Three Wonkas

[pinback]

Over the past week or two, I've had occasion to watch the three Willy Wonka movies. Here are my thoughts and relative rankings!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
===========================================
I think I'd seen this as a small child, but it may as well have been my first viewing, having virtually no recollection of it. An absolute joy from start to finish, except for the song "Cheer Up, Charlie" which brings the proceedings to a schmaltzy halt early in the film. However, once Willy himself shows up, the movie reaches other levels of fantastic. I'm adding Gene Wilder to the "broke acting" list, because his has to be one of the top ten performances of all times. The absolute perfect blend of reclusive whimsy and brooding psychopathy, there's a reason this performance is so beloved and timeless. I could watch it again and again! And though the other movies also feature music prominently, often to great effect, there is no song I know to compare with Pure Imagination.

This movie also shares a number of things in common with one of my other well-known favorites, Jaws:

1. Although both halves are good, you're secretly just waiting for the second half to start.
2. The mystery of the main character is preserved and heightened by not showing him in the first half of the movie.
3. Les Claypool says that this movie was his main obsession until Jaws came out. That's borne out by the fact that Primus covered the entire soundtrack.

FOUR OOMPA-LOOMPAS OUT OF FOUR

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2006)
====================================
Tim Burton/Johnny Depp's retelling of the same story is as Tim Burton-y and Johnny Depp-y as you'd expect, to the film's detriment and success. The inside of the factory has never looked better, and getting lost in the visuals is probably the best way to enjoy the movie. Depp's Wonka has none of the eye-twinkling mischievous nature of Wilder's version, and as such comes across a sick, pathetic freak, channeling all of Michael Jackson's worst traits and mannerisms. As such there's not much fun to be found here, just a bizarre unease as the kids reach their expected demises. The Oompa Loompas still show them out, but with elaborate Broadway dance numbers, which are too long and a bit "cringe", as the kids say.

I'm told this is much closer to the original book than the 1971 version, which means it's possible that had another thing in common with Jaws -- that the movie was better than the book.

TWO AND A HALF EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPERS OUT OF FOUR

Wonka (2023)
===============
A prequel, rather than a remake, this movie gives us Wonka's origin story, while wearing its fondness for and connection to the original film on its chocolate-stained sleeve. The music and choreography are consistently excellent, the comedic performances are on point (save perhaps for an overly-silly Keegan-Michael Key playing a cop who can't keep his sweet tooth under control), and there is no way you'll come out of it saying you didn't have a good time.

That being said, Timothy Chalumet's Wonka has the opposite problem that Depp's had. The character here shows not an inkling of the semi-deranged Wonka we know he'll grow into. Relentlessly positive, Wonka loses a lot of mystique here, so you're left just following his happy story knowing everything will work out great for all the good guys, etc. A sweet confection, but ultimately lacking complexity.

THREE GOLDEN TICKETS OUT OF FOUR

[Tdarcos]

One sentence response. "The 1971 movie was great, no, fantastic; the sequel (remake) sucked rancid tuna, and if sold on DVD there, it is the shit on a plate at Walmart; annnnd I haven't seen the prequel."

Reason for disliking the remake (sequel): Johnny Depp's portrayal of Wonka makes the character look too much like a pedophile and/or child predator / child molester. I get a bad, no, really bad vibe from him.

[pinback]

Reason for disliking the remake (sequel): Johnny Depp portrayal of Wonka makes the character look too much like a pedophile ans/or child predator/molester.

Michael Jackson, like I said.

[AArdvark]

I wanted the Tim Burton version to be good. Johnny Depp could have made a great Wonka. But they threw it away for an overly emo character designed for modern snowflakes.

Plus the oompa- loompa dance numbers were weird.


THE
1001 CGI FACES
AARDVARK

[Casual Observer]

Thanks for saving me from this. I'm afraid to see what Burtons gonna do to Beetlejuice 2

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I thought the new one was just a total remake, so thank you for telling me otherwise.

[AArdvark]

Just watched Gene Wilder again. Can't get better than that.

Q: why does Veruca Salt get a song but none of the other kids do?

No Chocolate Drowning song
No Purple Bloat song
No Teletubby Brain-dead song
No Victory Charlie song

[pinback]

And what the hell is a "bean feast", anyway?

[Flack]

I'm sure you've looked it up since then. I didn't know what it was for 20+ years.

When I was a kid I watched a Three Stooges short where they called a toupee a divot and I had no idea what they were talking about for like 30 years.

[Tdarcos]

And what the hell is a "bean feast", anyway?

The cowboys sitting around the campfire, eating beans and farting, in a different film that also starred Gene Wilder, Blazing Saddles!

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Spoiler for the new Wonka

They take time to establish that Wonka is illiterate in the beginning of the movie.

Towards the end, there is a big reveal that the ring that Noodle wore - which we all thought was an "N" was ACTUALLY a "Z". She had been looking at it wrong.

While this exposition was going on, I did have a thought at that point that Wonka is standing there at this pivotal moment having no idea what she or Slugworth are talking about.

[pinback]

There is no life I know to compare with pure illiteration.