charlie and the chocolate factory movie reviews - Articles - Zimbio

Books on Screen: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Wed, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:49 GMT

posted by jennifersnapshot

Reading around the suggestions that people made for Children's Classics Chapter books this week has just made me smile. Each post I read either uncovers a memory from my own reading childhood, or Amanda's or has given me a great new book to add to "the list". One author that appeared more than once was Roald Dahl. It reminded me that I don't think I've ever read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So when I took the kids to the library yesterday, I checked it out — for myself.

I was of course familiar with the movie–the 1971 version featuring Gene Wilder, which is actually called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I always liked the movie. I mean, who wouldn't like a movie with songs that warn kids against the danger of gluttony, gum-chewing, and excessive television viewing? In that sense, this book written in 1964 is amazing in its timeless themes. I'm a sucker in general for musicals, and I think that this is a good one. "I've Got a Golden Ticket" always warms my heart.

The 2005 version features a quirky Johnny Depp in the role of the chocolate genius. It follows the book a bit more closely, and uses the book title as the name of the book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It also introduces such characters from the book who were not in the first movie, such as the Indian Price Pondicherry.

I had always heard that the more recent movie wasn't any good, so I had never made an effort to see it. I noticed that it was on TV one night last month, so Amanda (9), Terry (my husband) and I watched. We all really enjoyed the movie. Yes, it's different from the first. No, it's not a musical (save a few musical numbers by the munchkins, who are computer generated and similar in scale to the book's description as opposed to little people). Yes, it is updated a bit (Mike Teevee is addicted to video games on the television, and Violet Beauregard is also a competitive athlete, which I think adds to the spirit of her character nicely). Johnny Depp takes the oddness of Willy Wonka to a whole new level, but for us, he made the movie. He just knows how to do quirky.

I did finally read the book this week, and I loved it. Being familiar with the story from the original movie (and more recently the second movie), I wasn't disappointed. I think that both movies convey the plot, theme, and overall feel of the movie nicely.

So did you see the 2005 Johnny Depp version? Am I alone in liking it and finding it true to the book?

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan has been blogging at Snapshot for over two years.

Spread the Word!

del.icio.us Digg StumbleUpon Help

Premature (EXPLICIT) WILLY WONKA PARODY

Fri, 23 Aug 2008 23:10:06 GMT

posted by hotlavajava

I parody one of my favorite songs from one of the best movies of all time… Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Gene Wilder is a wildman!

For those of you who heard the rumblings, the TIME IS NOW… FURRY FURY is now a reality!

Me and my good buddy Fenway have our own uncensored podcast! We recently put up a 10 minute preview episode… give you a taste of what this show is all about!

I mentioned this on my myspace blog, sent a recent bulletin… Fridays, 11AM! Check out our website link at for more details…

www.talkshoe.com/tc/17602 FURRY FURY!!!

It is also on my myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/THEANGRYBLUESOCK

Click on the link that says “new to talkshoe”, follow the instructions!

When I say uncensored, I MEAN ANYTHING GOES!

Since I am a lazy no good sock, I came up with another concept to make videomaking easier for me. The last time I did this, with Dear Angry… it was more successful than I could have ever hoped.

My idea is simple, if there is a song you would like myself, Krista or Groover (or any combination)to sing… write me a letter titled ANGRY BLUE JUKEBOX and tell me what you want me to hear… can’t promise I will be able to find it online in karaoke format, but I will do my best to accomodate your request.

DEAR ANGRY IS STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN’!

Reminder: the only questions that I will read for Dear Angry are ones that are submitted to me privately. I will answer all questions sent to me thru comments… but only as a comment response.

For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, my good friend GOOBIAN recently conducted a lengthy interview with the man behind the sock… I will link each part as soon as it is up on her page. Ever wonder what the real voice sounds like? Well, check it out then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oGdsFN7EcM

Duration : 0:5:1

Technorati Tags: anal, angry, anus, blog, blue, dear, ejaculation, imagination, parody, premature, pure, se, sketch, sock, spoof, The, video, willy, wonka

Can I Have an Everlasting Gobstopper, Too?

Mon, 1 Jul 2008 18:38:00 GMT

posted by zilrelgnaps
Yesterday one of the managing directors brought in her adorable five year old son to work. Let's call him Josh. A dear little ball of energy and questions and enthusiasm. And so I of course was incapable of doing any work, given that I am so incredibly engaged by children. This is in no way evidence that I am still pretending to be a child as often as humanly possible. As I was leaving for the day with said managing director to have her personal trainer help with my obnoxiously persistent back injury, she asked me to distract him for a few minutes while she finished up a call with my favorite client *cough cough*. So I happily agreed.

Josh I played in the "hall" that conveniently is open air with the entire rest of the office. Better known as everyone else who is diligently working at 430pm. He gave me his Mickey Mouse ears to wear. Which I forgot I was wearing when a senior staff member walked over to ask me a question. Excellent. Josh was particularly engaged with his little toy plane. A Continental plane in fact. Flying it around every which way, making the sounds that planes make, not particularly quietly. Because he wanted to accurately replicate the noise levels of planes, apparently. Then Josh looked at me and said, "I wish I could fit in this plane and fly in it." To which I replied, "Well Josh, you should go talk to Willy Wonka, he can make you small so you can fit in there." At which point his eyes got REAL BIG at the mere thought of this mystery man who could help him fulfill his dream of flying the toy Continental plane. Maybe all the way to Build-A-Bear. The following conversation ensued:

J: Where is Willy Wonka?
Me: In his chocolate factory.
J: Where's the chocolate factory?
Me: Well, I'm not sure, because you only know where it is if you get invited to come.
J: Why?
Me: Ummm... I don't know... but you can eat lollipops there too!
J: I need to tell mommy about Willy Wonka. (starts running to mommy's office)
Me: Wait wait wait, no we don't need to tell mommy yet. Let's tell someone else. Like Kris.
J: Ok.
Me: Josh has something to tell you, Kris.
J: Liz just told me about Willy Wonka and that he can shrink me so I can fly in the plane. Do you know Willy Wonka?
Kris: Not personally but he's a very special man, he had a chocolate factory and he wanted to give it away. They even made two movies about him.

*Kris googles Willy Wonka and pulls up the Wikipedia article about him and shows Josh the following picture*
Kris: See, there's Willy Wonka!
J: Why are all those people so small on his arms?
Me: Because he SHRUNK them like he can do for YOU!
J: MOOOMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYY!!!!

At this point mommy had finished with her call, and she and my fabulous mentor Darren emerged from her office. I informed Darren of the preceding conversation and he just laughed. And I'm not even kidding you, Josh probably asked his mom about 25 times when they could go see Willy Wonka? When? Tonight? Tomorrow? Mommy, wheeeeeen???

It was so precious.

I feared that he would not let it die, that the entire ride home we would here nothing but entreaties to visit Mr. Wonka. And that I would be fired for my cruelty and trickery. But thankfully, the crazy day of Build-A-Bear and the Disney Store and in general being a rambunctious 5-year-old boy caught up with him and he zonked out within 10 minutes of being in the car. Excellent.

Let me tell you what, someday I'm going to have a 5 year old little boy and something similar will happen, except I will BE the mom and I won't find it quite so amusing that my little son has yet ANOTHER question to ask me. Repeatedly. Thanks to some non-parent who instilled some little seed of ridiculousness. But hopefully I will chuckle and think, "Ah Liz, it could be worse. You should be thankful your child wants to befriend Willy Wonka. And not Freddy Krueger."

Johnny Depp as the Riddler?

Wed, 31 Jul 2008 20:41:57 GMT

posted by fusedfilm

With The Dark Knight bringing in over $400 million for Warner Brothers, it’s no surprise that everyone is trying to figure out the casting of the sequel. According to WENN and Movieweb the sequel has Johnny Depp and Philip Seymour Hoffman being eyed for the roles of the Riddler and the Penguin.

I called for Phillip Seymour Hoffman right away if they bring a Penguin character to be in the film It should be him playing it.

I am definitely wanting both these characters to be in the film but I am not sure about Depp playing The Riddler. I mentioned in earlier posts about him maybe taking the mantle of The Joker for a small appearance but my idea of the Riddler I do not think he could portray and besides I like lesser known actors in the roles. I think Depp is a capable actor but would like someone newer and smaller in the role, like my choice of Dave Tennant.

Should be interesting to hear how this plays out and then again I am not in charge of casting or the script but as a fan I just think there is a better avenue to go besides Depp, I see him as more a “Willy Wonka” style Riddler and if that is the direction they go with the character this next film is in trouble because the one thing about the Nolan Bat franchise is that it has the realism. A “light-laughy” kind of Riddler as a central villain is not the way to go. the writers have a chance to make the Riddler in a interesting scary way that may even make people forget Heath’s portrayal as the terrorist Joker by making a serial killer Riddler. I just do not see Depp going all the way with that but he is a capable actor so under Nolan’s guide I really doesn’t matter what I think.

Stars That Were Considered For Roles

Tue, 16 Apr 2008 23:47:00 GMT

posted by yaytos

Marlon Brando - One of several who auditioned for the role of Jay Gatsby in “The Great Gatsby” but lost out to Robert Redford.
Sandra Bullock - Lost out to Julia Roberts in “Runaway Bride.”
Jim Carrey - Lost the part of Howard Hughes in “The Aviator” to Leonardo DiCaprio. Jim also lost out to Johnny Depp for “Willy Wonka” and it’s rumored he auditioned to be Ferris Bueller.
Robert DeNiro - Considered for the role of Willy Wonka but lost out to Johnny Depp, also considered for the role of Sal in “Do the Right Thing,” the role of Hannibal Lechter in “Silence of the Lambs,” and the role of Cowboy in “The Warriors”.
Johnny Depp - Lost the role of Johnny Blaze in “Ghost Rider” to Nicolas Cage, the role of Mr.Smith to Brad Pitt, and the role of Jack in “Titanic.”
Clint Eastwood -Considered to play the part of Rambo in “First Blood.”
Harrison Ford - Lost the part of Sam Bowden in Cape Fear to Nick Nolte. Ford was also considered for the role of Sam in “Ghost” and Tom Hanks’ Academy Award nominated role in “Saving Private Ryan.”
Mel Gibson - Auditioned to play Mozart in “Amadeus” and lost the part to Tom Hulce. He also lost out to Robin Williams in “The Dead Poet’s Society”.
Paul Newman - Lost the role of “Dirty” Harry Callahan to Clint Eastwood. Also, auditioned for the lead in “Ironweed” and lost to Jack Nicholson. considered for the role of James Bond in “Live and Let Die,” tested for the role of Superman and considered for the lead in the musical “Oklahoma!”
Jack Nicholson - Lost the role of Benjamin Braddock in “The Graduate” to Dustin Hoffman and the role of Jay Gatsby to Robert Redford.
Meryl Streep - Lost the part of Evita to Madonna.