'Chocolate Factory' may not have an ever-lasting gobstopper

Rating: 7/10 (12 July 2005)

Don't get me wrong. I liked 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' since I was a kid, but this film won't quite be what I expect from a book movie. There have been great movies based on books. War of the Worlds 1953, the Harry Potter films (the more recent being the best), Lord of the Rings trilogy just to name a few. I think the film will do OK.
There are bright spots in the film. The films accuracy to the book can't be denied. The factory looks spectacular. The cast is right, but there is something a little off in this recipe for book film fame. I have it! Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. He said in an interview that he imagined a kids show host and a game show host as a single being. He may be a little off on his portrayal. I think he's more like a stoner in an extremely tripped out hallucination's. His performance has a long way to go if he wants to compete with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.
This film will do well at the box office, probably take #1 in the first week. I give it 7/10.