That’s fair enough, but they’re not re-imagining a movie; they’re adapting a novel.
That’s a good point. Even though that’s the case, the first film had a fair share of visual spectacle and memorable moments (and was penned by Dahl himself). There’s a lot of cinematic baggage associated with WWatCC. I don’t think a new version of the story will be able to step out from underneath its shadow.
[size=1]Edit: stupid spelling errors[/size]
I think Depp can act his way out from under any shadow. In the last few years he’s become a powerhouse, turning mediocre films to magic with nothing more than his amazing performances.
If Burton can reign in his bombast and hang this film off his characters and story this is going to bury the original.
The old film is fun, and Wilder brings it some genius. But lets be honest, it’s often plodding, and spends way too much time in a series of cramped or hokey sets that don’t do the original work justice. There’s more than one moment that invokes nothing so much as the aesthetic of Sid & Marty Kroft. (One that it probably helped to define.)
But will Depp still get to say, “YOU GET NOTHING. YOU LOSE. GOOD DAY, SIR!” :D
I still want someone to make a Willy Wonka game. You know, where you get to build and manage the chocolate factory, research new candies and build wacky machines to manufacture them, manage the books, order Oompa-Loompas around, try to keep an eye on visitors so that they don’t fall into the machinery or otherwise get themselves killed… that sort of thing. I mean, come ON! How cool would that be?
Chocolate Factory Tycoon, 19.99$ at EB last I saw.
[size=1]Kidding, kidding. Probably.[/size]
This isn’t some gay porn, is it? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just not my cup of fudge…
I take it you haven’t seen Secret Window?
Hey, I liked Depp in Secret Window Secret Garden. He wasn’t quite able to save the movie from the awful script (the novella is better), but he did all right with what he had.
Frumtiously diddlesomly awesomewich suggestion! I prefer the Chile human beings because I likes 'em cold.
If the Oompah Loompahs are just midgets in orange suits, that will fucking suck.
So Andrew Myers + Willy Wonka = John Reynolds + LoTR Trilogy? :)
I’ll check it out, it should be interesting to see what Burton and Depp come up with.[/quote]
Actually, I will too – I don’t have anywhere near as much venom as a rabid Tolkienista. That, and Burton & Depp are always at least interesting when they’re teamed up.
I should actually go back and watch the Gene Wilder one sometime, though, since it’s been 20 years or so since I last read the book. I’d probably like it now.
Hey, I just thought of something. Is there any word on whether or not this will have musical numbers?
I’d heard that Depp at least won’t be singing
Is there any word on whether or not this will have musical numbers?
Just an extra long version of “Cheer Up Charlie.” :wink:
I saw it as a kid and then 30 years later with my kids. I mostly agree with Burton, though I’m not nearly as harsh about it.
Wilder was pretty much the best thing about the original. The setup with poor Charlie & his family vs. the other kids was just painfully slow. We get it, Charlie is poor. He’s a good kid. The others all have a supersized flaw. There’s nothing interesting about any of the characters, but it goes on and on and on.
The episodes in the Chocolate Factory are kinda hit and miss. Wilder has a vague creepiness about him that really saves the flick.
I think Burton is the perfect director for a Roald Dahl film, cartoonesque but with that much needed darkness both visually and in the quantity of the film itself.
As with much of Dahl’s work there is a very dark undertone to much of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and a Depp/Burton partnership could be perfect to explore that.
I enjoyed the original film but it did cut out or gloss over much of what made the book so enjoyable, even as a kid. Dahl had a relatively unique ability at the time (I’ve no idea if he is as popular in the states, or generally now as when I was young) to write for kids whilst still retaining a very, almost macare, edge to his writing that I’ve only witnessed in the Rowling Harry Potter books in recent years.
Big :( for comparing Dahl to Rowling.
Anyone ever read any of Dahl’s short stories or poems for adults? They’re fantastic. When reading his children’s material, you very definitely do get a sense that there’s this darkness simmering under the lid. When he rights for adults, it just boils right the hell over.
See also: Shel Silverstein.
Time to harness the Power of Google to verify what Burton had to say about the original version.
“Well, I don’t want to crush people’s childhood dreams, but the original film is sappy,” Burton says. “It’s sappy when it shouldn’t be sappy and it’s weird. Let’s just say it’s not one of my personal favorites. I’d rate ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ much higher.”
Yeah, well, fuck you, Tim Burton. Your Big Fish did little to erase the stain caused by your involvement in Planet of the Apes, Sleepy Hollow, Mars Attacks and Batman Returns.
I’m constantly surprised by how much people like the original movie. Every time I’ve seen it I’ve found a few good scenes wrapped around a lot of mediocre stuff.
You didn’t like Mars Attacks? I LOVED that movie. (as for the others, didn’t see Planet of the Apes or Sleepy Hollow, and I don’t really even remember Batman Returns, so meh on those three)
“Do not run – we are your friends.”