Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? uhh...not quite. Though amusing, it's obviously more about Willy Wonka and less about Charlie Bucket than Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
At times I felt like it was a remake, even had a few of the same lines as the other (which, granted, may originate from the book). Other times it felt like its own separate interpretation of the book but never enough so to convince me that we needed this. It wasn't even completely an update because althrough Mike TV was more into video games than television, Agustus was the picture of a stereotypical fat german child that I think is well overdue to be replaced by a stereotypical fat AMERICAN child. That said, there was no reason that the characters needed to retain the places of origin that they had in the book. I'm not suggesting that there be a child from each race but why was there only one person in the entire movie who wasn't white (the candyman, with his whopping five lines)?
What I would have enjoyed watching is either a strict interpretation of the book or a complete update of the movie/book. There is absolutely no way that they could have recreated the movie that Gene Wilder starred in. I don't see why they allowed the end product to come so close while still straying from the book.
Overall, I walked away entertained, but not in a way that felt original. Throw away jokes ("don't touch that squirrel's nuts") could have been in any movie and are a prime example of the level of dialogue in this one. It's obvious that the producers were taking the safe road by letting this one go through. It's a story many people know and will definately spend money on to see again.
Tim Burton managed to give us a fun but completely forgettable movie. Way to go.
At times I felt like it was a remake, even had a few of the same lines as the other (which, granted, may originate from the book). Other times it felt like its own separate interpretation of the book but never enough so to convince me that we needed this. It wasn't even completely an update because althrough Mike TV was more into video games than television, Agustus was the picture of a stereotypical fat german child that I think is well overdue to be replaced by a stereotypical fat AMERICAN child. That said, there was no reason that the characters needed to retain the places of origin that they had in the book. I'm not suggesting that there be a child from each race but why was there only one person in the entire movie who wasn't white (the candyman, with his whopping five lines)?
What I would have enjoyed watching is either a strict interpretation of the book or a complete update of the movie/book. There is absolutely no way that they could have recreated the movie that Gene Wilder starred in. I don't see why they allowed the end product to come so close while still straying from the book.
Overall, I walked away entertained, but not in a way that felt original. Throw away jokes ("don't touch that squirrel's nuts") could have been in any movie and are a prime example of the level of dialogue in this one. It's obvious that the producers were taking the safe road by letting this one go through. It's a story many people know and will definately spend money on to see again.
Tim Burton managed to give us a fun but completely forgettable movie. Way to go.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
i dont know why jonny depp was chosen to play wonka too. i mean i know jonny and tim burton are close or whatever but i always liked jonny depp because he is such an emotional actor. not cheesy soap opera emotion but in the way he moves and sees everything and talks he can convey emotions without a lot of action or dialouge. but wonkas character was meant to be (and just in this version) emotionaly detached from people. so its almost like jonny depp tried to be unemotional and looked all weird and uncomfortable in doing so.