Brandon and I went to see Willy Wonka a few weeks ago, in Times Square at the AMC 25, hands down best movie theater ever. It’s got great roomy seating where the seats really lean back. It’s stories and stories high. And you can go outside onto balconies that overlook Times Sq. Atomsphere, digital, surround sound, roomy. Nuff said.
How cool is it that we can hop on a bus right outside our house and be in Times Sq in 15 minutes?
Across the street from the AMC is a Loews. Next door is Madame Toussaud’s wax museum. And a million flashing lights and huge ad screens and people and noise and sheer crazy mayhem. Lots of tourists too, all of us.
On to Johnny. I’ve always loved him. His work. His personality. His looks. He appeals to me on so many levels from the types of roles he plays, always on the fringe or edge. But he just continues to impress.
Sure I can’t compare this Willy Wonka to the original. I mean I’m not 10 anymore. The first Wonka came out in 1971. I was born in ’78. Does that mean I grew up with Charlie and the amazing chocolate factory? Certainly. As far back as I can remember it was one of my favorite movies, and it has remained so. I’ve seen it countless times. That and the Goonies. We made my mom rent it every week. I’ll never know why she didn’t just buy it as she spent a small fortune renting that movie. Every Friday, we would go to the movie store and we could get anything. Week after week, we chose the Goonies. We were addicted. It was our time down here with the truffle shuffle.
So I don’t think you can really compare the two, and honestly they please in ways that the other fails so its all good.
Veruca Salt’s extreme brattiness was so fresh in the original. Who ever heard of a schnozberry? Perfect. I love when they lick the wall and its candy. I also love the 3-course meal scene. Violet you’re turning Violet.
The special effects in the new one add a new level of coolness. And I think the creep in Depp’s Wonka works well. But who can beat Gene Wilder’s singsong Wonka? Anything you want to, do it. Want to change the world? There’s nothing to it…
Any Tim Burton movie will be visually stunning. Eye candy. And I think Depp fits with that, with his chameleon abilities.
The audience seemed to like Burton’s take on the Oompa Loompahs. Personally, I was a bit disappointed. To much spoof for the laughs, for my tastes. Kinda chintzy.
But there were some nice touches. Like when all the kids leave the factory and they’re irrevocably, magically changed.
What continues to impress me about Johnny Depp is the range of his roles and how he always morphs himself to the role. Certainly, I picked up various elements of his former selves in Wonka, a little Scissorhands, a bit Hunter S.
Every time I see him, it’s in a movie I enjoy. Edward Scissorhands. Fear and Loathing. Chocolat. Cry Baby (don’t laugh). Benny and Joon. Sleepy Hollow. Blow. From Hell. Pirates. Finding Neverland, which I just saw and was so touching. I look forward for more to come.
