Uneven and creepy

Rating: 4/10 (16 July 2005)

This movie seems to veer from being sweet and old-fashioned to modern and mean-spirited, with periods of being thoroughly creepy as well. I would not have thought that I could be more disturbed by this second film adaptation than I was by the first, given that I was approximately four years old when I saw the first _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_. However, I found this new version to be very disturbing at times.
The four stars that I have given it are primarily for the first third of the movie. There are some very funny moments, an excellent cast, and a certain style that I have to admire. However, I wouldn't recommend this movie, and would suggest that parents of very young children not take the little ones to see it.