Cheer Up Charlie gives us a few words about WILLY WONKA remake...

Ok... I'm not a real big fan of the whole concept of a Willy Wonka remake... In fact, I might even allow myself to say, at the moment, I HATE the idea. Can you improve upon the Oompa Loompas? Can ya make a chocolate river look better? Will the colors be MORE vibrant? Will you find a better Willy Wonka? And what in the original can really be improved upon? Now maybe I'm biased as hell since this is my childhood lovefest film, but perhaps some of you folks in Talk Back can tell me what reason beyond... a profound lack of new ideas there is in making a remake. At least with THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS... there's a chance to see the Dr Seuss world given a full dimensional take, which hasn't been done really well since 5,000 FINGERS OF DR T. Sigh... I don't know...

Dig out the shaker...

I went to the Megacon convention in Orlando this sunday and who should I see but Paris Themmen (Mike Tee-Vee) from the Original Willy Wonka. I shelled out the bucks for an autograph and asked what he knows abot the new Wonka movie...

Talk about opening the floodgates...

He procedes to tell me: that it is proceding, that the role of Willy Wonka is being batted about by Nicholas Cage, Will Smith, and (my fave) Robin Williams. that the original Wonka Kids have been approached to appear in the movie in adult roles the script does (at this point) include the Boat Scene Music (... there's no earthly way of knowing...) and "Pure Imagination" This is a much darker and moodier movie than the original Gene Wilder will not be in it... (Gene, if you are reading this, PLEASE be Wonka one more time!!!)

I had a great half hour talking to Paris, not just about Wonka, but his other pursuits. A very nice guy.

Call me "Cheer up Charlie"