Sweet and Sour

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2005)

Sure, the remake already tells you "bad", but actually take the time to see this movie, just! Even if you're not a Johnny Depp fan, or you're not the type to sit and watch a marathon of Tim Burton movies, sit down and take the hours to watch this remake of the 1971 version.
We all know what goes on, but for those of you who have never read the book or even saw the original, here's a quick summary. Eccentric chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka holds a contest which he has placed 5 golden tickets in a special candy bar called a Wonka Bar (that's 1 golden ticket in only 5 bars). They can be all over the world, and in this case, if you win one, you get the chance to tour the factory with Wonka himself.
But, its centered around a young boy named Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore). Bucket's family is poor. He lives with his grandparents (from both of his parents), and his father works at a toothpaste factory, but he doesn't have such a good job, as he's the one who screws the caps on the toothpaste, and obviously, the person who screws the caps doesn't make much money. So Charlie lives in a "shack".
As you already may have guessed, Bucket gets a Golden Ticket (by luck of the draw by buying a Wonka Bar), and gets into the factory, as well as 4 others, and blah blah blah blah. You know the rest.
The entertainment for this film is one of the best for a remake. You laugh, you cry, you'll be frightened, you'll get grossed out, freaked out, every little thing is in there. Johnny Depp is terrific as the eccentric Wonka, who nails down the role of a mysterious man the way Burton would have wanted it, in any other way. Despite having damaged the funny and quirky dance numbers done by the Oompa Loompa's, they aren't all damaged, and are redone in a way to try and repair the damage, but it's already done.
The factory itself is as enchanting as it can get, and all roads (sweet ones) lead to happiness, which isn't always the case, as Wonka adds more than we thought. He has a disgruntled relationship with his father, and he has bad communicating skills (quite evidently present), which raises the stakes a bit more, and adds more flavor in the movie than the original ever would have done. Terrificly added by Burton.
A spoon of flavor, a Cup of taste, a Tablespoon of joy, and a stick of wit, and that's the recipe for the new version of the remake. ENJOY!