Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

This is a true adventure into the imagination. Pure and simple. It's uncategorical, a fuel burning oracle. For those who've reviewed this film as if they're looking for some kind of truth of life, or life-changing event from a film...grow up, and stop poohing on others' dreams. Movies aren't supposed to give you the answers to the universe; you're supposed to figure that out for yourself. Stop being so lazy. Movies are supposed to be pure escapism. They're intended to entertain you and feed the imagination so that, if you ever do grow up, you don't forget to stop and smell the flowers along your journey, and maybe take a little time to daydream--and that's what Chitty does, with imagination, kooky characters, and song all interposed in one wizardly keen daydream. I don't know what the Amazon description means by "flawed but solid family fare" as they didn't go into detail about what 'flaws' are held within the film. I found it truly entertaining and extrememly light-hearted fun for kids of any age, and I thumb my nose at anyone so 'old' that they think this is not good film-making. It's exactly what films are supposed to be for. It had an uplifting storyline about a poor inventor realizing his dreams, but who never loses site of the fact that the kids are the most important thing in his world. The songs were wonderful, except for Truly's song about Professsor Potts--and that only because I've never been fond of that high-pitched opera type singing, still, it didn't make me sick. And, whenever I get a little upset, I now find myself humming the theme song, or picture Dick Van Dyke doing the 'Old Bamboo' or even sing a little of Grandpa's 'Capitol P.O.S.H. Posh' and go for a walk, "Port out, starboard home!" and I instantly feel better. Buy it. Watch it with the kids, or alone. Take off your adult hat and set it aside for a bit. Try remember what it's like to daydream. You'll see what I mean.

Great movie. I bought it for my grandkids to watch when they came to visit. I still enjoy it as an adult.

Good children's films always offer something for adults or older audiences beyond the child audience. This film has very unique and good song and dance numbers, romantic intrigue in a very old fashioned courting by accident kind of way, slap stick antics, and jokes and gags that are obvious and subtle in nature. It is of course a film of the late 60s, and so there are some technical limitations with the special effects, but the film itself is a blend of genres and styles. And the bad guys are both scary and buffoons, and get their comeuppance in the end. The very talented Dick Van Dyke and lovely Sally Ann Howe make a terrific leading couple, and Lionel Jeffries playing the equally eccentric Potts senior, give the adults something to chew on as the younger audience focus on Heather Ripley and Adrian Hall, the child vicariants. It's a movies about espionage, about invention, about romance, about imagination and a car that does miraculous things. As a young boy I enjoyed it as a simple adventure story. As an adult I enjoyed it as a slapstick film that had quiet moments in it, but gave good subtle laughs with the entire cast. From the two spies, to Jeffries singing with the gaggle of dungeoned inventors, to the really sumptuous scenery of the English countryside, this is a film not to be missed, enjoyed either alone or with loved ones, and just watched when you're feeling down. I could take pot shots at the alteration from the original story, but that's nitpicking. The Bond production team felt like making a children's movie, and they did. With "Flying Colors" so to speak, tipping my hat to the original character. Check it out.

It's a classic, HAD to get it!!

This is considered one of those movies that's a classic with kids and adults alike. Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes brings the story to life about an inventor that creates a magical car that seems to be alive with talent. This movie was made at just the right time in my life and seeing it growing up in the '70s was a kids dream. I have fond memories of it and still enjoy it to this day. I bought an older DVD "Digibook" 2 disc edition years ago. It is a wonderful edition and now I had to upgrade the movie itself to the VERY well done Blu-ray by MGM. Trust me, when you watch this in 7.1 DTS English HD, you will know the words to virtually every song. lol The picture looks BETTER THAN EVER before. It is very nicely done over the regular DVD copy. I compared both and the HD Blu fixes things in image quality that were there in the DVD. This 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, (NOT 90th as the title suggests as it was made in 1968), has some great special features that were brought over from the DVD. Now, they are on Blu-ray. There is one feature that is NOT on the Blu-ray and that is some game that can be played on the 2nd DVD. I kept that with my Edition I already had. I just added this Blu-ray to it. Now I have the Ultimate Edition of this movie and I love it! *** Highly recommended!

Our family is on a retro trip, having bought this movie, as well as The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The King and I, Willy Wonka, and Pete's Dragon. One of the reasons is that we want our 2 year old to experience the movies we grew up with, and the other is nostalgia. Before watching this movie again recently, I could only remember that there was a flying car, a nice title song, and something about children being kidnapped. Watching it again for the first time, I discovered that I had forgotten most of the movie. Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) is an inventor way ahead of his time, whose inventions don't always work the way they are intended. If you think his name is weird, the female lead is Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), the daughter of a rich sweet manufacturer. This unlikely pair, along with his two kids and the wonderful car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, are the star players in a story which starts out being about pirates, and ends up as a rescue mission. With comic support from Caractacus' father, and a toy maker (Benny Hill, in an uncharacteristic G rated performance), they defeat the schemes of spies (kind of like Laurel and Hardy combined with Boris and Natasha), an evil Baron and Baroness,and a wicked childcatcher, to bring the story within a story to a predictable but entertaining end. The scenery is breathtaking, especially the Vulgarian castle and surroundings, and since this is a 1968 movie, we can forgive the lack of finesse in the special effects, where the characters stick out like sore thumbs from the backgrounds, and wires can be seen attached to Professor Potts during a dance sequence. It's a little harder to swallow the concept of Truly Scrumptious running around on the beach dressed in tons of white cloth and coming up spotless, and her song about needing a lovely man is way too over the top and much too long. I will admit to skipping over that one. The sing along feature is a nice touch, and catchy songs (other than the theme song) include "Me Old Bamboo", "Toot Sweet", my personal favorite "P O S H (Posh)", and the nearly too sugary "Truly Scrumptious". Overall, this DVD is a refreshing family movie that you will watch over and over again.

I loved this movie when I first saw it, and was thrilled to see it on sale! I snatched it up and am so happy I did, it's a delight. It played back perfectly, no skips, jitters or freezes. It got here when expected, maybe even early, well and securely packed. I'm very pleased to have this in my collection. I hope my grandkids like it as much when I show it to them.

Love this movie!!