Comments on: There is no place I know… http://www.fustar.info/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: copernicus http://www.fustar.info/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-164 copernicus Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:31:46 +0000 http://www.fustar.org/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-164 I haven't seen the new Wonka, partly because I was quite disturbed to see Depp and that kid reunited after their emetic outing in Neverland. Everything about the promotional material for Burton's latest flick screamed "surface". There was nothing in the way the various techies enthusiastically nerded on about the consistency of their chocolate river that compelled one to see their movie. One had the impression that the team so busy creating a world for the movie had little interest in populating it. Burton's Wonka's "weirdness" seemed entirely a creature of Deppish mannerisms and tooth flashing whereas Wilder was normal to look at, apart from the purple hat, and spoke with perfect ordinariness of tone, which made what he said and his disinterest in the various fates of the horrid children in his charge and the world beyond his gates all the more disturbing and challenging. There's a point in the movie where you realise that Wonka is not very nice and I wouldn't say it's an especially pleasant one. Charlie doesn't win Wonka's favour because he's nice, he wins because he plays a straight bat. I haven’t seen the new Wonka, partly because I was quite disturbed to see Depp and that kid reunited after their emetic outing in Neverland. Everything about the promotional material for Burton’s latest flick screamed “surface”. There was nothing in the way the various techies enthusiastically nerded on about the consistency of their chocolate river that compelled one to see their movie. One had the impression that the team so busy creating a world for the movie had little interest in populating it. Burton’s Wonka’s “weirdness” seemed entirely a creature of Deppish mannerisms and tooth flashing whereas Wilder was normal to look at, apart from the purple hat, and spoke with perfect ordinariness of tone, which made what he said and his disinterest in the various fates of the horrid children in his charge and the world beyond his gates all the more disturbing and challenging.

There’s a point in the movie where you realise that Wonka is not very nice and I wouldn’t say it’s an especially pleasant one. Charlie doesn’t win Wonka’s favour because he’s nice, he wins because he plays a straight bat.

]]> By: fústar http://www.fustar.info/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-161 fústar Mon, 05 Dec 2005 17:26:17 +0000 http://www.fustar.org/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-161 Pee Wee Herman indeed. A very apt comparison. A few other observations: Though Wilder's Wonka <em>does</em> bring the Buckets to live with him, this epilogue is never actually seen on screen (unlike the Burton version). In any case, his reason for inviting the whole clan into 'chez Wonka' seems to spring from a desire to keep Charlie (his heir) happy, rather than suggesting any need for familial bonds on his part. Pee Wee Herman indeed. A very apt comparison.

A few other observations: Though Wilder’s Wonka does bring the Buckets to live with him, this epilogue is never actually seen on screen (unlike the Burton version). In any case, his reason for inviting the whole clan into ‘chez Wonka’ seems to spring from a desire to keep Charlie (his heir) happy, rather than suggesting any need for familial bonds on his part.

]]> By: foolhardy http://www.fustar.info/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-160 foolhardy Mon, 05 Dec 2005 15:41:33 +0000 http://www.fustar.org/2005/12/03/there-is-no-place-i-know/#comment-160 I find myself in complete agreement. You come away from the "Wilder" wonka with a sense that he withdrew from the outside world because he couldn't give a fiddlers (there I go again!) not returning until such time that he was good and ready or, indeed, until it was ready for him (perhaps a process aided by mass ingestion of wonka bars et al). On the other hand, Depp's Wonka gives you the impression that if he were to place a foot outside of the factory he would be set upon and mugged by a gang of old ladies and/or promptly run over by a truck. Pee Wee Herman, why have we forsaken thee? I find myself in complete agreement. You come away from the “Wilder” wonka with a sense that he withdrew from the outside world because he couldn’t give a fiddlers (there I go again!) not returning until such time that he was good and ready or, indeed, until it was ready for him (perhaps a process aided by mass ingestion of wonka bars et al). On the other hand, Depp’s Wonka gives you the impression that if he were to place a foot outside of the factory he would be set upon and mugged by a gang of old ladies and/or promptly run over by a truck. Pee Wee Herman, why have we forsaken thee?

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