New Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Disappointing
I just saw the new Tim Burton interpretation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my daughter. She and I have both seen the original interpretation of Roald Dahl's famous book. Being just 5 1/2 and enamored with Johnny Depp, she says she really liked the latest film. That's to be expected. Ever since she saw Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, she has been smitten. I, on the other hand, found Tim Burton's version of the book to be quite heartless.
What strikes me most about the contrast between the original film and Burton's film is the absence of emotion. He never really makes you care about any of the characters. Not Charlie, not Mr. Wonka, not Grandpa. The original film was all about emotion. You rooted for Charlie. You no only knew that Charlie was poor and that he suffered, but you felt it. And when Mr. Wonka decided to give him the factory, you shared in Charlie's surprise and joy.
Burton captures none of the human emotion found in the original film. In fact, his interpretation is much like the book. An interesting little tale about an eccentric chocolate maker, but not much more. In the end you don't feel as if Mr. Wonka loves or even likes children. Or that he chose Charlie because the boy is pure, honest and deserving. Rather, Charlie just happens to be "the one child left" at the end of the journey. The joy of the moment is gone. It's just another improbable event in a string of improbable events. Who really cares? Roll credits.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the stark contrast between Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp as Mr. Wonka. Certainly, the interpretations were bound to be different. However, I find a fault with Johnny Depp's performance because it, in large part, contributed to the lack of emotion in the film. His Wonka is quirky, for sure, but does he care about the welfare of the children? Does he care about Charlie? Apparently not. Wilder, on the other hand, delivers an incredibly heartfelt performance as Mr. Wonka. Wonka remains a mysterious character even at the end of the film, but one thing is certain: he loves his factory, he loves inventing, he loves children and he loves Charlie. The scene in which Wilder gives the factory to Charlie Bucket is one that brings a tear to my eye each time I see it. You can see the tear forming in Wilder's eye as he explains to Charlie that he is the right child to take over the factory, not merely the last child remaining.
I would recommend Tim Burton's version of the story only because it makes you truly appreciate the genious of the original film. Burton merely tells the story while the original film makes you feel the story.
Find Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on eBay.
I just saw the new Tim Burton interpretation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my daughter. She and I have both seen the original interpretation of Roald Dahl's famous book. Being just 5 1/2 and enamored with Johnny Depp, she says she really liked the latest film. That's to be expected. Ever since she saw Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, she has been smitten. I, on the other hand, found Tim Burton's version of the book to be quite heartless.
What strikes me most about the contrast between the original film and Burton's film is the absence of emotion. He never really makes you care about any of the characters. Not Charlie, not Mr. Wonka, not Grandpa. The original film was all about emotion. You rooted for Charlie. You no only knew that Charlie was poor and that he suffered, but you felt it. And when Mr. Wonka decided to give him the factory, you shared in Charlie's surprise and joy.
Burton captures none of the human emotion found in the original film. In fact, his interpretation is much like the book. An interesting little tale about an eccentric chocolate maker, but not much more. In the end you don't feel as if Mr. Wonka loves or even likes children. Or that he chose Charlie because the boy is pure, honest and deserving. Rather, Charlie just happens to be "the one child left" at the end of the journey. The joy of the moment is gone. It's just another improbable event in a string of improbable events. Who really cares? Roll credits.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the stark contrast between Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp as Mr. Wonka. Certainly, the interpretations were bound to be different. However, I find a fault with Johnny Depp's performance because it, in large part, contributed to the lack of emotion in the film. His Wonka is quirky, for sure, but does he care about the welfare of the children? Does he care about Charlie? Apparently not. Wilder, on the other hand, delivers an incredibly heartfelt performance as Mr. Wonka. Wonka remains a mysterious character even at the end of the film, but one thing is certain: he loves his factory, he loves inventing, he loves children and he loves Charlie. The scene in which Wilder gives the factory to Charlie Bucket is one that brings a tear to my eye each time I see it. You can see the tear forming in Wilder's eye as he explains to Charlie that he is the right child to take over the factory, not merely the last child remaining.
I would recommend Tim Burton's version of the story only because it makes you truly appreciate the genious of the original film. Burton merely tells the story while the original film makes you feel the story.
Find Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on eBay.
posted by Craig at
9:20 PM
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