Besides for the quirky dark humor, this film has nothing going for it

Rating: 4/10 (15 October 2006)

And it sure isn't no world of pure imagination.
Tim Burton does what he does best and goes with the dark, Gothic look and feel, but this time around it feels like he takes it WAY to far especially for a kids film.
I guess that's what bugged me the most. Sure, Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka had a bit of a distinct dark side with him making sarcastic comments of "oh no" whenever one of the kids got into danger and him never showing any real care for their safety, but Johnny Depp's version of Willy Wonka is right out sadistic. Not only are the kids put into massive danger(we are made to believe one of them is about to be incinerated.) but while they are being harmed and humiliated the Oompa Loompa's sing their(so horrid it makes you want to cut off your own ears) songs with the soul reason of taunting the victim.
Sure, the Oompa Loompas always sang, but it was AFTER the kid had already come to harm and it was also AFTER Willy told everyone that the kid would be just fine. Also, the songs came across as, well, you can learn something from this incident.
BUT in this version the Loompa's are taunting and mocking the kid AS they are in danger. And the harm off the child is multiplied by ten. Let me paint you a picture of one of the scenes.
Violet turns into a giant blueberry, but as she transforms(and she gets 25 times bigger then she should) the Oompa Loompas sing their song, as she is screaming, "Help! Someone help me! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" And then the Oompas don't just role her out. They jump on her and move her with their feet like she was a barrel. All the while well she is still screaming in horror and while the whole time Wonka is nodding his head to the beat of the song.
The whole scene was so utterly disturbing that it made me sick. And I kept on saying to myself, "this is a kids' movie?" Though the film is rather funny in spots, it's just to dark for its own good. That, and Charlie isn't nearly as likable as he was in the original, and Wonka is just right out creepy.
Plus, wasn't Grandpa Joe SUPPOST TO BE BED RIDDEN! At least the original has him fall over for a few minutes at first when he first gets up, but now he can freaking tap dance the moment he stands? Stick with the classic version. 4 out of 10