“It’s a bright, light movie – in palette and temperament – that’s stuffed with talented performers who seem to be having a pleasant time, even when pretending to be meanies,” said The New York Times in a movie review regarding “Wonka.”

“Wonka”, a new movie prequel, came out in theaters on Dec. 15, 2023, featuring Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka from the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” movies. 

Several Norwalk students said they planned to see the movie.

“It has Timothee Chalamet in it, why wouldn’t I?” said student Audrey Graves, “I like Timothee Chalamet. I think he’s a good actor. I think he will make a good Willy Wonka because his characteristics as a person are similar to those of the aura of Willy Wonka.”

Graves said she enjoyed the previous Willy Wonka movies because they were well made.

“The Johnny Depp movie version was well made, was well produced, and has an obvious theme,” she said.

According to Graves, the theme of the movie is that it’s important to be thankful. 

“It represents people being grateful for what they have because Charlie was more grateful than the others when he got the golden ticket and it benefited him in the long run,” she said.

Graves said if the movies were real, she would want a golden ticket.

“Who wouldn’t want to go to a chocolate factory?” she said. “I always wanted to swim in the chocolate and get sucked up into the tube. It seems like a waterslide.”

However, Nora Reed said she will not watch the Wonka movie because she is not a fan of prequels.

“My sister wants to see it so maybe, but I’m just not interested in how he started his factory, I guess,” she said.

Although she may not watch “Wonka,” she said the most recent Willy Wonka movie was entertaining.

“I read the book first, and it was in fourth grade that I watched the movie for the first time,” she said. “I thought it was cool. The factory was big and there were so many weird things in the background. The candy room where everything that was made of candy including the grass and the chocolate river, that was really cool.”

Sylas Palladino said he thinks that the movie has a lesson.

“I think it represents family and being true to yourself,” he said. 

He also said his favorite character was Violet.

“The purple girl who turned into a blueberry, she was a queen,” he said. 

Junior Gabby Bussanmas said she has enjoyed the previous Wonka movies. She said her favorite characters were Willy Wonka’s henchmen. 

“The Oompa-Loompas [are my favorite],” she said. “I think they’re really funny.”

Bussanmas said the movie has an obvious theme. 

“I think it definitely represents greed,” she said. 

She said the uncle of Charlie only got out of the bed to go to the factory when he could’ve been out of his bed helping his family. 

Gabby said she definitely wants to see the “Wonka” movie. 

“I want to see Timothee Chalamet’s version of the movie,” she said. “I think he’ll do a good job from what I’ve seen in his movies so far.” 

Although Gabby enjoys the Willy Wonka movies, she said she would not want a golden ticket. 

“No, I don’t think I would,” she said. “Four of the five kids that went had some pretty unfair endings. I wouldn’t want to be attacked by squirrels or blown up into a blueberry.”

Wonka is showing at Jordan Creek and Flix Brewhouse theaters. It has an 82 percent rating by Rotten Tomatoes who have said it to be wondrous and delightful. 

“It’s a good movie, because it’s filled with candy and candy makes me happy,” Graves said.