Amusing.

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2006)

A nice adaptation from Roal Dahl's story that had been already adapted in the 70's by the Disney factory and with the great Gene Wilder playing the main role. We could debate about why Tim Burton has gone into remakes lately, if that means that the muses have left him, that he has lost his "touch". Yeah, we could cry over him and complain... but what for? That's life!
This brand new Willy Wonka is just matchless, Burton has wisely used the technical advances and he's put them at the service of this amusing story. The colors, the psychedelia, the laughing, the tenderness and (as in any fable) the moral: in Wonka's world the richest, the selfish and vain people, they all lose. The biggest difference between this adaptation and the Disney one is in the Willy Wonka's character. This time we're told about his past, we know more details about him and why he acts the way he does (there are several flash-backs that shows us Willy as a child).
As for the actors, Johnny Depp is the boss here. It should've been a big mistake to try to imitate Gene Wilder's creation, so Johnny has released his most histrionic instincts and he's got a bull's eye. The rest of the cast is just perfect, but as I've said before, Johnny is the true (and only) starring in "Charlie and the chocolate factory".
*My rate: 7.5/10