This morning I browsed some articles on the web about Tim Burton. When I realised Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was made 6 YEARS AGO I just fell off my chair. Where did those six years go? I still remember going to the cinema to watch it. But I'll come back to the film later on.
Which leads me to Roald Dahl and the original book. I was probably ten and already a chocolate lover when I first got introduced to Roald Dahl. I think sweets factories actually did an awful lot of benefits every time I read that book, since I was trying to get some taste of the wonderful sweets depicted in the book. And no, I never found the all-meal chewing gum, therefore never ended up as a giant blueberry. Unfortunately, I was also never able to grab a chocolate bar from the TV screen. However I found chocolate bars wrapped in golden paper, called Malakov, which to me were exactly what Charlie's chocolate bars must have been. Every page of this book was mouth-watering, so when I learned about Tim Burton's movie I was a bit wary that it might ruin the images I had in mind;
Well, Johnny Depp as main character is hardly a risky choice, let alone in a movie directed by Tim Burton...who for once left most of the scary side of his fantasy world out in order to stick to the book's own atmosphere. The actor playing Charlie matches my vision of Charlie, and so do the four other children. The Oompa Lumpas are totally wild and funny, with their addictive songs filmed in the psychedelic way (thus matching the rest of the movie) and the original lyrics are respected. Grandpa Joe is a delight, and both Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Bucket and Christopher Lee as Dr. Wilbur Wonka are brilliant supporting actors.
The book
Which leads me to Roald Dahl and the original book. I was probably ten and already a chocolate lover when I first got introduced to Roald Dahl. I think sweets factories actually did an awful lot of benefits every time I read that book, since I was trying to get some taste of the wonderful sweets depicted in the book. And no, I never found the all-meal chewing gum, therefore never ended up as a giant blueberry. Unfortunately, I was also never able to grab a chocolate bar from the TV screen. However I found chocolate bars wrapped in golden paper, called Malakov, which to me were exactly what Charlie's chocolate bars must have been. Every page of this book was mouth-watering, so when I learned about Tim Burton's movie I was a bit wary that it might ruin the images I had in mind;
The movie
Well, Johnny Depp as main character is hardly a risky choice, let alone in a movie directed by Tim Burton...who for once left most of the scary side of his fantasy world out in order to stick to the book's own atmosphere. The actor playing Charlie matches my vision of Charlie, and so do the four other children. The Oompa Lumpas are totally wild and funny, with their addictive songs filmed in the psychedelic way (thus matching the rest of the movie) and the original lyrics are respected. Grandpa Joe is a delight, and both Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Bucket and Christopher Lee as Dr. Wilbur Wonka are brilliant supporting actors.
stoopid blogger swallowed my first comment.. or was it gremlins? Created, incidentally, by Roald Dahl? ;)
RépondreSupprimerAnyroad, this version of Charlie is on my list to watch soon, hope the Oompas live up to my expectations.. the 'originals' were rather funny.
Then again, Burton being Burton I guess it's a good fillum ;)
will report/compare notes soon ;)
The Oompas are memorable, don't worry! As for expecting something out of an adaptation, I gave up comparing too much. It either sticks to the story or not, then it's up to the director to make his own imaginary world!
RépondreSupprimer*me going to check which Gremlins are on call to sabotage my blog. Maybe the Big Friendly Giant will help me out.*