If I were to say that I had I high hopes about the 2005 remake of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, you’d be surprised to know that I’m speaking merely for the 1%. I think we can all agree in the end, it will NEVER EVER surpass the original, mostly because Johnny Depp’s take and portrayal on the famous candy maker is not as, for a lack of better wording thereof, scrumdiddlyumptious as Gene Wilder, who is THE true Wonka in the end.
Besides, Depp’s Wonka is, as the Nostalgia Critic described best: Wonka looks like a mix between Cate Blanchett’s character of Colonel Dr. Irina Spalko from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Marilyn Manson. I’d personally would like to also add Depp’s Wonka looks like Michael Jackson in his later years and Tom Hiddleston as Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, gone horribly, horribly wrong.
That aside, let’s take a moment to realize there were actually some relatively good things about this otherwise, not half bad remake. That being said, I’m not saying that this version of Charlie is by any means a perfect adaptation and movie, ’cause at the end of the day, the original is still THE superior film.
- For starters, we actually do see that Charlie’s dad is alive.
- Plus, he DOES work at the toothpaste factory doing his screw on caps job, just like the book.
- The visuals inside Wonka’s factory look spectacular.
- All except the Chocolate River sequence, mostly due to the fact, the scary tunnel from the book and original movie is left out.
- And saying of which, I’m glad this version brings in the Nut Room, as the original film replaced it with a Geese that lay Golden Chocolate Eggs Room, which incidentally, I have nothing against.
- All except the Chocolate River sequence, mostly due to the fact, the scary tunnel from the book and original movie is left out.
- The whole Prince Pondicherry side-story from the book is added, smart thinking too, as that was NOT in the original film, but it WAS also, in fact, a chapter of the original book.
- The whole music score done by Danny Elfman is vastly underrated, even the Oompa Loompa songs are done well. Each of them follow the same lyrics as the original book and are given their own beat.
- Augustus Gloop’s song is given 50’s mambo beat, kind of like something you’d expect to hear from Harry Belafonte.
- Violet Beauregarde’s song is given 70’s disco beat, kind of like something you’d expect to hear from the Bee Gees or anyone else from that time.
- Veruca Salt’s song is given a late 60’s rock and pop beat, kind of like something you’d expect to hear from the Sgt. Pepper era and later years of The Beatles before their breakup.
- And finally, Mike Teavee’s song is given a mix between 70’s, 80’s and 90’s heavy rock beat, kind of like something you’d expect to hear from the likes of Queen, Van Halen, etc.
- That being said, the only song that DOESN’T work is Wonka’s Welcome Song.
- It’s the kind of song you expect not only from the Disney company, but also to be in the original film and book, the song would suit Gene Wilder’s version and the book counterparts better.
- That being said, the only song that DOESN’T work is Wonka’s Welcome Song.
- Some updates I must praise this film for besides the visuals:
- Grandpa Joe having used to work for Wonka is a nice touch.
- Mike Teavee loves video games instead of Western movies.
- But that doesn’t excuse him for using the word ‘retard’.
- Grandma Georgina does have some good comic relief moments.
- Occasionally, Depp’s Wonka does have one or two, if not A LOT of funny moments.
- But as I said, in the end, Gene Wilder is still THE best Wonka and Depp’s portrayal is a headache.
- Charlie’s family actually DOES agree to share his birthday Wonka bar when the former proposes it, unlike the original book and movie.
- The Bucket family does come close to getting a better life after Charlie denies Wonka taking him back to the factory, mostly because Wonka won’t let his family there.
- And because of this, Mr. Bucket gets a better job at the toothpaste factory instead of being out of a job altogether, repairing the machine that replaced him.
- That, and the Bucket family actually do get to have more bountiful meals as a opposed to cabbage soup twice a day.
- And because of this, Mr. Bucket gets a better job at the toothpaste factory instead of being out of a job altogether, repairing the machine that replaced him.
- Charlie finding the last Golden Ticket on a third try instead of four times as seen in original film and book.
- And finally, we get to see Loompa Land on screen.
- Although I had my own ideas as to what it, and the nasty creatures that ate the Oompa Loompas, looked like.
- The following actors are the ones I’d like to praise for doing a good job as the book counterpart:
- David Kelly as Grandpa Joe
- As mentioned previously, he used to work for Wonka in this version.
- Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Bucket
- Nice to see her break the typecast from being a villainesses or any other random role.
- Noah Taylor as Mr. Bucket
- This stems from the fact we DIDN’T see Mr. Bucket the original 1971 movie.
- Missi Pyle as Mrs. Beauregarde
- She fills in for her husband who is not seen on screen, whereas her voice was heard off-screen in the original film.
- James Fox as Mr. Salt
- He tries really hard to break Veruca’s lifestyle as a brat, safe to say, I think she gets grounded in the end.
- Adam Godley as Mr. Teavee
- He fills in the shoes his wife had in the original film, it is also him who is the teacher of high school Geography.
- Franziska Troegner as Mrs. Gloop
- She behaves much like her book and original film counterparts.
- AnnaSophia Robb as Violet Beauregarde
- Her portrayal of the character is a champion obsessed with winning, heck, she has over 263 trophies to prove it.
- Jordan Fry as Mike Teavee
- As mentioned earlier, he is more of a video game player than a fan of Western films.
- Philip Wiegratz as Augustus Gloop
- He behaves much like his book and original film counterparts.
- Liz Smith as Grandma Georgina
- As mentioned earlier, she’s got some good comic relief moments.
- Eileen Essell as Grandma Josephine
- She behaves like a true grandmother.
- David Morris as Grandpa George
- He’s a kind, yet strong curmudgeon, but very firm, grandfather.
- Nitin Ganatra as Prince Pondicherry
- He was left out of the original film for reasons unknown.
- Oscar James as the Shopkeeper
- The one who owns the news and candy stand that Charlie finds the last Golden Ticket at.
- And finally, Geoffrey Holder (aka Baron Samedi from Live and Let Die) as the Narrator
- David Kelly as Grandpa Joe
- And finally, while not exactly an excellent Charlie Bucket, Freddie Highmore’s take on the character does remind us (and Wonka) that family is ALWAYS an important matter that should NEVER be neglected, which is why I love the reconciliation between Wonka and his dentist of a father, played by the late, great Christopher Lee.
- Despite the fact Wonka briefly states that he had no other living family at the end of the original book and the addition of that subplot in the remake was NOT needed.
That’s all for today, stay tuned for the next episode, whatever it may be. Until then, I’m Big Max, signing off…
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