Typically Burton!

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2005)

take a pinch of chocolate powder, mix in 2 spoonfuls of Mr J Depp and his unique madness, coat thoroughly with lashings of creativity by Roald Dahl and you have this movie. look and think, remember all the madness that Tim Burton - Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice - has brought to us over the years.
This retelling of the story of Charlie Bucket sticks more close to the original book than the Gene Wilder version which was so Hated by Roald Dahl.
The film still bumps off the various horrible children one by one in methods that reflect their vile personalities and character flaws. The Oompa Loompa's still sing stupid songs in almost Busby Berkley type dance numbers.
One man plays all the small dancing freaks (Deep Roy), although I think there must be more midget extras who are unseen to carry the huge bar of chocolate in the homage to 2001: A Space Odessey.
There is no Mr. Slugworth appearing to tempt the kids to steal Mr Wonka's secret's, although he is mentioned by name in another section of the movie. Charlie has a father and mother, differing from the Gene Wilder version.
The ending of this actually does tally with the end of the book, leaving open the option of finally making Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator.
Money, lawyers and Roald Dahl prevented the making of the second film when Wilders first version was created. Perhaps the madness of Tim Burton can tempt the Dahl estate into allowing this to finally appear on the screen.