[puppetz]

You got it backwards. Roald Dahl, the author of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" completely disowned the WIlder version BECAUSE It was so light and insipidly sweet and sentimental. The book is not so, and really none of Dahl's books were.

I think Burton's darker and more stylistic version will be a better and more true movie representation of the author's intent. The '71 version was ok but it was campy and smaltzy and the musical numbers were badly staged and the production somewhat low-budget. The special effects were sad, even for the time. Outside of Wilder's perfomance there isn't much there, and he isn't even in more than half the film.

Really, if you don't get over an actor's politics you'll never go to any movie again. Sure I think Depp is a dillitante who doesn't know wtf he's talking about, but I've enjoyed more than a dozen movies he's been in, just as I enjoyed George Clooney in O Brother and Intolerable Cruelty. The list goes on. You have to just get past that if you don't want to stop going to all movies unless they are The Passion of Christ (Monica Belluci's politics aren't exactly right wing for those of you who don't know it).

A movie, unlike a live performance by a musician like say the DIxie Chicks or something is too large a production to just be the work and paycheck for one person, so I don't sweat it. I like Burton, I like Depp as an actor going back to CryBaby and 'Gilbert Grape, Benny & Joon, Ed S'hands, Sleepy Hollow, Platoon, Ed Wood, The Man WHo Cried, Chocolat, Donnie Brasco, THe Ninth Gate, Blow, so many movies I own ofhis on DVD (some duds too like Don Juan Demarco and The Astronaut's WIfe, hey they can't all be gems).

I'm looking forward to this movie plus The COrpse Bride also directed by Burton starring Depp and Helene Bonham Carter.

[Calvin Locke]

I remember growing up with the [Hollywood] impression of Dahl's being a writer of children's stories.

Then I saw his tv series "Carousel" which I believe was also called "Tales of the Unexpected".

[tiamat]

Thank you.

I had read Dahl's book when I was about 8. Part of what I liked about the book was the slightly dark flavor to it.

(Okay, I was a somewhat eerie little girl)

I was excited when it was announced that there would be a movie in '71, and we went to see it. I was 10 then.

I was SO disappointed! That whole movie was just WRONG, from start to finish. Too light, too syrupy, too campy. Just WRONG.

I don't blame Mr. Dahl at ALL for being upset.

I'm looking forward to this new Willie Wonka, and since we now have things like Lemoney Snickett, I hope they forget the PC pandering and will do it up right