# Willy Wonka's Appearance in the new Tim Burton Film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777 "2005-03-29T15:48:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/21 "2005-03-29T18:58:05Z")
I’ve seen the trailers. Loved the book. The movie with Depp, well. Normally I have nothing against Depp, but in this one he’s downright creeptastic. _eyetwitch_ I’m with all the other Dopers who think he’s a lot like Michael. ---
**Author:** ![bclouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bclouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bclouse)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/22 "2005-03-29T19:00:02Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > Depp needs a director who can restrain him, and I don’t think Burton is the man to do it. Witness the travesty of Sleepy Hollow. Yeah, but don’t forget _Edward Scissorhands_ and _Ed Wood_. Two great films by the both of them. I’m more afraid of Tim Burton’s direction than Depp’s acting. Burton’s films from the last decade have been lacking, IMO. As for the way Willy Wonka looks in this version, I can take it or leave it. I don’t think he looks all that creepy. What I don’t like is in the trailer, he does a couple of things that look stupid. The thing he does with his arms, that wave thingee. And when he bumps into the camera with his head. It takes away any creepiness that was there for me. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/23 "2005-03-29T19:17:36Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > Nope. IIRC, in the illustrations in the book he had a pointy little goatee. So, facial hair, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/24 "2005-03-29T19:20:44Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Looks more like Ensign Ro to me. Yep, there’s definitely a [Michelle Forbes](http://www.starfleetlibrary.com/tng/michelleforbes.htm) thing goin’ on there… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/25 "2005-03-29T19:43:28Z")
Ok, it’s not just **Pepper Mill** and **damgermom** and me. If you google “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Michael Jackson” you get a _lot_ of hits, mostly from message boards and review sites. This one’s typical: > [@](#): > > The trailer itself is one of the most bizarre I’ve seen, with a tune that can’t help but elicit a “WTF?” reaction. The look of the film seems reminiscent of the original, but Depp’s Wonka seems more like Michael Jackson than the brash and commanding character that was portrayed by Gene Wilder. The Michael Jackson take is scary, to say the least. Regardless, it looks interesting in it’s own weird way, and who can fail to look forward to a Burton film starring Johnny Depp? From here: [http://lahiru.blogspot.com/2005/02/flicks-of-2005-charlie-and-chocolate.html](http://lahiru.blogspot.com/2005/02/flicks-of-2005-charlie-and-chocolate.html) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/26 "2005-03-29T19:50:21Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > Nope. IIRC, in the illustrations in the book he had a pointy little goatee. [http://www.ivandow.co.uk/images/harrop/dahl/Rd01.jpg](http://www.ivandow.co.uk/images/harrop/dahl/Rd01.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/27 "2005-03-29T20:16:30Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Oh, yuck! I have a feeling I’m going to hate Johnny Depp even more after this movie. _trying…to…keep…open…mind…_ You hate Johnny Depp?!? That’s it, you’re _outta_ the will!! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/28 "2005-03-29T20:23:20Z")
Just watched the trailer. He looked sort of like a taller, freakier Davy Jones. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/29 "2005-03-29T20:47:57Z")
Actually, I’m indifferent to Johnny Depp. It’s his popularity that makes me crazy. What does anyone see in him? Can I be back in the will now, pretty please? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Skellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skellington)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/30 "2005-03-31T03:58:52Z")
It’s a Tim Burton kid’s movie! And Roald Dahl is involved! And it’s going to be great. I don’t think it will be suitable for the average Disney-fed school child. But neither was The Nightmare Before Christmas (one of the best movies ever made) which was meant to be a kid’s movie. If you are worried about the creepiness on your kids, show them his early short films. If the nightmares only last a week thay’ll be fine. I’m really looking forward to this movie coming out! BTW, does anyone know if Danny Elfman is involved? I hope so! I think all music nutters will agree with me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/31 "2005-03-31T04:08:23Z")
> [@Skellington](#): > > BTW, does anyone know if Danny Elfman is involved? I hope so! I think all music nutters will agree with me. 🙂 He is, and I do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/32 "2005-03-31T04:25:18Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Looks more like Ensign Ro to me. THAT’S who he looks like! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/33 "2005-03-31T04:27:14Z")
> [@Skellington](#): > > BTW, does anyone know if Danny Elfman is involved? I hope so! I think all music nutters will agree with me. 🙂 Pft. A Burton film without an Elfman score is like a Christmas without…well, without Jack Skellington! ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/34 "2005-03-31T05:40:17Z")
Oh, everything about that movie looks so amazingly creepy and unsettling, in the best possible way. Probably not great for the wee ones, but really, was the original movie much different? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/35 "2005-03-31T05:50:44Z")
**Charlie and the Chocolate Factory** was my favorite childhood book. I used to read it and Dahl’s other childrens books over and over. I like the 1971 _Willy Wonka_ movie, but it doesn’t really ‘feel’ like the book. I love Tim Burton and when I heard he was directing the new movie and that it would be more true to the book, I was thrilled. However, I’ve read that Burton thinks his movie is _not as dark_ as the first movie. That worries me a little, because I was thinking that if anything it would be darker. I also don’t really care for Depp’s Wonka look. The Wonka in the book is a wiry old man, preparing to retire. And I know this has been covered before, but regarding the whole Marilyn Manson thing? He was NEVER considered for the role of Wonka. He apparently made a comment in an interview that he would love to play Wonka in a movie. His fans got excited by his comments and it spread like wildfire on the internet, so that people soon thought that Manson had actually been cast to play the role. Not true. He was never even a ‘maybe.’ Thank god. In any event, I am still quite excited about this and I can’t wait for a new trailer! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/36 "2005-03-31T06:00:12Z")
As much as I love Depp, I still think Wonka was the role Christopher Walken was born to play–and he has a history of working with Tim Burton as well (from Batman Returns). Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/37 "2005-03-31T06:11:27Z")
Completely agree about Walken. He would have been perfect. ---
**Author:** ![IGJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/igjoe/32/5420_2.png) [@IGJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IGJoe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/38 "2005-03-31T06:39:13Z")
Has anyone seen the Oompa Loompas yet? I mean, the ones from the Gene Wilder version are already the Scariest Thing Ever, so I’m _really_ looking forward to Burton’s version! Of course, I’ll probably lose some sleep over them… 😃 Can’t close my eyes, Oompa Loompas wil eat me. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/39 "2005-03-31T06:52:15Z")
Sorry, **Joe** , they’re not all that scary: [http://www.dtheatre.com/read.php?sid=2811](http://www.dtheatre.com/read.php?sid=2811) ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777/40 "2005-03-31T06:58:06Z")
In the clips from the trailer where Wonka is wearing that goofy, half-crazed smile, Depp looks exactly like Ashton Kutcher trying to look like Michael Jackson. That is an image I did not need to have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willy-wonkas-appearance-in-the-new-tim-burton-film/296777.md?page=3)