10 reasons why Burton's version was a failure

Rating: 2/10 (7 August 2005)

How much have the studios paid for this film to receive uniformly good reviews? Despite looking forward to going (being a fan of both Burton and Deppe) this really is turgid fare. Do yourself a favour and buy the DVD of the original!
1. no moral basis for the film: Where the original had something to say to children and parents alike about how to treat each other Burton's version had nothing but glossy visuals. Charlie has to pass a test in the original that is only resolved at the end. No such test in Burton's - he just wins with some half hearted loose instruction tacked on the end about family being important...
2. dramatic urgency where the original conveyed the whole world's excitement over the race to find the 5 Golden Tickets with wit and immediacy Burton's version was flat and soulless
3. Charlie and his family the original family were intimate and humorous. In it's determination to avoid treading the same ground we lost the closeness between Charlie and his grandfather and the emotional momentum that made us care for Charlie and root for him.
4. Lady Luck Not only did the original have suspense, but it made us think about the nature of luck. It ensured that not only was Charlie's good fortune believable but that his eventual triumph was not about luck at all but about Charlie demonstrating that respect for others and goodness of heart is what leads to happiness and success. No such lessons in Burton's version!
5. Performances The performances in the original were uniformly excellent. In Burton's they were just uniform. As excellent actors as Freddie (2005 Charlie) and Deppe are they, alongside the other actors, were as one dimensional as Burton's duplicated Oompah Loompah's. Anticipating every flagged dramatic turn they sucked the lifeblood out of the film. Nothing was surprising in Burton's version - no matter how many times they did whizzy things with glass elevators. Deppe's Wonka, as bold as it was, was funny for 5 minutes. Once we got it there was no room for the character to develop so it died a death thereafter.
6. Music The original score and lyrics were clear, catchy and contributed to the story. Burton didn't give a fig for Dahl's desire to impart wisdom - instead he tried to ingratiate himself with the adult viewers by giving us pop references in his Oompah Lumpah numbers which did nothing for the story and only put us on some unnecessary tangent.
7. Structure The original was linear, clear and concentrated on developing character and story in tandem. Burton's version tried flashbacks, moral justification/explanations for Wonka's sweet obsession. Not necessary. Wonka isn't Batman. Burton should have learnt from the sweetshop owner in the original. When asked why does Wonka do it he simply replies: Do you ask a bird why it flies? It does what it was born to do. No further exposition required.
8. Script One of the first lessons in scriptwriting is that action is always more interesting than reported action. Don't tell us something, show us! The first ten minutes of Burton's film relies on exposition. Lazy scriptwriting. The original covers the same ground in half the time by showing, not telling.
9. Timing This film was ripe for a remake. The visuals of the title sequence left me ready to love the film. Unfortunately it nosedived into an irretrievable tailspin - Burton missed a fantastic opportunity to put his name right up there with the greats. He remains a brilliant but flawed director. A tragedy for Deppe who rarely misses but who cannot perform without some sort of direction.
10. Art direction does not a film make Where was the wit, humanity, soul? Come on you corporate studios - if you're going to take an all time classic book as your inspiration you have no excuse. Fancy visuals are alright for the Fantastic Four but what we want is to laugh and cry. If you're going to make a killing at the box office the least you can do is make us feel something.