Don't let the trailer keep you away

Rating: 8/10 (18 July 2005)

I didn't want to see this movie because of the trailer. I thought it looked exactly like the original and thought Johnny Depp seemed like Michael Jackson and that he couldn't come close to the lovable weird character Gene Wilder brought us with that great scene where he does a somersault pretending to fall as he meets his young visitors. I was wrong or the trailer is wrong. The movie is pretty much an improvement on the original. The beginning sequence is a computer animated roller coaster trip through the production process of Wonka bars- great stoner fare. If I'm not able to find a Wonka bar at my local candy section the marketing for this movie is terrible.I always thought the old people that are Charlie's grandparents were too gross. Now, they are much more likable, yet still destitute. Grandpa Jo, played by David Kelly, gets more screen time than I remember because of scenes that explain how he used to work for Wonka before he closed his doors and replaced the workers with Oompa Loompas.I like the whole commentary about our post industrial fears. There is a scene that explains why Charlie's family is so poor. His dad, Mr Bucket- played by Noah Tayler who played the system designer that helps Tom Cruise's character realize that his life is not real in Vanilla Sky, works in a toothpaste factory. All he does all day is put tops on toothpaste tubes. So, as in real life he is replaced with a robot that puts his skills to shame: which is what the Oompa Loompas did to Grandpa Jo. I like the solution presented to this question of retiring skilled workers.
The real improvement, in terms of story is that you understand Willy's motivation to become a chocolateer better and why he is so weird. In the original the movie ends with Charlie and Willy flying in the magic elevator celebrating Charlie's role as the heir to Willy's work. A lot more of that backstory is put on the screen this time. The oompa loompas are better. Its actually just one guy- he played the evil lustful Princess Aura's pet Fellini in Flash Gordon back in 1980. Sorry for that reference it was the first and one of the few movies I've seen so much that I memorized it. He does the musical numbers chiding the bratty kids just like in the original but now he does it to different popular dance themes like disco and hair rock. The best part of this update is that I walked out of the theater with a clear understanding of the moral that its OK to integrate your post modern self back into the traditional family unit for the good of society. Even though, a lot of the film is frame by frame like the original, Johnny Depp saves the day by expressing a logic in his dislike for society that makes you chuckle time and time again. You may remember the character Mike TV? He is the violent kid whose real parent is technology. He aggressively questions the worth of everything and wants to take over because he thinks he's smarter than everyone else. Every time he says some snotty remark Willy asks him to stop mumbling, (which Mike isn't). I can't wait to try that trick out to bring some kid down a notch. The point is that you are going to get a rare treat when you celebrate your hate for mankind and feel like you are being conservative, as well, by accepting your weaknesses in order to reintegrate the family unit.