Post by catherine on Nov 20, 2006 19:33:38 GMT
Well guys, yes I watched a film last night - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the 2005 remake and thought I'd make a few comments about it. A mini review of sorts.
Good things first.
1.I liked the colour which was vibrant and rich all the way through. This obviously was an advantage of better technology than the first (classic) film and I think it helped to create the make-believe, child-orientated atmosphere because obviously, it is a children's story.
2. I liked the fact that Tim Burton (yes emily!) who directed it, developed the characters more. For example you get to see why the chocolate factory was shut for so many years and why Willy Wonka became a chocolatier (his dad was a dentist and forbid him chocolate so he ran away and made a fortune) therefore creating more of a touching end to the film when Charlie goes with Wonka to find his dad (which they miraculousy find.... bit wierd that bit)
3. The CGI is really good and really benefits the film especially the bit with the great glass elevator. Using the same man for all the oompa loompas was very clever on a computer graphics side of things... but I'm not sure that was the right decision.
4. I thought the acting all round was pretty good although Jonny Depp was pretty damn good as Wonka giving a kind of slightly sinister Jacko twist on the role from the chirpy eccentric Gene Wilder version. I liked this and thought it gave the character more depth... also I love the classic line: "Everything in this room is edible - even I'm edible, but that my children is called cannibalism and is frowned upon in most societies." LOL.
5. I also like the fact that they delay Wonka's entrance until the 35th minute!! That's a 1/3 of the way through the film... it builds up suspense to see what he looks like and also emphasizes the fact that nobody has been seen inside or outside the factory for 20 years. I think this was a cool decision.
Bad things...
1. SOUNDTRACK!!!! The first film had CLASSIC songs like "I've got a golden ticket!" and "Goodnight Charlie..." etc. The remake has some bubblegummy song "willy wonka, willy wonka, the amazing chocolatier" etc. Rubbish.
2. It annoyed me that Burton couldn't decide when to set the film and where. References to a Band-Aid and Depp using an american accent suggests the USA however, everyone else has british accents and it was made in the UK. The currency is not made clear because all the close-ups of money are out of focus deliberately.... that annoyed me. Also, time period?? It was either 1960s or very modern but it kept flicking between the two. Also, if Charlie's father worked in the toothpaste factory then surely he would have had at least enough money to feed his family something other than cabbage soup and give the child more than a chocolate bar for his birthday.
Call me pinickety (sp?) but those things annoy me.
Apart from that I liked the remake..... but the original is still a classic. ***
"I like grapes!"
Catherine xx ;D
Good things first.
1.I liked the colour which was vibrant and rich all the way through. This obviously was an advantage of better technology than the first (classic) film and I think it helped to create the make-believe, child-orientated atmosphere because obviously, it is a children's story.
2. I liked the fact that Tim Burton (yes emily!) who directed it, developed the characters more. For example you get to see why the chocolate factory was shut for so many years and why Willy Wonka became a chocolatier (his dad was a dentist and forbid him chocolate so he ran away and made a fortune) therefore creating more of a touching end to the film when Charlie goes with Wonka to find his dad (which they miraculousy find.... bit wierd that bit)
3. The CGI is really good and really benefits the film especially the bit with the great glass elevator. Using the same man for all the oompa loompas was very clever on a computer graphics side of things... but I'm not sure that was the right decision.
4. I thought the acting all round was pretty good although Jonny Depp was pretty damn good as Wonka giving a kind of slightly sinister Jacko twist on the role from the chirpy eccentric Gene Wilder version. I liked this and thought it gave the character more depth... also I love the classic line: "Everything in this room is edible - even I'm edible, but that my children is called cannibalism and is frowned upon in most societies." LOL.
5. I also like the fact that they delay Wonka's entrance until the 35th minute!! That's a 1/3 of the way through the film... it builds up suspense to see what he looks like and also emphasizes the fact that nobody has been seen inside or outside the factory for 20 years. I think this was a cool decision.
Bad things...
1. SOUNDTRACK!!!! The first film had CLASSIC songs like "I've got a golden ticket!" and "Goodnight Charlie..." etc. The remake has some bubblegummy song "willy wonka, willy wonka, the amazing chocolatier" etc. Rubbish.
2. It annoyed me that Burton couldn't decide when to set the film and where. References to a Band-Aid and Depp using an american accent suggests the USA however, everyone else has british accents and it was made in the UK. The currency is not made clear because all the close-ups of money are out of focus deliberately.... that annoyed me. Also, time period?? It was either 1960s or very modern but it kept flicking between the two. Also, if Charlie's father worked in the toothpaste factory then surely he would have had at least enough money to feed his family something other than cabbage soup and give the child more than a chocolate bar for his birthday.
Call me pinickety (sp?) but those things annoy me.
Apart from that I liked the remake..... but the original is still a classic. ***
"I like grapes!"
Catherine xx ;D
