A Feast of Eye Candy

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 2005)

It's a fact that Roald Dahl did not like "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," the first adaptation of one of his most famous works. Years later, Tim Burton has directed "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," hoping to adhere more faithfully to Dahl's book. With Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, the movie finds a darker tone. Depp's performance is a wonderful combination of a friendly man-child and a creepy character with dark secrets. The imagery is amazing, as Burton has done for many of his movies. Much has been made of such details as the waterfall of chocolate, and the specially-trained squirrels. While trying to be faithful to the original story, Burton adds a fascinating look at Wonka's background. What made him become a chocolatier? He was rebelling against his father, a dentist on an anti-candy campaign. This elements adds another strange facet to Depp's performance. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has proved itself a tasty entry in Tim Burton's canon.