Movies: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, et al
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This book was my gateway to being a lifelong reader (kinda like the Harry Potter series is for a lot of kids today) and so it occupies a VERY special place in my heart. Also, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is undeniably a masterpiece movie. So this movie had a lot to live up to. I must say I thoug that it was a well made re-adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (note: I do NOT call it a remake of the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). It does not replace the movie made in the 70s but then it doesn't really try to (the original is much more of a musical than this one). I think that was a wise move on the part of the filmmakers.
The good points: I liked that they used Roald Dahls lyrics for the Oompa-Loompa songs. That was a neat touch. I loved that they returned to the novel version of Veruca's demise. In fact, I appreciated all the points where they returned to the book for inspiration. For example, some of the Wonka backstory that was included here but which did not make the original movie. There were also several moments of pure comic genius including a tribute to Kubrick that had me ROLLING (although I think most of the rest of the theater was just looking at me like I was crazy). I thought Johnny Depp did a very good job as Wonka, as did Freddie Highmore as Charlie.
The less good points: I wasn't too keen on the parts with Wonka's dad. They are Burton's creation, not Dahl's. And I think it shows. Also, they broke out of the narrative of the main story and kinda distracted from it in ways that the other Wonka flashbacks (namely the story about the Oompa-Loopma's origins) did not.
Overall, in spite of some flaws, this is a very well made movie that's well worth your time to watch. I don't think it's quite as good as the one from the 70s (in particular, the Gene Wilder's dialog and comic timing was just a bit sharper than Depp's) but it's still an above average film.
My Rating: 8 of 10, Recommended, especially if you like Burton or Dahl's original book.
Four Rooms
I originally saw this movie on New Year's Eve the year it premiered. Basically, the premise is that everything takes place inside a hotel during one very odd New Year's night. Four directors (Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Allison Anders and Alexandre Rockwell) each wrote a script for the goings on in one room in the hotel which included the characters all interacting with "Ted the Bellhop" who has been left on his own to see to the hotel.
I remembered that this movie was very good, but I'd forgotten just how funny it is. Tim Roth (whom I still think woulda made a GREAT Remus Lupin the Harry Potter movies) is awesome as Ted the Bellhop. He truly has a flair for physical comedy. I also love that you can really see the different styles used for each of the stories. They all fit well together, but each director has put their own special stamp on his/her "room".
My Rating: 8 of 10, Recommended, especially to fans of the four directors
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"
Solid well made movie that originally aired on HBO. As the title suggests, it's a biopic about Peter Sellers. As with any movie like this, the acting is critical, and the entire cast does an exceptional job. Geoffrey Rush in particular does an amazing job as Sellers. The make-up is phenomenal and there are points where his characterizations are so dead-on that you'd almost think they cut in footage of Sellers.
Additionally, this was a very self-aware film. There are a number of points where Rush assumes the role of other characters (who are primarily played by different actors) to comment upon Sellers. The end effect is that Sellers himself is making the commentary upon himself. Hard to describe, but it really works well.
My Rating: 8 of 10, Recommended, in particular if you enjoy biopics or are a Rush or Sellers fan