Willy Wonka...

[Executioner]

Went to a midnight screening and all I have to say is WOW!!!! The movie was great. Twisted and funny, but very twisted. Depp's acting was classic. One of the best movies to come out this year. I smell an award or 2 for this movie and Depp.

[that_L_do_pig]

the only movie I am giddy for this year - CAN'T WAIT!

[Wendy Darling]

Is it really that good? I was thinking that it would be a boring remake, no matter what the reviews said...am I really that wrong about it? If I am, then I guess that I should see it...

[ichabod crane]

please please tell me it was like the book

[Director_Guy]

The film was awesome. It was not a remake, it was film version of the book. A different one than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This was was by FAR better than that one too. Much darker. More Tim Burton. I loved it. A must see! Stop reading this, and go see it already, sheesh!

[MrSmee]

*********SPOILERS AHEAD**************













I was initially not excited about the idea at all. I mean, the original Wonka film is a classic. How anyone could think to make another adaptation of the book is beyond me. Let's just remake The Wizard of Oz while we're at it, I thought. A film version of that story could also stand to be 'more faithful to the book.'
Once I saw promotional material, my thoughts changed. I realized this was going to be a completely different film. After seeing trailers, I became excited. The entire idea was like Haunted Mansion Holiday to me, in that everything was the same, yet completely different.

As excited as a spoiled rich girl with a golden ticket, I went to see the film yesterday with my friends. And interestingly enough, I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Let's try and break it down...

THE GOOD
For the most part, the film was faithful to the book. Changes like making Violet a competetive child and making Mike Teavee a technological wizard were quite fun. Danny Elfman's score is beautiful, and makes the factory less of a magical world and slightly more malicious. The different musical styles for the Oompa Loompa songs were a nice treat.
As in any Burton movie, the colors are bright and the greys are dull. There's a very "Nightmare Before Christmas" feel to a lot of the fillm as far as the design, which works well.
I liked the clever homages to the original film (such as the tiny door into the chocolate room.) Burton does this wisely (remember the frogs in Sleepy Hollow?) and it's fun here. My favorite moment in the entire film is a strange sound effect that is heard in the background during the Inventing Room sequence, lifted directly from the sounds heard in the original movie.

THE BAD
An irritating backstory featuring Christopher Lee makes the film take a turn for the worst. Though it explains Wonka's love for candy, it also seems to try to explain Wonka's hatred for malicious children, even though it doesn't. It also adds a strange Father/Son element (Burton clearly had a hand in this) that does nothing but turn the focus of the story from Charlie to Willy Wonka. I'm sorry, but the story is about Charlie's adventure, not Wonka's inner demons.
There's a lot of bad computer graphics. The opening sequence is completely computer generated, as are many of the inner workings of the factory, and some of the more spectacular fates of the children. However, none of them appear very realistic.
There's a really really really weird moment that is completely out of place, as it has nothing to do with anything, nor does it surface in any way later in the film. Wonka makes some comment about how eating chocolate releases the same endorphins you feel when you're in love, and Violet's mother makes a sexually suggestive comment, directed at Wonka. What??? Why??? We never had an impression that she was in any way sexually interested in Wonka, nor does she express any such feeling later in the story. Completely pointless.

THE UGLY
A lot of the film's elements were very creepy. Having the same actor play all the Oompa Loompas was a bit unsettling, especially when they all show up rowing the boat. The demises of the children were also quite scary. Instead of things happening offscreen because of a lack of technology, we actually see Agustus get sucked up the pipe, or Violet fill up with juice (a bit too quickly, I think.) And a lot of these seemingly awful things really do become awful. Veruca screaming and crying as the squirrels drag her away isn't cute. I was actually afraid Agustus was really going to drown in the chocolate.
Speaking of the childrens' unfortunate exits, we get to know that Wonka knows something is up. As he pretends to struggle with keys, or merely watches in anticipation, one gets the sense that he knows something, but you don't know exactly what. Was it completely planned? Is his intention to rid the world of children? It's interesting, but it leaves a strange taste in the mouth. Unlike Wilder's portrayal of Wonka, we're not sure if we're always on Willy Wonka's side this time around.
As in the book, we see the children leaving the factory, now slightly altered. While the story is clearly meant to stress some important morals about being greedy or spoiled, none of the children come out having learned anything. Though covered in garbage, Veruca hasn't stopped being a brat. Agustus hungrily licks the chocolate from his fingers. If Wonka's intention was to teach the children a lesson, it didn't work. They leave the factory acting as though nothing had happened. Violet doesn't even seem to mind that her skin is still blue.

THE ORIGINAL
Don't go in expecting anything like Gene Wilder's factory. Lamentably, some of the greatest moments added to the original film do not appear in this version. Gone is a 45 minute worldwide search for the Golden Tickets, which included some amazing humor ("I am now telling the computer *exactly* what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate.") This addition to the story helped build so much anticipation. Finding those tickets was a huge deal. Now, the new film hints at it while the story progresses much more quickly.
Gone also is the character of Slugworth, putting children to the test to see if they will help spy for him. This test made the ending much more satisfactory, as Charlie refused to give in, even when Wonka turned against him. Now, as in the book, Charlie wins because he's the only one left.
Luckily though, the Fizzy Lifting Drinks sequence is gone. While a fun scene, one that also added a bit of terror, it was completely pointless. Charlie broke the rules and still gets away with it. What a horrible plot hole. It always bothered me. I'm glad to see Charlie remain innocent the entire time, even though the focus isn't on him for much of the movie. The original film was called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (in the hopes of a tie-in with the Wonka candy company.) Burton's remake keeps the original title of the story (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,) but the story really is about Wonka this time, it seems, thanks to all the ludicrous flashbacks.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. I can't say I loved it. I can't say I hated it. I still haven't made up my mind overall. It was just an interesting movie. I'll have to let it sit for a while, discuss with a few other people, and then go see it again and see how I feel.
It's definately worth a look.

-J

[MrSmee]

Completely forgot...

Though nothing special, the Small World and Matterhorn/Skyway references were fun. Unintentional? Doubt it.

-J

[Director_Guy]

Yeah, I thought Fudge Mountain looked oddly familiar.

[kissing_mouses]

Completely forgot...

Though nothing special, the Small World and Matterhorn/Skyway references were fun. Unintentional? Doubt it.

-J
Oh, do you mean the parts with the puppets and Fudge Mountain/ Glass Elevator? But anyways, I saw it yesterday and I loved it!!!!!!!! The music was awesome. And the beggining was, too. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory's beggining was long and boring, while this beggining was short, sweet, and interesting. Johnny Deep and Freddy Highmore were great. And is it just me or does Julia Winter(present Veruca Salt) look a LOT like Julie Dawn Cole (past Veruca Salt)? I know someone who liked it soo much that she saw it twice yesterday! And if you have an IMAX theater near-by, see it there. I have only heard good things about it in IMAX. It is worth the money.

[bigugly]

Saw it this morning. Great film.

Funny thing is, I remember seeing the original for the first time at the drive-in theater when I was really young. I definitely remember, even at that young age, thinking "Wow, what a really strange film". We took our kids to see it, and I think they had pretty much the same reaction to the new version!

Burton did a good job. It's different enough to where it's hard to really compare the two "Chocolate Factory" films. I like them both!

What I'm REALLY excited about now is Corpse Bride. I knew this was going to be coming down the pike, but after seeing the preview today, I'm really jazzed! It looks beautiful!

[PeoplemoverMatt]

So let me see if I understand this right...

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" has the feel of being primarily about Charlie and...
Burton's remake keeps the original title of the story (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,) but the story really is about Wonka this time, it seems, thanks to all the ludicrous flashbacks.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has the feel of being primarily about Willy Wonka. Interesting...

-- Peoplemover "There was a sequel written by Dahl - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator! Vermicious K'nids! Woo!" Matt

[protostars]

This is a great version of the book (even with the father being added). I just hope tim burton does the sequal to it, as nobody has made "the great glass elevator" (book 2 in the story) the story grows even darker and stranger in that book.

[brunetteTinkerbell1955]

i watched it yesterday i have to say it was really funny and cool!

when willy wanka introdutces himself and the little dolls came out i thought it was its a small world! lol (when they go in the elevator and pass by all this stuff they pass by a mountain that looks exactly like the matterhorn while the oompa loompas climb it) lol

[MrSmee]

It's very interesting to note that as faithful to the book as this new adaptation claims to be, Roald Dahl actually wrote the screenplay for the first Wonka Film.

-J

[ichabod crane]

That is true but he hated it.

[kissing_mouses]

That is true but he hated it.



Who can blame him?!? Most of the old one was boring.

[SurfedUpDane]

For those who have seen the movie:
Did they really have a scene where they showed the Matterhorn? I heard something about this on another blog, wondering if it were true?
-KyleA

[kissing_mouses]

For those who have seen the movie:
Did they really have a scene where they showed the Matterhorn? I heard something about this on another blog, wondering if it were true?
-KyleA


It wasn't actually the Matterhorn. It just really looks like it.

[Mr Incredible]

This is a great version of the book (even with the father being added). I just hope tim burton does the sequal to it, as nobody has made "the great glass elevator" (book 2 in the story) the story grows even darker and stranger in that book.

I don't think Burton will do the sequal, and I think that there will probably wouldn't be a remake of Great Glass Elevator soon, since this version has a new ending that is very different from the book and doesn't leave much room for a remake of the Great Glass Elevator (even though, I too would love to see it get made). Also, I must comment that I really liked this version, I think it is a better film that the version from '71, but I found that the weakest thing about this new one was the old versions strongest and that is the role of Willy Wonka. I found that Johnny Depp's portrayl was too weird and at sometime (it not all the time he was on screen) he reminded me of Michael Jackson, unlike Gene Wilder, who played Wonka as more like I imagined Wonka in the book. So the Tim Burton version is a better film than the Gene Wilder version, but Gene Wilder was a much better Wonka than Michael Jackson- I mean Johnny Depp.

[Mousekiteer]

It wasn't actually the Matterhorn. It just really looks like it.
But one did think of the skyway.

I thought it was extremely amusing. I loved Freddie. I wanted to hug him every time he showed up on screen.

[icarian]

WOW, just got back from seeing this movie... i figured since my disneyland trip for today was cancelled for a stupid reason, id at least treat myself to a movie ive been looking forward to.

Let me just say that this version is DEFINATELY a Tim Burton film. Even if that fact were to be kept secret, and his name were not to appear on anything associating him with the film, you would immediately know that he was the mastermind behind this malicious new version.

Did anyone else leave the theater thinking that wonka intentionally tried to take the children places that he knew they would be tempted the most... Giving each child upmost temptation to their individual personalities, and at the same time letting that temptation eventually bring each child to their demise?.... Not that im complaining about the film... its just... yea.... questions come up in my head the same way mr.smee described with the whole fumbling for keys thing.... then locking mr.sault in with the squirells? um... wierd.

Overall, i left the theater LOVING the movie. It is entertaining enough for children, yet i found it to have enough explorable depth for adults. Lets all welcome in the next Tim Burton cult classic....sadly, there were some teens behind us that had obviously been.... um.... smoking natures resources... and had apparently seen 3 out of the 5 showings that day. they wouldnt stop giggling at all... which was annoying, but made the oompa loompa scenes a bit funnier.

[KIX]

for me, i thought it was an ok film. but having never read the book, my expectations were too high. I did like the film with gene wilder. man the scene when the song comes up. of course it reminded me of it's a small world...man it was stuck in my head even when i tried listening to my over cd's...i'm starting to want to listen to the small world track. and the glass elevator part when they passed my the mountain, I thought it did look like the mattahorn with the skyway. that was cool.

I'm going to go and read the book

[Loneknight]

Information on Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator:

It will not happen.

For this new incarnation, Depp is attached to the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, which makes it nearly impossible for him to do any other projects.

In regards to the original Wonka:
Yes, the screenplay for the first Wonka was written by the books' creator, Roald Dahl. However, there was changes meant to be implemented in the script that was not approved by Dahl, and after reading the revised script, Dahl became furious and pulled all of his support from the film. When approached to do the sequel, Dahl would not give his consent. It appears though, and don't quote me on this, but I watched a Behind-the-scenes clip of the new Wonka, and it looked like Dahl was on the set.

There's a great amount of trivia available at the IMDB about this and the original movie. This is where I learned a lot about the first Wonka:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067992/trivia

Also, in the theater the first Wonka was a flop.

[Legend_S]

I saw it twice, all I can say is great film, just cant wait for it on DVD, I loved the oompa loompa songs, I was doing a little dance in my seat with my sister and friends XD. So yeah, go see it if you havent!

[MinnielovesMickey]

I saw the movie and I thought it was great! I loved how they put in the Matterhorn and its a small world! I didn't like how the didn't have the part where Charlie and his Grandfather Drink the fizzy drink. But overal it was a good movie

[brunetteTinkerbell1955]

For this new incarnation, Depp is attached to the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, which makes it nearly impossible for him to do any other projects.



i was watching some show and they were talking to johnny depp and they said that depp and the cast are working on PoTC 2 and Potc 3, SO there will be 3 movies of PoTC in the end, im really excited about them

[MrSmee]

For this new incarnation, Depp is attached to the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, which makes it nearly impossible for him to do any other projects.



They won't be making Pirates sequels forever. If one day, they decide to make a Glass Elevator film, it could happen. Just not anytime soon.

-J

[ichabod crane]

If anyone read the book the glass elavator (not to be mean but alot just watch the film) it would cost millions and be great to watch because of the suspence.

The only problem is Grandma Georgina despised Mr. Wonka in the book which would not work in the second film because she admired Willy in the first.

Besides that it would be brilliant for Tim Burton.

In fact any Roald Dahl film would be great for him.

[brunetteTinkerbell1955]

in the trailers there is a preview for Corpse Bride, it looks like another nightmare before christmas, at first i thought it was a sequel, i looks fun and johnny deep is the voice of the main character, i wanna se it, i didnt pay attention but is it a disney movie?

[icarian]

I thought dahl passed away a couple years ago?....

oh, and corpse bride... not a disney film, though i wonder how WB attained rights to use the "whats this?" underscore for the trailer. Granted danny elfman composed it, and burton directed NBC... but disney still owns the rights to the music, right?

[that_L_do_pig]

Well I reread the book and rewatched the original Wilder film before seeing the movie.

I took my 4 and 7 year old girls. They loved it at face value - end of that...

I loved it walking out of the theater and love it more and more reflecting back on it.

I was initially concerned that completely made-up plot that they took with the reflections on Wonka's childhood would be a distraction to the movie. It turns out that they MADE the movie for me. In rereading the book a few weeks ago for the first time as an adult, I thought 'There is not a lot here' thematically - I mean it is no Wizard of Oz. So, IMHO the additional sub plot of Wonka's upbringing adds the thematic elements necessary to bump this from good movie to great movie.

Also, Depp's portrayl of Wonka: I went in with bad mojo due to all the Michael Jackson comparisons - IT'S NOT THERE; IT DOES NOT EXIST. After I realized that Depp did not channel Michael Jackson in any way I really began to enjoy his character. It made me want to run home and watch POTC and go 'Wow!'

[Loneknight]

They won't be making Pirates sequels forever. If one day, they decide to make a Glass Elevator film, it could happen. Just not anytime soon.

-J

I'm just calling them as I see them. Depp seemed pretty adamant that they won't do the sequel, but things can change.

[ichabod crane]

About the father part Tim Burton added it to show why he was an ecentric candymaker.

[MrSmee]

Roald Dahl passed away in 1990, according to my copy of the novel.

-J

[Loneknight]

^^^All the more reason not to quote me on that! :)

The other facts remain true, as verified on the IMDB, though.

[judo_lin]

I actually did think there were some fascinating resemblances between Depp's portrayal of Wonka and Michael Jackson, though I would not say that he was "channeling" by any means. It's interesting because the similarities are marked also by great differences. Depp's Wonka has created a world that would be any child's paradise, and yet he seems to despise children - all children, not just the awful ones. Like Jackson, Depp's Wonka doesn't seem to be able to connect with people, children or adults, in any meaningful way. I felt that was the only disappointing part of the film; I felt very little chemistry between Depp's character and Freddy Highmore's. I can name plenty of reasons why Depp's Wonka obviously can't be the father figure for Charlie like Wilder's was in the first movie, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss it.

I would have preferred the story maintaining its focus on Charlie rather than Wonka, but that perhaps is my fondness for talented child actors showing through.

One thing I appreciated about this film is that at the end we do see that the children have all survived. If I remember correctly, we never learn in the Wilder film whether the other children have made it out of the factory alive. I also found it fascinating that Burton claims he purposely did not watch the Wilder version so as to not be influenced by it while making his own version, and that when he did screen the Wilder version afterward, he claimed the original was much darker than his own.

[Loneknight]

If I remember correctly, we never learn in the Wilder film whether the other children have made it out of the factory alive.

At the end of the first film, Charlie did ask Wonka what would happen to the others. Wonka replied, "My dear boy, I promise you they'll be quite alright. When they leave here, they'll be completely restored to their normal, terrible old selves....but maybe they'll be a little bit wiser for the ware."

Verbatum. I have the movie at work.

[Executioner]

If you read the book than you probably would like the new movie. I watched the extras on the DVD for the original and they even stated they didn't want to make it like the book, they wanted it to be more of a musical and also somewhat friendlier. Tim Burton's is very close to the book. I think people are just to use to seeing the original and never having read the book, think that that was the story, when it had been drastically changed. Also, times change and what is good and bad for T.V. and movies back then is way different now. Views have changed, society has changed. I think Tim did a great job. It's about time someone followed closely to the book.

[brunetteTinkerbell1955]

i really loved the movie, i cant remember, but in the book did violet bring her mother? because in the original movie she brought her dad (and was brunette)lol

[MrSmee]

In the book, each child brought both parents.

Not sure what color hair Violet had in the book, but it was curly.

-J

[WelcomeFoolishMortals999]

I'm going to see the movie right now. I also have the soundtrack (I'm listening to it). Since I see ur post Jed, Happy Belated Birthday! (from yesterday). If only you could IM right now...

[WelcomeFoolishMortals999]

Great Movie! Awesome Story! Eerie and mystical in its own Tim Burton way.

[AlexLoup]

I know it was wonderful... I have read the book as a kid and was totally confused with Willy Wonka as compared to Charlie.
I thought that Depp as Willy was more like a child... *Spoiler*think about it. His dad left when he tried to run away, (in total Bruton fashion) so I think they played on the the fact that he may have not grown up mentally. He probably did lead them to each room without a purpose but hwne they do what they aren't supposed to he just steps back and doesn't do anything, becasue he knows they deserve it.
I want to soundtrack (as a note the Lyrics for the Oompa Loompas are from the book and the singing voices were done by Elfman himself which made me very happy.)
As a side note Deep Roy the guy that does the Oompa Loompas he also is the Short Hitchiking Ghost in the Haunted Mansion movie.

Now Everybody!
Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka the amazing choclate-tier... Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka everybody give a cheer!

[Indy #1 Fan]

The movie was AWESOME!! The new Oompa-Loompas looked freaky at first but they were AMAZING singers!!!! That song that those puppets sing, called "Wonka's Welcome Song" IS THE MOST ANNOYING SONG OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!
I was also shocked at the end that the narrator turned out to be a psychiatrist Oompa-Loompa. Did you know that once Johnny Depp got the part of Willy Wonka, he recommended Freddie Highmore for the role of Charlie? You may remeber that they were in Finding Neverland together.