My Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Review.

Rating: 9/10 (15 July 2006)

Before I start this review, I want you to take every idea you have in your head about the first Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie and forget you ever watched it. That's right. No comparing Gene Wilder to Johnny Depp; No looking at how closely or different the movies are; No talking about this as a remade movie. It's not. Got that? Good. Now, the review.
Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is at it should be-- Beautifully creative with that slightly dark undertone lying beneath it. This movie is just oozing with creative minds at work.
Now, over the course of years, it seems as though people have forgotten the purpose in which movies were made, which is to entertain. And there was not a second of C&tCF where I wasn't entertained. Did it have it's flaws? Well. Yes. All movies have flaws, but looking back, I didn't mind them very much. I walked out of the theater smiling in excitement.
First of all, this movie is breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful. In some scenes, I got chills watching it. I can honestly say this is one of the most visually pleasing Tim Burton films I've seen recently. And that's saying something. The sets are elaborate and surreal, just as I imagined it to be in the book.
Like many people, I was afraid I wouldn't like Johnny Depp's portrayal of Willy Wonka. To be honest, it wasn't what I imagined Willy Wonka to be like in the book. But I can't help but laugh every time I see Johnny Depp's goofy smile.
Willy Wonka is a recluse. He is out of touch with reality, and you can sense that. You really feel as though this character really did create all these amazing candies and invent this entire factory of fantastic inventions. He doesn't know how to deal with people, which I loved about the character. As for Willy Wonka's past Personally, I liked it. It was a nice little back-story to the mysterious person. I really just enjoyed every scene with him in it.
Do I have any complaints about the film. Well, like I said, yes. All films have minor errors. What bothered me was the fact that occasionally, I didn't feel like Charlie was the focus of the film. When thinking back on the film, Charlie was the last person I thought of. Willy Wonka out shown him on the screen. Which, technically, I guess isn't Johnny Depp's fault, nor Freddie Highmore. No, Freddie was perfect casting. Charlie was just normal, and the rest of the cast was anything but normal.
What about the other kids? Absolutely perfect. I was so pleased that each and every one of these kids got what they deserved. Mike Teavee especially sticks out in my mind, because he was a perfect portrayal of the video game-kids out there. I know kids like Mike Teavee, who think they know everything. And Violet Beauregard and her mom? Great! Not to say anything of the other horrible little children.
Oh, and Danny Elfman's music? WOW. Danny, you've done it again. The Oompa Loompa songs were perfect (I laughed so much with some of them!) and the score fit so well in every scene. Danny's a genius.
Personally, I liked the ending as well. It made me feel all cuddly inside. (Scary, huh?) So, in all, I say that I am very pleased with the film. I walked into the theater expecting to be maybe a *bit* disappointed, but it was just the opposite. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the whole film. And the more I watch this film, the more I absolutely adore it. And I'm sure children will adore it too.
Many people have criticized this movie for the mere audacity of making another movie based on Dahl's book when the first movie was a classic. But this isn't a remake. In my opinion, a remake shouldn't be about making money or updating graphics. It's about re-imagining a story, adding a new twist to it. Tim Burton had a vision to Roald Dahl's tale that he wanted the world to see, and he made a highly imaginative and entertaining film.