What is the opposite of amazing?

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2005)

Whatever it is, it is definitely not the description for this charming, amazing and spellbinding take of the classic story directed by the brilliant mind of Tim Burton. After reading the whimsical book by famed children's author Roald Dahl and watching the Gene Wilder film, I just felt that the film was missing an important element that the book had. But in this film Burton catches that element and milks it for all it's worth. The factory is not the land of OZ as it was depicted in the Gene Wilder version, the Oompa Loompas are not happy go lucky leprechauns and Mr. Willy Wonka is not Mr. Rogers, he is, if I dare say it, a brilliant mix of J.D. Salinger's anger towards society and Howard Hughe's longing for a sanctuary. Once again, Johnny Depp takes us for a wild thrill ride as he did in Pirates of the Caribbean. Freddie Highmore sprinkles some his dramatic charm as the impoverished Charlie Bucket. Danny Elfman sends chills up the audiences' spines with his forebodingly poetic and eerily delightful score and Tim Burton strikes out with his imaginative design and brilliantly dark direction. This film is one of 2005's best so far and I hope it is up for an Oscar.