Wilder's Wonkavision On The Fritz

It seems like not all is golden is Wonka-land. Everyone’s favorite confectionary madman spoke out against Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which he called a pointless money-making ploy. Gene Wilder told the UK Telegraph:

"It's all about money. It's just some people sitting around thinking: 'How can we make some more money?' Why else would you remake Willy Wonka? I don't see the point of going back and doing it all over again…. Right now, the only thing that does take some of the edge off this for me is that Willy Wonka's name isn't in the title."

Wilder’s public disapproval might just be backlash at Burton who told Empire Magazine he found the 1971 version "quite disturbing" and The Chicago Sun Times the film was a bit too “sappy” & failed to incorporate author Roald Dahl’s vision:

"It's sappy when it shouldn't be sappy and it's weird. Let's just say it's not one of my personal favorites. I'd rate 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' much higher… I responded to the children's book because it respected that children can be adults, and I think adults forget that. There can be darkness and sort of foreboding. Very sinister things are very much a part of childhood. I like that sort of humor and emotion put together."

While Gothamist is definitely interested in seeing Burton’s version we think rating a Dick Van Dyke flop higher than Willy Wonka is a bit - ok, really - harsh. True, the original bordered on sappy (“Imagination” song?) and weird (crazy-eyed Wilder rhyming “there's no earthly way of knowing, which direction we are going”), but we always thought that was the film’s sentimental charm. Willy Wonka might be one the few films not in need of a tune-up, but we understand the remake: it differs from Dahl's tone and humor (which is more along Burton’s darker and quirkier style), the Oompa Loompa song could use a few more beats, and Johnny Depp is just a wee bit sexier than the Frisco Kid. Then again, we’ve trusted Burton to our classics before and received a defiled Planet of the Apes.

Warner Bros. just released the latest trailer and from the looks of it (thankfully, the oompa loompas don't look like Marilyn Manson mini-mes), we think it'll resemble Big Fish and Mars Attacks!, but we'll have to wait till July 15 for the so-called "pointless" movie.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Rina in Arts & Entertainment on June 3, 2005 11:49 AM

Comments [rss]

Josho

I love Wilder, but I think he's dead wrong here. There's a very good reason to remake the movie: as Lilitu indicates, the first movie did not capture the spirit of the book AT ALL. It retained most of the plot and completely ignored the commentary, it defanged the whole Oompa Loompa subplot (Wonka as a liberator or slave-owner?), it turned Wonka into a schizophrenic at the end...I was a huge fan of the book and when I saw the film as a child, I was devastated at how sugar-coated and cheap the whole thing was. If there was ever a movie that DESERVED to be remade, it's Wilder's.

olivia benson

I'm sorry but "Children can be adults?!?" Ummm, no they can't, psychoface. And thankfully we have LAWS to back that up. WTF, Burton!??!

will

Willy Wonka is awesome, Wilder is fantastic. But I had no idea the book was different, thanks for the tip!

Lilitu

I'm very much in the Burton camp. For one thing, it's NOT a bloody remake. It's a new adaptation of the novel, not a remake of the movie. And I'm not in the Burton camp because I didn't like Wilder's movie--I love "Willy Wonka", but that movie is not the book I read. Tim Burton, I think, has a chance of making the movie of the book.

Ace

Keaton was brilliant in Batman. His silences spoke volumes.

bob denver

I'm on the Wilder side of this fight. "Willy Wonka" is one of the few films that should never be remade as it can never be topped - sort of like trying to remake citzen kane or rear window. Wilder is right about it being all about the money. Burton has pigeonholed himself into his trademarked weirdness style and is too afraid to break out of it - or possibly studios won't let him. The original wonka still looks modern. Is it my imagination or is Depp using Anna Wintour as the model for his wonka interpretation?

Rose

From the looks of the trailer, this remake could go either way. Either it will be a campy, creepy hit or it will be twisted and not in a good way.

I already get an odd feeling of ice running through my veins when Johnny Depp appears.

rina

yes, yes, made a haste mistake in thinking Burton directed the later Batman films - right after posting, I remembered it was indeed Schumacher. I agree about the first Batman (im a Keaton fan).

db

Wasn't "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" made to promote candy? It differs from the book in many great ways and gives Willy Wonka a very different personality than Roald Dahl wrote for him. I'm excited about the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" adaptation. I'll miss those golden geese, though.

Captain Midnight

Sorry, I'm with Burton in liking Chitty much more. That said, out of the 21 films on Burton's filmography, I only really like Batman. 1 out of 21 isn't a good percentage. I don't expect this to make it 2 out of 21.

Hate to make a topical joke out of this, but doesn't Depp in the photo above look like Michael Jackson somewhat? Not exactly the kind of person you'd want around kids nowadays. Creepy, indeed.

laura

I kind of have to agree with Wilder. Johnny Depp is no doubt hotter, but he does look totally creepy.

And "Imagination" rocked by the way. Shut up. It's awesome.