Chewing Gum is Really Gross. Chewing Gum I Hate the Most.

I just read an article on the internet talking about the comparisons that can be made between Johnny Depp's performance in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and Micheal Jackson. I'm sorry, but anyone who can compare the two is just plain crazy! Okay, maybe they're not as crazy as I think.

Have you seen the previews for this movie? I don't blame anyone for saying that Wonka is creepy in this film. As my mother has said, "He looks like a girl." And I kind of agree. But aren't we all forgetting the original version of the film?

I love the first version. I'll never forget getting to see it at the Westby in Tulsa. (A shout-out goes to my brother for orchestrating that event. I love ya bro!) I also need to mention the fact that I watched it a bajillion (yeah, great word) times at home. Although it is worth noting that I really started to enjoy the film as I got older. It think that it scared me too much when I was younger, which brings me to my next point.

Who the hell can tell me that they were scared or at least freaked out a little bit during the boat ride scene? I'm sorry, but the image of all the children and their parents flying through the tunnel, with giant bugs and chicken heads being cut off on the walls around them, accompanied with the eerie song Wonka sings, ending with him shouting...AHH! It scares me now to think about it. Another part of the movie that didn't scare me personally but gave a lot of people I know the heebie-jeebies is the presence of oompa-loompas. I never saw them as threatening but as a general reminder to behave.

Before I continue on to the discussion of the new version of the film, I would like to acknowledge the man himself, Willy Wonka. Gene Wilder does a fantastic job in the role, playing the line between the lovable candyman and the eccentric recluse. At the end of the movie, when he lays his hand on the never-ending gobstopper before grabbing Charlie and taking him to the glass elevator, I am always moved by the emotion Wilder puts into his reaction. He seems overwhelmed at the action of the little boy who inherits his factory. It's just a varied range of his abilities and a fabulous performance.

Now, back to my main gripe. I don't understand how anyone can compare Wonka to Jacko. First of all, I see the comparison of creepy white guys (haha, I made the most original Micheal Jackson joke ever - sarcasm highly intended). But other than that, I don't get it. Micheal Jackson is a recluse, but that is because he is sick. Wonka, on the other hand, is a recluse because he works all the time. I don't see Jackson putting out any new music here lately! Jackson loves children (so much that he allows them to sleep in bed with him - I didn't say anything that he didn't admit to!). Wonka secretly loves children, but only the good ones. He thinks that most children are brats, hence all the crazy punishments that they each get for their different vices. Last, but not least, while both men may be creepy, Willy Wonka has shown time and time again (or maybe that was just the million times I watched the movie) that he has a great sense of humor. I don't think that Jackson has a sense of humor. He just seems sad.

So, I still look forward to seeing this film. I'm sure that I will write a review of the movie.

Oh yeah. I LOVE adding pictures on here. You can expect to see a lot more of that. Gotta go back to grading papers now.