| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | |
| Studio: Warner Brothers Director: Tim Burton Release: 2005 Cast Johnny Depp - Willy Wonka Freddie Highmore - Charlie Bucket David Kelly - Grandpa Joe Helena Bonham Carter - Mrs. Bucket Noah Taylor - Mr. Bucket Missi Pyle - Mrs. Beauregarde James Fox - Mr. Salt Deep Roy - Oompa Loompa Christopher Lee - Dr. Wonka Adam Godley - Mr. Teavee Franziska Troegner - Mrs. Gloop Annasophia Robb - Violet Beauregarde Julia Winter - Veruca Salt Jordan Fry - Mike Teavee Philip Wiegratz - Augustus Gloop |  
|
Average Blamo User Rating :   (20 votes) | |
| Movie Review by Amanda | |
| This movie was a remake of the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, that cast the amazing Gene Wilder as the mostly mad Willy Wonka. In the 2005 version an equally talented Johnny Depp is cast to play the candy man! The movie is almost a carbon copy of the first one. If your looking for something amazing and new to happen in the Wonka factory you will be very disapointed. But there are great reasons to see this movie definetly. There is a ton more dark humor in this version than in the first, Tim Burton's influence is definetly felt. And Johnny Depp does an amazing job of being slightly off center!
I don't think that it is fair to go into this movie comparing it to the origional Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, for that is a classic that will always be one of the most amazing movies. But I definetly think that this is a more updated and very unique version of that classic that I love. No movie classic or current can go wrong with either Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp as the lead actor. Definetly a must see for any Wonka fan. Reviewer Rating of Movie : | |
| Movie Review by Six Ways | |
| I don't agree with Peanut on calling this film a 'carbon copy' of the first; I personally think the differences are huge and quite stark. The story itself has been completely revamped and the character of Willy Wonka has been changed drastically. In the case of the storyline, this version is generally more faithful, in my opinion, to at least the feeling of the book, even with a fair amount of new inventions. The first film was more centred on the crazy goings-on in the factory than on the characters, whereas the new film has focussed more on the characters, although still with plenty of said crazy goings-on!
The character of Willy Wonka is a universe apart from Gene Wilder's incarnation; Wilder's character was wacky but above all, very calculating. The wackiness always seemed something of a facade for the absolute control Wonka had over all the events that occurred to the children. Depp's Wonka feels much more genuinely wacky, in a very Tim Burton manner (cue strange childhood memories etc) and is generally a bit disturbed. Wonka still has control over all that is happening, but this time it's a bit more subtle and one is never quite sure how much control he has. A good example being the "golden geese" scene in the first, now the "nut-cracking squirrels" scene, where Verruca Salt is pitched headlong into the factory incinerator. The first left little doubt as to whether the incinerator was on (it of course was not) but Depp's Wonka leaves us hanging a bit, initially making us think it must be on ("Don't worry, they only turn it on on Tuesdays." "Today's Tuesday!"). There is much more focus on Wonka's back-story, which, although not in the book, adds to the trademark Tim Burton slightly creepy feeling which is also present in the book much more than in the first film. The only real problem with the film is the bizarre interspersal of americanisms in the British actors' dialogue; they are constantly saying 'candy', 'band-aid' and other such (sorry Yanks!) corruptions. Presumably this is to make the film easier to stomach for the general US population. All in all, I would say it's a very different film from the first, and fantastic performances from all characters, most notably of course Johnny Depp, mixed with Burton's surreal, dark style and obviously the sheer off-the-wall qualities of the book itself, make it a great film. Reviewer Rating of Movie : | |
