What happens to Tim Burton?

Rating: 7/10 (22 August 2005)

Well, the story is definitely made for Tim Burton: fairy-tale, sweetie-sweet, mystery-fantasy-strange... A few years ago he made movies like this one - but they were sweet ironic biting ones.
The conservative moral attitude in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is perhaps a work of the bad Bush age but also may be a part of the original story (or both). Four of the five kids are representing four of the seven mortal sins; the last one of the kids - well, the protagonist - is a boy who knows when to have to shut up, loves his wimpy parents and moronic grandparents, lives in a ramshackle hut,... here we have a really loser - but he will win the game. Yeah - thats America...
"Well Mr. Burton - we will give you as much money as you need for your 'Corpse Bride'. But only, if you also directs our new 'Charlie'." Perhaps this is the answer to my questions. But there are some mysteries for me. As example: What did Willy Wonka mean with "Good morning, starshine... the earth says hello"? And what about the pink sheep?? Hidden messages, little jokes on the producers, the last remains of subtle irony... I unfortunately do not understand.
Well this movie is a part of the conservative zeitgeist. But aside from this I enjoyed the movie much. So it earns a few stars.
p.s.: Don't forget to kick and punch the losers - it's a part of the game. Without pain no win can be made in the end :-)