Rated PG for quirky situations, action and mild language.
115 Minutes
Tim Burton: October Review Star
Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: John August
Based On The Novel By: Roald Duhl
Staring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, Deep Roy, James Fox, and Christopher Lee as Mr. Wonka
Willy Wonka: Do you like my meadow? Try some of my grass! Please have a blade, please do, it’s so delectable and so darn good looking!
Charlie Bucket: You can eat the grass?
Willy Wonka: Of course you can! Everything in this room is eatable, even *I’m* eatable! But that is called “cannibalism,” my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies.
Review:
I think most people have a pretty strong attachment to the original Willy Wonka film featuring Gene Wilder, and so when Burton was scheduled for a re-make, an immediate revulsion followed. Burton wanted his interpretation to follow the book more closely, and desired more of a “weirdo” for Willy Wonka himself. Because of the notoriety of the original film and the fact that it is well loved amongst movie fans does make it difficult not to compare, but if you can watch with an open mind, I think you’ll find Tim Burton’s creation to be both infectious and as usual, a visual euphoria.
The irony of the titles is they are backwards to their themes. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is actually more about Willy Wonka himself, while Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory is clearly more about Charlies journey as opposed to Wonka himself. In this creation we are lucky enough to see what made Willy Wonka actually become the genius recluse that he is today. All the way back to his childhood we learn not only what has turned Wonka down the road of of obsessive candy maker, but also why he is such a peculiar character himself.
One aspect of the film that I found myself surprised to dislike was definitely the score and songs. I recognize Danny Elfman was also busy working on the Corpse Bride, and frankly I think it may have been too much. The music wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t feel like it fit. It was one of the few aspects of the film that didn’t feel like it fit, but nonetheless some of the songs were excellent in their awkwardness.
Johnny Depp fit the mold of an oddball Wonka perfectly in one of his most compelling performances to date. A far cry from the Gene Wilder interpretation, this Wonka was also eccentric, but his personality constantly shifts from childlike to moderately sadistic. He is unquestionably kooky, but also carries a sadness with his peculiar nature. The subtle humor he exudes in utterly brilliant. The rest of the cast supported the tale of who and what he was perfectly, and just gave another reason to love the team of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton together.
Most importantly we get to enjoy the humor behind Wonka, and the fact that this is truly entertainment for the whole family. The story is charming and the creativity is magnificently executed. A colorful and beautiful world visualized and realized threw Tim Burton’s unique perspective. The set design is incredible, and the cast delivers, making this re-make one of the few over the years that I’ve actually been able to enjoy for it’s differences and it’s likenesses. I won’t say one is better than the other, but this one certainly was a success.
I see you didn’t take the “this one cannot hold a candle to the original, dammit!” track, and I like that — better to focus on this movie. They are two very different films, and both have merit.
Johnny Depp’s take on Willy Wonka gave me the wiggins big-time. He managed to be part sad, scared little boy and part creepy, undiscovered pedophile … and he did this whilst sporting a bob cut Posh Spice would envy.
Though I’m a fan of the original, I will say that Tim Burton’s version captures the stunning colors and images in Roald Dahl’s book in ways that boggle the mind. It’s a visual treat if nothing else.