Arrrrrrrrgh

[Trinique_Fire]

I'm American, and I must say that I hated the Johnny Depp version of this movie. It was creepy to say the least. Reminded me too much of Michael Jackson. Depp's expressions made it seem as if he leered at the children which was just a little creepy for a children's movie.

It followed the book better than the Gene Wilder version, though I don't care for the Johnny Depp version either.

 

[Vermilion]

OK, films finished and I actually really enjoyed the *film*, I just wish it hadn;t been ruined by those stupid dialect errors. If you write American, cast American. If you cast English, makes sure the bloody script is English.

OK, I think I'm done bitching now. Just such a pity that an otherwise enjoyable film was botched like that.
x
V

ps- Trom, didn;t realise you were from this sceptred Isle originally - whereabouts?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Tim Burton is reputed to be making a film version Carroll's Alice books. If so he'll almost certainly fuck them up, just like everyone else who's attempted them. Or rather, he'll probably make a great film which has almost nothing to do with the books.

The best one I've seen was called "Dreamchild" back in '85--

I'm American, and I must say that I hated the Johnny Depp version of this movie. It was creepy to say the least. Reminded me too much of Michael Jackson. Depp's expressions made it seem as if he leered at the children which was just a little creepy for a children's movie.

The book is pretty creepy, IMO...

It strikes me that facial expressions are so individually interpreted-- When I watch the film, I'm looking at a man who is utterly a-sexual and phobic, cannot touch another human being at all, and looks at the children with mistrust and dismay-- and you see him leering...
'sintersting, I think.

 

[Belegon]

It strikes me that facial expressions are so individually interpreted-- When I watch the film, I'm looking at a man who is utterly a-sexual and phobic, cannot touch another human being at all, and looks at the children with mistrust and dismay-- and you see him leering...
'sintersting, I think.

Totally with you on this... I see the character of Willy Wonka as having no knowledge of sexuality at all...

 

[Vermilion]

Totally with you on this... I see the character of Willy Wonka as having no knowledge of sexuality at all...

<nod>
S'allllllllllllllllll about the chocolate
x
V

 

[NoJo]

The best one I've seen was called "Dreamchild" back in '85--

Dreamchild was a sharply observed biography of Lewis Carroll, done by Dennis Potter, one of my all-time favorite modern screenwriters. (Just how insightful the play was, was revealed eight years later when Carroll's diary became available to his definitive biographer Morton Cohen). But of course "Dreamchild" wasn't an adaptation of the books.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Dreamchild was a sharply observed biography of Lewis Carroll, done by Dennis Potter, one of my all-time favorite modern screenwriters. (Just how insightful the play was, was revealed eight years later when Carroll's diary became available to his definitive biographer Morton Cohen). But of course "Dreamchild" wasn't an adaptation of the books.

Yes, exactly so

I'm going to have to track it down now, and see it again. One thing that's stayed with me is the magnificent recreation of young Alice Liddell-- and the way the Wonderland sequences were art-directed. Talk about creepy! As I recall, they were set up using period stage techniques also, such as billowing blue fabric for the ocean.

 

[NoJo]

Yes, exactly so

I'm going to have to track it down now, and see it again. One thing that's stayed with me is the magnificent recreation of young Alice Liddell-- and the way the Wonderland sequences were art-directed. Talk about creepy! As I recall, they were set up using period stage techniques also, such as billowing blue fabric for the ocean.

They actually caught the Victorian "Parlour Room Magic" aspect of the books perfectly. Carroll was a very accomplished magician.

Being a somewhat passionate Carroll fan, I have to resist hijacking this thread. This is the biography to read.

 

[Stella_Omega]

They actually caught the Victorian "Parlour Room Magic" aspect of the books perfectly. Carroll was a very accomplished magician.

Being a somewhat passionate Carroll fan, I have to resist hijacking this thread. This is the biography to read.

Thanks for that rec, Joe </threadjack>

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I seem the same language barriers in stories all of the time. I can always tell when an American or an Englishman is writing a story. And when they have an American saying "where are my trousers, mum?" I just want to reach through the internet and smack them a few times.

And I can't stand the Burton Wonka. Even if it was a perfect translation of the book, that doesn't always mean it will be a good movie. in this case, it falls short. It seems disjointed. I seriously prefer the Wilder Wonka. More fanciful, more wonderment, the Candy Room with the Chocolate Waterfall alone was 10 times better int he Wilder version. I never got the feeling in the Burton version that the room was truly edible. Meh... It just doesn't work for me at any point in the movie.

 

[English Lady]

I could *kind* of understand if he said 'candy' instead of 'sweet's, but he didn;t - he said 'candy' instead of 'chocolate' - what? Do they not have a word for chocolate over there???? Funny thing, cos I could have sworn this film was about a CHOCOLATE factory.

x
V

the one i caught sounded like a candy instead of sweets, but then maybe it could have been chocolate? I don't know, I'm confused now. *LOL*

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

It's bad enough when an english book is transmuted into a fully American film, but when Grandpa George tells Charlie, in an English accent, to 'get that mud off your pants' it makes you wonder what kind of paedophilic child abuser he is!

V <seriously irritated>

Never seen the Depp remake, but in a way it sounds fitting given the author was a twisted Weejun anyway .

 

[starrkers]

Coming in late, as usual.
I agree with Stella's take on Depp as Wonka, think it's brilliant. And I think this version of the story is much much more than a children's movie.
And, contrary to V's view, I really didnt' think it was set in England, or the US. I thought it was a fantasy, imagined place. I haven't watched it for a bit (we do own a copy, but it's currently off high rotation in favour of Transformers) and I have the memory of a sieve so I can't recall the kids' names. But I figured there was the German kid, a couple of American kids, the English brat and Charlie was the local lad.