"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
Movie Review
by Chris Alexis
| ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Johnny Depp as WILLY WONKA Freddie Highmore as CHARLIE BUCKET David Kelly as GRANDPA JOE Helena Bonham Carter as MRS. BUCKET Noah Taylor as MR. BUCKET Missi Pile as MRS. BEAUREGARDE Rated PG Opens July 15, 2005 Studio: Warner Bros. Directed by: Tim Burton Back to Movie Review Home |
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It seems that no one should hand Tim Burton a remake a classic movie. His last venture into this category, “Planet of the Apes”, was by no means a success. It seems that history has repeated itself.
This film is very different than the 1971 version with Gene Wilder. One can’t help but compare the two. I haven’t read the book in literally seventeen or so years, so I cannot tell you how much closer this new film is to the original novel - but even if this film is more true to the book, it doesn’t help this cinematic incarnation.
For those not familiar with the story, Charlie Bucket is a small boy who wins one of five golden tickets that grants him access to a tour of a wondrous chocolate factory. This isn’t just any chocolate factory, this is the largest in the world -- run by a world-famous recluse, Willy Wonka. Charlie and the other four children tour the factory with Wonka and each child encounters consequences inside the factory based off of their own character traits.
In this version, Depp plays Willy Wonka in a very annoying manner - seeming to imitate Michael Jackson almost (I don’t know if this was his actual inspiration, but he does give off that impression quite strongly.) There’s no charm or spark to his performance, just an irritating weirdo. When he “flashes back” to his childhood, it’s done in such a silly way, it comes across as parody. William Shatner overacts less. Ugh.
The Oompa Loompas, all played by the same actor digitally repeated, are annoying as well - after each incident involving a touring child, they sing songs - just as in the book… but these songs don’t work. They aren’t cute or interesting or catchy - nor do they make a lot of sense. They’re just stupid.
I do give credit to the film for some small things. First of all, the film moves. The pacing from Charlie being introduced, to each child getting the ticket, to getting into the factory, to each kid making various choices in the factory - it all goes at a pretty good pace.
Also, I really liked the fact they show the other children coming out of the factory and the physical changes that had occurred to them. We never saw this in the 1971 version and I actually enjoyed that aspect of it. There were illustrations that the factory tour had some effects on the other characters, which I think is important.
I also really liked Freddie Highmore as Charlie. I thought he came across convincingly as the poor little boy with the heart of gold. With his small frame and charming smile, he looked the part much more than his 1971 counterpart.
If you have small children, they’ll probably really like the magnificent sets, the references to candy, and some of the physical humor, although there are a few images that may haunt them (cute plastic children burn up and their faces melt off, for one.) Still, if I had a small child, I’d feel comfortable taking them to see this movie.
Altogether, this film is a disappointment with a few nice things about sprinkled throughout. A lot of the blame falls on Depp (who I normally love) and Burton. I don’t think this film will do well - it’ll just go down in cinema history as yet another remake that should have never been done.
I hope the next Burton/Depp collaboration, “Corpse Bride”, will re-raise the par back up for this duo, because this piece of work isn’t so sweet.
