I just saw both Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and Charlie and the Chocolate factory (2005). And I have some thoughts.

The 1971 version is fucking awesome, and the 2005 version is a dull and garbage movie.

Although the 1971 version is based on the book, Charlie and Chocolate factory, why did they choose to put the name, Willy Wonka, instead of Charlie? Isn’t the movie supposed to be mostly about Charlie. I think it was a marketing decision because the star was Gene Wilder. I love the Oompa Loompas. Their songs are comical and true. The movie is inspirational because the message is that a person with imagination can do anything.


However, the 2005 version fails to capture anything the 1971 version did. It’s a soulless film that should never had been released. And I love Tim Burton. He does very good movies. But this is the project he should have passed on. And why the fuck was it necessary for them to give Wonka additional back story? Christopher Lee was a good actor but it seems like a waste. Depp’s Wonka was okay. But the Oompa Loompas were not. Their songs were crap. They couldn’t hire additional Indian guys? Wtf were they thinking.

They put Wonka because Wilder was the draw for the film, not some random kid who'd never been in anything, or that's what I assume. Usually advertising or overall projected revenues based on a decision are why these small and incoherent changes are made.

The Depp version was pretty fucking awful. He just tries way too hard and misses on everything.

This post was edited by jadeoshbogosh on Jun 3 2020 04:23pm

While I agree about the marketing thing, I also think it works on a narrative level as Charlie is supposed to be the audience surrogate. So as the audience you are going to go see Willy Wonka and the(/his) chocolate factory.

Probably would have been the name of the film for that reason alone, even if they didn't get Gene to play Wonka.

Watch ‘Snowpiercer’ next. It’s the sequel to Willy Wonka

This shit has been pretty epic.

Great sequel

that's not even the sequel?? but i'll check it out..

I saw Snowpiercer. It wasn’t bad. thanks