Freaky and Scary - Bad Film

Rating: 1/10 (15 July 2005)

First of all - I think IMDb needs to trash the first 7-9 pages of user comments because those are obviously mostly people who are being paid to promote the film. Now in the later pages we're getting the true comments or so it seems.
Johnny Depp completely botched the role of Willy Wonka. Willy Wonka was never intended to be a weird hermit. Willy Wonka was supposed to be the rich, wise,affectionate uncle you never knew you had. Willy Wonka was the Walt Disney of Chocolate. He was the Clarence from It's a Wonderful Life, the guy who says the right thing at the right time. He's the Candy Man. He is the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz. He is the benefactor who makes all of your dreams come true because he, unlike the rest of the world understands your heart even though the world cannot see it. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will inherit the kingdom as the beatitudes say.
Bottom line: Depp completely missed the mark by portraying it like Michael Jackson, a man who cannot relate to kids or people in general. Depp did a splendid job in Sleepy Hollow and Pirates of the Caribbean but he clearly did not 'get it' with respect to this film.
Also to note: The German glutton kid had no eyebrows. Satan in The Passion of the Christ also had no eyebrows. Either way it is scary and just wrong for a film like this.
The homage to Edward Scissorhands as the doors was a cool throw in if you caught it. (As the ribbon to the factory is cut, Depp is clearly Ed Scissorhands once again.) I'm not sure I understood the reference to Disney's Matterhorn Bobsled ride as they rode the glass elevator. It was clearly Disneyland's Matterhorn complete with climbers bearing in bright jackets like Disneyland.
All in all, while this film had some funny moments, it completely lacks the charm and wonder of the first film. My advice is that this film goes to a quick and well deserved death in the graveyard of bad films with big sets. Save 9 bucks and go see the Real Willie Wonka ... Gene Wilder.
Nathan