Very good film, however I still prefer the 1971 original with Gene Wilder, as it had all the great songs like 'pure imagination' and 'candy man' and julie-dawn cole playing the girl who wanted everything. At least Tim Burton brings something new to the film with his very dark version.

The "different strokes for different folks" theory Robbie - I'm sitting here thinking how ghastly it is and how everything that used to be brilliant about Burton/Depp/Elfman has become jaded and a pale copy of the Scissorhands/Nightmare originals.

Mind you I hated the Wilder film too; much though I love Dahl.

Maybe its a generational thing. When I was a small child the original film was massive and everyone knew all the characters like Agustus Gluk and violet etc. It looked so magical and colourfull. when you watch it as an adult you get a feeling of nostalgia because you remember it fondly as a child, thats probably why they remake so many old tv series, a ready made audience waiting to see if it lives up to the original.

The special effects bought it up to date.That's about all I can say about it.

The original is one of my all time favourites. In my view the effects on the remake where its downfall. To have one Oomp Loompa and digitally give the impression of many didn't work. It was too stylised and i agree with JK that its a worn out formula. I have tried to get my hands on the soundtrack but failed miserably. I'm surprised it isn't out there given the quality.

Angel wrote:
The original is one of my all time favourites. In my view the effects on the remake where its downfall. To have one Oomp Loompa and digitally give the impression of many didn't work. It was too stylised and i agree with JK that its a worn out formula. I have tried to get my hands on the soundtrack but failed miserably. I'm surprised it isn't out there given the quality.
www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/2780330/Charlie...Factory/Product.html

I agree with you totally, the oompa lumpas didn't match up to the original. Apparently in the book they were black pygmies, but of course that wasn't politically correct, even in 1971. They say that Johnny Depp bought a darkness to the role of Wonka, but Gene Wilder was pretty dark, Firstly pretending to be disabled and then dispensing of the kids one by one.

zooloo wrote:
Angel wrote:
The original is one of my all time favourites. In my view the effects on the remake where its downfall. To have one Oomp Loompa and digitally give the impression of many didn't work. It was too stylised and i agree with JK that its a worn out formula. I have tried to get my hands on the soundtrack but failed miserably. I'm surprised it isn't out there given the quality.
www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/2780330/Charlie...Factory/Product.html



Thanks Zoo