Search Results for: blog charlie and the chocolate factory 1971 and 2005

Author Interview – Kamilla Reid, on What’s Ahead for Root

We are joined again by Kamilla Reid, author of “The Questory of Root Karbunkulus,” a fun new young adult fantasy novel. If you missed our first installment, click here to get caught up. Kamilla, are we to anticipate any crushes between the characters, or will it all be strictly friendship? Oh, crushes shall abound! Many a smitten heart and even shameless necking! However, Root won’t meet her match until Book 3. My favorite character is Betty, the wisteria vine. How did you come up with the idea for her? It’s funny because, next to the Hovermutts, Betty is clearly one … Continue reading →

Johnny Depp Gives Away His Fedora

I have always loved Johnny Depp, every since he appeared in “21 Jumpstreet.” But, his reputation has not always been the best. Johnny has always been known for his choice in accepting quirky roles others would refuse. I mean can you see Leonardo DiCaprio as Edward Scissorhands? This need to go his own way with roles has led much of Hollywood to think he is a bit odd. During the early 90s, he had a few run-ins with the law. He was arrested in 1994 for damaging a $1,200 a night room at the Mark Hotel in New York City. … Continue reading →

Arthur & The Invisibles (2007)

This little film is very forgettable for me, but for my six year old it gets three thumbs up – her words, not mine. What I didn’t know, originally, was that the film was directed by Luc Besson, the mastermind behind The 5th Element. That being said, Arthur & The Invisibles is a rather charming fairy tale that features a truly wonderful young actor named Freddy Highmore. (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory & Finding Neverland) The film mixes live action with CGI. The film opens with Arthur (Highmore) at his grandmother’s (Mia Farrow) farm. The year is 1960. Arthur’s grandfather … Continue reading →

5 Children and It (2003)

“5 Children and It” is a fanciful tale set during the first World War. It starts out very much like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Five children (instead of Lewis’s four) are sent to live with their uncle in the country while their father goes off to fight, and their mother goes to nurse the wounded. Upon arrival, they find that their uncle is eccentric, he has a housekeeper, and they are forbidden to enter a room. Sound familiar so far? However, then we branch off into differences. Robert, the middle boy (Freddie Highmore) is a spoiled child … Continue reading →

Benny and Joon (1993)

Benny (Aidan Quinn) is under a lot of pressure. He runs a mechanic shop and spends all day fixing cars, but he’s also the guardian of his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) who has been diagnosed as mentally ill. Although extremely intelligent, she sometimes has outbursts that result in things getting broken, and in some cases, in trouble with the police. Benny feels that he has no time for a social life and certainly no chance of ever having a girl friend or getting married. His life is taking care of Joon. One night he takes Joon to a poker … Continue reading →

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971)and(2005)

The classic story of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” comes from the children’s book written by Roald Dahl in 1964, and has since been made into two major motion pictures, the first in 1971 and starring Gene Wilder (rated G)and the second in 2005 and starring Johnny Depp (rated PG). The story is, of course, the same in both movies. Charlie Bucket is a very poor boy who lives in a broken down shack with both sets of grandparents and his mother. (In the Depp film, he has a father as well.) Willy Wonka, famous candy maker, has a factory … Continue reading →