Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (spoilers)

[whitesapphire]

Yay! I just came back from seeing it. It was a lot of fun--very different than the Gene Wilder version but closer to the tone of the book.

Johnny Depp did a great job. He was genuinely disconcerting, though the addition of a back story made his character kinda interesting.

I like the fact that Charlie didn't have to screw and up and then redeem himself. He didn't win because he was the hero; he won because he was the "least rotten." Perfect.

The Oompa Loopas were a bit freaky.

I love the original, but I was never a huge fan of the ending. I thought this ending was much better developed. I especially liked the fact that we got to see what happened to the other kids.

Has anyone else seen it yet?

[BurningStar4]

I should be seeing it tomorrow, (monday) so I'll write something about it when I do.

[BurningStar4]

I just got back from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it was really an amazing film. I liked it much better than the 1970's version and I thought it stayed true to the book.

You can tell this is a Tim Burton film right from the very first scene. The movie begins with the assembly line inside the Wonka factory and then progresses to tell Charlie's life story and flashbacks to the beginning of Wonka's success (told through Charlie's grandfather who used to work for Wonka). The rest of the story is similar to that of the old movie, there are 4 rotten children who win the Golden Ticket and in turn get what they deserve inside the factory, only this time we see what becomes of them afterwards at the end of the film and little things about what happens to each of them is a little different from the old movie. One thing I particularly liked about the film was that while Charlie was a good child it was never said he was not a rotten child and that is why he won the contest, Willy states that he is simply the least rotten since the other 4 children were harder to please than Charlie. Wonka himself is a rotten person in his own way, but even he pales in comparison to the other 4 children. I think the story conveys that we all have our faults and downfalls but it's to what extent we let them become us that makes us a good or a bad person.

The cinematography was amazing and the sets were superb. I loved the fact that Deep Roy played all of the Oompa Loompa's and he did a great job as them, the musical scenes with him performing are absoloutely hilarious. There is a lot of dark humor and the movie is very much tongue in cheek comedy. There is a lot of subtle messages in the movie, for example, regular people idolizing those who are more successful only to find out they are just as normal and weird as the rest of us, a gigantic corporation sitting above the less fortunate (who at one time helped the corporation become the giant they are today).

Ebert gave a review stating that Johnny Depp's performance was not a good one and that he made a bad mistake in choosing this film and I disagree. I am a huge fan of Depp but am not afraid to state when I think he's made a poor choice, such as with Finding Neverland. I actually think Depp's role in this movie and how he portrayed the character actually proove even more that he is capable of anything and is one of the most talented actors in history. Ebert also claimed that no one could sit through the movie and not think of Michael Jackson, well I didn't think of him at all. Depp not only does not look anything like Michael Jackson (aside from being pale, but I'm pale and I don't look like Michael Jackson) but his behavior in the movie is far from Jackson's behavior. Sure, inviting kids to your factory to play might seem a bit like Michael Jackson, but he doesn't invite them to play, he invites them to basically teach them a lesson, and to end up with the one child who can undertake his factory since he is retiring.

The music was exceptional as always with Danny Elfman but I don't think it will be nominated and it is nothing memorable as with the music from Scissorhands or Big Fish. I thought his little Willy Wonka Theme Song was hilarious and reminded me so much of "It's a Small World" because it is just as annoying.

I thought Burton made a mess with his remake of Planet of the Apes and was a little bit scared he might do the same with this, but he didn't. The movie overall has a unique and weird quality to it as with any Burton film, but even those who are not a fan of Burton should not be disappointed.

[missemme]

Awesome star now you made me REALLY want to go see it quickly...maybe tomorrow!!