Hollywood-isation at work...

Rating: 4/10 (21 July 2005)

I went into this movie ready to enjoy a really good movie going experience, as I know the director Tim Burton could put so much into this film and make more than just an "Entertaining" film. But, I walked out of the theater thinking that Burton's voice may have been stifled by the producers of the movie. There were parts of the movie where we started to get some character development but, I felt that all the characters, including Willy Wonka & Charlie Bucket, came out very flat. The story seemed very formulatic and a little TOO simplistic for my tastes, knowing that a big director like Tim Burton was involved. ANYONE could have done this movie the way that Burton did.
Yes, Yes, Yes... I know that at it's core, this film is supposed to be a children's movie but, it dangles somewhere in-between light & fun, & mysterious and dark... and finding it's tone was very difficult to do.
If anything, I at least enjoyed the title sequence along with Danny Elfman's inventive opening theme.... however, after that... I found that the songs win which the Oompa-Loompa's were showcased were inaudible, distasteful, & just embarrassing to watch.
To sum it all up... this was a prime example of today's Hollywood. Another movie which could have been so much more, and I think ultimately wanted to be so much more... but ultimately missed it's mark.