Is this more of a family film or more of a creepy film? It just seems as if it is being sold more as a family film than I had imagined it would be. I also did not read the book, but have seen the earlier film version. Thanks.

Jim, of course the characters and scenes look familiar, it was taken out of the same book. It’s just a testament of how both films credit the source work. I mean true, John could have just said, “Instead of a chocolate river, let’s make Augustus fall into a river of battery acid.” But why?

And although both films may have similar scenes, characters, situations, etc. It’s the vision of John and Tim that will set the distinction of the film.

As I recall, John didn’t watch the Gene Wilder movie before he wrote the script.

Did you feel a temptation to deviate from the text a little just because the 1971 movie is so well-known and you thought you needed some plot twists to avoid comparisons?

For the gentleman looking for a direct link to the trailer for download, I’m only too happy to oblige: http://mp3content02.bcst.yahoo.com/bmfroot04/BMFShare04/yahoomovies/14/10140074.mov .

Yes, I think much of Willy Wonka outright is fairly creepy to kids… count me as another who was more than slightly freaked out at several points in the Gene Wilder film. I’m going to revisit the book shortly, too, so you’re not alone, Bri! ([i]The Phantom Tollbooth[/i] is an always most excellent read, as with [i]Peter Pan[/i], and, for that matter, Dave Barry’s new [i]Peter and the Starcatchers[/i]. And for another old Dahl classic, [i]James and the Giant Peach[/i] is fun – I recently got the book on CD to listen to… all too splendid!)