"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

Nothing tastes sweeter than an afternoon spent at home with your family and director Tim Burton’s remake of Roald Dahl’s story, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” And this is not only because of the chocolate surroundings and the mountains of candies, which raise the viewer’s endorphin levels as high as the living-room ceiling. Johnny Depp’s character- the chocolate magnate Willy Wonka, who is coaching five kids in the world of his chocolate kingdom, with his creepy smile, unnaturally white teeth, impeccably polished black shoes, and eccentric behavior, delivers a performance that just needs to be seen.

The day spent at Wonka’s factory includes a boat trip along a chocolate river, a visit to the whipped cream department, where we actually see cows being whipped; a nut department, where hundreds of trained squirrels crash nuts better than any machine; and an elevator which moves not only up and down, but also left and right. During this day four unbearable kids, who very much remind us of our own offsprings, get punished for their annoying behavior. In the end of the day, the chocolate journey will make you start sympathizing with Depp’s character, who, even though the owner of the most successful chocolate factory in the world and the friendly help of the small Oompa-Loompa creatures, is terribly lonesome. In fact Wonka is one big kid himself - which probably explains his weirdness and his alien-like posture.

In terms of the moral content, do not expect this movie to go beyond the superficial. Even though the plot accentuates some family values, they get lost in the huge candy piles, Oompa-Loompa’s uncoordinated dances and the vivid colors of the factory. The movie, above anything else, provides a powerful visual delight, and this, apart from Johnny Depp’s acting, is its other strongest asset. The soundtrack fits perfectly in this picture, making the viewers beat the time with their feet and head for more than hour and a half- and in a little childish way.

And before making yourself comfortable in your armchair, do not forget to take something sweet with you- the chance to experience chocolate or candy craving while watching is pretty high. If you still happen not to like chocolate after seeing the movie, you probably took Wonka’s dentist father definition of lollipops, “cavities on a stick,” too seriously. My advice- don’t- life is as sweet as you allow it to be.

A Job Not Well Done

If I were in the shoes of the Bulgarian Interior Minister, Mr. Rumen Petkov, before trying to show off about anything, I’d think twice. His actions do not have a good record of being applauded anyways, and reasonably so. However, on Thursday, when he announced the report, which Sofia had to present to the EU Commission about Bulgaria’s progress in the ‘Justice and Home Affairs” sector, he quoted some figures, which made not only Brussels, but also me, raise my eyebrow skeptically.

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http://evropa.dnevnik.bg/show/?storyid=324273

297 trials for corruption, which resulted in a sentence. 1,706 concluded pre-trials on corruption cases. 599 prosecution acts against 705 people. And all those achievements for just six months. So far, so good. What’s wrong then? How about some other figures? Did the Minister name any public figures, who were convicted of corruption? No! Like there is no high-level corruption in Bulgaria! Mystery… Was the full text of the report publicized and made available to the Bulgarian citizens? Another negative answer, and another mystery. In this respect ,the Romanians should serve as an example, which we could use- they had the audacity, despite the heavy political crisis they are going through right now, to upload it on the ministry’s website. Somehow I’m starting to think the Minister is hiding something. And then comes the most important question- is the Commission satisfied? Of course not!

Mr. Petkov, you think you can fool the Bulgarian citizens, in front of whom you are responsible above anything else, and maybe you are right. After all, you’re still a minister in this rotten government, although you act as if you are afraid even of your own shadow. However, your attitude towards Brussels is quite arrogant. Do not try to throw dust in their eyes too, cause they see further than that. I don’t think they will embrace your report after the big political compromise they did to accept the country into the Union. Do not expect a friendly pat on your shoulder for a job well done. Instead, please do save your arrogance for the criminals, which you constantly want to try and never manage to catch.