Read on and you'll find out

Rating: 10/10 (1 August 2005)

Ah (breathes in as if he began a new life) where to begin with this movie...? This is a fantastic movie, yes i am telling the truth, nope there is no abrupt punchline or derogatory statement to come; in fact there is no derogatory statement at all about this movie i loved it to bits, seriously! Well to get into the nitty gritty (trying not to spoil as well) the story is better; a young idealistic boy dreams of better things - all surrounding a giant chocolate factory (well he is a young boy) that sits a top the (presumably) mountain he lives on; at the top of the street. His name is Charlie and he is not a very well off creature, and in life he isn't really well of either; not very fast and indeed not that smart, apparently. An only child he lives in a small rickety and slanted house(whats with Tim Burton and casting Helena Bonham Carter in slanted houses...{BIG FISH})he lives with his mother, the kindly Helena Bonham Carter and father Noah Taylor who works in a dismal job and brings home little money, if any. As in the book and the books' previous 1971 incarnation the grandparents all still live (although they just look like corpses)in the bed in the centre of the house; although its more of a biggish room than house. To get on with the story quickly; Willy Wonka a once world-wide famed chocolateer, now a recluse is opening his factory to five lucky children; i do suppose you have heard and know this story, obviously. Anyway now to the story' presentation. Obviously this movie is going to be of Gothic twist because Tim Burton the master of Gothic slapstick (almost) is directing, with his favoured pet Johnny Depp who brings with him his favoured child star Freddie Highmore. This is a beautiful movie, the set pieces (esp. the actual chocolate-factory, where the chocolate is smoothed down to a frothy and foamy taste by waterfall) are brilliant and have that sharp Burton-esquire feel to them. The children are cast excellently. The story is far more in depth and just better than the previous 1971 release (although i am not comparing the two; because they are completely different takes of Roal Dahl's classic. Depp's version of Wonka is firstly superior to Gene Wilder's in the 1971 classic. Secondly, you really get a feel for Depp's Wonka. In the 1971 one Wilder is basically preying upon his own odd personality. Depp has created an entirely new (and better) Wonka in the form of a broken man, never truly a child but never truly and adult either. In summary casting; excellent - overall cosmetic presentation; excellent - acting; excellent - everything; excellent. And now to the best bitDeep Roy as the Oompa Loopmas, yes all of them. The computer generated munchkins of Wonka-land were a highlight for me in this movie from their quirky, funky yet so damm good and catchy tunes to their freaky, cool uniforms. I really enjoyed this movie and I know other people will. Hopefully people that aren't very cynical, because if you are you probably won't like this movie (what I mean is that the story can seem like pulp I suppose although I got carried away with the story and movie and so didn't mind at all, but try not to be too cynical because you mightn't like it if so  although I am kinda cynical and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I so have one bad thing to point out, Christopher Lee's character, I'll try not to ruin the movie whilst saying this, but I love Christopher Lee so much (in a purely plutonic way of course) but he is great in movie's and he playswell something that I dislike a lot, but still he was great in the role. That's the only fault. Everything is better, more vibrant and just brilliant. Another excellent notch on Tim Burton's movie-belt.