Willy Wonka, WTF happened !?!

Well, I had an easy afternoon today so I decided to pop on down to the rental store. Got myself all 3 Die Hard movies, Sin City and The Hostage for a nice Bruce Willis week plus the original Willy Wonker and the remake with Johnny Depp.

So I decided to watch a childhood favourite first. Good old Charley and the Chocolate factory with Gean Wilder as Willy Wonka. The movie is still just as magical now as it was all those years ago. I honestly enjoyed watching it. Then came the remake. First thing I thought was, "hang on isn't this Batman?" as it started. Bloody Tim Burton ! Yeah, he's great but NOT for this movie. The whole magical atmosphere had gone. Charley's house was just plain stupid (typical Tim Burton style which would look ok in another movie). The way the movie moved along was terrible as well. It just seemed like one scene taped to another. No charm, character, emotion or even amusement came from this movie what so ever. Add the crappy soundtrack (the Umpa Lumpa songs), unnecessary flash backs, poor GC effect and terrible acting made this one of the worst movies I've seen this year.

If you haven't seen it yet, I'd advise not bothering to. Get the original with Gean Wilder. Much better in every respect. Well, maybe not in the Special effects department.

Yakumo

 

Belive me I ovoided it at all costs. However I heard that tim burtons take is much closer to the book. But I agree the orignal was better. Though I was shocked to see a chicken getting his head cut off in one scene.

 

It's Wonka, btw.

 

Yeah, the chicken head cutting scene was quite hard for back then and even now I guess. You are right about the Tim Burton version being closer to the original book but as far as an entertaining movie goes, it's not. Sterile is a word that springs to mind.

By the way, does anyone know why the name was changed from Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory to Charley and the chocolate factory? What was the original title of the book?

Yakumo

 

The original title was 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. The sequel was 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator'.

 

Having read the book before seeing either of the films, I much prefer the remake. Gives wonka a lot more of the mystery that is implied in the book. The first film just ruined the book

 

I'm with Yakumo, the original movie (in terms of entertainment value and cinematography) comes out best. Why they remake classic movies is beyond me.

 

the_steadster, you are absolutely right there but as a film the remake was terrible. As for the new Umpa Lumpa (since they're all the same guy) he looks more like a Hawaiian midget (is that racist?) than anything else.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I do remember seeing the Charley and the glass elevator in the school library many years ago.

Yakumo

 

True, the umpa lumpa's were pants, but the rest of the film I thought was great.

 

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory scared the hell out of me as a kid, and even a little bit now. The oompa loompas and the acid-induced boat ride were probably the worst parts.

 

Whoa whoa. Hold on tehre. Isn't charlie, more like a 'sequel' to Willy Wonka? CHarlie was the name of the boy in Willy Wonka. And there were two books. I kept hearing it was a 'sequel' but also a remake in a way.. I've never seen the movie, anyway.

 

I've only seen the 1st movie, and I always thought it was cruel, cynical, and depressing to watch. It's definitely not a good movie for young kids to see. Usually bursting ideological bubbles is a good thing, but not this time around.

 

Yeah, the o.g. was much better than Tim Burton's remake. It pains me to say that because I'm like a Tim Burton Fanatic. But this movie seemed like hit and miss, some scenes are very good, creepy and funny at the same time, while at other times it's borderline embarrassing to watch. Gene Wilder just played the charater of Willy Wonka much better than Jhonny Depp (who comes off as some kind of retarted child molestor or something.)

Actually I'm suprised that the psychadelic boat ride part didn't make it into the remake, seeing how that's like the most memorable part of the original movie.

 

I never much cared for the original much. Never seen the remake, nor do I really plan to, but the original was just a little too depressing like ccovell said.

 

The "remake" is MUCH better than the original, by far.

 

I feel the need to point out that I think the original is better too. I also feel I should point out that I think the quality of the Original is almost entirely due to charm of Gene Wilder. His humor in the movie is so subtle, its amazing.

The new version was just creepy; Johnny Depp played the role horribly wrong.

As a side note, I hate Tim Burton. He's always unnecessarily dark.

 

Tim Burton Sux without Johnny Depp. Willy Wonka was just as creepy as it was since it came out. Talk about an acid trip. Gene Wilder, a good man.

 

man, have I been living under a rock?must find both movies O_O

 

While some parts of the original film were twisted, some of which were the fate of the kids, I really didnt find it depresing or really that distrubing. As for the remake it seemed a bit too creepy from the trailers. But even then the way they put the trailers for the new movie was consfusing.

The first one made it seem like Tim Burtons take was going to be really twisted and disturbing, then they made another that had it seem like it was like the orignal. But from these comments I guess I was right to assume it was best to avoid the sequal.

 

Depp sucked as Willy Wonka. Some of the set pieces in the new one were fantastic but most of the acting was so hammed up I couldn't enjoy the film.

I wouldn't honestly say that either were great films.