Charlie and the Chocolate Factory review

rbs3676 · #1 07-13-2005, 09:33 AM

I went to an advanced screening of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY last night and it was fantastic!
I am a HUGE fan of the original - in fact, WILLY WONKA was the first DVD that I ever purchased. So, this story is near and dear to my heart.
Tim Burton did such an excellent job...the cinematography was just amazing.
It was as if a story book exploded and came to life. The colors of this movie were just wonderful. The set designs (the house that Charlie's family lived in is Burton at his best) were awesome and all of the computer generated graphics were sensational.
The casting was sheer perfection. Grandpa Joe was exceptional. Violet and her mother were a scream. And the actor who portrayed Charlie was incredible -- he was adorable and heartbreaking at the same time. I can't imagine anyone else playing that role.
And then, of course, there's Johnny. He was amazing as Willy Wonka. The hat, the outfit, the teeth, the bob, the outrageous glasses...it was genius.
He had some great lines and his delivery was perfect. I will be really surprised if he doesn't get an Oscar nomination this February. He was that good.
This is certainly a summer must see...just wanted to share!

rbs

DrummerDeanna · #2 07-13-2005, 09:35 AM

I am SO excited to see this movie!!!!

Thanks for the review!! I'm going on Friday - something to kill time before midnight when I get my Harry Potter book

dissention · #3 07-13-2005, 10:24 AM

Glad to hear you liked it!

I'm not going to be able to see it this week, but it's definitely on my list and I look forward to seeing it. The only thing is that the things you loved about it are the things I'm very hesitant about and don't like from the trailers and clips I've seen.

I'm not a fan of the flashy, bright colors and modern look of the factory, and I'm not sold on Depp as Wonka. He just looks silly to me. Hopefully I'll love it, though.

darklinensuit · #4 07-13-2005, 10:54 AM

Thanks, rbs.

The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin has a midnight preview, Livia. Wish I could see it there.

- Jake

Livia · #5 07-13-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Thanks, rbs.

The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin has a midnight preview, Livia. Wish I could see it there.

- Jake

Tonight?? I think I'm gonna wait and see it next week....

GypsySorcerer · #6 07-13-2005, 01:08 PM

I didn't like the first one, so I'm in no rush to see the remake. I'll be seeing the Wedding Crashers instead. Vince, baby.

dudden22 · #7 07-13-2005, 01:11 PM

Am I the only one that thinks Johnny Depp seems really creepy as Willy Wonka. Kind of Michael Jackson creepy.

GypsySorcerer · #8 07-13-2005, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudden22

Am I the only one that thinks Johnny Depp seems really creepy as Willy Wonka. Kind of Michael Jackson creepy.

Josh gave the perfect description when he said Depp looked like Jackie O.

trackaghost · #9 07-13-2005, 01:15 PM

I was slightly disappointed. I think Tim Burton has lost it actually. He's never gonna make anything as great as Ed Wood again, he's lost his edge.

Can I be annoying and just point out this isn't a remake though? It's another adaptation of a book, a very famous one by Roald Dahl (and he hated the Gene Wilder version). *end of being annoying* Thank you

Livia · #10 07-13-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudden22

Am I the only one that thinks Johnny Depp seems really creepy as Willy Wonka. Kind of Michael Jackson creepy.

Creepy yes, but not MJ creepy. Creepy in a good way, if there is such a thing!

**mylittledemon** · #11 07-13-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbs3676

I went to an advanced screening of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY last night and it was fantastic!
I am a HUGE fan of the original - in fact, WILLY WONKA was the first DVD that I ever purchased. So, this story is near and dear to my heart.
Tim Burton did such an excellent job...the cinematography was just amazing.
It was as if a story book exploded and came to life. The colors of this movie were just wonderful. The set designs (the house that Charlie's family lived in is Burton at his best) were awesome and all of the computer generated graphics were sensational.
The casting was sheer perfection. Grandpa Joe was exceptional. Violet and her mother were a scream. And the actor who portrayed Charlie was incredible -- he was adorable and heartbreaking at the same time. I can't imagine anyone else playing that role.
And then, of course, there's Johnny. He was amazing as Willy Wonka. The hat, the outfit, the teeth, the bob, the outrageous glasses...it was genius.
He had some great lines and his delivery was perfect. I will be really surprised if he doesn't get an Oscar nomination this February. He was that good.
This is certainly a summer must see...just wanted to share!

rbs

I, like Tim Burton, am NOT a fan of the original. I never liked it at all. The only reason I want to see the new movie is because Christopher Lee play's Wonka's overbearing dentist-father. I'm a huge Christopher Lee fan.

dissention · #12 07-13-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I was slightly disappointed. I think Tim Burton has lost it actually. He's never gonna make anything as great as Ed Wood again, he's lost his edge.

I agree 100%.

He'll never top Beetlejuice, Ed Wood, and Edward Scissorhands ever again. Everything since Ed Wood has been lackluster, to say the least. I really liked Big Fish at first, but on subsequent viewings, it's pretty mediocre. Don't even mention Planet of the Apes, I still want a refund.

dissention · #13 07-13-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

Josh gave the perfect description when he said Depp looked like Jackie O.

He does!

I just think the Wonka character looks like a cartoon in this one. From the trailers, he doesn't look like the sinister character depicted in the book; he looks like a buffoon who is simply annoyed by children. The scene in the trailer where Depp bumps his head right into the camera is cringeworthy.

That being said, I hope it's fantastic, because I really want to like it.

skcin · #14 07-13-2005, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I agree 100%.

He'll never top Beetlejuice, Ed Wood, and Edward Scissorhands ever again. Everything since Ed Wood has been lackluster, to say the least. I really liked Big Fish at first, but on subsequent viewings, it's pretty mediocre. Don't even mention Planet of the Apes, I still want a refund.

Burton did Planet of the Apes? Hideous!

I want to like this movie too, but I just don't know....

**mylittledemon** · #15 07-13-2005, 01:35 PM

Tim Burton is a genius. Frankenweenie is perfection. Beetlejuice and Pee Wee's Big Adventure are classics. Batman & Batman Returns are dark, gothic wizardry. Ed Wood is amazing. Mars Attacks is bizarre, but enjoyable. Big Fish was a little over-the-top, but it was good regardless. I also enjoyed his take on Sleepy Hollow.