A perfect movie for the whole family

Rating: 9/10 (31 December 2006)

Every year we like to see a special movie as part of our New Year's Eve celebration.
In the past years we had the different parts of LOTR, but for this year we had to choose something new.
On the list were "The Time Machine", "Terminator 2", WOTW and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".
I voted against the Time Machine after I checked a few minutes of this film. My wife refused to see Terminator 2 and WOTW because she had seen them before. Our daughter (10) refused to see Charlie... for - well, I didn't understand.
After checking the first 3 minutes of Charlie..., I were convinced this would be a movie not only worth looking, but also being an adequate successor to LOTR.
I assumed that these first three minutes would have their effect on my daughter as well, and I suggested that she'd also check the first three minutes and reconsiders her opinion afterwards. As you may have guessed, she agreed to see Charlie... in turn.
So me, my wife, our daughter and our 14 y/o niece saw Charlie... and each of us got more and more excited.
This movie is a firework of pictures and ideas. Its finish is that of polished chrome, while it is funny for both kids and adults. Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka adds lots of humor, bizarrness and depth.
For me, one highlight was the scene which is an homage to Stanley Kubrik's "A Space Oddyssey".
One thing to add is that the movie features snow, cold and poor, which makes it also Christmas-compatible.
Don't miss it.