Willy Wonka's Father?

Last night I was lucky enough to go and see the new 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' at the cinema. I loved it, it was a great film, and the songs were really funky. But what on earth was the deal with Christopher Lee being the obsessive dentist of a father to Willy Wonka?

I really didn't buy the whole father issue thing - I could just see in my mind's eye Johnny Depp and Tim Burton meeting for coffee, or sat in a boardroom or something, discussing the whole thing, fabricating the storyline, getting excited and serious in equal amounts about how well it would fit the story... Well, you know what, it just didn't go! It was far too easy!

On the other hand, I loved the sunglasses and Wonka's pasty skin, revealing his dislike for the outside world, and the gloves showing his obsession about hygeine. It reminded me of Michael Jackson, as I'm sure it did with many others, but apparently the actor never intended this. Which is ironic.

Anyway, I'm risking this little rant sounding like an English Literature essay.

Perhaps my little distain at the added storyline was merely a symptom of my being a child of the Gene Wilder generation, where 'the candyman can', and 'if you're not spoiled then you will go far'... To me, that will always remain the real story I guess, despite it's being further away from the book than the recent remake. It will always remain the real 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.