Let's Get Down to Business

[Chuck Jackson]

Screw all this Verdi/Cimbasso, End of the World, Piston/Rotor crap. Here is the pressing question of the month:

Gene Wilder/Willy Wonka vs Johnny Depp/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Discuss, and remember you get extra points with a total digression of this topic into the strengths/weaknesses of the two opposing Oompah Loompahs.

You will be a total nudnik if the tuba comes up once.

Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Uncle Buck]

I'm probably in the minority, but the Johnny Depp/Deep Roy version fit my sense of humor a little better. It was more edgy, which I also think is more consistent with the book. I liked that the songs used the actual lyrics from the book.

I like the Gene Wilder version, but I love just about every moment of the Johnny Depp version. I was going to start listing all my favorite moments, but realized it would be too long of a list.

One general example: In the Wilder film, the Oompah Loompahs were pretty funny in the dance scenes when they look like they're humping each other. But in the Depp version, it leaves you really wondering a few times if the kids are going to ever come out alive.

[bloke]

Screw all this Verdi/Cimbasso, End of the World, Piston/Rotor crap. Here is the pressing question of the month:

Gene Wilder/Willy Wonka vs Johnny Depp/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Discuss, and remember you get extra points with a total digression of this topic into the strengths/weaknesses of the two opposing Oompah Loompahs.

You will be a total nudnik if the tuba comes up once.

Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like it !

[oldbandnerd]

I like both of them for the very reasons that make them so differnt. The original one was just fun and wacky with just a hint of insanity and horror. The second one was "somebody smoked some really good **** " before they wrote this script. Tottaly insane with really dark humor.
If I had to pick one over the other I would choose the original for sentimental reasons. I saw it in the theaters when I was 8 and can still remember it. Tickets were $1.50 and I remember my parents gripping about the cost to take 3 kids to the movies.Probaly spent at least $6.00 all together with popcorn and drinks. That's a lot for a dad on a Tech. Sgt.'s salary back then.

[Mark]

I thought we weren't supposed to discuss politics.

[Chuck Jackson]

I thought we weren't supposed to discuss politics.

I'm invoking that Executive thingee that everyone since Reagan has abused..........................So There!!!!

Chuck "TUBA"Jackson

[the elephant]

Watching the Depp version right now. Opinions later...

[DP]

...

[KiltieTuba]

Original, I can't remember a thing about the new one, even though I've seen it at least three times. I've only seen the original twice and can remember so much more. It might have been that the sets and effects were all essentially real, while the new version had I think more CGI.

[the elephant]

Original, by far. It seems to "preach it" more effectively. I have always thought of that movie as having a strong subtext aimed at the parents in the theater that was more important than the movie itself the kids were watching with those parents.

It makes a strong point.

The new one is like that, too. But not in such an obvious manner. I like the finger pointing in the original. We need that sort of reminder. Too many brats running loose due to rotten parents.

But the new one does paint an insane Wonka pretty well. I liked it a lot. Just not so much as the original, which I loved as a child AND as an adult.

Not too sure how I would have liked the new one as a kid...

[alfredr]

I just feel like this thread needs a line from "The Princess Bride."

You see how easy it is to digress? Gene Wilder -> "Young Frankenstein' -> Mel Brooks -> Rob Reiner -> "The Princess Bride"

alfredr (my father is alive and well, thank you)

[alfredr]

And of course, for the tuba digressionists among us: Gene Wilder -> Alec Wilder -> Less than six months till TubaChristmas

"I am your father, Buzz."