Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I think I made a very large mistake by watching the original 1971 version after the modern one.  The more I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory  the more I liked the 2005 version. Weird huh?

So synopsis: Willy Wonka: rich, eccentric, billionaire candy man who hides five gold tickets in his chocolate bars. All those who find a ticket get a tour of the secret chocolate making factory. Four of the 5 children who win are evil and the 5th is Charlie Bucket a sweet caring boy. On the tour of the factory inhabited by Oompa Loompas there are tests to determine the true character of the children followed by Oompa Loompa songs. After weeding out the rejects Wonka chooses Charlie as the heir to his factory.

I liked the 2005  version better because the film made more sense to me...if it's possible to make any sense from either movie. I felt the characters were more believable and lovable. I cared about the Bucket family in 2005, but in 1971 I couldn't care less.  In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory they delve into the past of Wonka to show the reasons for his insanity stem from his father, Christopher Lee, in his most scariest incarnation of evil yet, a dentist.  I felt there was more thought behind the movie than in the 1971 version where it seems there are just filling time with unfunny skits of people wanting to find the golden tickets or stupid songs. The Oompa Loompas should be the only singers in the movie.  And what was up with that boat ride? It was so out of place. There were bugs getting eaten and a chicken getting its head cut off. That freaked me out just a tad.

Everything about the 1971 Chocolate Factory freaked my out, from the Oompa Loompas right up to Willy Wonka himself. I know he's supposed to be weird, but there's a difference between Johnny Depp funny, amusing weird and Gene Wilder freaky, pedophile weird. Was it just me, or did Gene Wilder look bored throughout the entire movie? Johnny Depp, and it pains me to say this, was dull to watch in this movie, but he at least knows how to throw himself into the role.

I can spend the next few pages comparing the two movies, but that just wastes everybody's time. Everybody who has seen both knows the differences. Both the movies were a disappointment, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory less so. Moral of the movie avoid the sins of greed, anger, pride, and gluttony... and if you have the time sloth, lust and jealousy. If you can't just avoid creepy looking candy men. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: 8.5/10            Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: 5.5/10