Have you watched Wonka?

I watch a lot of movies. I’ve reviewed hundreds of films on Letterboxd. I have no desire to see this one.

I just watched the trailer. It looks like something that has the potential to be fun if you’re seeing it with a child of the right age. It doesn’t seem like high-art or the kind of film that sticks with you for many years.

I have not watched any of the movies.

I’ve seen the original with Gene Wilder, but not the Johny Depp version and not the recent one.

A friend posted on FB that she liked the recent one.

I will probably wait for it to come to streaming and see it there. I see very few movies in the theater nowadays. Maybe one a year.

The only thing I liked about the Depp version is they got the Ooompa Loompa poems right out of the book.

I loved the Wilder one. It took me a few tries to warm up to the Depp one but now I love it more, but then, I love Depp and Freddie Highmore! Did you see Highmore in Finding Neverland? Excellent! Like @jca2, I will wait for it to come to streaming. I didn’t even know there was a new one. I love the whole premise of the movie, especially the “lessons” about bad habits.

sorry I didn’t really answer your question!

I’ve heard some very nice things about it from movie fans I respect. I might go with my grandsons.

@Caravanfan You sound very firm in your lack of desire to see this one. Might I be so bold as to ask WHY this one??? What has turned you off that hard without seeing it???

@jca2 I haven’t stepped foot in a movie theater since 1990 & I seriously doubt that this one will change that. Still, I have 2 apps that offer early watching via streaming for more than I’m usually willing to pay for most movies!!! One of my former emotionally challenged kids was home for the holidays & he went to see it. He said he enjoyed it & thought I would as well. He has guided me to some really good movies over the years. The trailer left me feeling a little flat; but now that it’s actually out, I’m wondering when I should do what. First weekend blowout might mean a really good movie…& it might mean a popular star or director or whatever.

@smudges I loved the Wilder one as well. Then Depp was going to do his & I couldn’t imagine him doing it like Wilder did & I had to see it to find out Depp’s spin to it…& spin it he did!!! I was initally quite put off by his dark version & stopped watching part way through. I lost interest in revisiting it for quite some time. I was watching a rerun of Scissorhands & in a flash I knew I had to watch his Wonka once again. This time I got it completely & the darkness wasn’t such a turnoff!!! Now with a 3rd one, I’m interested in what other direction it can go, but I’m doubting their ability (other than making money). Is it worth $20 a few weeks from now, or wait until it’s $10 or wait until it’s $5 or maybe hope it drops to $3. Or is it so bad that I wait until it’s FREE???

@LadyMarissa I saw the preview and Timothy Chalamet looked horribly miscast. Their attempt at humor was eyerollingly bad, I thought the Oompa Loompa was stupid despite Hugh Grant, and the dialogue looked forced. A preview needs to at least pique my interest and this one I couldn’t wait until it was over.

I saw all three and thought this new one was pretty good. Not deep. It’s a kids’ story and some elements are only appealing to young kids. For example, the “bad guys” are not very interesting and probably don’t add anything to the story for the average adult. But for older viewers, there’s other things to enjoy. If you like British nostalgia, whimsical characters, and sweet friendships, you’ll probably enjoy it. There’s scrumptious chocolate, beautiful scenes around chocolate-making, and some good musical moments as well.

The plot is quite different from the other two in that it’s purely about Wonka, not about the chocolate factory. It takes place before he builds the factory, so Charlie and the other kids are not around. The new characters are very much Dahl, though, so it feels like you’re watching a new story he wrote.

I liked the cast, especially Noodle, but also Wonka. Did not enjoy the Oompa Loompa much because I just never like those guys. At least this one had a bit of a backstory.

I can say that in atmosphere it’s certainly more similar to the first version than to the second. Feels like they went back to the roots.

Thank you @Caravanfan. If the preview doesn’t grab me in the first few seconds, I lose interest!!! TC does look totally out of place in my opinion as well. Plus I’m NOT familiar with his work which gives me NO real connection. Then I started hearing rumblings about it was entertaining & I started to 2nd guess myself. $30mil isn’t a bad take on a holiday weekend…yet I know enough to realize it doesn’t mean that it’s a great movie!!!

@longgone Thank you as well. You answered what I really was looking to hear. It sounds as though I will probably enjoy it, but I can wait until I can stream for FREE to see it & I definitely won’t be paying $20 to watch the early release!!!

@LadyMarissa Oh, I’m a Timothee Chalamet fan. He is terrific in Dune. It’s just that this film just isn’t for me. I have some friends who I trust and if they like it I may dip my toe.

I also find the premise of the film to be unnecessary and a bit insulting (I realize I’m reaching here). Literally nobody was asking for a Willy Wonka origin story. A big part of Dahl’s story was that the origin of Wonka was shrouded in mystery and this film destroys this.

After reading this post and having not a whole lot to do on New Year’s Day 2024, I watched “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on HBO Maxx. That’s the Johny Depp one. I liked it. Great sets.

I wasn’t previously a Johny Depp fan but after seeing a documentary about his trial, it intrigued me.

Sure I have. When my oldest was about 11 she wanted to.have a slumber party and get Wilder’s movie, along with a TON of candy! It was a rousing success.
I liked Depp’s too because I like Depp, but not as much.as the original.

@Dutchess_III This is a new film just called “Wonka.”

Haven’t seen that.

I am not going to waste my time on this one.

Here is the Wonka trailer for anybody who is interested. If it grabs you, great!
https://youtu.be/otNh9bTjXWg?si=QuPD_SQWNucUxeRQ

@Caravanfan I think it looks good and I’m intrigued by the fact that it’s “pre-Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

No.
I saw the original so many times.
I did try to watch the Depp one, but didn’t make it far before I turned it off. It was like a farce of the original…
Gene Wilder brought a warm, passionate, even loving energy to the role. Depp was JUST weird. For the sake of weird.
I was a child when I first saw the original.
(I actually watched it on mushrooms when I was 19ish.)

I don’t plan to watch any reproductions. I can honestly say, I loved Willie Wonka for years. I still do. Irreplaceable.

@jca2 I hope you enjoy it!

@MrGrimm888 The Depp one goes with his persona – a little dark, a little “alternative” in a fun way.

Watching the trailer, I think it would be fun to see with kids.

@jca2 I respect that. I actually like Depp. I just felt like he was doing a bad Jim Carey impression with, as you said “his persona.”
But please don’t let me shit on something that you like. I do vote on rotten tomatoes though :)

@janbb Everything like that is fun with kids. I always sit at the kids table on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They love playing with their 43 year old 6’5 tattooed, and bearded kid. And I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Hi LadyMarissa.

I have to admit that I have not yet seen the new ‘Wonka’ but am looking forward to the chance to see it.

I have seen both the Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp versions and in my opinion the original Gene Wilder version was much better than the remake with Depp.

As for whether Wonka is any good or not is simply down to the person seeing it. Many people may think the movie is wonderful but others may think it is rubbish. It is simply up to the individuals personal taste and opinion.

I have watched movies in the past which were classed as great but I consider them not very good or mediocre but on the other hand I have seen movies which were panned by critics and moviegoers but I considered them great.

May I wish you the happiest and healthiest 2024.

Update I just finished watching “Wonka” and loved it. I think it helped that I knew ahead of time that it wasn’t the same story as the original; if I’d been expecting that I think I might have been disappointed.

I wanted the old songs, but they stuck a couple of them in. I loved the backstory about the Oompa Loompas! All in all, I loved it…cute story.

Hi @Poseidon!

Finally saw it last night. Here is my letterboxd review 2.5/5 stars

I saw Wonka last night and it’s noteworthy that the only songs I remember are the ones that were rehahed from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

The film is fine. The cast are competent, the plot predictable but fun, and the songs catchy in a this-is-a-good-piece-of-candy-but-I’ll-forget-you-tomorrow kind of way.

This film is good if you like light hearted film musicals. Perhaps I wasn’t just in the mood. My wife liked it, though.