Last night, my husband and son went to see ISLAND with Ewan MacGregor, and my daughter and I went in to see WILLY WONKA. I am a huge fan of the original CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, but I also adore Johnny Depp, so I was anxious to see the difference. I am highly impressed.
Tim Burton is usually someone I can take or leave. I was expecting the new Willy Wonka to be dark, but in actuality it is a riot. I spent more time laughing than I have in a long time. Johnny Depp's slightly neurotic portrayal of Wonka is on the money and it's nice to see the odd part of that character more developed. We knew that Gene Wilder's character was batty, remember the river boat scene, but they never really played it up. Johnny Depp does so and the story goes beyond it to delve into Wonka's past and explain why he is a little wacky.
Having seen it now, I think those who hated the Gene Wilder version (my husband and son included) will really enjoy this new version.
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3 comments:
Everyone is judging the new Charlie and the Chocoalte Factory!! (From now on when I say CATCF it means Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.) They're saying that Tim Burton ruined it and made it creepy. People think that the first one was much more family oriented. That's true, but is that bad or good? I must point out that the second Willy Wonka was MUCH more accurate to the book. Also, may I point out that Roald Dahl (the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) did not write for children! He wrote adult books and then wrote stories for his children which people encouraged him to publish, so he did. Another reviewer somewhere said "Kids may get nightmares from this stuff. You get the feeling that's the way Dahl would have liked it." and they're absolutely right! Roald Dahl's books were the American version of The Brother Grimm! I believe he says a swear word or two in his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory book, which they don't in either of the Willy Wonka movies. Plus, in Roald Dahl's origanal Oompa Loompa song for Violet Beauregarde (meaning in the book) the Oompa Loompas tell a story of a woman who chews so much gum her jaws keep chewing even when she sleeps, so she bites off her tongue. Personally, that's a little disturbing and not what most writers would write. In a way, they made the new CATCF MORE family oriented then the book. As far as the character Willy Wonka, neither Gene Wilder nor Johnny Depp were exact to the book. The both changed him a little. In the book Willy Wonka is slightly crazy and extremely jumpy! He hops instead of walking! Gene Wilder wasn't as extreme as that. Instead he made Willy Wonka a bit more of a caring guy who was also (and I quote from the old Veruca Salt) "Absolutely bonkers!". Johnny Depp wasn't jumpy and skippy either. Do you recall when in the new CATCF Johnny Depp said "I always thought a Veruca was a type of wart you got on the bottom of your foot." that's in the book. So, Johnny was a little kooky just like Willy Wonka in the book and (as in the book) a little mean and mischievious. The difference between 1971 Charlie and 2005 Charlie is that the new Charlie is perfect and the other is more mischievous. In the book, Charlie adores chocolate and is perfect. The adoring chocolate bit wasn't in either movie as strongly as it is in the book. There's a difference between 1971 Augustus and 2005 Augustus too. It's obvious that in 1971 Augustus weighs much less then 2005 Augustus. What does that tell you about America? I could go on talking about CATCF for hours, but I'll sum it all up by saying this: If you're looking for a nice family movie your little children will love, rent or buy the older version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But if you're looking for something a little more morbid, closer to the book, exciting, hilarious, great effects, and with Johnny Depp *faints*, then go see the new version. It's a matter of opinion if it's better then the 1971 version, but it's fact saying that it's based closer on the book and the book is not exactly a young child's book. And Tracy, you're right. Those who hated the older version are more likly to love this one and those who loved CATCF with Gene Wilder will most likely hate this one. It just depends on your taste. So those of you who are geting angry at Tim Burton for "ruining" it, then you are totally wrong because all he did was base it on the book and it's just a matter of taste.
I need to read the book. I've had it here, but have yet to find time to read both it and the sequel (Great Glass Elevator.)
I also think that depending on what kind of family movie parents are looking for - CATCF might be for them. If you have young children, then skip it and rent the old movie. But if you have older kids (my daughter is 9), she loved this new version much more. In fact, she suggested mom tosses out the old copy and buys the new one on DVD as soon as it is out. From the opening into the chocolate factory (the figurines that sing that awful Willy Wonka song and then do exactly what any sane person would want them to do!), she was completely hooked and laughing hysterically.
And a note into the Brothers Grimm - I just can't wait until I go see that one! It looks creepy and anyone that tells me it's wrong -- that fairy tales weren't creepy -- needs to look at evil witches poisoning their stepdaughters, woodsmen taking an axe to wolves who have eaten children, and my favorite old ladies who fatten children up by feeding them goodies so that they can have a delicious dinner. :-)
In my opinion the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a much better and enjoyable adapation of Roald Dahl's book. The 1971 flim staring Gene Wilder was a musical and it has been said that Dahl hated this 1971 production as it was not a faithful adaptation of his novel. Tim Burton's 2005 remake is more to what Dahl wanted and it is said that he would have loved this classic remake staring the amazing Jonny Depp.
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