Charlie and the Chocolate Factor... Okay, after debating much, I've decided to not see it on morale principles. I've looked time and time again at the previews, and Willy Wonka's character is not portrayed as accurately as I'd hope. Like when the child strolls up to Willy and goes "I'm Violet Beauregarde", and his response was "I don't care"..... UGH that's disturbing...rude...and if anyone had the common sense and was spoken to any child, I'd smack em silly.
"Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka" keeps going thru my head. Tim Burton was an excellent choice for director.
He was horrible to the children in the book too, Josh. Tim Burton and company were actually following the book, not the original movie. But yes, this summer's bumper crop of "Remakes of Movies and Teleivision Shows that Kristal loved as a child and should have been left well enough alone" has not made me want to dash out and see a movie, with the exception of "Star Wars Episode 3." And I had to take my kids out into the lobby of the theater when Annikan went into the Jedi Temple and killed the young ones. My daughter cries when she sees stuff like that.
I didn't even take my daughter to either movie, not sure she's ready. She's a bit tenderhearted for mean movies. She did watch all three Harry Potters recently, though ... I loved Charlie, possibly because although I like the original movie I saw room for improvement. The special effects in this movie are awesome and I loved how rude Willie was ... he wasn't supposed to be very grown-up, that was the whole point. He was a lost kid in a man's body, kind of like some famous celebrity I could name ... And Johnny Depp rules. He can play any role and isn't afraid to be a dork. Which Willie really was. A big doofusy dork. Someone said he's a character actor who just happens to have leading man looks, and I think that's accurate. Plus, Freddy Highmore is an amazing child actor. I hope fame doesn't ruin his life. The original Charlie lives a quiet life and has turned out to be a truly cool human being. He speaks, once a year, to kids only, about his experiences as Charlie.
I like the new movie, I heard that Roald Dahl HATED the first movie anyway. This is 95% more like the book. Willy Wonka is not supposed to like kids, and he is not good around people after having recipies stolen and not talking to people in a few decades. Willy is supposed to be rude. Thats who he is. The end would make up for the quote you dont like Josh. I'm not going to tell so you will just have to see the end yourself. I saw the new one twice.
I am also hoping to see it. Roald Dahl was a brilliant writer who also happened to write books specially for children (as opposed to writing the sort of books that adults wish were the sort of things children like). Kids love boogers and snot and poo; they like to be scared ... not too much ... just the right amount. Dahl knew this and used his knowledge to perfection. I used to love reading his stories to my own kids and the oogier they were the better they liked them. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory was really quite a dark novel with some really quite gruesome sfuff. The original movie went far too far in bowdlerising the scenario solely for commerciality. Art should never bow to commercial pressure.
And yet, so often it does. Which is why I stopped listening to mainstream music a few years ago. It's so hard to find a diamond amidst all that coal. Occasionally, I do, though. I'm probably the last person on earth to discover the White Stripes, but they're actually original, unlike the corporate *(sj2!8 that passes for most "music" these days. On topic, I agree with Mirelly. Charlie was a disturbing but entertaining book, and the new movie captures that much better. I also enjoyed Mathilda, which captured the book fairly accurately. Danny Devito was brilliant as the horrid father.
Oh yes! Matilda was quite sweetly done. Devito was excellent ... as always, but I suspect again that the directorial style values where to make the "nastyiness" rather comic bookish to avoid upsetting the parents ... mind you I was amazed to find Pam Ferris playing the evil headmistress ... after playing Ma Larkin ... p'raps they couldn't get Julie Wallace (who I thought it was, but imdb says not )
I read the book and saw the original movie... loved 'em both... but don't want to see the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dunno why, but it sorta creeps me out.... not something I like when I go to movies.
I watched the original film several years ago but can't remember much about it... With the remake I may go and see it in theaters, but I'm not too sure yet. From the previews Depp seems to be giving off a weird Michael Jackson-vibe, which is a little odd, and makes me want to avoid it (at least until PayPerView).
I know. You see, though, and I can't remember where I saw it but just so you know that the idea is not mine and I'm giving credit to someone for it. Anyway, the difference is that Michael Jackson likes kids (a little too much?) and Wonka, in this movie, is supposed to have a dislike for them. That, or the fact that he's more or less a kid himself which has led to a lack of courtesy and manners...
I think it's a little of both. Anyway, I didn't find the movie creepy at all. In fact, it's rather heartwarming and fun ... I encourage you all to see it.
