quote:Johnny Depp's assault on mainstream popularity continues. His negotiations to star as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's update of the children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continue apace, and it looks pretty much like a done deal.
I was originally against this idea in the last thread we had on this. but I'm starting to see the benefits of a Depp Wonka. I think he could do an extremely interesting job with it.
Posts: 251 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
It seems like having Depp as Wonka is a spin-off of the old Wilder-Wonka, and THAT seemed like a stretch to me, too. Wonka had quirks, but it's almost like they keep trying to put him across as certifiably insane. But of those guys are too weird to pull off what Wonka was supposed to be, IMHO.
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I don't know...the book made him wacky, but I'd never expect him to go crazy and kill anyone. BUT I might expect it of the Wilder character.
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posted
Roald Dahl did not create characters one would want to have living next to them, but good heavens, I love his work.
What is up with all these remakes, lately, though? There will be no other Willy Wonka for me than Wilder. Boy, is that movie ever creepy to watch as an adult!
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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You always wondered whether Willy Wonka was this sadistic evil man, or this kindly neglignent candymaker. I think Depp will do a great job, though I wonder if he can sing like Wilder
Posts: 650 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Well, people who are anticipating this movie can be expecting one of two things...a) for the Wonka to be Wilder-esque, or b) for the Wonka to be Book-esque. Johnny Depp will be neither of those. Wilder was languid in his insanity, kind of goofy and debonair. The book Wonka is a tiny man, bubbly, genius, and insane. Depp will be more...quietly manic. Illusively insane. You won't be able to tell straight away.
See, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is, first and foremost, a children's story, which means the characterizations....well, you don't exactly have to dig for them. Wilder gave a more-layered performance than the book denotes, but I have a feeling, with the right direction, Depp could give a multi-layered performance. I would love to watch the story if it was treated as if it wasn't this huge joke between the director and the audience. It'd be easier to love if they took themselves seriously. I thought the original took itself very seriously, but too many "kids" movies these days camp it up, cheese it out. Them signing Depp affords me some hope that they will be a little more adult with it. I'm glad of that
[/end ridiculously unecessary dissection of story about chocolate]
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That's not true! The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Well, maybe it crossed it, breifly...
it was only after reading words like these: "You always wondered whether Willy Wonka was this sadistic evil man, or this kindly neglignent candymaker" that I figured it was necessary. I mean, it was just begging to be done.
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posted
There are so many things wrong with that other thread, I can't even name them all. Did anybody even read the book?
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The other thread is a joke, PSI. he prefaced it by saying he was kidding and that he loved the movie...it wasn't even about the book.
The book's kinda kooky. Roald Dahl is kinda kooky. I always preferred James and the Giant Peach, myself. The Twits gave me nightmares. Posts: 3516 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Umpa Doompa my Boomba, you whippersnappers! I was ten when the movie came out, and had all ready read the book.
I personally look forward to seeing how Burton handles Wonka. Burton knows how to create bizarre, other-worldly scenarios, as demonstrated in "A Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Beetlejuice." I think he will do an excellent job with Wonka.
Posts: 2473 | Registered: Jan 2000
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I found Wonka in the Books to be even scarier and weirder than Wonka in the Movie.
Wilder's Wonka always seemed to know what was going to happen-- he had this big secret and knew none of the kids was ever in any danger... knew they would all get themselves in trouble and mischeviously enjoyed saying "stop... don't... come back..." knowing full well no one would listen...
Kinda like God...
Wonka in the books (or, at least, the second one) is as agitated and frightened and comepletely unaware of what is about to happen as anyone else... and this frightens me-- no one was in control and it went from amusement park ride/fun house to dangerously insane situation precisely because no one was driving anymore...
Posts: 2112 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Whoa, Andrew - dude, you're OLD. I thought you were in your early thirties.
And, while Gene Wilder remains one of my favorite comedic actors of all time, I think if you're gonna remake Willy Wonka you may as well put Johnny Depp in the role of Mr. Wonka. He's just weird and endearing enough to pull it off.
Posts: 7600 | Registered: Jan 2001
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I see no contradictions happening here. And of course Wonka's a psycho. Who said children's lit had to be normal? I love the part Strider quoted in his rant:
There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing? Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Not a speck of light is showing So the danger must be growing Are the fires of Hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes, the danger must be growing For the rowers keep on rowing! And they're certainly not showing Any signs that they are slowing!
My mom always made us fast forward through that part, but being the spiteful brat that I am, I now watch it over and over on purpose.
BTW, I just re-read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but the only copy I have of it is in French. I love the fact that the "square candies that look round" joke translated fine. I was really worried about that.
posted
I read the book long before I saw the movie (although I'm pretty sure I didn't see the movie until years after its premier). I found the movie to be a horrible disappointment and I still think that Wilder's portrayal of Wonka is dreadful. Depp couldn't possibly do any worse.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I didn't read the book until years after seeing the movie--in fact, I didn't know it had ever been a book when I first saw the movie--so naturally I couldn't easily sever Wilder's Wonka from my conception of what was going on.
Posts: 1041 | Registered: Feb 2002
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