Let's Boogie- Willy Wonka Thread

[Llava]

Just got back from the midnight showing.

Wow.

Um.

Okay.

I liked it.

It was the weirdest thing Tim Burton has ever made.

Now I need some time to organize my thoughts to get more detailed than that.

Anyone else?

[Soln]

Johnny Depp can do no wrong.  That + loved Wilder original == will see no matter what Ebert said.

[Yegolev]

Johnny Depp can do no wrong.

A universal truth.  I also love me some Burton.  99.8% chance I will love it.  That said, I can't seem to get to the movies lately.  Baby and crazy wife, you know.

[stray]

Johnny Depp can do no wrong.........

But Burton can (I'm not a Burton hater either....But he's quite able to fuck up from time to time).

Even lousy and aimless directing can make Marlon Brando look like shit (errr.....excluding the whole "fatty" issue). Even as good as Johnny is, the Astronaut's Wife was barely watchable.

That being said, I'll probably check it out later on. Not trying to hate or anything, but I've got a bad feeling...

[Yegolev]

but I've got a bad feeling...

Bad feelings attract bears!

[schild]

I'm going to see it after this weekend probably. That said, Burton can do wrong, very very wrong. But Johnny Depp can't. And his kung-fu is much more powerful than Burton's.

[WayAbvPar]

I am torn. I  Depp, but Burton's stuff is usually a little too out there for me to enjoy. Doubt I will see it.

[stray]

I've always liked whatever Burton and Depp have done together (Scissorhands and Ed Wood especially)....And at least his last flick was cool (Big Fish).

I don't know what I'm really complaining about.

[Soln]

sometimes it feels in Burton films the decor and design overtake the story and the whatnot.  Depp can handle his own, but Sleepy Hollow, for instance, seemed lost even with him (too much lace?).

[HaemishM]

As much as I like Depp, I see no reason to remake this movie. I'll probably wait for video, unless the wife makes me go.

[Fabricated]

As much as I like Depp, I see no reason to remake this movie. I'll probably wait for video, unless the wife makes me go.

Ditto, except I don't like Depp.

[Shockeye]

Ebert liked it in spite of Depp.

The problem is that this time, he finds Neverland. Johnny Depp may deny that he had Michael Jackson in mind when he created the look and feel of Willy Wonka, but moviegoers trust their eyes, and when they see Willy opening the doors of the factory to welcome the five little winners, they will be relieved that the kids brought along adult guardians. Depp's Wonka -- his dandy's clothes, his unnaturally pale face, his makeup and lipstick, his hat, his manner -- reminds me inescapably of Jackson (and, oddly, in a certain use of the teeth, chin and bobbed hairstyle, of Carol Burnett).

[stray]

Funny, I thought he was basing the character off a dumb blonde or something.

"Ewww?"

Sounds like something Jessica Simpson would say. Not Michael Jackson.

[Soln]

Ebert liked it in spite of Depp.

The problem is that this time, he finds Neverland. Johnny Depp may deny that he had Michael Jackson in mind when he created the look and feel of Willy Wonka, but moviegoers trust their eyes, and when they see Willy opening the doors of the factory to welcome the five little winners, they will be relieved that the kids brought along adult guardians. Depp's Wonka -- his dandy's clothes, his unnaturally pale face, his makeup and lipstick, his hat, his manner -- reminds me inescapably of Jackson (and, oddly, in a certain use of the teeth, chin and bobbed hairstyle, of Carol Burnett).

shit, now that puts me off.  Lovely association.  Ah well, Johnny FTW.

[Llava]

Oh he was definitely reminiscent of Jacko, but not the child molestor part of Jackson- mostly the reclusive weirdo who probably has pet monkeys and giraffes part of Jackson.

Really, though.  This is Burton's strangest movie yet.  It is quite different from the Wilder version.  Wonka himself is especially VERY different.

[schild]

Wonka has to be different, it's based on the actual book. Not a kiddy film.

That said, who gives a fuck if he emulates jacko. He'd probably make a good wonka. Considering Wonka was part serial killer.

[WayAbvPar]

Anyone see Wedding Crashers yet? It looks like a helluva lotta fun. VV plays a chauvinistit jackass better than anyone in Hollywood.

[Rasix]

Anyone see Wedding Crashers yet? It looks like a helluva lotta fun. VV plays a chauvinistit jackass better than anyone in Hollywood.

Very amusing.  I laughed a ton.  Got slow for a bit (about 2/3 of the way in it kinda crawls for a spell) and of course got very Hollywoodish and forumlaic at the end, but it was worth seeing.    Walken was terribly under utilized, but Vaughn and Wilson were fucking awesome, Vaughn especially.

Plus, there were some boobies.  So, 

[Xanthippe]

I laughed out loud several times.  Best Burton movie ever.

Johnny Depp channelling Carol Channing - priceless.  And I don't even really like Depp all that much, although he is an extremely talented guy.  Fey, but talented.

[stray]

I laughed out loud several times.  Best Burton movie ever.

Johnny Depp channelling Carol Channing - priceless.  And I don't even really like Depp all that much, although he is an extremely talented guy.  Fey, but talented.

Best Burton movie ever? Really? Don't like Depp that much either?

Not trying to be rude, but I'm confused with the "fey" comment as well. This looks like the most "fey" Depp role to date (I mean, is Joe Pistone "fey"?), and for some reason, you like it the most?

[WayAbvPar]

Anyone see Wedding Crashers yet? It looks like a helluva lotta fun. VV plays a chauvinistit jackass better than anyone in Hollywood.

Very amusing.  I laughed a ton.  Got slow for a bit (about 2/3 of the way in it kinda crawls for a spell) and of course got very Hollywoodish and forumlaic at the end, but it was worth seeing.    Walken was terribly under utilized, but Vaughn and Wilson were fucking awesome, Vaughn especially.

Plus, there were some boobies.  So, 

Saw it last night, and I agree with every word of your review. There are some big laughs for damned sure. The last 20 minutes lags, then there are a couple of good laughs right at the end. The 'secret guest star' was funny- I had it narrowed down to him or one other person (who would make sense as well).

[Xanthippe]

Best Burton movie ever? Really? Don't like Depp that much either?

Not trying to be rude, but I'm confused with the "fey" comment as well. This looks like the most "fey" Depp role to date (I mean, is Joe Pistone "fey"?), and for some reason, you like it the most?

Yes, best Burton movie ever.  Yes, I don't like Depp much.  Yes, Depp at his most fey.  Yes, despite me not liking fey and not liking Depp, it was a truly entertaining movie.

My kids liked it too - I think I liked it more though.

I do like Roald Dahl very much, and I think Burton nailed the story.  More than nailed it - he brought magic to it.

[Simond]

Wonder if 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator' is on the cards?

[stray]

Btw, is Iggy Pop in this? I could have sworn I saw him in a preview, but now I don't see his credits at imdb.

[Llava]

Nope, not that I saw.

Nor is Walken here playing Slugworth as was initially discussed.

Nor is Marilyn Manson playing Wonka, for that matter.

[Venkman]

Johnny Depp was great. Tim Burton still shouldn't be allowed to tell a story though. Paint a world, go right ahead. Just get someone who knows timing and editing though. Burton just wants to make Nightmare Before Christmas remixes. It's his stock and trade. I wish they'd just let him go do that, except I guess they don't make the necessary buckets of cash.

The movie could have been awesome. Everything was there. Except the directing.

I wasn't some whacko diehard fan of the old one either. It was good, but someone who hasn't been watching it for 30 years probably wouldn't get it. I just think they did an all-around better job of setting up the characters, growing the "mystery", featuring the "wonder", and exposing the end truth. That wasn't a kid's movie though (example of bad marketing there), so I guess a point could be scored in favor of this release.

[Samwise]

Burton just wants to make Nightmare Before Christmas remixes.

I think he's getting his wish.  Seen the trailer for "The Corpse Bride" yet?  Same animation style and even the same theme music.

[Dren]

My wife and kids saw it and loved it.  Me?  I doubt I'll see it.  The previews of Wonka creep me out enough to forego 2 full hours of it.

[Daydreamer]

Depp was good but I prefer Gene Wilder slightly.  I did however love the new takes on the four brats, and the new musical numbers showed more personality and variety than the old ones.

Also: 2001 refrences FTW!

[SurfD]

I only had two problems with it.

One: They skipped the "charley does a naughty thing" scene that was in the first one, where charley and grandpa have their little misadventure, but come out none the worse for the wear, and charley later apologises for it

Two: Was it just me, or was the Violet Beauregard song a little hard to understand?  I easily understood the lyrics of the other three songs, but I have seen the Violet scene about 4 times now, and still cant hear all the lyrics clearly.

[Ironwood]

I
One: They skipped the "charley does a naughty thing" scene that was in the first one, where charley and grandpa have their little misadventure, but come out none the worse for the wear, and charley later apologises for it

Er, that wasn't in the book though, was it ?

[Pococurante]

As a fanatical Roald Dahl reader when I was growing up I have no qualms saying I wouldn't let my kids watch a faithful adaptation of any of his works until they were near pubescent.  His stories are dark, depressing, full of violent adults who lash out in capricious whims, all to justify escapism that can be justified in other ways.  Once my kids hit puberty I'll have no problem with their reading the books or watching a Burton/Depp adaptation - in fact I'll probably bore them with the books.

Until then I'm content to let my little ones watch Seltzer/Brroks/Wilder's Wonka or the recent Peach, a movie adaptation that managed to hint at the bleakness of the book without wallowing in it.  Young children don't need certain kinds of crap shoved into the psyches.

10. Roald Dahl hated the movie. There is actually some doubt as to whether he actually wrote the screenplay. Either he was taking his time or didn't please the the producers so another "ghost" screenwriter filled in the details including numerous literary references. This information was all found in Jeremy Treglown's book, Roald Dahl : A Biography. Dahl's script was almost identical to the book so alot of it was thrown out and the script was rewritten (without credit) by David Seltzer. David Seltzer went on to write many great films including "The Omen." Update 11-26-99: I've found out that David Seltzer only added/rewrote to about 30% - 40% of the script. The rest was all Dahl's work.

[Llava]

8. The song Candyman originally appeared in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sammy Davis Jr. made a hit record of the song. In fact, it was his only #1 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1972.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a member of the Church of Satan.  The Candyman.

I've known this for a while, but I just can't stop thinking about how odd it is whenever it comes to mind.

Though I guess it's not THAT weird.  As long as there are bullshit cults to cater to weirdo celebrities, we'll continue to be reminded just how befuddled and sad these people are.

[stray]

I thought he had converted to Judaism?

[Llava]

1956    Converts to Judaism.
13 Apr 1973    Sammy Davis, Jr. inducted into the Church of Satan by Anton LaVey's wife Karla, and Michael Aquino.

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/music/sammy-davis-jr/