Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

When it comes to intense movies Vertigo, The Shining and maybe even the finale of Heathers would spring to most peoples minds, but WAOVW has a whole other sort of intensity, an intensity in which you are sure that these people are not real but cant shake that feeling about how real they seem and that coupled with the realism of the characters makes you feel isolated with them for two hours.

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sandy Dennis and George Segal as two married couples neither as idyllic as the marriages that we associate with the sixties era (Mike and Carol were perfect.......) And that's where our story begins.

The story isn't really a story it's more a general idea: Older, unhinged couple have younger couple over for a 'get to know you' session. This session quickly extends to something a little bit unconventional: Nothing much happens. We don't seem to get the impression that the characters of Martha (Taylor) and George (Burton) are going to be completley okay at the end of the film, however maybe Nick (Segal) and Honey (Dennis) nwill take the lessons they learnt from Martha and George and create a better future for themselves. Some light at the end of the tunnel i suppose.

I loved this movie. The performances from all involved were absolutely.... electrifying. However the weakest link was George Segal, that's not to say he was bad (i really liked him) it's just that when you are watching a career best from Liz Taylor, a downright scary performance by Burton and an oddball Sandy Dennis you're bound to get lost in the midst.

Like that other cryptically titled classic A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) WAOVW serves more as an intense relationship study rather than a conventional film. And believe me it is all the better for it. It is one of those movies in which you are immediately immersed due to strong performances from the get go and intense cinematography, if you get up during this movie i'll give you 50 bucks. No joke.

WAOVW is a film in which you will be deeply involved in until the credits roll around, then you will stand up in a daze and wonder what you have just seen. In much the same way that Nick and Honey must have when they left George and Martha at the end of the movie.

"What a dump! Hey, what's that from?" Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

I've just finished watching Tim Burtons masterpiece. Edward Scissorhands is a divine feast for the soul and imagination, Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder are matched perfectly in this tale of a man (Depp) with scissors for hands.

the film takes place in a rather nondescript 'perfect' town. So perfect it looks looks satirical, animated, or from a snow globe, which i think was meant to the effect. The movie stars Johnny Depp as the title character, Winona Ryder as Kim (his love interest), Diane Wiest (who, although she has won two Oscars, is quite underrated) as Peg (Kim's mother) and it even has Vincent Price as Edward inventor. The movie boasts impressive visuals , strong direction, great music (courtesy of Danny Elfman) and a great plot. What's not to like?

While i have never really called Winona Ryder a great actress, i would call her capable of holding her own in a movie. However, given the right material she is capable of good- and great- performances. (see: Black Swan, Heathers, Girl Interrupted). In this movie, she is believable if not exceptional. Johnny Depp is so well suited to the role of Edward that it's unbelievable. I may be a little biased because i LOVE Johnny Depp in just about anything. Anyway i think this is one of his best movies and it has just become one of my favourite movie romances of all time.

Thank You Tim Burton.

Overall this is a warped fairy tale that is heartbreaking, endearing, funny and so surreal it is dream like. Everyone involved in the making of this movie should be proud. the entire movie can be put down to basic fact: It's about a person trying to fit in, despite the fact he can't. And we can all relate to that. That is why the movie is so special, it is warped and strange but it is rooted in real life, because in real life it is hard to fit in.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005)

last night I saw this for the second time in my life, i just thought i should clarify (for those who aren't so hot with years) that is the one with Johnny Depp, you may remember that the one Gene Wilder was called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. anyway this is my review:

Now i haven't got many gripes about the acting, Johnny Depp is as weird as ever in it and i certainly like his interpretation of Willy Wonka. Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket was no scene stealer but he is able to put across the innocence and selflessness of Charlie. The other Children in it are all capable and portray the selfishness of their respective characters quite well. Helena Bonham Carter is also in this (in a relatively small role) and she was good. David Kelly who plays grandpa Bucket also fills his character well and has some good energy.

It is capably directed by Tim Burton who always portrays a wacky and surreal sense of humour in these types of films (see: Alice in wonderland [2010]). His idea of Oompa Loompa's was a disappointment though, they were pretty lame i have to say. the 70s version had much better ones. The songs used for said Oompa Loompa's was also disappointing, they were too childish and squeaky, i know that the movie is really just a kids movie but hey that doesn't mean the songs have to be bad. But then again, how can you top 'Oompa Loompa doo ba dee dee'?

Many key elements of the book were left out, but i won't go into that because i don't have a good memory. i personally preferred the goose eggs in the Gene Wilder version over the squirrels used in this and the book but it's nice that this one stayed faithful to the Roald Dahl classic. the burping soda (another of my favourite parts in the original film but wasn't in the book) was not in it. A little part of me wishes that those 2 things were in it even though they weren't in the book- as a sort of homage to the Wilder classic, that's just me. The ending was also slightly different, however i think i prefer the ending of this version rather than the book and the original films ending.

It is quite unfair to compare this to the Gene Wilder classic, it's obvious that it is trying to be it's own film (perhaps explaining the different name?), sometimes it fails: Johnny Depps craziness can only go so far in some scenes, as i said before the Oompa Loompa's are lame, and the flashbacks to Wonka's childhood could've been done without.

I have to say that this does not match up to some of Burton's other re-imaginings but it's not a complete fail either, it is a kids movie with a nice/cute message, but those who have seen the Gene Wilder version (which i'm sorry is much more solid) may not enjoy it as much though. This movie is nowhere near a masterpiece but you could do a lot worse when it comes to re-imaginings of classics. Egad i hate the 90s version of Alice in Wonderland.

"Look mother i'm much more flexible now" 
"Yes but you're blue" Violet Beauregard, Mrs Beauregard