Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)
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Actor: Gene Wilder, Mel Stuart, Michael Bollner, Paris Themmen, Peter OstrumBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); Portuguese (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-06-21
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)
DVD Review: Overdue review by an impartial viewer
Summary: 4 Stars
Having seen both versions several times I have to say I like both. Yes there are stark differences in the main character Willy Wonka and there were some other minor differences in the characters of the children and their parents. Actually, there are a great many differences between Tim Burton's version and the original Mel Stuart version. Mel Stuart's version was more like a musical, highlighted with several musical interludes presented by Gene Wilder and his portrayal of Willie Wonka and one other musical interlude given by the character Varuca Salt - the "I want it now" song. Both versions had Oompah-Loompah songs - after all, it wouldn't be the same without the Oompah Loompah's musical mantras touting the social problems of misbehaved, spoiled children. I did, however, prefer the original Oompah-Loompah performances. The lead up story, basically Charlie's story, for the most part is unaltered with Burton's version deviating slightly to include Charlie's father, a man who works at a toothpaste factory, and his mother is non-working to stay at home and take care of the ramshackle hut of a house and Charlie's grandparents. In the original, we do not know of Charlie's father and his mother works at a laundry, washing clothes. Tim Burton's remake also does not include "The Candy Man" song or Charlie's theme "Cheer up Charlie". There is one other song when Charlie's grandfather get's out of bed for the first time in twenty years. It's not in Burton's version either. In contrast, the only "musical" interlude in Burton's version aside from the Oompah-Loompah songs was a cheesy "Willie Wonka" mechanical doll performance at the entry to the Wonka Factory. This performance while starting out innocently enough soon transcends in to a scene more apropos for a "Chucky" film - hideous and revolting!
Over all I give both versions equal ratings. In the following I discuss in general the differences I noticed and meant the most to me. If you for some odd reason have not seen either movie and wish not to know the details then please read no further. They have certainly been on TV several times.
The parallels:
Augustus Gloop, the gluttonous brat: No differences between the two versions.
Violet Bueregard, the gum chewing brat: In both versions she takes the gum from Wonka and, at the behest of Wonka not to, begins to chew the gum. The 2 movies do deviate at the point only slightly where as Wilder's Wonka does, in a more nonchalant manner, say "stop, don't", Depp's Wonka simply bemoans where the process goes wrong. In both versions, Voilet turns violet and becomes very, very round and plump, like a blueberry, only in Burton's version, more so. The end is the same- to be rushed off to the blueberry squeezing room!
Varuca Salt, the spoiled rotten brat who gets anything she wants: All through the movie (both versions) she demands her father to buy her this or get her that. The difference here is that in the original she sees giant geese that lay giant golden eggs - for Easter, of course. In Burton's version, and as I understand from the original book, there are squirrels - who test and shell walnuts. Of course, Varuca demands her father to buy her a squirrel, or in the case of the original, a goose. In either version she attempts to steal her prize and ends up going down the garbage chute to the "incinerator". Which we find out isn't working that day - whew, thank goodness for that ;).
Mike Teevee, the brat with a television addiction: The same annoying "know it all" brat. The difference being that in the original he was addicted to westerns and in Burton's version he is a video-game addict. I liked the way in which both Wonka characters dealt with Mike through the course of the movie. The end for Mike was the same in both versions.
The major differences (aside from the musical score and the characterization of the Oompa- Loompas);
Willy Wonka: The eccentric chocolate mogul. There are stark differences between Mel Stuart's version and Tim Burton's version.
Mel Stuart's Version of Wonka portrayed by Gene Wilder is a light hearted, whimsical and somewhat eccentric man where as Tim Burton's version portrayed by Johnnie Depp is a considerably darker character who has deep emotional evulsions toward parents - linked to an apparently overbearing father who was a dentist, as we are repeatedly shown in no less than 3 "flashback" scenes. Depp's Wonka was definitely eccentric. His portrayal, however, stopped well short of whimsical and was in no way light hearted, but rather more stogy with a slight after taste of stale comedy.
Then finally to Charlie Bucket: The poor and destitute "good" child. Here, the story isn't quite the same, either. The differences are many; I'll touch on the most notable.
In the original, there is no father figure. Charlie is closest to his grandfather, who hadn't stepped foot out of bed in 20 years. In Burton's version, Charlie has a father figure who had just been laid-off at the "toothpaste" factory, his job being replaced by a robot. In both versions, however, Charlie does go to the chocolate factory with his grandfather.
In the original, Charlie and his grandfather DO get in to mischief by taking a sip of some "Fizzy Lifting Soda" and end up floating up in to a, for lack of better description, smokestack. They do return to ground unharmed and continue on with their adventure - after all, the story is about Charlie. In the remake, no such detours. Charlie was a perfect child all the way through. In the original, Charlie did not initially win. He had to prove his "goodness" by returning the "Everlasting Gobstopper" at the end of the adventure. At which point Wilder's Wonka awarded Charlie the factory; End of movie. In Burton's version, Depp's Wonka, since Charlie is the last remaining child, the factory is awarded to him, BUT, unlike the original, Wonka tells Charlie his family can't come with him. The movie languishes on with Charlie actually showing Depp's Wonka that having a family is a good thing and eventually Charlie wins out, reuniting Depp's Wonka with his father and then obtaining the factory and moving his family in as well. There is hardly a mention of the "Everlasting Gobstopper" in Burton's version. There was a "sub plot" in the original version that centered around honesty. Wonka's chief competitor was Slugworth Candies. A man posing as Slugworth approaches each child offering him/her cash fortune to get an "Everlasting Gobstopper". A tempting trial for each child, no doubt. While this sub-plot does make an appearance in the Burton version, it ends up fading away never to be seen again. In Stuart's version, this sub plot would be the deciding point for Charlie, had he not returned the Gobstopper to Wonka, he would not have won the "prize". This sub plot proves honesty above all else.
Let's not forget the flyover in the glass elevator. While minor to the movie, it should be noted that in the original we never see the end result of the children who lose out. This would be the end of Stuart's version as Charlie, grandpa, and Wonka fly onward and the credits roll.
In Burton's remake, we get to see each of children as they exit the factory in a cartoonish portrayal of what each child went through.
Augustus covered in dried chocolate - attempting to eat the chocolate from his fingers
Violet, still violet in color is now more flexible, but otherwise unharmed and apparently enjoying her new found flexibility.
Varuca and her father exit covered in trash. Varuca spots the flying glass elevator and quips, obviously not learning her lesson, "Daddy, I must have a glass elevator!" This time, however, Mr. Salt retorts quite shortly "the only thing you're getting is a bath!"
Mike Teevee, having been shrunk in the Wonka-vision is now considerably taller and very, very thin; having been stretched in the taffy pulling machine.
Then we see the glass elevator crash through the roof of Charlie's house where Depp's Wonka delivers the prize to Charlie. Telling him he has won the factory, but then dashing his hopes by telling him his family can't come along. No, sadly, this is not the end of the movie as it languishes on. We see later Charlie working a shoe-shine stand and Wonka sitting, pretending to read a news paper, taunting Charlie about his decision and wondering why such a smart child would want his parents around. This continues with Charlie convincing Wonka to find his father, Wilber Wonka DDS. They do, they meet, the Wonka's engage in a rather reserved father/son embrace. We then see Charlie and Willie returning to Charlie's house for dinner - but this time, the house is actually IN the factory. Wonka did give the factory to Charlie AND allowed Charlies entire family move in.
I did prefer Stuart's version of the Oompah-Loompahs. Burton's version seemed like a cloning production in overdrive. All looking exactly the same. Which, in reality it was. In Burton's version, Gordeep (Deep) Roy played ALL of the Oompah Loompahs - with a little help from technology, of course.
All that said, I have not read Dahls original novel. I have read the introduction for the screenplay, however. The Intro scenes of Burton's version do, for the most part, follow the Dahl intro. From the point of the children gathering at the gates of the Wonka Factory and forward, I can't say. Perhaps I will have to obtain a copy of the novel and find out.
Description of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)
A poor young boy, Charlie Bucket, is rewarded by eccentric candy-maker named Willy Wonke for having a kind heart.Genre: Feature Film Family
Rating: G
Release Date: 21-JUN-2005
Media Type: DVD
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