Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Yep, it's a favorite. :)

Writer: John August
Director: Tim Burton
Director of Photography: Philippe RousselotComposer: Danny Elfman
Editor: Chris Lebenzon
Lead Actor: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore
Year: 2005

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a funny, colorful, and witty story about a boy who goes with a few others to tour the acclaimed Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. Five “golden tickets” are placed in five chocolate bars which wait to be discovered by five kids. Charlie Bucket was among those who won, either by getting lucky, or by other means.

The film is very pro-family. Charlie’s family is poor and yet tight-nit and loving. Charlie has learned to be content and respectful, which is why he wins big in the end. There are also a number of dysfunctional families portrayed with their ill-effects. Willie Wonka’s own family situation was not ideal. His father was a dentist, and there was no way Charlie was going to get encouragement in his interest in candy. This led to the father and son’s alienation. By the end of the film though, as the family theme is highlighted, there is reconciliation between them.

Then there are the kids who got themselves into trouble. All four besides Charlie didn’t even make it to the end of the tour. It was fitting for each of the unfortunate children to get caught in their own scheming. One girl was extremely demanding of her dad, who tried his best to please his daughter. Something in the factory caught her eye and she pursued getting it. After being advised not to, the thing she wanted (her own greed) caused her to fall down the “garbage chute”. She wound up with a bunch of other “spoiled” friends. It was also pointed out that her parents were the ones who made her that way, and her dad found himself heading down the same chute. Each child, except Charlie, had a similar misfortune happen to them.

Director Tim Burton is known for the way he can create an atmosphere in his films and this is no exception. The settings are so effective, and there were a lot of them. We see the Bucket’s house, which is little more than an old, falling apart shack, in stark contrast to the glamorous rooms and chambers of the factory. The film has a lot of fantastical elements, among which are the symmetrical way in which things were set up and directed. This can be seen in many scenes and locations including the layout of the houses in the town, the way the trucks pulled out of the factory grounds, and the rooms of the factory. Often characters were placed center frame. And of course this balanced environment is probably most evident in the Oompa Loompa’s dance acts.

The ‘camera’ went everywhere. From epic sweeps around the enormous factory (which are probably done using either a miniature or digital model), to inside ones open mouth. There are no limitations on the point of view.

Danny Elfman’s score should not go unmentioned. The music has very present throughout the movie and there was a lot of it. The cues were alive and lush. Then of course you had the Oompa Loompa songs, which were sung entirely by Elfman. Some talent that guy has with his voice (although no doubt much of the voice was significantly post-processed).

The workers in the factory are called Oompa Loompas, who are diligent little people who all look the same. They come to be very prominent in the film. I wondered if they had the right look. It’s an interesting story with Loompa Land and what not, but they were perhaps just a little too strait faced and robotic. That is probably my only complaint. Deep Roy, who plays them, is a short, Hispanic looking fellow. It’s not that he doesn’t work for the role, it’s just, I wonder if another concept for them would have been better. Like a bunch of nerdy guys with hair over their eyes; or little pygmies from Papua New Guinea with afros…mmm, maybe not that.

Besides that little objection, the casting was great. Especially effective was the parents of the winning children. Then we had Christopher Lee as Willie’s father…scary. And of course, Johnny Depp was his witty, animated self.

Tim Burton is known for his dark and gory films, yet Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is quite harmless and likely his most family friendly offering. It has a good moral and message that touches on things like temperance, humility, contentment, and family harmony. The movie is one of a kind with its wonderful fantastical atmosphere and colorful story. This one is definitely on the list as a favorite modern film.

Post delayed

Wups. I forgot to schedule a post and I'm leaving for the rest of the week. I'll post a review Monday. (I'm thinking about doing a favorite :).

The Book of Eli after 2 theater viewings

On second viewing (at the discount theater with a friend), I find it just as good, if not more. And is now officially a favorite (as I post more favorites, I will label them so). I do take issue with part of the ending, but besides that, it's a very meaningful journey of a film. While it doesn't shy away from violence, it doesn't shy away from God. And I thought the spiritual elements were well timed and not overplayed.

The casting is one area in which the film shines. Denzel is convincingly fervent. Gary Oldman shows a man who bends his will so heavily on others that it eventually springs back and wackes him in the face. He's unflinching and consumed. Mila Kunis may still be getting comfortable with movies (she's mostly been in TV), but she had a fitting posture. I'm glad she got the part over Kristen Stewart, who was first sought for the part. In other words, the conflict in schedules worked out for the good. And Mila's lack of eye shadow gives me more ease. Let's see who else...oh the gang leaders! Can't forget them. Their faces and voices said everything. Also, Ray Stevenson, the leader in Carnegie's gang, showed us he was not just one of the brute squad, he was a man. And lastly, Jennifer Beals' quiet way made her blindness that much more a reality. All this but the casting brilliance goes down to the level of the extras.

Amidst the bleak backdrop of a broken, empty world of desperate survival is this "post-apocalyptic tale which takes one on a journey that doesn't end until the promise is yes and Amen. It's not easy on the eyes to get there though.

Blood Diamond

Writer: Charles Leavitt
Director: Edward Zwick
Director of Photography: Eduardo Serra
Editor: Steven Rosenblum
Composer: James Newton Howard
Lead Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly
Year: 2007

Blood Diamond concerns the shady history of the diamond trade in Africa and the atrocities that accompany it. Trust me, you'll never think of diamonds in the same way again.

Danny Archer, played by DiCaprio, smuggles diamonds primarily for his own monetary gain. When he runs into a native fisherman named Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), who’s life and family has been torn apart by the warring in his country. Solomon’s primary mission is to recover his family, and could care less about the uber-valuable diamond he has found. Although the two men need each other to accomplish their ends, their motivations clash. Then throw in the perspective of a road weary and discouraged journalist looking for a story (Jennifer’s character), and you have a 3 strand cord that is not easily broken, although the tension is high.

Ed Zwick is a master of a director. Although he does have a thing for messy, intense violence. I always wonder if he doesn’t go overboard, and if he did in any of his films, it would be this one. It is indeed an impressive thing to choreograph. Having never been in the midst of a war, I don’t know if what I’m looking at is realistic. Seeing the amount of bullets being fired, it’s amazing they are able to escape!

Somehow, despite the confusion of the action, Zwick always manages to gain his footing and refocus on why all the mayhem is there. The direction consistently comes back to the heart of people’s motivation, or un-motivation, which is what make stories like this meaningful and interesting.

I love the way Djimon Honsou acts in this film. He's more mature than Gladiator yet still very unpretentious in his style. You can tell that he his directed, but in I kind of like that. The way he delivers his lines and actions is fresh and meaningful.

If there someone on the other end of the spectrum than Djimon it would be DiCaprio. The guy is super confident in his approach, yet is very good and can make that work. His character also calls for a kind of recklessness, which is no doubt why he was casted. If you can see him past the smoke, he’s one committed actor. As the smoke lifts at the end of the film, he becomes an even likeable character, if not under slightly contrived circumstances.

In perhaps one of her most well cast roles, Jennifer Connelly is convincing as a strong-willed journalist.

What is it about black antagonists that is so eerily scary? My oh my, I would be put under a spell just acting along side some of these guys, let alone actually dealing with their characters in real life.

Besides being an epic film, blood diamond is an interesting history, and quite sad, of diamonds. When one realizes the blood shed for these gems, he may not feel super great about buying one. Some diamonds come at a price in more ways than monetarily. There is a very interesting and informative documentary in the special features about how the diamond market works, or doesn't work. In fact, the black market is apparently still thriving.

Back at it

Here I am after a rather unexpected break. I don't have plans to quit anytime soon and will pick up the reviews again this Friday.

Anyways, I don't get paid much for doing this, so the blog may be put lower priority at times. :P

I did recently get to see a preview of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at the Biola Media Conference. It was a 5 minute (approximately) reel showcasing some footage. They were still working on the effects shots (that are numerous), which is a good thing. :)