Your Gatsby metaphor falls flat because that was never regarded as a great film, nor has it been a cultural touchstone for the last 40 years. Redford's Gatsby isn't referenced in modern popular culture, while Willy Wonka is (the meme, SuperTroopers, Simpsons, Family Guy). It certainly isn't the only or definitive film…

Nah, it's the sadly more common "Johnny Depp will do whatever the hell Tim Burton wants".

Ad hominem attack? It's a fact/your name, dude.

I think this has merit, I just think Wilder probably thinks that movies and books are apples and oranges. He doesn't own the legacy to the story, but that film adaptation absolutely is the default one.

@OrangeLazarus:disqus It's a legendary children's movie— people still show it 40 years after it came out, which is pretty rare for anything but "classic" films. Barring a couple of songs (charlie's mom's song), it's a pretty damn good, if sappy movie. I referred to the book as the "art". Not the movie.

Also, Burton chose a project with a huge film legacy in the population he's attempting to target/reach. Pretending that he wasn't/shouldn't have to engage that film's legacy is absurd— wasn't the idea to make a "more authentic Charlie"? One that acknowledges the darkness inherent in Roald Dahl's work?

No, you edited your original post so it no longer says "he has no right…"

Yes, it does, if he does a good (if inauthentic job) and the other guy does a shit job. If we were talking about music, this wouldn't even be a question.

Have it your way. If Wilder's not allowed to comment, by that logic, Aretha Franklin isn't allowed to comment on covers of "Respect".

How does the King and I fit in here?

He didn't make a claim on the book's legacy. He made a claim on the film's legacy. Believe it or not, many films based on books (The Godfather, for example) have separate legacies.

This is ridiculous. He absolutely has a right to insult anyone he pleases. He even has standing, being a major part of the original project and all. The same way musicians get to have an opinion on covers of their material.

who isn't?

I mean, that's a ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one.

"You're such a poseur."
"No YOU'RE such a poseur." 
"Screw you, I want my fuzzy velvet color-by-number unicorn poster back!"

xXkowboys.in.the.sky.ona.saturday.n.memphisXx

good-awful, eh? yeah, you liked it.

uhhh, you're sure as shit not a scene kid, that's for sure.

"A WHOLE FUCKING LOT!"- the people at Hot Topic.

Yeah, Joan Jett. Why didn't you deal with the 600 million dollar corporation on a personal level.