A Pleasant...and Slightly Freakish Surprise

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2005)

I was ready to hate this movie. I am a loyal fan of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and opposed a "remake." However, I found this to be a completely new experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Very true to the book, one of my childhood favorites, the film made me laugh, cry and squirm a little. Johnny Depp was brilliant, Freddie Highmore is absolutely charming and the rest of the cast was a little over the top at times, but good performance nonetheless. I am sure I follow many others who have seen the film when I say the Deep Roy, who played the Oompa Loompas, was incredible. No lines, just some funky dance routines and cameos here and there. When I read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child, I loved the book. I had never seen Willy Wonka (which was made the year I was born) before reading it. So when I finally saw the film, I thought it was great, but then again, I was only 8. I think when I saw the first film, I forgot about the story told in the book because I was so mesmerized with the psychedelic (did I spell that right?) world I saw on screen. When I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I remembered how great the book was, because the movie is so true to the book. The first is a classic, but the second is definitely a winner!