Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory / Charlie & The Chocolate Factory / Wonka

WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (PG)

D: Mel Stuart

Paramount (David L. Wolper & Stan Margulies)

UK/USA 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 1971

100 mins

Musical/Comedy/Fantasy

W: Roald Dahl [based on his novel "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory"]

DP: Arthur Ibbetson

Ed: David Saxon

Mus: Walter Scharf; Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley

PD: Harper Goff

Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka), Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Jack Albertson (Grandpa Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop)

Surprisingly, this original film of the classic children's book is tailored more for adults than youngsters due to its frequent dark tone, moments of black comedy and occasional scenes of trippy psychedelia which say quite a lot about the era in which it was made. Still, it has the morals in the right place for youngsters, particularly when it comes to the excesses of greed, gluttony, selfishness and other such bad characteristics.

Adapted by Roald Dahl himself from his own book, a group of children all win a golden ticket inside their favourite chocolate bars to visit the secret factory of the eccentric confectioner Willy Wonka, but the spoiled brats all get their comeuppance when they eat to excess, accompanied by the Oompa Loompa songs about their poor manners and behaviour.

The film hasn't dated badly, but the appeal has palled since Tim Burton directed a more child-friendly version in 2005 (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory). It's still reasonably memorable due to Gene Wilder's wild-eyed performance, the colourful set design and costumes, the iconic songs and a handful of juvenile performances.

8/10

Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (PG)

D: Tim Burton

Warner Bros. (Richard D. Zanuck & Brad Grey)

USA/UK/Australia 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 2005

115 mins

Fantasy/Comedy

W: John August [based on the novel by Roald Dahl]

DP: Philippe Rouselott

Ed: Chris Lebenzon

Mus: Danny Elfman

PD: Alex McDowell

Cos: Gabriella Pescucci

Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka), Freddie Highmore (Charlie Bucket), David Kelly (Grandpa Joe), Helena Bonham-Carter (Mrs. Bucket), Noah Taylor (Mr. Taylor), James Fox (Mr. Salt), Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarde), Christopher Lee (Dr. Wonka), Deep Roy (Oompa-Loompa)

Americanisation of Roald Dahl's classic children's story about a humble boy who wins a golden ticket tour of the eccentric Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, where other golden ticket winners are spoiled children, punished for their selfish actions.

Johnny Depp plays Wonka as a goofy character rather than the partly-sinister embodiment that Gene Wilder brought to the role in the 1971 film 'Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory' and many prefer this remake to that version, but the better film is subjective to the viewer.

I actually prefer the 1971 film, but it doesn't stop this film being a good remake, with the usual Tim Burton flourishes of opulent style and gothic humour.

6/10

Every good thing in the world started with a dream

WONKA (PG)

D: Paul King

Warner Bros / Village Roadshow / Heyday / The Roald Dahl Story Company / Domain

UK/US 🇬🇧🇺🇸 2023

116 mins

Musical/Fantasy

W: Simon Farnaby & Paul King [based on characters created by Roald Dahl]

DP: Chung Chung-Hoon

Ed: Mark Everson

Mus: Joby Talbot; Neil Hannon

PD: Nathan Crowley

Cos: Lindy Hemming

Timothee Chalamet (Willy Wonka), Calah Lane (Noodle), Keegan Michael-Key (Chief of Police), Paterson Joseph (Arthur Slugworth), Matt Lucas (Gerald Prodnose)

Whether you’re a fan of the 1971 Gene Wilder version of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory of the Tim Burton 2005 remake, 2023’s Wonka is an origin story prequel that makes absolutely no difference to either of those two films.

In fact, I’d say this is just a cynical cash grab, with a production that looks no better than a BBC mini series. The only thing it really gets right is the costuming, but even that was based upon pre-existing designs. Timothee Chalamet doesn’t quite know whether to ape Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp in his portrayal as the mysterious chocolate maker, and his performance just comes off as quirky for the sake of being quirky, but it has to be said that it’s still the best performance in the film.

The character is supposed to be mysterious - he doesn’t need a back story, an origin, and audiences don’t need it explained to them what makes his chocolate supposedly taste so good.

Perhaps I could have get swept along with this film if I felt any of the Neil Hannon-penned songs were any good, but they were all incredibly forgettable or just plain annoying.

Director Paul King did a splendid job bringing two Paddington movies to the big screen over the past decade, but this one definitely feels like a step backwards for him. It doesn’t even feel like one director’s vision at all - more a movie put together by a committee for one reason only, to make as much money as possible. I suppose it worked in that case, as it was incredibly profitable, but that doesn’t make it a good film, nor does it make it worth watching, even for a little taster.

5/10