Not as good as the original, but still Magical

Rating: 9/10 (15 July 2005)

I went to watch this movie not knowing what to expect. I absolutely loved the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie, and almost didn't want this one to be made because I didn't think anything could compare to the performance of Gene Wilder.
Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka was almost a perfect match, and I became, once again, amazed at his ability to transform into such unusual characters. But even though Depp gave a brilliant performance, Gene Wilder was born to play Willy Wonka and will remain the best-remembered Willy Wonka.
As a movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was fabulous. It delved into the histories of the Oompa Loompas and Willy Wonka, which provided so much insight. I also loved the almost cartoon-like way all the characters looked. There was something in the editing that made the actors seem as if they were drawn.
The most incredible parts of the movie were the breathtaking sceneries and the squirrels. The set was actually built, and the actors weren't just standing in front of a green screen. Movies tend to be much more visually appealing when the set is real, and this movie is no exception. Moreover, squirrels were somehow trained to actually shell nuts while sitting on a little stool and discard the shells. It was amazing, and I doubt it would've had the same affect had the squirrels been all computer-animated.
The only parts in the movie that made me wince were the Oompa Loompas' song sequences. In the original movie there were a lot of songs as well, but the original movie was more of a musical. Everyone sang in it. In this one, it seems as if the movie stops for two minutes just so the audience can see a little Indian man regenerated fifty times, dancing to some bizarre disco music. It was just a little too much for my taste. Willy Wonka's flashbacks also became stale after awhile. Although his history was integral to the plot, I felt as if some more editing could have been done.
All in all though, this is a magnificent movie that everyone can appreciate. Tim Burton does it yet again, and this will probably end up being the movie of the summer.