Best version of Willy Wonka

[Blitzkrieg1701]

The older movie is more ICONIC, and the songs are more memorable, but as a MOVIE, the new one is better. It's more of an actual story than a long string of set pieces.

[animewarrior]

>.> deep thread.
I've seen both versions and neither of them struck a terribly good cord with me.
But then again, I read the book first.

The original Wonka (Gene Wilder) was funny in that his complete disregard for the children's safety and general attitude. However, I thought that as Wonka the actor could have made the ending a bit more...sadistic? he just acted like a jerk at the end, realized that I must help the children and lightened up.

Tim Burton's version with Depp as Wonka (my favourite version) was more sarcastic and sadistic. As a pessimist I found this to be hilarious. Adding backstory with Wonka's dad made Wonka a more identifiable character in my mind. Charlie was represented better as well. I think Johnny Depp did a fantastic job!
(crazy and creepy as it is!)

And for the lolz factor:
Count Dooku: Wonka, I am your FATHER!
Wonka: ....NOOOOOOO!
---kudos if you get it-----

[Robin Firedrake]

Ah yes. Can't remember the name but he's the guy who played dooku. He also played Saruman.

[ShiroiHikari]

His name is Christopher Lee and he's hiding in your closet right now.

[Robin Firedrake]

I have no closet 8P

[Radical Dreamer]

You think remake Wonka is creepy now? Could have been cast worse...

Johnny Depp

Marilyn Manson

Michael Jackson

This post was AMAZING. XDD

Also, Nate, you should totally watch Big Fish one day. It's unlike anything Burton has ever done (as far as I've seen) and is one of my all-time favorite movies. XD On that note, don't bother with Nightmare--I found it to be pretty disappointing after hearing all the hype.

[ADXC]

Yeah I agree with RD, Big Fish is a great movie, odd, but great.

[bakura_fan]

I only saw the first movie once. My parents rented it when i was like 8 or 9. I was quite bored with it. The whole movie was confusing to me. My husband loves the first movie to death, I love the second (but then I'm a big gothic tim burton/depp fan. lol.) and bought it. Most likely if I can find a dvd of the first one I'll buy it for my husband. most likely our future kids will see both.

[GhostontheNet]

On that note, don't bother with Nightmare--I found it to be pretty disappointing after hearing all the hype.

Come now, you're too harsh on The Nightmare Before Christmas. While it's never a good idea to take anyone's hype at face value (this is mostly because hype has a way of overinflating things way beyond what they was ever really intended to be), The Nightmare Before Christmas has several features that make it deserve its classic status:

1. It introduced a new generation to the magic of stop motion animation, effectively safeguarding the medium from the coming computer graphics explosion. This is good because, as Burton himself observes, stop motion animation has a distinctly physical and handcrafted look and charm that is very difficult to emulate on computers. As has been often noted, one of the difficult tricks of CG is getting the eye to accept that the CG object is actually occupying the space of the screen, and so at times stop motion animation may actually be more effective than even the most advanced digitally rendered image.

2. It produced a culturally acceptable outlet for feelings of fear, alienation, loneliness, and discontent. Where mainstream culture generally expects life to be bright, glossy, safe, and happy, no cultural icon for the rejection of these values and expectations as unrealistic is more instantly recognizable than characters and images from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Little wonder the film has produced such a perennial torrent of merchandise!

3. In a culture essentially deprived of ritual and myth, it highlights the incredible importance of the two holidays of Halloween and Christmas, which are at least two days that serve to alleviate this generally unmet need.

4. It defangs the monsters by showing their humanity, enabling us to perhaps make peace with the monsters hiding in our closets and underneath our beds. Living in a scary world, the importance of being able able to do this cannot be overestimated for both children and adults. After all, nothing bothers children nearly so much as our only half-believed efforts to reassure them that nothing is really wrong after all, and they have to do something with all this lingering anxiety. And as for the adults, while it's quite fashionable to pretend that we will eventually outgrow all of this, the truth is that the monsters only take on new forms as we grow older.

[Radical Dreamer]

Come now, you're too harsh on The Nightmare Before Christmas. While it's never a good idea to take anyone's hype at face value (which is mostly because hype has a way of overinflating something way beyond what it was ever intended to be), The Nightmare Before Christmas has several features that makes it deserve its classic status:

1. It introduced a new generation to the magic of stop motion animation, effectively safeguarding the medium from the coming computer graphics explosion. This is good because, as Burton himself observes, stop motion animation has a distinctly physical and handcrafted look and charm that is very difficult to emulate on computers. As has been often noted, one of the difficult tricks of CG is getting the eye to accept that the CG object is actually occupying the space of the screen, and so at times stop motion animation may actually be more effective than even the most advanced digitally rendered image.

2. It produced a culturally acceptable outlet for feelings of fear, alienation, loneliness, and discontent. Where mainstream culture generally expects life to be bright, glossy, safe, and happy, no cultural icon for the rejection of these values and expectations as unrealistic is more instantly recognizable than characters and images from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Little wonder the film has produced such a perennial torrent of merchandise!

3. In a culture essentially deprived of ritual and myth, it highlights the incredible cultural importance of the two holidays of Halloween and Christmas, which are at least two days that serve to alleviate this cultural deprivation.

4. It defangs the monsters by showing their humanity, enabling us to perhaps make peace with the monsters hiding in our closets and underneath our beds. Living in a scary world, the importance of being able able to do this cannot be overestimated for both children and adults. After all, nothing bothers children nearly so much as our only half-believed efforts to reassure them that nothing is really wrong after all, and they have to do something with that lingering anxiety. And as for the adults, while it's quite fashionable to pretend that we will eventually outgrow all of this, the truth is that the monsters only take on new forms as we grow older.

Oh, Nightmare was undoubtedly a new, innovative and very creative movie for its time, and I won't deny that it's an animated classic. I just didn't find it to be all that enjoyable, and certainly not what it had been made out to be to me for years. XD I only watched it for the first time about two years ago, which was a year or so after I'd heard every friend and acquaintance of mine telling me it was the "z-o-m-g best movie evar," so based on my expectations it kind of fell flat. I assume I'd have a better take on it had I seen it years prior, but I have a feeling it would've scared me to death as a little kid. XD

But yeah, it's definitely a classic and deserves to be mentioned as a good movie for its day. I'm just not a huge fan of it, overall. XD

[GhostontheNet]

Oh, Nightmare was undoubtedly a new, innovative and very creative movie for its time, and I won't deny that it's an animated classic. I just didn't find it to be all that enjoyable, and certainly not what it had been made out to be to me for years. XD I only watched it for the first time about two years ago, which was a year or so after I'd heard every friend and acquaintance of mine telling me it was the "z-o-m-g best movie evar," so based on my expectations it kind of fell flat. I assume I'd have a better take on it had I seen it years prior, but I have a feeling it would've scared me to death as a little kid. XD

But yeah, it's definitely a classic and deserves to be mentioned as a good movie for its day. I'm just not a huge fan of it, overall. XD

Yeah, The Nightmare Before Christmas definitely isn't another Citizen Kane, but it is a great movie for candy corn and sugar cookies. In my experience, whenever I play the film, reactions are generally quite positive for audiences both young and old, so I don't think it's time to shelve Jack Skellington and friends among the collection of dated relics just yet. Certainly it's not the kind of film to put out a general warning against, because as you yourself admit, a lot of people watch it and find it absolutely charming and enchanting.

[Kkun]

His name is Christopher Lee and he's hiding in your closet right now.

I wish.

[termyt]

He's welcome in my closet anytime. He might have saved Star Wars if only he had a bigger role. By far the most interesting character, thanks largly to his acting ability since he had little screen time or backstory, in the second trilogy.

[GhostontheNet]

His name is Christopher Lee and he's hiding in your closet right now.

Ah yes, the actor who played Dracula from the old Hammer Horror movies, to say nothing of his other roles. It's amazing how age seems to have shifted his role from handsome rogue to stern and often sinister older authority figure. Yeah, having himself grown up on Hammer and classic horror movies, Tim Burton's casting of Christopher Lee in Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Corpse Bride is a very clever decision on his part.

[Shiningmonk_e]

I like the new version more. Marylin Manson though....I have no intention of seeing my 2nd cousin in a movie O_O (and yes we are related, which is creepy, though I have never actually seen him up close (nor do I want to))

[rocklobster]

I'm praying for you shiningmonk_e, anyone related to him definitely needs divine intervention!

[GhostontheNet]

I'm praying for you shiningmonk_e, anyone related to him definitely needs divine intervention!

Umm, you're joking, right? That's the thing, I think, about Marilyn Manson - a lot of people, not realizing his David Bowie-esque theatricality, take him far too seriously. The truth of the matter, however, is that "Marilyn Manson" is, like Ziggy Stardust, a character performing on stage, and as such is no more real than Darth Vader. Once we realize this, a lot of Manson's dry and ironic humor really comes through as we consider the life of a cartoon scapegoat and villain.

Oh, and by the way, Marilyn Manson's music is not Goth, it's Glam Metal. He just dresses with a lot of Goth stuff because our style has its roots in Glam rock performers like David Bowie and it suits his dark public persona.

[Tsukuyomi]

Oh silly me I forgot to vote for which Willy Wonka was better xDD;

[Tommy]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

[GhostontheNet]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

That's nice, now if you gave a couple of reasons why the original was better instead of gawking stupefied, you might actually have some content here. Anyway, if you look at the poll again you'll notice that the original is in the lead at 60% while Burton's film holds a respectable 40%.

[goldenspines]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

The world is full of wonderful mysteries.


I like the newest version actually, just because it didn't creep me out at much as the old version. But, I have to admit, the Oompa Lompa songs in the old one were the best.

[Scarecrow]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

And the the fact that that the old movie is winning in votes blows mine. That's nostalgia for ya though

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I actually found the Tim Burton version much creepier (besides the tunnel scene from the original).

[Radical Dreamer]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

That's nice, now if you gave a couple of reasons why the original was better instead of gawking stupefied, you might actually have some content here. Anyway, if you look at the poll again you'll notice that the original is in the lead at 60% while Burton's film holds a respectable 40%.

Is there really a need to be so hostile about a movie? Think it over.

[Tarnish]

I never liked the original, even when I was required by law to do so. I thought it was annoying, obnoxious, and the Oompa-Loompas scared the everloving crap out of me.

I'm really not a huge fan of Burton's version, either, but if given the choice, I'd go for his anyday. At the very least, the visuals are more appealing and the Oompa-Loompas don't look and sound like the spawn of Satan.

Oh, and no friggin' tunnel scene.

[Whitefang]

Not to put down the people that voted for it, but the fact more than half of the people here voted for the new movie blows my mind.

I'm actually surprised that the old Wonka is winning. I always had the impression that being truer to the books had given the new Wonka an edge over old Wonka. (note also that the question being asked, while related to asking, "which movie is better?", is actually, "Which version of Wonka is better", as far as I can tell.)

As for me, I liked cheery Gene Wilder and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory myself. As strange as this may sound, Wonka was simply more realistic in the first version, and didn't have an excuse to do what he did (I don't know the psychological terms, but Johnny Depp's Wonka had some real issues!) In the end I feel that both movies tell a very different story, and they both have their merits. I guess I prefer the moral of, "do what's right and honest (in spite of revenge or potential gain)" over the moral of, "family is more important than one's work" (I'll be honest, that's probably not the moral, but I'm hard pressed to think of what it is off the top of my head).

Plus, how awesome was Wonka's office? Half of a safe, are you serious?

[rocklobster]

I never liked the original, even when I was required by law to do so. I thought it was annoying, obnoxious, and the Oompa-Loompas scared the everloving crap out of me.

I'm really not a huge fan of Burton's version, either, but if given the choice, I'd go for his anyday. At the very least, the visuals are more appealing and the Oompa-Loompas don't look and sound like the spawn of Satan.

Oh, and no friggin' tunnel scene.

That's my main problem! The tunnel needs to be there! Don't you realize there's supposed to be symbolism in the story? The factory is supposed to be Heaven or Eden (your pick)and each of the children, with the exception of Charlie, represents a deadly sin. (Veruca, for example, represents greed). The tunnel, IMHO, represents Hell. Ever heard the old saying "You have to go through Hell to get to Heaven?"

[GhostontheNet]

Yeah, I have to admit that as scary as the tunnel scene was in the original, I really missed it in Burton's version. Looking back, I'm surprised that scene even made it into the film with such raw footage like a chicken being decapitated and whatnot (I guess that must be because the scene is so skillfully edited that you don't really have much time to think about what's happening on the wall). According to Burton himself, the tunnel scene really freaked him out when he was a kid and he didn't like the way it resembled a really bad acid trip, so he decided not to do it. I guess its funny how, for all the precautions taken by parents and authority figures to prevent kids from seeing this stuff, it's the most traumatic images that have the most lasting impact upon us.

[Nate]

Ever heard the old saying "You have to go through Hell to get to Heaven?"

I totally and completely disagree with this statement but this is a thread for Willy Wonka, not philosophy, so I'll just leave it at that.

I always had the impression that being truer to the books had given the new Wonka an edge over old Wonka.

See, I'm the kind of person that thinks complete and total devotion to the book doesn't make something better. Sometimes the movie can surpass the book by changing it. Fight Club comes off as the biggest example of this, and although I haven't seen it, I hear Ben-Hur is far better as a movie as well. Same with A Clockwork Orange. Same as book does not always a better movie make.

[Scarecrow]

I really hated the book so I didn't really care how closely either followed the book. I have to agree with whoever said Burton's was at least visually appealing. And I love Wonka's line "Good morning starshine! The Earth says 'Hello!'"

Anyway, I don't get the deal with the tunnel thing, lol. I saw this when I was little and I didn't get creeped out by Wonka or the tunnel at all. I thought Wonka was a jerk at the end though. But the tunnel... everyone makes a big deal about the tunnel. I even had to go back and re-watch that scene to see the big deal and I still don't get it. Maybe I just hated the movie THAT much when I was little that I just didn't care and now I'm just too old to get creeped out by something like that.