make new molds for their hair to match the movie Oompa's more. Plus printed stripes on their cuffs and feet/legs would've been over budget.
- Charlie's hair seems way off. Face is fine. And even without the printing (still should've put some folds to break up the unfinished look), coloring in all the neck like the torso color would mimic he's wearing a turtle neck.
- Grandpa's face and hair spot on enough, but yeah, he did not wear a pinstripe jacket. Bizarre choice from Lego. WTF?
- Veruca is fine. Although white cuffs and black shoes with strap graphic would've really sold her better.
- Violet very close. Just needed some printing on the hips and legs to carry down her shirt/tunic. And she really needed a dual face or another head with violet/purple sick or startled face.
- Augustus is close but needed those mid-range legs (not short, not tall), but I'm guessing they couldn't get the socks and skin printing looking right. His hair should be more golden blonde too.
- Mike TeeVee is almost spot on. I think they're missing his cap gun?
So to your point, yeah, not all there. Some figs just fine, others need work.
But with some customizing like finding the right jacket/torso for Grandpa, we can get there.
@Doodicus said:
"Wow! What a fun set that captures the spirit of the film!
I would have liked to see more photos of the space inside the rocks and discussion of the items and references within. I’m surprised because usually Huw’s reviews get into these details!
For example:
- The items in Wonka’s office are cut in half & missing their 2nd half – matching how Wonka’s bizarre office is portrayed in the film. This includes: half a sink, half a painting, half a chair, and half a desk lamp.
- The lickable wallpaper that tastes like fruit can be seen.
- The release of liability contract / waiver that the children sign.
- Above the laboratory appears to be the experimental Wonkavision TV where Mike Teevee is teleported.
"
Thank you for explaining what all that stuff is. I had no idea, not having seen the film for >20 years!
@legoDad42 said:
"So to your point, yeah, not all there. Some figs just fine, others need work."
Except that the project that was approved was for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the set that we're looking at is based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They're not even close to being the same movie. Wonka doesn't even have the same hair color.
@PurpleDave said:
" @legoDad42 said:
"So to your point, yeah, not all there. Some figs just fine, others need work."
Except that the project that was approved was for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the set that we're looking at is based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They're not even close to being the same movie. Wonka doesn't even have the same hair color."
Willy Wonka looks decidedly more Gene Wilder than Johnny Depp in the original Ideas submission (the hair colour, as you say, is something of a giveaway), and at least one of the two fan designers says he was inspired most by the book rather than either of the films, so I’m not sure it’s quite so clear cut as that.
@Huw said:
"Thank you for explaining what all that stuff is. I had no idea, not having seen the film for >20 years!"
No problem. You should watch it! The 1971 film still holds up great today and in my opinion it is better overall than the 2005 and 2023 films.
Another nice detail that I didn't see mentioned in the review:
The set includes yellow teacups with the yellow buttercup flowers so you can recreate the scene where Wonka drinks from one of the cups!
@PurpleDave said:
"Except that the project that was approved was for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the set that we're looking at is based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They're not even close to being the same movie. Wonka doesn't even have the same hair color."
The Ideas project included a Willy Wonka and Oompa Loompas that were clearly styled after the 1971 film, so it was a mix. Since the Ideas project creator included these 1971 styled figures, I suspect they were ok with changing the entire set to the 1971 version. My understanding is that Lego designers work with the Ideas creator when designing the final set.
Additionally, according to Laura Perron, Lego Senior Product Designer:
"It's a balance between the bricks that we have available, the original fan submission, our internal design team as well as Warner Brothers who is owns the the property.... We asked, does this feel like the 1971 version? That's where we were able to bridge between the fan design and then this version."
So there were multiple entities, including apparently Warner Brothers, who had input on the design.
@PurpleDave said:
" @legoDad42 said:
"So to your point, yeah, not all there. Some figs just fine, others need work."
Except that the project that was approved was for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the set that we're looking at is based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They're not even close to being the same movie. Wonka doesn't even have the same hair color."
You don't know by now Lego changes stuff with iDeas submissions all the time?
Price point, stability, parts available, colors available, etc.
The original submission to LEGO Ideas by fan designers Roberto Ceruti and Jody Padulano was a tribute to the 1964 Roald Dahl children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or rather, later media that was based upon it.
It included a mix of minifigures based upon those in the West End musical, a chocolate bridge seen in the updated 2005 movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and of course the famous chocolate waterfall as seen in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
When speaking of the boat, Huw wrote: "It has six seats -- enough for all five kids plus Grandpa Joe."
Correction: six seats for Mr. Wonka, Grandpa Joe, and the 4 remaining children. Throughout the factory tour, the number of seats in each vehicle decreases to match the number of remaining guests. Somehow, Mr. Wonka predicted a priori where his guest list would be whittled away. This detail isn't spelled out directly, but it makes the film creepier if you notice.