Very disappointed -- flat performance, dull script, important points missing ...

Rating: 1/10 (30 July 2005)

... from the story, which, after all, did have a moral or two tucked in there amid all the candy and fun, unlike this movie, which seems to have missed most of the point of the story. The saddest thing about this dismal effort was Johnny Depp's performance -- I can't help but wonder how much of that can be his fault, seeing what little the script gave him to work with.
I really wanted to like this film, and was so looking forward to seeing it. What a shame that this movie's Willie Wonka was far, far less interesting, lovable or even understandable than the one Gene Wilder played, or the fellow in the books this was based on. Save yourself from this dull, heartless movie and see the old 70s one instead. Dated though it is (and with a few tedious songs you could fast forward through), it has a few crucial things that this film lacked: wisdom, heart and a clear sense of the difference between right and wrong -- the wicked got their just desserts, and the good were rewarded. This movie's Wonka was little more than a creepy, maladjusted, self-absorbed man-child (eerily reminiscent of an infamous singer who recently escaped prison by the pale skin of his crumbling nose). The earlier Wonka was both child-like and yet sophisticated, intelligent and witty, a gracious host as well as a canny judge of character. Depp's (or should we say Burton's?) Wonka is petulant, indifferent and, worst of all, just not that interesting to see or hear.
Deep Ray was cute as the Oompaloompahs, though -- too bad the songs he/they sang were neither very relevant, nor intelligible. Half the lyrics were buried in the music.