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ruSo, Eien-chan and I went and saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" yesterday. I've actually been looking forward to seeing it. I'm a fan of both the Gene Wilder version and the book(my copy of which has been well loved), and my interest was immediately perked when they said they'd be doing another version of the movie. I've been curious about what Tim Burton would do with the story, and Johnny Depp does such wonderful characters, so I've been wondering what he would do with the character of Willy Wonka.
So, now that I've seen it, I have some thoughts about it. They're mainly non-plot-related, but I don't think I can get away with talking about some things without talking about the plot. However, I think most of the plot things would be old hat to anyone who's read the book or seen the Gene Wilder version. Even so, there were some other things in the movie that didn't follow either one in this Tim Burton version of the movie and I'll try to not reveal anything, but I can't guarantee that. So, just to err on the side of caution, behind the cut they go.
While I want to judge the Tim Burton version solely on its own merits, without comparing and contrasting it to the Gene Wilder version, some of my thoughts inevitably fall back to that. They're two takes on the same source, so I guess one can't help but compare and contrast a little. I guess the best way to do this is to do this bullet-style, as there are some specific things I want to talk about, and I'm probably going to jump all over the place. So, onwards, with the thoughts in no particular order.
--The feel: Yes, this is definitely a Tim Burton film. I can't quite put my finger on what it is that makes it that. Maybe it's the slight feeling of disconnectedness from the world as we know it, the background music(which had hints of "Beetlejuice", IMHO), or the funny way certain things are coordinated, but this movie definitely said "This is a Tim Burton production".
--The authenticity: One of the things that immediately perked my interest when they mentioned that there was a new version of the movie being made was that Tim Burton wanted to make a movie version that was truer to the book. I think he accomplished that. The movie is definitely much truer to the book than the Gene Wilder version, both in large ways, like what happens to Veruca and how we get to see the kids going home, and in small ways, like the the fact that the boat was giant and pink and how exactly things happen to Violet once she pops the Special Gum in her mouth. I really really liked that.
--The Oompa-Loompa songs: By far, my most favorite aspect of the movie were the Oompa-Loompa songs. Those who have read the book will recognize the lyrics as they were the songs that the Oompa-Loompas sang after each kid had their comeuppance in the book(with some cuts, unfortunately, but oh well). While I appreciate that faithfulness to the book, I also really liked how each song was done in a different style. In particular, Mike's song was fun to listen to(particularly with what was going on during it). But in general, the style changes made hearing the songs a lot of fun.
--The Oompa-Loompas themselves: Again, another aspect of authenticity. I liked getting to see Loompaland and how the Oompa-Loompas conducted themselves while they lived there, and how they managed to make them, well, no taller than Mr. Wonka's knee. What I'm not sure I liked though was that they were basically the clone army. It was a little unsettling to see basically every Oompa-Loompa with the exact same face.
--The kids' parents: Unfortunately, I think the parents fell flat on the emotional side. None of them really had any of the pride or worry or concern that the parents did in the Gene Wilder version. In fact, I got the impression that none of them really cared much. None of them really protested when their kids ran amok, nor really showed any amount of worry when they got into things that had some nasty results. I mean, if my kid just went up a pipe and got stuck, I'd be having a coniption fit and calling for an axe to split the pipe with to get him out and so on and so forth. Even if their kids *are* beastly, they are their kids, and they might show a bit more concern.
--The kids sans Charlie: I kinda had mixed feelings about the kids. In general, I think they could have done more to show their faults. Vercua could have been more of a spoiled brat(here's where the Gene Wilder movie version of her is better, methinks), Mike could have had more of a TV obsession, and so on. On the other hand though, I dunno what I thought about Mike's character. I appreciate the fact that he's basically the one that questions everything Willy Wonka does so he's gonna be a little antagonistic, but I think he was a little too much of a punk. The bit in the Chocolate Room with him was just too much.
--Charlie: On the other hand, I think Freddie Highmore(I think that's how his name's spelled...) did an excellent job as Charlie. He definitely brought through his sweet lovableness and his nobility and gosh darnit, he's just a cute kid. I just wanted to give him a big squeeze.
--The backstory and the ending: ...Yeah. Obviously not in either previous version of the story. At first, it put me off, as I was kinda going "WTF? This wasn't in either version at *all!*", but I usually do that whenever I see a book turned into a movie that throws in stuff that wasn't in the book. I can appreciate that it would be nigh on impossible for a movie to be completely faithful to a book, but on the other hand, I don't always appreciate it when things are added in. But I thought about what was done some more, and the more I think about it, the more it kinda worked. It was nice to see a take on what Willy Wonka's past was like, and in light of what happened there, the ending basically had to be changed. It couldn't end the way it did in the book or the first movie simply because it would've been a total cop out. I think these were Tim Burton's attempts at making the story appeal to a wider(namely, also an older) audience, since there's some conflict and uncertainty added in. So, while at first, it was disconcerting, it kinda grew on me.
--Willy Wonka: I had very mixed feelings about Willy Wonka. I do think Johnny Depp once again showed his versatility as an actor, and as a very good actor, as he was able to form this character that was *nothing* like anything he had done before, but on the other hand, I think the take itself on Willy Wonka wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Now while I haven't read the book in a while, so my remembering may be a bit skewed, the way I always percieved Willy Wonka was that he was a very energetic man, who was childish, but still had his own amount of sensibility, slightly off though it may be. I think this version of Willy Wonka was a little *too* disconnected from reality. The best example I can give of this was his needing to use cue cards once in a while for his own factory. I also think that he could have been a little less snarky. It seemed almost like at times that he was OUT TO GET THEM, in his expressions and his tones of voice. I'd like to think that he gave them a chance to be good, but in the end it was the wonders of the factory that got them. I dunno. I think in general he was good, but I think he could have been better.
--The gags: There were some downright HILARIOUS moments in the movie. I won't give them away, but I will say that there's a movie reference towards the end, and I'd like to know if anyone caught it as early as I did. ^_^;;
--Overall: I loved the book. I loved the Gene Wilder version. I think I love this version just as much. Just like the other version of the movie, it had its own virtues and vices, and ultimately it's another take on the same story. I think in that aspect, it did well, and I really appreciate how it stuck to the story when it did. Overall, it's a fun movie, with lots of fun moments and awesome songs, and I think it's worth seeing. I also have a new favorite quote from the movie. I don't know if I can relate it verbatim here, but it's in the full movie preview if you want to hear it as it's supposed to be, and it's said after Mike says how everything in the factory is pointless. Charlie replies with "Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy." I really liked that.
So, now that I've seen it, I have some thoughts about it. They're mainly non-plot-related, but I don't think I can get away with talking about some things without talking about the plot. However, I think most of the plot things would be old hat to anyone who's read the book or seen the Gene Wilder version. Even so, there were some other things in the movie that didn't follow either one in this Tim Burton version of the movie and I'll try to not reveal anything, but I can't guarantee that. So, just to err on the side of caution, behind the cut they go.
While I want to judge the Tim Burton version solely on its own merits, without comparing and contrasting it to the Gene Wilder version, some of my thoughts inevitably fall back to that. They're two takes on the same source, so I guess one can't help but compare and contrast a little. I guess the best way to do this is to do this bullet-style, as there are some specific things I want to talk about, and I'm probably going to jump all over the place. So, onwards, with the thoughts in no particular order.
--The feel: Yes, this is definitely a Tim Burton film. I can't quite put my finger on what it is that makes it that. Maybe it's the slight feeling of disconnectedness from the world as we know it, the background music(which had hints of "Beetlejuice", IMHO), or the funny way certain things are coordinated, but this movie definitely said "This is a Tim Burton production".
--The authenticity: One of the things that immediately perked my interest when they mentioned that there was a new version of the movie being made was that Tim Burton wanted to make a movie version that was truer to the book. I think he accomplished that. The movie is definitely much truer to the book than the Gene Wilder version, both in large ways, like what happens to Veruca and how we get to see the kids going home, and in small ways, like the the fact that the boat was giant and pink and how exactly things happen to Violet once she pops the Special Gum in her mouth. I really really liked that.
--The Oompa-Loompa songs: By far, my most favorite aspect of the movie were the Oompa-Loompa songs. Those who have read the book will recognize the lyrics as they were the songs that the Oompa-Loompas sang after each kid had their comeuppance in the book(with some cuts, unfortunately, but oh well). While I appreciate that faithfulness to the book, I also really liked how each song was done in a different style. In particular, Mike's song was fun to listen to(particularly with what was going on during it). But in general, the style changes made hearing the songs a lot of fun.
--The Oompa-Loompas themselves: Again, another aspect of authenticity. I liked getting to see Loompaland and how the Oompa-Loompas conducted themselves while they lived there, and how they managed to make them, well, no taller than Mr. Wonka's knee. What I'm not sure I liked though was that they were basically the clone army. It was a little unsettling to see basically every Oompa-Loompa with the exact same face.
--The kids' parents: Unfortunately, I think the parents fell flat on the emotional side. None of them really had any of the pride or worry or concern that the parents did in the Gene Wilder version. In fact, I got the impression that none of them really cared much. None of them really protested when their kids ran amok, nor really showed any amount of worry when they got into things that had some nasty results. I mean, if my kid just went up a pipe and got stuck, I'd be having a coniption fit and calling for an axe to split the pipe with to get him out and so on and so forth. Even if their kids *are* beastly, they are their kids, and they might show a bit more concern.
--The kids sans Charlie: I kinda had mixed feelings about the kids. In general, I think they could have done more to show their faults. Vercua could have been more of a spoiled brat(here's where the Gene Wilder movie version of her is better, methinks), Mike could have had more of a TV obsession, and so on. On the other hand though, I dunno what I thought about Mike's character. I appreciate the fact that he's basically the one that questions everything Willy Wonka does so he's gonna be a little antagonistic, but I think he was a little too much of a punk. The bit in the Chocolate Room with him was just too much.
--Charlie: On the other hand, I think Freddie Highmore(I think that's how his name's spelled...) did an excellent job as Charlie. He definitely brought through his sweet lovableness and his nobility and gosh darnit, he's just a cute kid. I just wanted to give him a big squeeze.
--The backstory and the ending: ...Yeah. Obviously not in either previous version of the story. At first, it put me off, as I was kinda going "WTF? This wasn't in either version at *all!*", but I usually do that whenever I see a book turned into a movie that throws in stuff that wasn't in the book. I can appreciate that it would be nigh on impossible for a movie to be completely faithful to a book, but on the other hand, I don't always appreciate it when things are added in. But I thought about what was done some more, and the more I think about it, the more it kinda worked. It was nice to see a take on what Willy Wonka's past was like, and in light of what happened there, the ending basically had to be changed. It couldn't end the way it did in the book or the first movie simply because it would've been a total cop out. I think these were Tim Burton's attempts at making the story appeal to a wider(namely, also an older) audience, since there's some conflict and uncertainty added in. So, while at first, it was disconcerting, it kinda grew on me.
--Willy Wonka: I had very mixed feelings about Willy Wonka. I do think Johnny Depp once again showed his versatility as an actor, and as a very good actor, as he was able to form this character that was *nothing* like anything he had done before, but on the other hand, I think the take itself on Willy Wonka wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Now while I haven't read the book in a while, so my remembering may be a bit skewed, the way I always percieved Willy Wonka was that he was a very energetic man, who was childish, but still had his own amount of sensibility, slightly off though it may be. I think this version of Willy Wonka was a little *too* disconnected from reality. The best example I can give of this was his needing to use cue cards once in a while for his own factory. I also think that he could have been a little less snarky. It seemed almost like at times that he was OUT TO GET THEM, in his expressions and his tones of voice. I'd like to think that he gave them a chance to be good, but in the end it was the wonders of the factory that got them. I dunno. I think in general he was good, but I think he could have been better.
--The gags: There were some downright HILARIOUS moments in the movie. I won't give them away, but I will say that there's a movie reference towards the end, and I'd like to know if anyone caught it as early as I did. ^_^;;
--Overall: I loved the book. I loved the Gene Wilder version. I think I love this version just as much. Just like the other version of the movie, it had its own virtues and vices, and ultimately it's another take on the same story. I think in that aspect, it did well, and I really appreciate how it stuck to the story when it did. Overall, it's a fun movie, with lots of fun moments and awesome songs, and I think it's worth seeing. I also have a new favorite quote from the movie. I don't know if I can relate it verbatim here, but it's in the full movie preview if you want to hear it as it's supposed to be, and it's said after Mike says how everything in the factory is pointless. Charlie replies with "Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy." I really liked that.
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Date: 2005-07-18 01:12 am (UTC)also, did you know that the original girl playing veruca salt was, like, the nicest girl ever? apparently it was difficult to get her to be bratty b/c it just wasn't in her. i guess she's a good actress, no? :D
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Date: 2005-07-18 09:51 pm (UTC)*nods* I remember the first time I saw the Gene Wilder version, I was in kindergarden or so, and I didn't like it very much, since what happened to Augustus and Violet scared me. But the movie grew on me as I got a bit older(and probably recognized that all-important rule that "It's just a movie", so it didn't scare me XD) and saw it once again.
I didn't know that about the girl who played Veruca in the first movie. Yeah, she definitely did a good job. Admittedly, if I had to pick between her and the girl in this new version to play Veruca, I'd pick her, since she did such a lovely spoiled brat. XD