enjoy this for what it is!!

Rating: 10/10 (21 August 2005)

Before seeing this film at the cinema last week I'd heard mixed opinions about it. I had a friend who loved it for the humour and what it was.. and my oh so cynical mother saying how she'd read bad reviews and it probably would be nothing like the book or the original.
NOW this is the one thing I dislike about this movie. The fact that everyone has been comparing it. I must have seen the original umpteen times when I was little, but I'm happy to say I've completely forgotten what it was like! The reason I was so happy about this was because I couldn't compare it, and instead was able to judge the film for what it was and NOT in comparison to the last film or book. The original film wasn't an exact portrayal of the book anyway (in fact is is called WILLY WONKA and the chocolate factory) whereas this is trying to get a little closer to the roald dahl version.
but besides how the story went; I thought the effects and imaginary were amazing, just what I would expect from a director as great as Tim Burton. The film really brought that child like fantasy of the book, with a little of a dark twist. I thought it was extremely humorous, and the acting was brilliant. Johnny Depp is brilliant at bringing out unusual characters, and he gave what i thought was a more realistic approach to what Wonka really would be like, more like a recluse who didn't really want to see any children. The oompa lumpa's are what everyone seems dissatisfied with, probably because they liked the old dwarfs from the original and don't like the fact it was one guy computerised. But he is actually a small guy and I didn't see any problem with them. The songs they sang were verses included in the book, and I thought it was better that they chose to sing them rather than chant them.
The one thing I would knock about the film (only since my mum pointed it out, yes the cynical one..) is they said 'candy' too much. The book is British, I thought charlie and his family were too and it was set in some English town at first..but then they used dollars, and americanisms like 'candy' and 'band aid' ...then other characters seemed American (obviously some like the TV kid were..) but yeah, that some what confused me. I don't know if that was cos it was trying to appeal to an American audience or it was an American screenwriter or I see so many American shows on TV I can't tell the difference between my (british) culture and American culture..... maybe its just me
overall, GREAT!