Charlie And The Chocolate Factory..Or how to ruin children's Literature

Have now seen the Johnny Depp version of "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" a few times now on DVD (don't ask, if I tell you, you will have to be buried in the yard with the others who asked)and I am unimpressed...Very much so. I have been told that they have used Dahl's original story line with the underlying premise as to why Willy Wonka becomes a chocolate guru along with much more of the original book....But for the life of me am unable to locate this "original" work anywhere (still trying though). I loved the 1960/70 Gene Wilder version as do my kids and the version of the book everyone knows to date is great also. But this film is something else, directed by Tim Burton, with only writing credits to Dahl, it is rated PG13(USA) as it has violence,language and sexual references. One liners like "never come between a squirrel and his nuts" emit a chortle from the parents but are lost on under 10's ,I think. It is "Clock Work Orange "like in cinematography and none to easy for kids to follow. Johnny Depp REALLY does look like he took make up lessons from Marilyn Manson and as Willy Wonka is just plain rude and not mischievous like Wilder was. But I guess Depp had to develop the character the way he saw it...But what was he on when he read the script, is my question.

I would NOT recommend it to any child under 10 despite all the hype, it's not an under 10-12 film, definitely not for the littlies. The magic of the waterfall room is missing, the children are more than just naughty.They are destructive, the wonderment of each new room visited is lost as somewhere along the way Wonka insults someone or has these scary "flashbacks" which without giving away the story; would stop any under 10 ever visiting the dentist again let alone having orthodontic work done. Totally unimpressed, people and I think Nestle should remove itself from promotion of the film.

I am still sick, on antibiotics and have asthma pretty bad, Mr Almost 3 has been diagnosed with ...SURPRISE SURPRISE ....Asthma....Activity induced...Great, just like Mum used to have. Bonus is I grew out of it at 14 and it came back during pregnancy 1# and is now virally induced like Miss 8"s who has almost grown out of it...Or is so damn healthy she doesn't catch colds or such any more(touch wood).

Two and bit days(have to count today as it's not over and never been one to wish a day away) till the GIRLS WEEKEND AWAY. But who's counting....
Ok that 's it, people, don't forget to eat your brussel sprouts and teach the budgie to say rude words. Bye

Coughs, Capital Punishment,Harry Potter and Me

I have a COLD ...all say AWWWWWWW, I am coughing and such, I have taken my sure fire "Ease A Flu" natural stuff and eliminated the runny nose, etc part of the thing but my asthma playing up and as Mr Almost 3 has been coughing also, decided to make a Dr's appointment for later today for us both. OK ,onwards and forward.

Read an interesting article in Saturdays "Good Weekend"(September 3, 2005) in an incisive piece entitled "Sympathy For a Devil" , Alex Kotlowitz looks at the crime, trial and outcome of a capital offence in the town of Indianapolis, USA. The crime was captured on the shop tape, the culprit confessed, and as the State Prosecutor told a reporter..."There isn't a jury in the world..That would not recommend the ultimate penalty in this case, the death penalty" Out of 38 death penalty states in the USA, 33 of them leave the final decision of of death with the jury not the judge. Jurors are given a 24 page questionnaire about the death penalty as part of the elimination process, they all told the court that yes they could vote to end a persons life...a mandatory condition to sit on capital crimes cases. In the end, all 12 rescinded on the death penalty and gave life imprison instead. It make interesting reading, given that Australia gave up such ideals decades ago but there are still those who call for its reinstatement. The advent of DNA testing and errors in evidence processing have left way for multiple appeals on various grounds in many areas of crime. The Govenor of Illinois has, since 2000, had a moratorium on executions due the high number of wrongful convictions...Where would we be today if Lindy Chamberlain had been convicted under a capital offence and met the death penalty??? The NT Government would still be paying compensation until Hell froze over!!! Articles like this need to be bought to the forefront of the argument against capital punishment as it is logical, non subjective and shows the truth in human nature.

I finished Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, yes I know I took my time but a good read needs to be savored like a fine wine..OK. I had actually decided that if it was like the Order Of the Phoenix I would not continue reading the HP series...but Rowling has lifted her game again. Might be just me, but I enjoy descriptive prose, I like to know what a room looks like and what the characters are eating and where they are going and what the surrounds look like. Maybe as Order was set mainly in the one place or that HP was getting frustrated and therefore so was I, that I did not enjoy it. But I have been reinvented in HP after the HBP and will read the next installment with gusto. Thank you JK Rowling for a great read!!!

COUNTDOWN..... fours days till GIRLS WEEKEND AWAY... And yes as per every other year I have got sick just in time to go. Being anally retentive and having a GREAT dislike for change I think it is my bodes way of reacting to the forthcoming change and saying " hay what do the think you are f&^%$(ing well doing? Going away, leaving spouse and children to fend for themselves for 48 long arduous hours? Am a tad concerned, 1st year I went hubby bought a DVD player, last year he negotiated price and signed papers for the new house, what will I come home to this year is anyone's guess???