When I first heard that Tim Burton was doing a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I thought "Oh no. He's going to butcher it."
Don't get me wrong. For the most part, I like Tim Burton's work. Yes, he is bizarre, and probably somewhat twisted. But I like his creative flair. I enjoy his unusual characters and camera angles. But I also have read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and thoroughly enjoyed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, one of my favorite childhood movies.
In fact, I would rank the original starring Gene Wilder and Jack Albertson, as one of my Top Five Childhood Movies. In case you are curious, the others would be The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins and I am undecided about the fifth.
Nevertheless, I wanted to go to see this new version with an open mind, realizing that the beloved version from my childhood was not entirely true to Roald Dahl's book anyhow. Exactly what would happen to this story in the hands of Tim Burton?
A disaster.
It actually started out with promise. Charlie Bucket and the other children were perfectly cast. Charlie was sweet and innocent, living in a run down shack worthy of condemning, along with his mom, dad and four grandparents (all in one bed). Veruca Salt was played with the utmost obnoxious selfishness. Augustus Gloop couldn't have been any... gloopier. Mike Teevee was every parent's videogame nightmare. And the gum-chewing Violet Beaureguarde made a perfectly laughable blueberry.
All was going quite well, until we finally meet Willy Wonka.
Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka was anything but normal. He was eccentric and displayed a slight sadistic streak. But he was likeable. He was charming. You wanted to meet this mad genius.
Johnny Depp's Wonka was a huge letdown. He was a sick, sad, pathetic hermit who needed intense psychotherapy. The film takes us places the book never intended to go, revealing through psychotic flashbacks Wonka's childhood and relationship with his father, a dentist. Candy was taboo in his house and it scarred him for life.
Of course, the world created by Burton was fantastic. The man has an incredible eye for art and set direction. The chocolate factory was more stunning and complex than ever before. But more is not alway better, especially when it comes at the sacrifice of the story.
Unfortunately, the screenplay is ripped of the emotional content that makes you even care about Willy Wonka, or his relationship with Charlie. Instead of being a story about how one man inspires a little boy to great things, it became a story of how a little boy inspired a bizarre freak to get help. And they all lived happily ever after.
Sure, the kids will like it. The images are stunning. Wonka brings a few laughs from repeatedly walking into the walls of the great glass elevator. And there is plenty of chocolate. What's not to like about chocolate? But I think you'll be hard pressed to enjoy this one as an adult. If anything, it is a reminder of how they just don't make them like they used to.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
July 22, 2005 02:43 AM
Mayor,
How shall I say, this movie was FUNNY!!! I am a 31 year old kid - don't touch those squirrels nuts! said Jonny Depp. I'm buying the DVD when it's out, no doubt.
Sure his charactor Willy Wanka needed a shrink, he did see one in the movie. This fits in to todays world, I was lauphing, especially when that gold digger mother of the blueberry girl was flirting with Willy.
This movie is more than a disaster, it's priceless.
August 4, 2005 12:06 PM
I agree! This movie is a disaster! It' obviously a darker version than the original. I am sure that is what Burton intended. It's more like Willy Wonka on crack! I'm not even sure if the kids will "get" the humor as it is geared towards adults! :)
January 20, 2006 12:22 AM
While we're on the subject...What's up with Mayor Ray Nagin. What a travesty. Can you inagine the uproar had someone suggested a LILLY-WHITE city?
The next election in NO is going to be a vicious cat fight.
Let's not kid ourselves here. The people who have moved back are in the majority WHITE. No racist comments should be tolerated in any case, but it's downright dumb to say something like that knowing that the majority that's in New Orleans is going to feel the impact. Then they're going to retaliate.
Maybe not all. Some people have learned to laugh though. Someone sent me this link. www.mayorwonka.com. Very funny. Take care