Not as expected..at all. Half as good as the original movie!

Rating: 4/10 (20 July 2005)

I have been a long time supporter of Tim Burton and have loved his movies in the past, but I have to say that I am terribly disappointed with this one. He uses many aspects of the original film without making the new re-make his own. The Oompa Loompas are terrible as digitally reproduced characters with annoying taste in clothing and music. The songs are painfully awful. Danny Elfman was definitely not doing his best here. Johnny Depp is a great actor but he does not shine in this role. The dentures, bad make-up, 60's haircut and juvenile attitude are quite repulsive. The child actors are about half as talented as the original cast. Changing their appearances and adding tons of make-up or digital polishing was just a bad idea. They look like wax dolls. The Grandpa character is totally not as well done in this version. His hero-like portrayal in the earlier version somewhat made the movie. Teaching Charlie as they moved throughout the factory. The new Grandpa looks as though he'll kill over at any moment..and he has no personality other than being an old man with silly glasses. The Charlie character was the most refreshing face in the whole movie. I have to agree that this was about the best decision Burton made in Casting. Burton needs to let go of the absent father hang-ups...it is getting quite pathetic. My favorite part was the beginning where the flames engulf the singing puppets..YAAYY. Very well done. Creepiness all the way..but then..it disappeared. Where did the ultra creepy Burton run away to? Off finishing the movie he really wanted to create.. "A Corpse Bride"?