Fancier than the Original Without the Heart

Rating: 5/10 (13 August 2005)

Tim Burton's version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" certainly is fancier than the earlier version that starred Gene Wilder. The special effects are better, the music is hilarious, it seems a bit glitzier. There is only one problem; it lacks the heart of the original movie. It almost seemed to me that Tim Burton was more determined to make fun of the story instead of respecting it and it's message of goodness vs. selfishness, etc. To me, Gene Wilder is a much better Willy Wonka than Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp seemed too weird, almost like Michael Jackson. I could relate to the boy much more in the earlier version, and Jack Albertson was more believable than the boys relatives are in this film. The film does have its moments; the other kids are played terrifically, the special effects are terrific. The music routines were especially funny.
To sum it up, this film's strength is also it's weakness; the humor, while providing moments of hilarity, also leaves one with a sense of shallowness, as though there is nothing in the story that is a serious message. I'll take the original film over this one, thank you.