I know what you are saying, but the Benny character in Benny and Joon, definately had a bit of the imp in him. The routine with the hat was incredible. Wonka was a little twisted in the movie. I mean "there's no earthly way of knowing...." on the Wonkatania.

It is a good movie though. I wonder what sort of "feel" they will go for. They can't use the same dialog. Who could write it.

"Violet! You're turning violet, Violet"

"What would a computer do with a lifetime supply of chocolate?"
"I am now telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate!"

IG

I'm excited to see this Willy Wonka, it will definitely be interesting to say the least.

~Anne

This better be good or else Depp will be ruined; he has some big shoes to fill.

~Dan

I completely agree with the relation to Benny. Benny and Joon is one of my favourite romantic films, and the scene where he is working at the video store, has made me want to work at a video store. As for the writing, I'm sure it won't be "Violet, violet, Violet." Willy Wonka came out, to please the eyes, not the ears. As for the Wonkatania, yes Wonka was twisted, but wouldn't you be if you were shut up in a factory for decades, with only little orange people to talk to?

Dan,
I think Depp will be amazing as Wonka. Sure he has some shoes to fill, but Depp is pretty good at beating the odds. When he decided to play Ed Wood, everyone chastised him for trying to mimic the twisted Wood, but I think he did Wood too well. It was creepy, which fit in nicely with the movie.

of course the dialogue will be mostly the same! it's from the same stupid book! which will always be better than any movie trying to mimic it -- but i'm sure the one with johnny depp will come close.

You would think that most of the dialogue would be the same, but when you see as many movies with book adaptations that I have, you would see that isn't always the case. A lot of Hollywood writers will just do what they want once they've purchased the book rights.

The other problem with Hollywood, is that producers will do anything they want. If you watch "An Evening with Kevin Smith," you'll hear about a producer named Jon Peters. He wanted to make a new Superman movie, but insisted that Superman:
can't wear tights
can't fly
had to fight a giant spider in the third act

Hollywood can destroy any novel by making it into a movie, like Dreamcatcher.

Poor Superman! Don't do it.
I think if anyone can do Willy Wonka justice it would be Depp.

Capt. over and out! ™

Books don't = the movie.  They can be *very* different.  Just look at Wizard of OZ.  The book, play and movie are all very different from each other.

I think Depp could play a great Wonka.  Gene Wilder is classic, but Depp could put a new twist to it.  Not sure if they could ever live up to the original, though.