Just watched another good segment by the Nostalgia Critic. On this week’s edition of Old vs. New, he discusses the weaknesses of the 1970s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Pointed out some very good points about each I never thought of, but then again I’ve only seen Willy Wonka a few times, mostly in just bits, and Charlie for about the same. Anyway, instantly before I even watched the video, I knew he would pick Willy Wonka. How could he (and many others) not? It’s particularly a classic. It’s hard to dethrone a classic. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any thoughts about the points he presented.
First up, let’s begin with Willy Wonka himself. While I do like Johnny Depp, his performance in my opinion was good. I don’t think it was that bad. I mean he give the character a creepy, grim vibe which is reflective in the mannerisms of the character. Especially when you consider that he hasn’t had a lot of contact with outside world, so he’s going to appear aloof, awkward, and very weird. But maybe too creepy in which actually removes you from liking the character. This is where I think Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka succeeds—he had both an enigmatic mystery about him that’s both charming and unsettling, but at the same time, is pretty likable.
Next is another main character—Charlie. Yeah, the Tim Burton version is downplayed quite a bit. Making him this perfect innocent, unselfish figure can be not only annoying at times, but also bland like he pointed. I think that’s the point of the new film was trying to address to distinguish himself from the other “horrid, naughty” children featured in the movie. But still, I’m of the opinion that this aspect can work out effectively for the narrative when there’s a likeable character in mind. Regardless, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I think it fails here because being this perfect innocent “Mary Sue/Gary Stu”-like character doesn’t make it believable in the eyes of the viewer. What sorts of personality traits are distinct in him that none of the other characters have? What are his personal flaws and how are they present? And can he combat those flaws? This is where as the Critic pointed out where Charlie in Willy Wonka succeeds the most. He is believable and therefore can relate and sympathize with him better. Though to be fair, it wasn’t entirely Freddie Highmore’s fault. It was just the way the character was written for the movie. As such, Charlie in the newest incarnation didn’t leave much of an impression.
The songs are unique in their own way in context with the story. However, I do believe in the newest film the “Willy Wonka” song while good in its only way, does become annoy after the twelfth or fiftieth time. I admit I enjoyed the song at first, but it’s becomes too much after awhile to the point once it’s over, you are breathing a sigh of relief. I think the song itself was a take on “It’s a Small World After All,” which in its own way is good and is (or was) fun at first, but it’s very much annoying and you don’t want to listen to it again. Of course, the same can be also said for some popular songs on the radio, but those are played over and over to where you’re sick of them. Though the principle still reminds as is with both songs.
In the end, both movies have their own strengths and weaknesses in my opinion. Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is strong in that it does follow the book little more closely with the original source material down to the songs. However, at the same time, it is eclipsed by its own faults, such as Charlie as the driving force of the story and shouldn’t play second fiddle to Wonka. Both are important characters and should be treated as such. Willy Wonka withstood the test of time as its still regarded as a classic, even though the book’s author hated the movie. But in the end, it comes down to which is better and more fondly remembered. Even though Willy Wonka has its share of faults too, it’s the most thought of by everyone.
Personally, I enjoy both, but that’s just me and not everyone else has the same taste. Tune in next time for Out the Box Commentary. Rayne signing out.
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