Gothamist: Wilder's Wonkavision On The Fritz

Josho

Sun, 19 Jun 2005 10:09:35 -0500

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

Fri, 10 Jun 2005 15:28:30 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:41:16 -0500

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

Lilitu

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:16:11 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:03:29 -0500

Keaton was brilliant in Batman. His silences spoke volumes.

bob denver

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 13:58:36 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:46:53 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:43:57 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:41:34 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:38:19 -0500

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

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 12:27:02 -0500

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.

Ace

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 11:51:37 -0500

at the very least they are calling it by the proper name.