Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a damn good and deliriously fun movie that is full of creepiness, goofiness and the bizarre inventions of Dahl and Burton. Everything is very well done, but there are some caveats that may upset a few people lightly. On the other hand, this is a VERY audience friendly film, and the kids that were sitting in front of me were extremely into the movie throughout. This is not in the slightest bit too scary for any kid over four--and the reason why is Grampa Joe. So long as the kids see Grampa is always there behind Charlie (in almost every scene although he has very little dialogue) they will instinctively know that it's okay and Charlie is safe because Grampa is still there--the themes of family are very well handled in the film and make it somewhat more resonant than the simple morality tale of the book, and to some degree the original film.
The opening credits are classic Burton-style animation (though not clay mation, they're not making an attempt at photo realism). The Oompa Loompa songs all use the lyrics from the book, which is delightful, and there are two of the best tributes to classic films I've seen in a long time. The introductions of all the children is better than in the original and overall the style and life of the film is much more magical, otherworldly and delightful than the original film. It doesn't have extraneous songs like Pure Imagination or Cheer up Charlie, only the Oompa Loompas sing.
Most importantly is that Wonka is no longer the super duper friendly fellow that Wilder essentially made him (except for the very end when he gets angry at Charlie), instead he is the unbalanced creepy and fascinatingly disturbed creature from the book, which in my opinion is a big improvement.
Also Freddie Highmore is so far beyond the previous Charlie its not even funny, for one this kids a good actor, for two you believe him as Charlie--a poor kid who doesn't know/care he's poor, because that doesn't really matter--in a way the other actor never managed.
onto the caveats
Spoiler:
Sometimes Wonka is thrown off balance or into a flashback and the film just holds slightly too long on this, it's a matter of slicing 20-40 frames of each of these, but they're played long for a joke, but the joke plays out too long, these moments still needed to be tweaked slightly.
The flashbacks are great, great fun to watch, but the only one that seamlessly integrates with the chocolate factory story is the story of how Wonka brought the Oompa Loompas to the factory. The two about Wonka's backstory are major abrupt transitions that jolt you a little bit.
Mike Teevee has some babble about 'cracking the system' but you never believe the kid is anything more than an obnoxious brat. His character was the one most in need of updating, and his character is the one whose development is never too solid. It is nice though the first time he smiles in the film.
The Oompa Loompa songs are great because they are the Dahl lyrics, unfortunately some silly sound engineer decided to bury the lyrics in tons and tons of obnoxiously loud music. I was able to understand about half the lyrics, my companion had no trouble understanding any of them, but I was continually frustrated at the extremely annoying modern musical processing. the different styles of song were absolutely fine with me, I thought they worked wonderfully for the film--its just a shame you can't hear the lyrics for the music. The Mike Teevee song has the best lyrics of any of them and it was the one I could hear the least, so I was very frustrated there.
The only respect that the original is really superior to this version is in the boat ride. It's a shame because that's the one place in this movie where a tribute to the original would have been appropriate was with the boat ride, it's simply not as good as the original.
Not a caveat, but a delightful moment I don't want to spoil but must comment on
Spoiler:
The small world melt down and Wonka's introduction as "what a finale... WOW!" is so absolutely perfect and incredibly fun, loved it.
And I really wish the trailers hadn't used the 'candy doesn't have to have a point' line from the movie cause its such a good moment that its lesser because we know it out of context.
I was pleasantly surprised by this film, and 20 minutes into it, I was really into it, laughing at all the silly gags, and taking in the bizarre set design that enhanced the look and feel of the film. Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka is very strange, in an odd way, you never quite know what depths lie his mischievious streak, perhaps that's the idea, but a little off-putting, nonetheless. Using one guy for all the oompa loompa's was a push for me, some of it was good, but such uniformity in a race sort of dulls my interest in them, even if they have different voices. The children are pretty good in their roles, Freddie Highmore continues to impress with his wisdom beyond his years, and his earnest portrayal of a boy with a good set of values, in spite of temptation that awaits him. The film seldom drags, lots of funny little quips, and big sight gags were a treat, plus I almost fell out of my seat towards the end of the film as Mike TeeVee's segment came to bear. That was good stuff.
Tim Burton's directorial flavor certainly enhanced this film, and this is the sort of material that suits his odd cinematic eye, and he does a fine job transporting the audience to another place while maintaining that fine line between humorous winks to the audience and out and out strangeness for such an environment that is the Wonka Chocolate Factory.
I give it 3.75 stars, or a grade of A- (deducting for Johnny Depp's choices while portraying Willy Wonka as he did.)
Very good film. I liked it a lot. My only caveats are that the Oompa Loompa songs, while great, were difficult to hear the lyrics to due to the style in which they were done. Loved the style, would've liked to hear the words more clearly. Also, the last act is a little anti-climactic, but it's still good. It's just that once you see the kids leaving the factory it's hard to be up for another 15 minutes instead of another 5.
My DVD/BD Collection
Criterion DVDs Owned: 46, Total DVDs Owned: 562, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 125
I loved it, had a smile on my face the from beginning to end. From what I can remember this is a very good representation of the book.
Depp did a fantastic job. The kids did a great job as well. The over all feel of the movie was dark with some humor bits thrown in every so often. The inside of the factory didn't have a huge Burton'ish feel to it like Charlie's house did, that is about my only gripe.
Elfman's music was excellent, reminded me a lot of the old Oingo Boingo music. It fit the film perfectly.
This gets a 10/10 from me. I'll be going back for a second viewing in a week or so. Best film of the year so far.
Sometime's you reach what's real by making believe.
I grew up on 'Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory'. Aside from the 'Star Wars' films, I would have to say that it was my favorite movie when I was a kid.
I love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. Every Burton/Depp collaboration is pure magic. I went into 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' with huge expectations. While, I enjoyed the film - I can't say that I loved it. All of the performances were great (shit, I even welled-up a bit when Charlie found the golden ticket, LOL) and Depp was delightfully demented as "Willy Wonka" but I have to say that as much as I enjoyed Depp in the role, I still prefer Gene Wilder's interpretation of the character and the 1971 film.
Thought it was a entertaining movie, Depp played the part well. Almost all the parts were well acted. It did slow in parts and the fx weren't the the best. I give it a 4 of 5.
Spoiler:
I loved the 2001 usage with the music, the monoliths voices and the Wonka bar in place of the monolith.
great movie. the flashback scenes reminde me of sleepy hollow *in regards to the grey overtones and overall vibe*
the only part I would consider scary for kids was
Spoiler:
the part with the squirells all chasing the girl and running on her. many kids were frightened around me
Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers, Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning, Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, In the halls of Valhalla,where the brave may live...
Saw this yesterday at a fairly packed house with a few friends.
I have to admit, it enchanted me from the get-go. One of Burton's most accomplished films. It doesn't maintain the high level of magic the first section of the film creates (which centers of Charlie's family) throughout, but it stays high enough for me to praise it unabashedly.
The kids are all great. The adults are as well, and Depp hits the right notes. I agree with some of the above issues, but none were major. Only Tim Burton can still make fairy tales, and make them really work at that level.
I expected to like it, and I loved it. A visual stunner for sure. With a real heart (something not always found in Tim B. movies [I think he can get carried away])!
Am I the only one who didn't care for this movie? It never warmed up to me. The children are quickly introduced and then used as props to move the story along. Perhaps I'm spoiled with the 1971 version where the children had more character and personality. Who can forget the constant whining and evilness of Veruca Salt from the Mel Stuart version? These new characters (except for Charlie) felt flat and void of emotion.
Also, something I enjoyed from the 1971 version was the exciting build-up to the Golden Ticket winners. The grand introduction of Willy Wonka as he opens his factory as a huge crowd gathers outside the gates, the band plays, the bell tolls and people cheer and the doors magically swing open to reveil Willy Wonka - limping on a cane and then fooling everyone as he falls and leaps to his feet. He's a hopeless eccentric (Gene Wilder) that you like instantly. The long contract with the very small print that each child has to sign. Everything from the 1971 version was colorful and charming.
Tim Burton's version, although more faithful to the book, has some additions of his own. The backstory of Willy Wonka slowed the movie down. This should
