If you love the original, you will hate this version

Rating: 2/10 (8 September 2005)

I have been dreading seeing this movie ever since I heard that it was being remade. I am a huge fan of the Gene Wilder version and still sing along to it when it comes on TV. That will not be happening with this film. There are no catchy tunes in this version, you can't even understand the words never mind want to remember them. I feel sorry for the little children out there who will grow up watching this version and miss out on the cool songs from the original.
I was very distressed by the Oopma Loompas in this film. The sight of Deep Roy replicated thousands of times was not a nice sight. They were not as fun and cute as in the original and as previously mentioned their songs were awful. They ruined the movie for me. Every time they appeared on screen I cringed.
I felt that this version lacked the warmth and humor of the original. Depp's Wonka was cold, childlike and unfriendly. The fact that he refused Charlie's family to live in the factory was bizarre. Nothing like the book or the Wonka character we love. While Depp acted very well I just didn't feel that he was Willy Wonka. I much prefer Wilder's quirky version. You know he has a dark side and is a little insane but you love him, with the Depp version it made you wonder why Willy Wonla would want to open up his factory to children and give it away if he hates everyone so much.
One aspect of the original film that I liked was when we got to see Charlie at school and working on his paper round, you realize that he is a lonely boy with no money and therefore no friends. In the new version, Charlie is never seen anywhere except on one street or in his house, he doesn't talk to anyone except his parents. He doesn't come across as such a sorrowful character as in the original and so you don't really care about him as much.
I will not be watching this again, I will however watch the original thousands of times.