Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Yesterday I went and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I wasn't sure what to expect since while I had never read the book, I had seen the 1971 version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and the screenwriter for Charlie had not seen the 1971 version, and was instructed not to see it.
It's a pretty good movie. Depp's Wonka is rather creepy, supposedly based on Marilyn Manson though he reminds me of Michael Jackson. Comparing "Wonka" and "Charlie" isn't easy. They are rather different movies even if they have the same plot and characters and events. I'm not sure I'd say one was better than the other, though it's plain from seeing "Charlie" that it is closer to the book, even if I haven't read it.
I doubt I could spoil any of the film, but there are differences I won't mention in specific. There are a good number of cultural references that me laughing (that kids in the theater didn't seem to get) but it didn't depend on them. The music was impressive. Danny Elfman did well in scoring and samples of the tunes can be found here. Unlike the 1971 film, only the Oompa Loompas sing, and they aren't really creepy. It's Wonka that's creepy in this movie. I'm debating seeing the movie again - in the theater. I'll probably get the DVD someday. It'd be interesting to watch both versions.
There is one minor thing bugs me, and it probably shouldn't:
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First, I best come out and say that yes I know this is fantasy and I probably should "just relax" and all. And I somehow I don't have a problem with the more fantastic things like everything being edible in one scene, or the matter transmission by television and reaching through the TV screen, or even the trained squirrels. Nor do I have any trouble with the Oompa Loompas as such. And I suspect the same thing happened in the 1971 version, but I haven't seen that in some time. What bugs me is, well, plumbing.
In the scene where Augustus Gloop is sucked up into the clear pipe and gets stuck, a couple things occur to me. First, I wonder about the density of the liquid chocolate and if a column that tall could pull the chocolate all the way up by suction. And it would have to be suction as there's no hint of a pump in the chocolate river or at the input end of the pipe (and wouldn't that have a problem getting Augustus through it if there were?). That's not bad. It's fantasy. I should just relax, right? Okkay, but then Augustus gets stuck. No big deal, like we didn't see that coming. Now, I'll merrily ignore the problem of suction and how that might affect the hapless Augustus and his ability to speak and breathe.
No pump on the bottom, remember? Suction? But the pipe below Augustus shows signs of excess pressure as chocolate starts leaking from the seams. Where's that pressure come from? Granted, having the chocolate pumped up gets rid of this issue and the suction physics problem - but where's the pump, and how did Augustus get past the pump unharmed if it is there?
It's minor, and I can deal with far stranger breakdowns of physics in the movie(s), but somehow this just bugs me.