Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

[kostgard]

Roger Ebert broke my heart by saying it was a good movie despite Johnny Depp's performance. He may as well have attacked me personally.

I went in thinking I would be turned off by his performance, but I ended up really liking it. But I suppose I can see how some people would be turned off by it, although I think it might mostly stem from different expectations or comparing him to Gene Wilder's interpretation.

You know, about the kid who played Augustus Gloop... I always feel sorry for kid actors whose roles are based on their being fat or unnattractive. I picture their stage parent hearing about the part and saying, "Hey! They want a fat, loutish kid! You're perfect for that!" I had the same thought when I saw Disney's The Kid -- The Bruce Willis character was constantly chiding the kid for being overweight and I hoped that in between scenes they gave the boy ego reinforcement.

I know what you mean - I always squirm for those kids.

However, the kid playing Augustus apparently wore a fat suit, so maybe it wasn't so bad for him.

[Deleted]

I just got back watching it with my daughter - we thought it was great, but I thought Wonka's hair distracting. Loved the medieval headgear! Does anyone out there agree with me about this fixation with making movies "dark?" Can't movies convey the same story with bright happy colors and lighting?

[ladymadonna]

But, ever since I read the book when I was a kid, I had the impression that it WAS dark, and a wee bit creepy.

I mean, I read incessantly, and I have since I was little. I remember reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and James and the Giant Peach, and being really disturbed by the tone of those books. It's the same feeling I get when I read A Series of Unfortunate Events, et al. They are written for children, yes, but they have very dark undertones.


Which is why I think I really enjoyed the original Willy Wonka and the present one. (I also enjoyed Series of Unfortunate Events, casting Jim Carey was brilliant). The original stories are dark, and even though everything turns out in the end, you're still left with the feeling that life itself is inherently dark.

I don't know. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I thought Burton's portrayal was spot on. Then again, Jonny Depp could play Charles Manson and I would still love him, lol.

[dwanollah]

I went this weekend, and I think... I think I love it more than the original, actually.

Of course, I hated the original as a kid; it scared the fuck out of me, and (this is sacreligious for someone who holds a M.A. in Chilluns Lit, I know), I 'm not a fan of the Roald Dahl, either. But as an adult, I loved the movie.

However, I think Burton et. al. did an amazing, and respectful, job with this version. While Gene Wilder was spectacular in one way, Depp was spectacular in a very different way. Wilder was more overtly insane, passive-aggressive, knowing and sly, whereas Depp was antisocial, offputting, covertly whacked-out and just sadistic enough. Both aren't "likable" but are intensely appealing, especially to little kids, who can gravitate towards adults who hate them much like cats head right for the one cat-hater in the room. (I speak from deep experience, mind. I hate children, and enjoy saying really strange and not-nice things to them, and the more I do, the more they come back, fascinated.)

I also loved how Burton evoked many of the visuals of the original movie, especially the first Candy Room, which was always my favorite scene in Willy Wonka. It was as over-the-top, magical and dazzling as I remember my first sight of the original when I was a kid.

I missed the original Oompa Loompa songs, but these new ones were fab, especially because they weren't overly trendy and/or contemporary (which is my complaint with many children's flicks. But in C&TCF, with the exception of the video games and the one glimpse of Oprah, it could have been set anywhere/any time). I also missed Gene Wilder's dialogue coming primarily from literary references... that added to the eccentric genius quality of his Wonka.

"His Wonka"! Hee hee hee!

Anyway, I agree with a lot of the "dark" and "creepy" observations. Adults tend to forget that kids can be really drawn to that kind of thing; it doesn't have to be all Disney sunshine and roses. Why else are Grimm's Fairy Tales -- which were originally meant to be adult-oriented folk tales -- now considered "children's lit."?

[Deleted]

I agree with all y'alls analysis on the dark tone of the book being reflected in the movie. I'm just saying I like my movies bright and sparkly and stuff Note to self: Stop Cheeto and ice cream and Starbucks intake immediately.

[Deleted]

I saw it last night. Honestly, I'd give it a C. It wasn't bad at all but it wasn't great either. I loved Violet and her mother. They cracked me up. Especially the mother's facial expressions but so much of it still looked like the original and I really was annoyed more than I thought I would be with the Oompa Loompas all looking the same. It freaked me out.

[indygirl]

All the Oompa Loompas looked essentially the same to me in the original because of the wardrobe and makeup. I saw on Showbiz Tonight that JD inisists his performance was not in any way inspired by Michael jackson. He said he was surprised that people were making that connection.

[dwanollah]

jensational said:

I saw it last night. Honestly, I'd give it a C. It wasn't bad at all but it wasn't great either. I loved Violet and her mother. They cracked me up. Especially the mother's facial expressions

Violet was actually the one thing I really hated. You know, the aggressive and ambitious girl who succeeds is a bitch and all that. After the mother (whose face-lifted visage was hysterical!) hissed something to her daughter about winning, I hissed to The Husband-Type Man, "Feminism is dead, ain't it?"

What were V. and her mother like in the book...? I think if they'd done the whole hardcore Beauty Queen thing (with the gum-chewing being Violet's "talent") and left out the "champion" thing, it might've worked better. At least, that's what I think!

[indygirl]

Who plays the mother of Violet in this movie?

[Deleted]

Violet's mother is played by Missi Pyle. Her IMDB listing has a whole slew of movies I can't remember seeing her in (Dodgeball, Anchorman, Along Came Polly). However, her most memorable role (at least to me) is Alexandra Cabot in Josie & the Pussycats.

As for the Oompa Loompa, yeah, I guess you're right indygirl that they all looked alike in the first one. I think I just have a deep weird fear of Deep Roy ever since seeing that X-files episode Badlaa where he crawls up people's butts and kills them after using them as his puppet for a few days. He freaks me out.