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teylaminhSo, I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night. Immediate reaction included a lot of hyperactive squealing, bouncing up and down, and giggling.
Best. Film. Ever.
Or, at least, best film this year...
Okay, ths was one of those films that you never want to end. From start to finish, it's an absolute visual feast of wonderfulness. I mean, it's Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman, starring Johnny Depp. Nothing can go wrong. And honestly, nothing did.
And this thing was sitting in the foyer of the AMC, which just rocks:
(I love my phone.)
If that wasn't enough, there was a trailer for The Corpse Bride - OMGSQUEE!!!! I HAVE TO SEE THAT MOVIE! It scares me a tad, however, that the corpse bride looks frighteningly like Sarah Brightman...
Anyway, the film...The factory is beautiful; externally and internally a Burton creation. The costumes and casting and visuals in general are perfect and the film itself is beautifully executed, and I will continually maintain that only Tim Burton could direct a Roald Dahl adaptation and keep the underlying darkness. I want a remake of Matilda. Like, now. He's obviously been quite influenced by the Gene Wilder flm in terms of the set (especially so with the meadow and chocolate river) but it all has a typically Burton-esque twist on it. The shapes are all exaggerated, as well as the colours, with lots of stripes and spirals and asymmetry. It's gorgeous.
Part of the fun is the in-jokes and inter-referencing, and I need to watch it again to find the rest, but on one viewing, I spotted: Willy Wonka opening the factory for the first time, in flashback, weilding a large pair of scissors in one hand (Edward Scissorhands reference in the most obvious way); one of the Oompa Loompas watching television in the TV Room and flipping to a nature show about apes (Planet of the Apes); a very stretched Mike Teevee looking remarkably Jack Skellington-esque (Nightmare Before Christmas); Violet Beaurigard's home suburb (Edward Scissorhands); Hallowe'en (in general); the father/son relationship theme he's been playing with since Big Fish; and some familiar faces in the casting with Helena Bonham Carter (Planet of the Apes, Big Fish), Christopher Lee (Sleepy Hollow) and, er, the Indian midget guy from Big Fish, and probably a few others. Liz Smith was also amusingly brilliant as Grandma Georgina. I need to check who did the costumes, but they smell suspiciously of Colleen Atwood and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if she's been roped into this one as well.
The constant inter-referencing is just one of many reasons why I love Tim Burton... I knew from the minute I heard about CATCF that it was going to be a good one.
There's some back story added about Willy's childhood and his reasons for being a) a chocolatier and b) slightly unhinged. Johnny Depp is wonderful as Wonka, let it be noted. The hair and teeth are terrifying, but there are so many hidden levels to the character and he pulls it off fantastically. He manages to put across the fine line between childlike genius and insanity. Depp was also very right in requesting that the boy from Finding Neverland was cast as Charlie, as he's also amazing and not at all annoyingly pretentious. In fact, the casting of most of the kids is brilliant, as Burton actually understands children and can direct them well.
The only thing that jars is the setting in (I assume) America, as the casting is mostly British and the Americanisms, like "Clean that mud off your pants" and references to "candy", are a little out of place. The trailer makes Wonka's accent out to be far more annoying than it actually is, so don't let that put you off. Also? I want his coat.
The Oompa Loompas are brilliant; it's just one bloke computer-generated millions of times. Oh, and Danny Elfman not only composes the songs (with Road Dahl's original words) but sings them in lots of silly voices. :D
I could say a whole lot more, but I'm about to run off again to watch Haunted Mansion - not quite as up market, but eh, it should be entertaining. The overall verdict, though? Watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not only beautiful, but intelligent with it. If it's the only film you see this summer, you won't be disappointed. And we still have Corpse Bride to look forward to this winter.
That's all I've done this weekend...
Best. Film. Ever.
Or, at least, best film this year...
Okay, ths was one of those films that you never want to end. From start to finish, it's an absolute visual feast of wonderfulness. I mean, it's Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman, starring Johnny Depp. Nothing can go wrong. And honestly, nothing did.
And this thing was sitting in the foyer of the AMC, which just rocks:
(I love my phone.)
If that wasn't enough, there was a trailer for The Corpse Bride - OMGSQUEE!!!! I HAVE TO SEE THAT MOVIE! It scares me a tad, however, that the corpse bride looks frighteningly like Sarah Brightman...
Anyway, the film...The factory is beautiful; externally and internally a Burton creation. The costumes and casting and visuals in general are perfect and the film itself is beautifully executed, and I will continually maintain that only Tim Burton could direct a Roald Dahl adaptation and keep the underlying darkness. I want a remake of Matilda. Like, now. He's obviously been quite influenced by the Gene Wilder flm in terms of the set (especially so with the meadow and chocolate river) but it all has a typically Burton-esque twist on it. The shapes are all exaggerated, as well as the colours, with lots of stripes and spirals and asymmetry. It's gorgeous.
Part of the fun is the in-jokes and inter-referencing, and I need to watch it again to find the rest, but on one viewing, I spotted: Willy Wonka opening the factory for the first time, in flashback, weilding a large pair of scissors in one hand (Edward Scissorhands reference in the most obvious way); one of the Oompa Loompas watching television in the TV Room and flipping to a nature show about apes (Planet of the Apes); a very stretched Mike Teevee looking remarkably Jack Skellington-esque (Nightmare Before Christmas); Violet Beaurigard's home suburb (Edward Scissorhands); Hallowe'en (in general); the father/son relationship theme he's been playing with since Big Fish; and some familiar faces in the casting with Helena Bonham Carter (Planet of the Apes, Big Fish), Christopher Lee (Sleepy Hollow) and, er, the Indian midget guy from Big Fish, and probably a few others. Liz Smith was also amusingly brilliant as Grandma Georgina. I need to check who did the costumes, but they smell suspiciously of Colleen Atwood and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if she's been roped into this one as well.
The constant inter-referencing is just one of many reasons why I love Tim Burton... I knew from the minute I heard about CATCF that it was going to be a good one.
There's some back story added about Willy's childhood and his reasons for being a) a chocolatier and b) slightly unhinged. Johnny Depp is wonderful as Wonka, let it be noted. The hair and teeth are terrifying, but there are so many hidden levels to the character and he pulls it off fantastically. He manages to put across the fine line between childlike genius and insanity. Depp was also very right in requesting that the boy from Finding Neverland was cast as Charlie, as he's also amazing and not at all annoyingly pretentious. In fact, the casting of most of the kids is brilliant, as Burton actually understands children and can direct them well.
The only thing that jars is the setting in (I assume) America, as the casting is mostly British and the Americanisms, like "Clean that mud off your pants" and references to "candy", are a little out of place. The trailer makes Wonka's accent out to be far more annoying than it actually is, so don't let that put you off. Also? I want his coat.
The Oompa Loompas are brilliant; it's just one bloke computer-generated millions of times. Oh, and Danny Elfman not only composes the songs (with Road Dahl's original words) but sings them in lots of silly voices. :D
I could say a whole lot more, but I'm about to run off again to watch Haunted Mansion - not quite as up market, but eh, it should be entertaining. The overall verdict, though? Watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not only beautiful, but intelligent with it. If it's the only film you see this summer, you won't be disappointed. And we still have Corpse Bride to look forward to this winter.
That's all I've done this weekend...
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-31 08:31 pm (UTC)--Remind me never to go to the cinema with you. Squee!!!!!
(I'm not reading the rest of the entry 'cos of the spoilers)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-31 08:50 pm (UTC)Most over-rated film ever?
Date: 2005-07-31 10:36 pm (UTC)* Charlie was annoying ("it doesn't need to have a point...that's why it's candy" - gimme a break)
* Mr Depp, tho a housewives favourite, sported a grating and irritating voice
* Poor dialogue.
All in all i feel your review wasn't accurate at all!
I want my money back!!
Re: Most over-rated film ever?
Date: 2005-08-01 08:22 am (UTC)Well, if you're not brave enough to log in or reveal yourself to tell me that, I don't care about your opinion.
That's all I've done this weekend...
Date: 2005-07-31 11:10 pm (UTC)Re: That's all I've done this weekend...
Date: 2005-08-01 08:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-01 07:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-02 05:51 pm (UTC)Mr. SaggyBottom. :)
CATCF = ♥♥♥
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-02 05:57 pm (UTC)