Which Willy Wonka movie is better? Discuss!

[derby378]

Here's derby's breakdown of Mel Stuart's version with Gene Wilder and Tim Burton's version with Johnny Depp:

Portrayal of Willy Wonka
This one is too close to call. Both Wilder and Depp accurately captured Wonka's mercurial habits and demeanor. Depp did a better job in recreating Wonka's gentle misanthropy and aversion to children, but Wilder did a better job in translating Wonka's childlike antics through the lens of a chocolatier who was feeling the pressures of the outside world.

Music
Also a tough one. Mel Stuart's version gave us The Candy Man Can, (I've Got a) Golden Ticket, and Pure Imagination, all of which are classics in their own right. Sadly, they took a cookie-cutter approach to the Oompa-Loompa songs and discarded Roald Dahl's original lyrics. Tim Burton was wise not to repeat this mistake, hiring composer and Oingo Boingo alumnus Danny Elfman to crank out four unforgettable songs that incorporated Dahl's lyrics with music ranging from easy listening to disco to arena rock.

Overall Direction
Stuart gets the nod here. Burton's vision is too dark, too somber, too quiet. When a reclusive candyman opens up his factory for the first time in years, any kids in the queue aren't going to just stand there - they'll act like practically any other kid would and cheer, dance, sing, and otherwise go hog wild.

Liberties with Original Novel
The Stuart film expanded the role of rival candymaker Slugworth, while the Burton film introduced us to Willy's heavy-handed father, Wilbur Wonka, DDS. Both devices worked will in their respective vehicles.

Artistic Concept
Burton gets the nod here. While the Stuart movie is arguably more vibrant and colorful, its Chocolate Factory still seemed a little rough around the edges, while Burton's factory looked more like you'd expect an eccentric chocolatier's factory to look like.

Those Darned Kids
Another tough call. The kids in Burton's film were nasty enough, but somewhat restrained. On the other hand, why did Stuart's version feature a Charlie who sounded like an American expatriate?

derby's Final Call
Watch them both. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. But each is also quite enjoyable in its own way.

Okay, I'm done. Your turn! Which one's your favorite?

[LostinVA]

1. I agree with Lynnesin 100% on this issue

[Parche]

3. what does she know

the original is the best
and my favorite of all time
nothing beats Gene Wilder
or the music

:hi:

[Symarip]

20. BULLSHIT

Tim Burton's vision remained far more faithful to the book because the book tells a superior story. Furthermore, Elfman's score is one of his best in the new century. He kept the Oompa Loompa lyrics faithful to the book and musically added crazy elements of Jazz, Soul, 60s Mod Rock and Bollywood. Added bonus: he sang all the parts.

Though I love the first movie, you can definitely feel that they were trying to push product (seeing how a marketing campaign mobilized the making of the film). To a point where the script reflects little of the book and most of the memorable songs, Candyman et al, are borrowed to save time and money.

Granted. Burton put his Burton spin on the imagery which is what ol Tim likes to do. But to truly compare the two, using the book as the metric, the Burton film is far superior.

[rcrush]

2. I remember I worked at a theatre when this movie came out.

You see a lot of stupid people come to the movies. Almost everyone though this was a sequel to the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka because of the title.

[derby378]

5. Egads!

Didn't any of them ever head of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator? It's been a long time since I read it, but I remember poor Goldie's unfortunate turn of events after eating all that "candy." Ewww.

[DS1]

7. Gene Hackman?

:rofl:

[rcrush]

Who what?!

[DS1]

10. Wilder, man. Wilder!

sorry, dial ups!

[derby378]

22. I think YOU just got the Golden Ticket

Where the hell did you find that Wonka/Shining animation? Priceless!

[DS1]

23. it's been around the tubes

I think I got this copy here at some point

[derby378]

24. All the same, thanks for sharing

All work and no play makes Jack get nothing!
All work and no play makes Jack get nothing!
All work and no play makes Jack get nothing!
All work and no play makes Jack get nothing!
All work and no play makes Jack get nothing!
WHAP!

Sorry.

[CBGLuthier]

4. I still prefer the original

Big Depp fan, not so much Burton any more although he didn't screw Sweeney Todd up too much.

Depp's Wonka was just too damned creepy. May have captured Dahl's portrayal better but still creepy.

I love Wilder's entrance. Consider it almost as memorable as Omar Sharif's in Lawrence of Arabia. In its own way.

I guess like Dr. Whos and lovers its hard to forget your first. :-)

[derby378]

6. Wilder, BTW, wouldn't appear in the film unless allowed to do that entrance

It was classic. Good on him for sticking to his guns.

Speaking of Doctor Who, Jon Pertwee was also in the running to play Wonka. Couldn't do it because of his prior commitments to fight off Daleks and Cyberman.

[MilesColtrane]

8. Those who think that Depp is a better Wonka GET NOTHING!!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. I said, GOOD DAY SIR!!!! nt

[JVS]

14. They LOSE!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. Stuart's version (i.e. "Willie Wonka") hands down.

Burton's version ("Charlie") was a visual spectacle and more faithful to the novel, but it just seemed a bit overdone.

What really hurt Burton's version was its Charlie. Just an annoying goody-goody who you didn't really care for or want root for. Stuart's version of Charlie (and his Grandpa) was slightly mischevious, not perfect, but still in the end, was a good kid and you liked him.

The songs in the Burton version were interesting but not really anything to which you could sing along. On the other hand, who didn't want to sing along to the Ompa-Lompa songs in the Stuart version?

Johnny Depp was Johnny Depp, but I like Gene Wilder's portrait better. Just a personal preference.

[AlCzervik]

12. I prefer the original because it's a childhood memory.

my own kid likes the Depp version better, that one will be her childhood memory though she's seen both and read the book.

[TZ]

17. I read the book as a child but I prefer the Depp version

I dunno...I just think Gene Wilder is too nice/happy/silly. I always got the feeling that Willie Wonka was a bit darker..maybe thats why I like the Depp version better...more in line with my impression of the character.

[BarenakedLady]

13. Johnny Depp!

:P

I'm so shallow.

Hubba hubba.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. In the Stuart film they decapitate a chicken.

Stuart film wins.

[derby378]

19. But what if you LIKE chickens?

:shrug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Oh, I love chicken.

Stuart film wins.

[tigereye]

16. the original

but Depp is wonderfully freaky in his, and the factory looks really cool.

[PeaceNikki]

18. I can't choose which is better. Each had elements that I loved.

I liked Charlie in Burton's version better.
I liked the way Burton's version was more true to the story and gave more background.
Depp was GREAT

I liked the Oompa Loompa's in Stuart's better
I liked the (non-Charlie) kids in Stuart's better
Gene Wilder was GREAT

[WI_DEM]

21. I much prefer the Wilder portrayal and film.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

25. Also, I was thinking after I saw the original this past weekend.

The new movie simply glossed over the whole getting the ticket excitement. I think the set-up lasted 10 minutes at most--it was like the 4 other kids get their tickets, a very brief mention of the fradulent ticket, then Charlie gets his ticket, and boom, they're at the factory. It felt very rushed.

Whereas in the original, you really get a sense of excitement about the whole ticket search. They show little news stories about people going crazy about the tickets, how Charlie is sad every time there is one less ticket, then how Charlie is depressed when the last ticket is supposedly found, but the one glimmer of hope when he finds out it is a fraud, until he finally gets that ticket. The whole sequence is done so much better in the original, IMHO.

[derby378]

26. I did enjoy the clockwork precision of the Tokyo Wonka Bar shop in Burton's version

Not to mention the disappearing Wonka Bar dress in that boutique. Poor mannequin's gonna catch a cold! :silly:

[FloridaJudy]

28. Gene Wilder IS Willy Wonka

And anyone who disagrees is a Bad Egg.

[azmouse]

29. What would you say about someone who has not seen either version?

And probably never will? :shrug: