Sweeter than the original!

Rating: 9/10 (12 October 2005)

Not much fault can be found with the film. It may err a bit in that while titled "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the story tends to shift focus much more onto Willy Wonka's character journey than on Charlie's. While I can't say if that's closer to the book, it is such an intriguing journey that audiences really don't seem to mind. Johnny Depp is always a pleasure to watch in any film he's in, so we just have grown accustomed to him being in the spotlight. And perhaps Charlie, while still a kid, has already been on the journey because of his excursion through poverty and it's now his turn to help someone else in need.
Does it top the original? In many ways, yes it does. It's much closer to the book according to Burton, and now we know why Willy Wonka is so loopy. Johnny Depp delivers one of the funniest performances of his career, and just like in Finding Neverland, he and Freddie Highmore have great chemistry together on screen. This movie is a treat for all ages - one that is funny and entertaining and stands above the original film as yet another great cinematic achievement for Tim Burton.