Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

[Ralph Wiggum]

The Gene Wilder movie is a classic 80's movie, played to death on TV down here. I've never seen it (hate chocolate), but the wife is nuts about it, so I'll have to take her to the movies.

I think the original came out in '70 or '71. tickets for the IMAX version here are in the 15 dollar range. I'll wait for the DVD and add to the hollywood box office slump. War of the Worlds wasted enough of my money for this year.

 

[Number_6]

Actually, the Gene Wilder one came out in 1971, just a few years after the story was published. The director had done some documentary work previously, if I recall correctly, and the studio he was working with let him have his choice of projects after that. His kids were totally in love with the story of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and kept telling him that it would make a great movie, so he read the story and then made the movie, following the story as best he could and lightening it up a bit. Much as I really do like "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" for what it is, I love "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" that much more for being that much closer to the original story and keeping in certain things that were ignored in "Willy Wonka."

 

[MKCustodial]

Sorry for the confusion, guys. When I said it was an 80's classic I meant that it was played to death on TV during the 80's, like The Goonies, Ferris Bueler, Teen Wolf, The Neverending Story...

 

[626]

I saw it last night. Depp, one of my favorite actors and Burton, one of my favorite directors when together have never missed before. Yet I went in expecting to leave the theater angry like I did after another recent Burton remake. I was so wrong! It was GREAT!!! Way better than I expected. I love it when that happens. You go into a movie not expecting much and you're just blown away. We're going to try to see it again tonight at IMAX it was that good.

And the preview for the next Burton/Depp movie surprised me. I try to keep up on movies that are in production and this one just slipped right by me. Looks like another classic ala The Nightmare Before Christmas is on the way...

 

[Madison]

We're going to try to see it again tonight at IMAX it was that good.

Since you've listed your location as the Pacific Northwest, if you're thinking of going to Seattle's Boeing IMAX theater, by chance, call ahead. It's probably sold out.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

My sister and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night (before we went to the Harry Potter release party). We were both a bit skeptical...she because she HATES the first movie (the Oompa Loompas creep her out), I because Johnny just looked so darned creepy! But we both LOVED it, and wouldn't mind seeing it again! She bought the soundtrack today (gotta love Danny Elfman!) I loved the Oompa Loompa songs, mainly because of the music and humor backing them. I thought having one guy play all the Oompa Loompas was a bit strange at first, but then I thought it was hilarious The kids were AWESOME and fit their characters perfectly! (btw, Invero, the kid that played Charlie is Freddie Highmore - he and Johnny were in Finding Neverland together, and from what I understand, they both admire each others' skills very much.) Johnny's one-liners are classic...my sister and I have been quoting him, literally, ALL day! "Heh, WOW!" :lol:
I've never read the book, but this movie definitely makes me want to!

For those who are comparing it to the first movie version before seeing this version - don't. They are two completely seperate movies! Based on the same book, of course, and both having the same general plot, but completely different! And, sure, Johnny is a bit creepy in the previews, but the previews are a bit out of context, too. You have to see the whole movie to fully appreciate his version of the character. Once you get into the movie, he's definitely still strange (the reason for which is explained in the movie), but not so much creepy.

Bottom line - SEE it before you judge it!!

 

[Boo's Mom]

I'm going to see it tomorrow night :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: From all of the reviews, I shouldn't be disappointed. Who am I kidding?! Johnny Depp is in it so I won't be disappointed :lol: I got my Cry-Baby DVD today too :sohappy:

 

[DisneyJill]

I saw it today and loved it! Johnny Depp was fantastic and I loved the music-catchy little oompa loompa songs, they were. And I really like the kid that played Charlie-Freddie Highmore. He was in Finding Neverland as well. Very likable.

 

[Number_6]

the kid that played Charlie is Freddie Highmore - he and Johnny were in Finding Neverland together, and from what I understand, they both admire each others' skills very much.

Johnny Depp actually made a special request that Freddie Highmore play Charlie in this movie because of what a fantastic job he had done in Finding Neverland.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Johnny Depp actually made a special request that Freddie Highmore play Charlie in this movie because of what a fantastic job he had done in Finding Neverland.

See, I THOUGHT I had remembered hearing that somewhere...but here lately, I couldn't remember if I actually had heard it, or just thought I had heard it, heh. So good! Thanks for reminding me!
Can you imagine being Freddie's age (or any age, for that matter) and having the great Johnny Depp make a special request just for you? Wow....

 

[imagineer99]

I liked it, and perfer this movie's overall surrealness and kooky imagery. Well done, Burton. Funny and entertaining (much better than the CRAP-TACULAR Fantastic Four)

However, even though Depp is a talented guy, Gene Wilder is just a much better Wonka. He played the roll with such a deep sense of compassion, that Depp couldn't keep up.

To make a comparison, the "loompland" line in the original is sarcastic and hilarious...Depp delievered the same line and it just wasn't funny.

 

[catinthehat]

I won't be seeing it. The commercials creep me out. I prefer the original.

Don't get me wrong becasue I totally love the original one too, but doesnt the original also creep you out a bit? In a good way though, which is also why i want to see the new one!

For those who saw it on IMAX, do you think it is def a movie I should see on IMAX? Or would a regular screen do just as well??

 

[Madison]

For those who saw it on IMAX, do you think it is def a movie I should see on IMAX? Or would a regular screen do just as well??

The IMAX presentation is full screen rather than letterbox, so if your experience will be completely ruined by missing the edges of the picture, you should see it in a regular theater. Otherwise, I prefer IMAX theaters.

Again, that may be because I tend to see IMAX films for free.

 

[Boo's Mom]

:lol: WOW! I loved that movie. I laughed harder than anyone in the theater. Johnny Depp's little facial expressions and "I don't care", "you're weird" just had me rolling. I def. can't wait to get this one on DVD. I'd leave my family to go stay with Johnny Depp at the Chocolate Factory....... :lookaroun

 

[imagineer boy]

And yet Fantastic Four did what Star Wars and Batman couldn't, and ended the box-office slump.

Wait, I thought Star Wars beat a ton of box office records?

 

[Number_6]

Wait, I thought Star Wars beat a ton of box office records?

Yeah, but since nothing else was doing well, the totals were still down overall from last year. It wasn't until Fantastic Four came out that it was actually ahead of last years numbers, and has now done so for a second week because of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Wedding Crashers."

 

[S_Grise]

Haven't gotten to see it yet. We had a birth in the family and then HP came out ... BUT! We knew ahead of time that we wouldn't be able to compare this one (CatCF) to WWatCF. We are planning on looking at them as separate entities, not a re-make. We've been watching all the "behind the scenes" and "first look" shows and we can't wait!

 

[KevinPage]

I have to disagree with just about everyone on here so far. While I enjoyed the movie since I was such a big fan of the original Gene wilder version, I don't think this movie has ANY repeat viewing merits.

Everyone played their parts well and I can't say anything bad in general, but I think in typical Tim burton fashion, it was more a triumuph of set design over the actual "feel" of the movie. Scenes felt rushed and lack any emotional weight.

I have no problem with them being so faithful to the book, and the Oompa Lumpa songs were well done, even if you couldn't hear most of the lyrics for some reason.

They included the glass elevator, so they obviously had more to squeeze in, but the children in the original version were more fleshed out and I believed their characters FAR more than I did in this version. I believed the original kids were brats and deserved their fate, but these kids just seemed to be FREAKS in an unnatural sense.

Again, it was worth seeing just to see how it compares to the original, but don't expect ANY emotional weight for Charlie's plight or Wonka's concern or lack thereof.

Wilder's excitement in rejecting Charlie & then accepting him and all of Charlie's reactions in the original are non-existent in this film.

 

[darthdarrel]

Wilder's excitement in rejecting Charlie & then accepting him and all of Charlie's reactions in the original are non-existent in this film.

Well that is because in the book and in this new movie Wonka does not reject Charlie in fact it is Charlie that rejects Wonka.

 

[FanofDinsey1981]

did anyone else crack up laughing at the part that refrences the "It's a small world" anamatronics? (as they are getting ready to go into the factory?) I cracked up with Wonka's reaction to the show as well. That song will be stuck with my for days to come......