Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections

Chocolate Factory produces modern fairy tale

“It’s not as good as the original.”

How many times have we heard this overused phrase in the past year alone? Not only is this a testament to Hollywood’s over-reliance on remakes, but in the case of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it’s a reminder that we just don’t read as much as we used to.

Despite all appearances, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is not a remake of the 1971 cult classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. At the time of writing the new script, screenwriter John August (who also penned Big Fish) hadn’t even seen the original film. Instead, he sought to recreate the world he first encountered in the children’s novel by Roald Dahl. And who better to translate such a twisted mind than equally demented director Tim Burton?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory follows Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore of Finding Neverland), a destitute though obedient kid mesmerized by reclusive chocolatier Willy Wonka (played by a wonderfully awkward Michael Jackson-esque Johnny Depp). After winning one of five golden tickets to Wonka’s chocolate factory, Charlie and his grandpa enter the candy man’s mysterious world of wondrous inventions and tasty treats.

Visually, the film is a masterpiece. Burton’s artistic flair is quite obvious in this film as he contrasts the drab, grimy brown-and-gray landscape of Charlie’s slightly askew ordinary world with Wonka’s colorful though sterile factory environment. The casting is amazing, as each actor looks like a caricature of his or her role in life (without the use of any prosthetics). When these blue-eyed children and gangly grandpas prance around in such an imaginative expressionistic world, a modern-day fairy tale is born.

Fans of the much-loved-though-much-darker 1970s version will notice several things missing: Charlie’s temptation by Slugworth, Charlie and Grandpa Joe’s encounter with the Fizzy Lifting Drinks, golden-egg-laying geese and orange-faced Oompa Loompas with an annoyingly repetitious though catchy song. All of the major differences, however, are attempts to stay true to the book.

The geese have been replaced with nut-cracking squirrels that identify “bad nuts” rather than “bad eggs.” This element from the original novel seems to bring the story full-circle for Veruca Salt, who gains both fortune and misfortune through industrial nut-shucking (her father is a wealthy nut-factory mogul).

Though the new Oompa Loompas (all played by a shrunken-to-knee-level Deep Roy) still sing whenever another child reaches his or her demise, each song style is unique. Because Wonka has been isolated from the outside world for 20 years, these songs have a distinct ’70s feel (as do Wonka’s numerous attempts at slang). All of the other memorable songs have been omitted, creating a better contrast between the harsh real world and the sing-songy wonderland of the factory.

The other obvious changes in the original film seem to deal with a particular theme: Grace. In both incarnations, Willy Wonka is painted as a mysterious, powerful figure whom everyone wants to know, but whom few have seen. Though he’s pretty twisted in the ’70s film, he's not so flawed—just strange and mysterious. He can be seen as a God-like figure who opposes (and punishes) the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Though the original film shows Charlie giving into Grandpa Joe’s temptation to try out the Fizzy Lifting Drink, his confession that he was going to give the Everlasting Gobstopper to Mr. Slugworth allows him to accept Wonka’s free gift: the keys to his Kingdom (his chocolate factory). In this version, Charlie can be seen as the run-of-the-mill Christian: someone who receives an incredible gift of grace from a powerful being through surrendering something valuable (a gobstopper for Charlie; a life for the rest of us).

Though this subplot is not present in the original book or the recent film, that doesn’t mean there isn’t religious subtext. Dahl spent much of his childhood in Catholic boys’ schools, most extensively in Repton Public School (where he received inspiration for the novel through tasting new chocolates for Cadbury). Though Dahl later doubted the existence of God (attributing his doubt to the evils done by Repton’s abusive clergy), his Catholic upbringing seems to have made an impression on him. The four other children are obviously naughty, but they can also be seen as representative of four of the seven deadly sins (Augustus Gloop is gluttony, Violet Beauregarde is pride, Veruca Salt is avarice and Mike Teavee is sloth).

Conversely, this version of Charlie is a perfect child. Having humble beginnings, he enters Willy Wonka’s world, acts as a mediator between Wonka and Wonka’s father (a new character in the film played by Christopher Lee), ascends into the heavens and eventually dwells in paradise. There is even a touching scene at the beginning in which Charlie breaks his only birthday present—a chocolate bar—and shares it with his parents and four bed-bound grandparents. The chocolate takes on a sacramental role for the child, who obviously deserves the chocolate but who gives it freely to those around him.

In addition to its subtle religious themes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, rated PG, is just a fun film. Though not as psychedelically twisted as the original film, it still has its dark moments. Those with weak stomachs might not want to see the bug guts in the Oompa Loompa homeland.

Though this boat ride didn’t give me nightmares like the other one, it could be a little intense for younger children. The film has a slightly twisted thread that runs throughout, but it never goes over the line in my estimation. By all means, take the family and enjoy. But remember to give credit where credit is due: Remember to read the book!

MOVIE
—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections

BOOK
—Review: WonkaMania

—Blog: Kevin Miller
—Blog: Tom Price
—Blog: Jacob Sahms
—Blog: Jacob Sahms

Mr. & Mrs. Smith / Batman Begins

Batman & Smiths explore dark secrets

For years now, summer movies have been mindless action flicks aimed at bored high-school students with extra time on their hands and plenty of cash to spend. Though Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Batman Begins fall into this action-packed tradition, they seem to have raised the bar of what can now be expected.

On the surface, Mr. & Mrs. Smith looks like a dark glorification of domestic violence, attacking the institution of marriage and making light of serious relational problems. The story involves bored couple John (Brad Pitt) and Jane (Angelina Jolie) Smith. Though the Smiths began their marriage as passionate lovers, the magic has somehow disappeared, and they’re not quite sure where they went wrong. In the meantime, they both discover that the other is a secret agent for a rival agency, requiring each of them to kill the other spouse. Pretty disturbing, huh? However, through a series of action-packed events, the Smiths are actually able to open up emotionally and communicate honestly.

Communication and honesty are two themes that continue to pop up throughout the film. After growing bored with physical intimacy, the Smiths are eventually forced into deeper forms of intimacy—that which can only come through genuine dialogue between two committed partners. The violence and countless brushes with death may seem unbelievable (though excellently choreographed), but the natural progression of a struggling-though-getting-better relationship makes the film worthwhile.

What keeps Mr. & Mrs. Smith unique to the genre is its comedic timing. The film could’ve easily focused on the couple’s cold-blooded hatred for one another, the tortures they inflict to express that hatred and the justification of those tortures. Instead, the Smiths have the snappy banter of Abbott & Costello and the physical comedy of The Three Stooges. Their conversations are both clever and universal, bringing light to some of the most common relational problems and offering some surprisingly solid advice. This valuable lesson on creating functional relationships can also be applied to our relationship with God and the importance of prayer.

Like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Batman Begins deals with double identities, though it takes this motif into more psychological depths. (The only thing more surprising than a secret agent movie with originality is a Batman movie that capitalizes on psychology rather than spectacle.)

Batman Begins follows the journey of Bruce Wayne from fragile rich kid to Gotham City’s vigilante hero. As a child, Bruce becomes consumed with his anger after a mugger murders his parents. Though understandably apathetic and baggage-laden, Bruce encounters several mentors and milestone events that shape his destiny. Through sage advice from martial arts mentor Ducard (Jedi master Liam Neeson), compassionate father-figure/butler Alfred (Michael Caine) and childhood sweetheart Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), Bruce confronts the fears that have left him dead inside—fears that have prepared him for an inevitable resurrection.

Unlike its campy predecessors, Batman Begins returns to the comic book idea of a human superhero with no superpowers—one who must daily confront and overcome his weaknesses. Bruce’s two most prevalent weaknesses are his paralyzing fear of bats and the guilt he feels for his parents’ death. Additionally, though, the film looks at his conscious effort to leave his lofty position of wealth and live among the common people—from thieves to prisoners, fighters to the homeless. After spending time with the underbelly of society, Bruce overcomes temptation (to join Ducard’s League of Shadows and police the world with an iron fist), returns to his father’s wealth, and fights with a new resurrection body (as Batman) to redeem the depraved and already-condemned Gotham City.

In addition to the psychological depth, this Batman film is different from previous incarnations in its look. Batman Begins pays careful attention to making Batman mysterious and frightening. The hero himself is gruff-voiced, angry and intense. Instead of utilizing a bright neon color scheme, the film is full of black. From dark alley to dank cave to everything Batman owns: it’s all black. Where the previous films sought to dazzle the eye, this one seeks to downplay fight scenes, flashy costumes or elaborate lairs. What results is a focus on the story and the story alone. Were it not for an incredibly talented ensemble cast and a meticulously planned screenplay, this could’ve been a disaster.

Batman Begins, like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, explores relationships. While Smiths hones in on romance, Batman looks at familial relationships, awareness of the downtrodden and self-exploration. It challenges us to identify those fears that hold us back, and to conquer them so that we may live full lives. Though some may have more baggage than others, Batman Begins follows Bruce’s healing so realistically that we leave thinking, “If he can get over his past, so can I.”

These two films show us that, when entering the theater with a Biblical mindset, we can find truth in some of the most unlikely sources. From Mr. & Mrs. Smith, we learn that relationships are hard work, but that honest communication can really go a long way (John 14:13). From Batman Begins, we learn that emotional baggage can really seem overwhelming at times, but that with the right focus, we can overcome our fears (2 Timothy 1:7) and turn our attention toward helping others who hurt.

Both Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Batman Begins are rated PG-13. Batman Begins seems geared toward the young teen to middle-aged adult range. It includes intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements. Though relatively clean, its darkness could possibly frighten children. Married or seriously dating couples will get more out of Mr. & Mrs. Smith than the average viewer. It has several of the typical elements of a James Bond film: sequences of violence, intense action, sexual content and brief strong language. Husbands not so keen on chick flicks would enjoy the action, and wives tired of mindless action will like the romance. Whichever you choose, you’re bound to walk away with a valuable life lesson.

BATMAN BEGINS
—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections

—Review by Elisabeth Leitch
—Review by Kevin Miller
—Review by Maurice Broaddus
—Review by Mike Furches
—Review by Johann YO Synder
—Review by Mark Stokes

MR AND MRS SMITH
—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections