i loved the original too much.

Rating: 7/10 (2 October 2005)

Charlie and the chocolate factory. I have been in love with the original film since I was small boy and must have watched it over fifty times. (My sister and I can really annoyingly quote huge pieces of dialogue and frequently do when drunk!) So it is with slight apprehension I go to see Tim Burton's remake/interpretation of the Roald Dahl classic (lets not forget what he did to planet of the apes!). Firstly I have to say there were things I loved about his version and things I preferred from the 70's one. It's so hard not to compare the two. Burtons film starts off very flat, when introducing us to the bucket family we are supposed to feel so sorry for but it lacks emotional depth, in fact all the kids do, I couldn't really care less about any off them. The 70's ones were much more bitchy and spoilt and that's what made you almost root for their demise. Now don't get me wrong here this film is a sight to behold gone is the campness of the orange faced ummpa lumpas and instead comes the uniformity of using one actor to play all of them to startling effect. From the moment they arrive on screen to perform the first song they have you in fits of laughter as Willy Wonka says 'they like to be mischievous'. Obviously Johnny Depp turns in another amazing performance as Willy complete with mannerism usually associated with Michael Jackson's childlike freakishness. All false smiles and twinkling eyes and a nervous disposition stemming mainly from his dislike of children and families. The songs here are funny and come in styles ranging from pop, rock and disco, with the ummpas pulling off dance routines that the village people would have died for. With most of the script and jokes aimed firmly at kids you have to regress slightly to get full enjoyment out of the weirdness of the factory as Willy leads you around from room to room visiting the places where his imagination becomes reality. There is nothing bad about this film apart from the fact they didn't ask gene wilder (the original Wonka) to play Willy's dad, and a few brilliant lines from the original were sadly missing. The 70's version was a lot darker and gene wilder's Willy always came over a little schizophrenic where as Depp's seems slightly playful and just not all there. Sadly for me being a fan of the first I missed Roy Kinear, fizzy lifting drinks and lickable wallpaper. But the new version brings back the squirrels and is magical to watch. Like a fruit and nut bar laced with drugs this film will leave you wide eyed.