Okay, I must begin this post by saying that I have always hated the movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." It ticked me off right from the start by being titled wrong -- all for the introduction and promotion of a new candy company. So they were on my bad side from the word go. Add in the ridiculous, scary Oompa-Loompas, the *dreadful* music (except for the theme, which was around LONG before the movie), and it generally sucks in about every way possible. The only thing I liked was Gene Wilder's funny protests as the kids go to their doom, one by one: "No, stop. Really. You must stop." That's funny.
And I must also divulge that I love Johnny Depp. This, like my affair with Bruce, is a long-standing and deep relationship which I treasure. I love "Edward Scissorhands," I love "Pirates of the Caribbean," I love "Chocolat," I love "Cry Baby." And if you know that movie, well, then, I will regard you as a Depp fan, too. If you don't, you are not worthy to worship at the shrine of Johnny.
So we watched "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" tonight. According to Roald Dahl's widow, Roald was NOT happy with the Gene Wilder version, either. But she says he would be delighted with this one. I had some issues with it, but I have to say that overall I think it is far more clever, more visually fantastic, and well, just BETTER, than the old one. Johnny is just odd enough to really be creepy yet loveable (how does he do that?), and Tim Burton is simply a genius. There is NO overstating that. Amazing.
And I want blue hair just like Violet Beauregard's. Anybody know how to do that?
Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend. Scrapbooker, family historian, reader, cook, photographer. Volunteer. Political junkie. Springsteen fan. Loves deeply, strives daily to be a cheerful, kind and generous person. Fails regularly. Snarky, judgy and more than a little blunt. Some people don't appreciate my style. If you're one of them, that's ok. Get your own blog.
We saw it on vacation this summer and I agree that it is *WAY* better than that shit version we had to sit through as a kid.
ReplyDeleteI used to like the old one as a kid, and then saw it as a teen and realized it's really a movie for adults about parenting...really bad parenting. I took B to see this in the theatre and he didn't quite know what to make of it. Clearly we need to read the book (we've done James and the Giant Peach, but not this one).
ReplyDeleteI've been a JD fan since Jump Street. Cry Baby? Weird movie. How about Benny & Joon? That one at least had that cool song by the Proclaimers!
I must tell you I have gotten much entertainment about attempting to pronounce the "code" word that allows me to post..."gkndhpxt" (God bless you!)
Yeah,,I am with Heather..hated it too. I think that the Gene Wilder version from when I was a kid is so imbedded in me that I was disappointed in the new one. It also scared the crap out of my daughter!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found me again too!