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| Graphic by Christina. Isn't it gorgeous? |
In classic middle-grade book style, the bratty kids all get their comeuppance. This, by the way, is a good thing, because you will hate those annoying brats so damn much. Roald Dahl masterfully builds up your hatred for them and makes you cheer when they meet their deserved end — or do they?
One of my favourite things about Roald Dahl is that the villain's fate is grisly or at least quite horrifying. Here, all the other four kids are just that: kids (if rather whiny). And yet they're 1) sucked into the pipes, 2) turned into a giant blueberry, 3) thrown into more pipes by squirrels, and 4) shrunk down to a tiny size. It's this chilling, disproportionate retribution that really defines Roald Dahl. And it's why to this day, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory still has a special place in my mind.
I know. I'm wacko.
The movie adaptation
One of the reasons I did this for #LitLove is that I wanted an excuse to watch the movie. I know there are like thousands of adaptations, but I wanted to watch a very specific one: the one with Christopher Lee. I didn't really like Tim Burton's remake of Alice in Wonderland, but I decided to try it anyways.
And, you know, it sort of ended up like Alice in Wonderland. Obligatory Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter appearances. Like ... it didn't have the dark feel. Also: backstory. (But since backstory means Sir Christopher Lee, whatever.) Bottom line: if Honest Trailers or Cinema Sins got their hands on this, you wouldn't want to watch it. And the Roald Dahl feeling didn't translate well. But it's quite entertaining. (Plus, Sir Christopher Lee.)
Bonus: Lamb to the Slaughter
Random review of one of Roald Dahl's more insane short stories! It's about how a detective's wife kills him and tries to escape the blame. It's ridiculously funny and ridiculously gruesome at the same time, in the vein of Roald Dahl's other works. Basically my reaction was just "oh." and then "Ohhhh." and then "What the heck" and then "What the heck?? This is awesome!" and then "I know. I'm wacko." It's a very classic crime fiction-y short, and one of my all-time favs. If you love his MG novels, you'll love this too.
All right, that's enough from me! What was your favourite part of Chocolate Factory? Did you like the Tim Burton adaptation? And have you read any of Roald Dahl's shorts? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to check out everyone else's #litlove posts:
Topaz Winters: Danny the Champion of the World
AnQi Yu: The Witches
Christina Im: Matilda
Taylor Lynn: The BFG
Love Roald Dahl? Click below to tweet about this post:
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All right, that's enough from me! What was your favourite part of Chocolate Factory? Did you like the Tim Burton adaptation? And have you read any of Roald Dahl's shorts? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to check out everyone else's #litlove posts:
Topaz Winters: Danny the Champion of the World
AnQi Yu: The Witches
Christina Im: Matilda
Taylor Lynn: The BFG
Love Roald Dahl? Click below to tweet about this post:
- Much #LitLove for Roald Dahl: morbid childhood memories via @AlyssaC_HK.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: @AlyssaC_HK's childhood fav due to grisly fate of the baddies.
Okay, I was sitting here thinking I was the only one who loved this story for the villains' grisly ends, but evidently I was wrong. Of course, I adore Charlie and his grandfather and the lovely + slightly insane Mr. Wonka, but they were only the cherry on the cake for me - I was mostly just racing through it the first time I read it, trying to find out how the other hapless kids would meet their fates. I am not one bit sorry. ;)
ReplyDelete(PS: You ARE wacko. So, so wacko. But hey, at least you're in good company!)
You are definitely wrong. I'm pretty sure that was the point of the story, because even being the chocolate lover I am, I wasn't that interested in all the chocolate descriptions. I'm so-so with Charlie and co., but Wonka is definitely the best character ever, and the reason the other kids were all ... um, tortured? ;P
DeleteGood company indeed! Thanks for dropping by, Topaz!
Oh my wordd. I've never read any of Roald Dahl's shorts - I never even know he HAD short stories! I'd love to read them. I'll have to find them now... thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNor did I, a few years ago! Then we had one for comprehension in school and I promptly searched up his shorts. Lamb to the Slaughter is my fav :D
DeleteI don't think that either of the movies really does the book justice, although if you mashed them together they seem to cover the plot points (if not the tone). Also, Gene Wilder is a pretty good singer, so I always enjoy watching it on our old VCR. XD To be perfectly honest, I liked both movies as movies, but I don't think they are the best book to movie translations ever. :/
ReplyDeleteI think I do like the idea of this story though, because as the author of my favorite books pointed out, Willy Wonka is the villain of the story, and that pleases me immensely.
(Also, I just think it's interesting that this was the author you guys decided to choose this time when he's actually in the news right now, because a letter he wrote begging for vaccinations after his daughter died of measles has surfaced again.)
The tone IS the point, though, isn't it? The fate of the other kids wouldn't be half so hilarious without Dahl's irreverent humour. But I haven't watched the other movie adaptation (except in Tumblr gifs), so possibly I shall try that? So accurate though, that they're good as movies but not as adaptations.
DeleteIndeed he is, from a certain point of view! To be honest, even though Chocolate Factory is one of his most famous works, it's also one of the darker ones. Matilda, for example, is more adorable.
(I had no clue about that, which shows my lack of knowledge on literary news. We actually scheduled this round way in advance, so coincidences, I suppose!)
I loved reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a little kid. I loved to imagine that I was one of those kids in Willy Wonka's candy factory and that I could eat all of the candy in it. :D I also liked the movie, but I only like the old version. It's so classic that I don't think anything could replace it.
ReplyDeleteHehe, yes, the vivid worldbuilding is one of Roald Dahl's trademark storytelling styles. Although I don't supposed you imagined your own grisly fate, ahaha :D I have never actually watched the old version except in Tumblr gifs, but possibly I will check it out sometime as well!
DeleteOh my gosh yes I loved this movie and story as a kid! It was just the funnies thing with what happened with the rest of them LOL. I definitely liked the book more than the movie, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I'm not the only one laughing over the disproportionate fate of the bratty kids. Obviously the book captured the whimsical and almost absurdist style of Dahl much more than the movie :D
DeleteHAHA TRAGIC ENDS FOR THE EVIL CHARACTERS THO XD
ReplyDeleteWould *I* sound evil if I said I wrote a story where the GOOD people met a tragic demise as well? Heck, I must have been depressed.
The movie is really fun, and was delighted that they hadn't cut out the songs sung by the oompa-loompas. (They wouldn't though, now that I think of it. they play quite a major role)
Well yes! The point is, they weren't *evil*, just bratty. And as some other commenters pointed out, you might easily see Wonka as the villain!
DeleteNo. Absolutely not. Because I do that all the time. Wait, I call myself evil. *hides in a hole* Sorry, you're evil!
Hmm, I didn't quite like the movie, but it was enjoyable on an entertainment level, I guess? Thanks for reading!
Ohhh, I didn't really realise that Tim Burton directed Charlie and the Chocolate factory. BUT DUH OF COURSE HE DID. It has Depp and Carter. haha. xD I love Tim Burton and I'm a wild fan of all the movies of his i've watched (though sadly that's not a lot, but I'm not a big movie-watcher). I luuuurved CaTCF movie and book. I read all the Roald Dahl books when I was about 14. What can I say?! I'm always late to the party on kids books. But I think his style and voice is incredible.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I remember when Tim Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter separated, someone Tweeted about custody of Depp XD I do enjoy several Burton films, but the Alice in Wonderland one was ... strange?
DeleteI know that feeling when you're sooooo late. I read LOTR + Hobbit only two, three years ago? And don't tell anyone now, but I read Rainbow Magic when I was 11. Mainly because I didn't like it at 6 and I felt left out.
You know, it's weird, but as a kid I never really thought of Roald Dahl's work as dark and grisly? I think it's because his style is simultaneously so light and humorous. And I actually really love the Tim Burton adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--I think Tim Burton + Helena Bonham Carter + Johnny Depp are fantabulous and that movie is so hilarious! I guess I always connected more to Roald Dahl's sense of humor than anything else, which is why that movie was so awesome in my eyes. I haven't read "Lamb to the Slaughter", but it's been recommended to me in the comments of my Lit Love post, so I may have to look into it, haha! Thanks for the rec. ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, definitely. Roald Dahl's style definitely leads readers to ignore how horrifying some of the magic is, and that contrast is really refreshing.
DeleteHmm, personally I feel like it didn't capture the magic of the original for me. But yeah, that triumvirate is a welcome addition to any movie XD You should definitely read Lamb to the Slaughter! It's a hilarious and macabre story :D
Huh, I never thought that Tim Burton directed the 2005 adaptation.... Huh. But anyways, I did read the novel when I was about ten (I don't know whether my parents knew that Roald Dahl wrote books or knew any of his books) and man, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of my favorite books by him.
ReplyDeletexoxo Morning
http://theworldthroughmywindowsill.blogspot.com
Tim Burton directed a lot of movies you might not expect. *nods at supposedly philosophical sentiment* I read almost all of Roald Dahl's books in the bookstore, just standing by the shelf for ages and treating the place like a library. Chocolate Factory was one of the few I loved so much I managed to persuade my mum to buy home.
DeleteThanks for reading, Morning! :D