by Todd Pheifer

Created on: February 28, 2008

Who doesn't love the story of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"? Author Roald Dahl wrote this classic tale of a very poor and pitiful boy with a big heart, who wins a contest that gains him entry to the wonderful and mysterious Wonka Chocolate Factory. There he meets the reclusive Willy Wonka himself, and as the story progresses Charlie encounters many amazing and adventurous elements in the factory. I won't spoil the ending for you but here are some thoughts on whether Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder do a better job of capturing the spirit of Willy Wonka in the two different film versions that have been produced.

THE CASE FOR GENE WILDER

Whenever you read a book prior to seeing a movie, you picture the character in your head. I read the book as a child and I can't say that I pictured Gene Wilder. Still, Wilder does a wonderful job of portraying the quirky, eccentric Wonka with his offbeat humor and occasional emotional outbursts. Wilder makes you want to like Willy Wonka, which is the signal of a good performance, given the role of Wonka in the book. Despite the fact that the special effects are a bit dated, if I had to pick one portrayal over the other, I would probably select Gene Wilder.

THE CASE FOR JOHNNY DEPP

As am actor, I enjoy Johnny Depp very much. He has the unique ability to completely take on a strange personality and make it his own. I did enjoy the Depp version of "Charlie and Chocolate Factory" but Depp's portrayal was even less of what I pictured as a child. This version of Wonka is still quirky and enigmatic, but he could also be somewhat creepy at times. Also, Depp's character seems to have some latent insecurity with himself, which is something I didn't pick up from the book. Still, Depp's acting is very good and visual aspects of the film are fantastic.

Both film versions of this classic story are very good and I can recommend them without hesitation. However, they are both very different so comparing them to each other is perhaps unfair. Consider each a different interpretation and you will enjoy their individuality.

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