Blood Sugar Blues

Rating: 6/10 (25 November 2005)

I'm not sure if my comment contains a spoiler, but I have noted as such considering a few elements are discussed which some readers may not have been aware of, especially if they had planned on comparing this film with the original.
I grew up loving the original film and read the books and was giving this movie high hopes, but it didn't work completely for me. I still gave it a 6 for the craftsmanship behind the scenes and a genuine love of the story I could feel coming from the cast and crew. It's not a total waste, and the good parts I will let you discover for yourself, but there are flaws.
My main problem with the film is the pacing, and even worse, the choreography was terrible. I guess I was expecting moves like Oscar giant "CHICAGO", and considering Elfman did the underscore for that film, I'm totally saddened that the dance sequences weren't as tight as the music. Only one moment when the Loompettes were bouncing off of Violet's totally outrageous blueberry frame did I actually sit up and notice. But it was very brief and I was left wanting more.
I also felt that the effects destroyed the pacing of scenes, like the perfection of them were holding the story hostage. Since they were paying for such wild and realistic shots I can only guess Burton was compelled to include them all without editing them down for the sake of timing.
The scene where Varuca Salt get's thrown down the garbage shoot could have been compressed a wee bit more to augment the urgency of the situation, which wasn't suspenseful enough for me. No, I didn't believe a little girl was being overpowered by squirrels, despite the squirrels looked great.
Johnny Depp as Wonka is just plain creepy. He's a great actor but I would have thought someone "down to earth" would have made a better Wonka. I guess I saw Wonka from the books as being more like the Artful Dodger from Charles Dicken's OLIVER TWIST; someone vulnerable but strong, with color in his cheeks and boundless confidence. Wilder came close in the first film, but his Wonka was more airy, and Depp's Wonka was more metallic. Willy Wonka bonds with Charlie at the end of the story, so their connection must be genuine and solid. But someone like that obviously wouldn't have fit into the added subplot of a grown up child who hates his father for not letting him eat candy in his formative years. I think this irritated me most of all. Wonka is a hero, not a cripple! The children carry the psychology of the story, Wonka is just the provider of organized chaos, only so he can find a worthy successor to his throne. Reward comes from non-attachment and selflessness. That's the story! Nothing else required.
The bottom line is this is a great film to look at, the characters are classic, the morals are there, the music is catchy, the effects are superb and the finale is touching. But it didn't make me want to see it again. Like walking through a museum, it's more of a gallery of experiences than an actual "ride", despite the glass elevator is pretty cool.