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| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; minor spoilers | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 19 2005, 01:16 PM (221 Views) | |
| dolmansaxlil | Jul 19 2005, 01:16 PM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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There are a couple spoilers in here, but nothing earth shattering, especially if you've see the original movie or read the book. I went to see CatCF yesterday afternoon. I liked it...but. They were SO insistent that this wasn't a remake of the movie, but rather an adaptation of the book. However, the design and many of the scenes were SO similar to the Wilder flick, that it really seemed like a remake. Not only that, but a very close remake. I was fine with it - the design was very well done, the staging was excellent, but I found that interesting. Johnny Depp's acting was superb, but I'm not sure how I feel about the interpretation of the role. Maybe it's just cause we have Wilder to compare him too, but I've read the book several times as well, and that's just not how I see the character. So brilliant acting, but I'm not sure of the directing choice there. I could have done without the flashbacks to his childhood. I didn't feel they added anything to the story (other than to explain why Depp's portrayal of Wonka was so bizarre, and I've already covered that). That said, Christopher Lee was excellent, as usual. I just thought that addition was unnecessary. Now - my biggest problem. The ending. What was up with Charlie and his folks still living in the ramshakle house (though, granted, now beside the lovely chocolate river in the factory). It just seemed bizarre to me. The television chocolate bar seen that used Also Sprach Zarathrustra was brilliant! I liked the minor changes to a couple things to bring it more up to date - the television watching kid is now a video-game nut/tech nut. I thought that was well done. The child actors were all fantastic. I really enjoyed all of their performances. The oompa loompas were suitably creepy, since they were all little clones of each other. I actually think I liked them better than in the original flick. I liked the original OL songs better, but didn't really have a problem with the songs in the new one. Just out of curiousity, did anyone catch Burton's homage to...um...himself when Willy Wonka opens the factory? Depp cuts the ribbon to the new factory, then turns around all decked out in his goth-gear and top hat, pale face, etc, and he has a HUGE pair of scissors in one hand. His hand is mostly obscured by the jacket he is wearing, and it just screamed Edward Scissorhands. I thought it was interesting. It's visually stunning, it's (of course) a classic story, the acting was excellent on all counts. I'm just not so sure I agree with a couple of the directorial decisions. |
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"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson My Flickr Photostream | |
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| BeeLady | Jul 19 2005, 01:41 PM Post #2 |
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Middle Aged Carp
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This was the very first thing I noticed and nearly burst out laughing! I took my boys to see it this afternoon since it was 90+ degrees and humid! We enjoyed it, though my one niggling complaint was Depps makeup...it seems to change color from scene to scene or cut to cut...going from ash, blue, pink, white... The visuals were stunning, the oompah loompah(s) hysterial, especially Doris! The squirrels freaked my kids out a bit...they do know about rabies and that was their first instinct!My littlest loved the ending with the house location and the source of snow.. I took the movie as it was trying not to compare it to the Gene Wilder version. I do so love Depp and dark humor so his rather bizarre take was entertaining... And just a bit creepy. I found myself more than once trying to shake off the similarities of the character and story with that of Michael Jackson...eeeewwwww |
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"My wheel shall sing responsive to my tread, And I will spin so fine, so strong a thread Fate shall not cut it, nor Time's forces break" "Distaff and Spindle: Sonnets by Mary Ashley Townsend" 1895 | |
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| The 89th Key | Jul 19 2005, 07:32 PM Post #3 |
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Hey Dol...nice to see your thoughts. ![]() One quick thing...I far more enjoyed the ending of the old movie. To be specific, Wilder's behavior: glazed eyes, incessant smile, all from a childish emotion of passing on his dream to a worthy person coming true...basically his demeanor in the elevator. I really liked that ending more...felt more genuine, but besides that...these are just two different movies. Two different interpretations of the book. This one is far more of a comedy, and the old one is unique and classic. |
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| dolmansaxlil | Jul 19 2005, 08:15 PM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I had the same thought. |
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"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson My Flickr Photostream | |
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| musicasacra | Jul 22 2005, 10:12 PM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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IT and I just saw the movie. I definitely prefer the first with Gene Wilder . . . There's more time spent on Charlie and his family before the golden ticket, more time spent on Grandpa Joe and Charlie's mother. I also enjoyed Wilder's more colorful and frenetic Wonka. Depp was amusing, but also kind of creepy in a pale, withdrawn celebrity way. The surprise of Charlie winning the factory was also minimized in the new movie . . . he happened to be the last kid left. In the first, Charlie receiving the factory was directly tied to his honesty. Ah, well. |
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| The 89th Key | Jul 22 2005, 11:29 PM Post #6 |
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Very nice post! I agree with you very much.
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The squirrels freaked my kids out a bit...they do know about rabies and that was their first instinct!

4:14 PM Jul 10