Who better to bring Roald Dahl's adored children's story to life than the mastermind behind inventive films like 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Beetlejuice'? From Tim Burton's opening shot against Danny Elfman's eerie score this 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' is recognisably darker than the Mel Stuart-directed 1971 version starring Gene Wilder. Though the mysterious chocolate factory has been closed for 15 years, it continues to produce and ship candy all over the world. When a contest promises a tour of the plant to the lucky finders of five golden tickets hidden inside wrappers, no one is more excited than Charlie Bucket, an impoverished boy whose family lives mere steps from the factory. Though he can barely afford even one candy bar, fate intervenes, and Charlie finds the last golden ticket. Joined at the gates by a group of despicable brats named Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Augustus Gloop, and Mike Teavee, Charlie and his Grandfather venture inside proprietor Willy Wonka's delightful factory for a wild adventure. Each room is a feast for the eyes, and more importantly the taste buds a sugar-coated dreamland where everything is edible. One by one, however, the children meet unfortunate fates, until only Charlie remains in the company of Wonka and his curiously small workers, the Oompa Loompas. Sporting a severe bob, and talking in a high-pitched voice, Depp makes his Wonka even weirder than Wilder's. While Burton adds some amusing contemporary touches (like the musical Oompa Loompa routines), and an elaborate back story, he also preserves the charm of the original book. Overall, Burton's visual innovation succeeds in capturing the vividness of a child's imagination but whether this version trumps the beloved '71 film is for viewers to decide.
Product Identifiers
Producer
Richard D. Zanuck, Brad Grey
EAN
5060146917544
eBay Product ID (ePID)
72569028
Product Key Features
Actor
Deep Roy, Freddie Highmore, Christopher Lee, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Missi Pyle, Noah Taylor, David Kelly, James Fox, Anna Sophia Robb
Director
Tim Burton
Release Year
2008
Genre
Family
Additional Product Features
Number of Discs
1
Format
UMD
Language
English
Country/Region of Manufacture
United States of America
Reviews
Sight and Sound - Depp's Wonka is both flamboyant and reserved.... He can be plaintive... or hilarious..., Uncut - It's very much Burton's vision: the modern fairy tale town, kitsch musical number and 'gothic' Edward Gorey-inspired design., The Sun - Dark, dazzling and downright delicious, Tim Burton's Day-glo take on Roald Dahl's candy-coated kids' classic will blow you away. It is a riot of fiendish invention that does justice to Dahl's timeless story but manages to surpass Gene Wilder's much-loved 1971 version. It's obvious that Depp was born to play this role, and boy does he deliver. Freddie Highmore's Charlie is that rare movie kid whose wholesomeness plays as appealing rather than insufferable. But ultimately the success of this flick is due to Depp's mesmerising performance. A delight. 5 stars
Author
Roald Dahl
Certificate
PG
Consumer Advice
Contains mild language and peril
Movie/TV Title
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Composer
Danny Elfman
Sound source
Dolby Digital
Screenwriter
John August
Run Time
111 mins
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