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First, I have to go on record as saying that I'll nearly anything with Johnny Depp in it. Even so, this didn't keep my kids exactly entertained. They kept saying, "This is creepy" and things like that. I enjoyed watching Depp, however, and his very different interpretation of his role compared to the one Gene Wilder played. This isn't light and sunny, true, but it is defnitely creative and worth viewing. Depp remains an actor worth watching, making moments of true magic in nearly every film he is in, from Edward Scissorhands to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Tim Burton gives movie watchers plenty of eye candy in his new adaptation of Roald Dahl's dark children's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Burton's penchant for gloomy tales meshes nicely with Dahl's dark moral story. Despite what many people have claimed, it’s misleading to say Burton's movie is a remake of the 1971" Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Sure, the basics are still the same: a poor boy discovers the last golden ticket, allowing him to tour Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with four other children – one gluttonous, one prideful, one greedy and another wrathful. But from there, the two films take different paths. The 1971 version averts attention from the darkness or morality in Dahl's book. Focus is shifted off Charlie, onto Wonka. That’s why the title’s different. The movie inserts suicide-prompting Disney-like songs and dancing to make the film more lovey-dovey. All the while, Dahl's moralistic vision that pervades the book floats away with the insertion of Charlie's disobedience with fizzy-lifting drink. This new, 2005 edition follows the book. It changes little but does add where Dahl left room for imagination. Screenwriter John August ("Big Fish") spent months with Burton to create a script that would have pleased Dahl. They collaborated with the late Dahl's wife, Felicity, to ensure the book was done justice. The insertion of Willy Wonka's childhood gives the reasons for Wonka's weirdness. This film also clearly shows the bad natures of the four other kids and their parents. This movie stays true to the moral lessons that Dahl conveyed in his book. Many argue that no one can replace Gene Wilder as the weird confectioner Willy Wonka. But, Johnny Depp gives the character meaning where Wilder could not. Depp's appearance, erringly similar to Michael Jackson, almost matches Joseph Schindelman's drawings in the book and perfectly illustrates the odd Wonka mannerisms. Burton's other casting decisions are not debatable. Freddie Highmore (“Finding Neverland”) plays a convincing, selfless Charlie. His waifish appearance is far more believable than Peter Ostrum's blonde hair, blue eyes and healthy look in 1971. David Kelly ("Waking Ned Divine") is a loveable Grandpa Joe. Deep Roy (“Big Fish”) plays the Oompa Loompas, who sing clever yet distracting songs after each bad child's disobedience. Christopher Lee's ("Lord of the Rings”) role as Wonka's dad makes the flashbacks of Wonka's childhood alluring. Music was only a backdrop in this movie. Danny Elfman, theme-creator of "Spider-Man" and "Batman," created no standout tunes for this movie. What little music there was in the film sounded similar to Elfman's "Men in Black" theme. In classic Burton style, most characters have matte-finished makeup. The gray lighting in much of the movie was reminiscent of another Burton’s "Sleepy Hollow." The geese from the 1971 movie have been replaced with the nut-cracking squirrels from the book. Burton's decision to make visually impressive physical sets and use limited special effects adds to the wonder Dahl wrote about. Enjoy Burton's "Factory" eye candy and let out your inner child, although you'll have to buy the dvd yourself.Read full review
****Love this movie!!!**** EXCELLENT AND MUCH BETTER THAN Wilder's version, yet in different ways. So funny, a great cast, and well thought out actor-to-character choices--amidst the somewhat exaggerated yet realistic roles inter playing and bantering between the many variations between scenes! JOHNNY DEPP, who has been, and IS so versatile...ONE OF THE BEST ACTORS, EVER! And again plays a very eccentric spin on the role (Burton...) and may seem somewhat aloof or obtuse in his approach, but ONE must watch in its entirety to fully understand. Depp is GREAT and quite a FUNNY FASCINATION --especially when RELATING TO CHILDREN and their parents, who have their own UNIQUE and individualistic ideas of CHILD rearing (or non-rearing or realistic positive rearing....some of which may need some of HIS 'rear-ending' ha ah ha... No offense meant and this IS MY ONLY Opinion!) *****MUST SEE and should be a safe ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHOICE whether for a FAMILY, SINGLE or married couple...LOVE FOR ALL!!***** I NEVER BUY WHAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY HIGHLY CONSIDERED, and IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, WOULD BE...THE ONLY ONE. *****BTW...CONGRATULATIONS MR. BURTON, ON ANOTHER GREAT REPRODUCTION!*****Read full review
Performance wise, this movie belongs to Johnny Depp and Freddie Highmore, who are able to recreate their chemistry from Finding Neverland. However, quote: "Depp's Wonka is far less cuddly than that of Gene Wilder, playing it more like a demented Mr. Rogers with more than a bit of a sadistic streak. The way that he watches the kids meet their fates with giddy glee is quite disturbing, but it's hard not to enjoy this quirky hermit's complete lack of social skills."-Edward Douglas, [...] (sorry, but the guy explianed it perfectly)Also, I'd like to clear this up out of my system before it does any more damage, but it seems A LOT of ....people are comparing Depp's Wonka w/ a certain pop star so much that it really just sickens me. This assessment can be contradicted however. First reason (and this came from no other than Depp himself): In an interview, Johnny said he had NO INTENTION whatsoever to base his character off of Micheal Jackson. Second reason: Willy Wonka is a recluse, so he's supposed to be strange, weird, crazy, whatever. I mean, the guy shunned himself from society for 15 years so he's going to be pale, out of style/trend, and a bit behind. Also, throughout the movie, we're shown flashbacks of Wonka's past that are used to explain his weirdness. There, end of story. Freddie Highmore's Charlie is more sad than the original one, so much that you'll want to hug him b/c he's so optimistic depsite living such an impoverished lifestyle. Another performance nod goes to Deep Roy, who plays all the Oompa-Loompas w/ such panache. Everyone else is respectable in their performances. Now, aesthetically, this film is amazing; in fact, this is Burton's most visually striking film to date. He yet again creates such surreal and imaginative landscapes that it's just real eye candy to look at; the factory rooms being the prime example. Some of the wacky machinery used to create candy is just as impressive and actually looks like it could work. Yet, as w/ the original film, this film creates an atmosphere that could unnerve sensitive folks. The boat ride down the chocolate tunnel is not the acid trip that was the original, but rather like an intense roller coaster ride. Also, for those who have seen the original, the four kids who fall to their weaknesses (loosely speaking: gluttony, pride, avarice(that's greed) and sloth) and punished for not heeding warnings are a bit more dangerous (thanks to the evolution of filmmaking) and look fatal, but are not. Also, another treat in this film is to hear composer Danny Elfman (who has composed pretty much all of Tim Burton's films to date save for Ed Wood, which was scored by Howard Shore) sing again. He sings all the Oompa-Loompa songs provided by the lyrics written in the book with such style that you can't help but tap your feet. For the record, he also sung in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Well, I believe I covered over everything. Overall, real faithful adaptation that surpasses the original in practically every way (sorry, but...my opinion). Also, the ending is different, both from the book and the original film; but still good. This is also Burton's best film next to Ed Wood and redeems him from his Planet of the Apes remake (what was he thinking w/ that?). Anyways, great film: just as wacky and twisted as you might expect but nonetheless wonderful to look at and as magical as the original.Read full review
Entertaining, inferior production values when compared to Gene Wilder's and Jack Albertson's effort in the previous version. Johnny Depp was witty, if a bit too talkative throughout. The kids got too bloated on chocolate which is not really complementary to fat children of today.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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