When all is said and done, this is a completley different movie from the first rendition. This chocolate factory is a bit more maniacal, and mysterious than the previous one. Everything has a delightful bit of magic to it. Willy Wonka, this time played by non other than Johnny Depp is quite possibly the smartest, most brilliant man on the face of the earth. But instead of being a crotchedy bastard like so many geniuses turn out to be, Willy still has a bit of childhood innocence in him. Because of that, he turns his brilliance to the like of inventing the world's first teleportation device, to only teleporting chocolate.
This is not to say that I found Gene Wilder's performance of Wonka any less magical. Gene and Johnny played Willy perfectly for their respective movie. And honestly, I cannot tell you which one I prefer more. I love them both.
Tim Burton's latest film is deffinitly a Burton film. He almost, ALMOST lost me with Planet of the Apes. Planet of the Apes had no Burton flair and no Burton style. It was plain and simple, a lousy summer flick with no redeeming values in it what-so-ever. Big Fish came out, and we began to see a softer gentler side to Burton. The side that I think he buries in himself far to deeply. Bringing back to the spot light the artistic style that Burton has as a director and that none can duplicate. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gave Burton his excuse to go f'ing nuts! Many, many great colors fill the screen at all times relaying all sorts of great emotions that one can really only tap after years in animation school. As Burton has spent. The designes are enchanting, and each and every character is unique in their own certain way. The best costume, naturally, goes to Willy Wonka.
13 year old Freddie Highmore plays titular Charlie Bucket. And this kid is an actor well beyond his years. If there is one performance that outshines the old, it's Freddie's as Charlie. An honest and loving boy who thinks only of his family and never of himself. Almost giving up his one chance for greatness just to feed his family. One of the very, very few qualms I have with the movie is when Willy is introduced to the story, we suddenly make a giant shift from following Charlie and his experience in the factory, to Willy Wonka's story and the details of his past. Which pay off later in the film, but derail our primary focus on Charlie.
In fact, one aspect that I sorely miss is the whole world's search for the 5 golden tickets. While it was hyped in this version, the previous film made a much bigger deal about it. Really driving home how desperatley people wanted to find those golden pieces of paper. In this one, it was a little more of a...meh. We'll either find one or we won't.
Sorely missed in this go around was Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe. The man Charlie takes with him to the factory. Jack brought a bright light of flame behind Grandpa Joe's old tired eyes. A longing to return to his younger more fruitful days. David Kelly who is Joe this time, while comical and mildly amusing, is really very, very bland. He adds nothing terribly amazing to the role.
One thing I will say that I do not miss from the original were the horrible looking Oompa-Loompas. Oompa-Loompas were supposed to be a race of people never before seen by man. I'm pretty sure that in 1971, short people or, dwarves, were running around. Did it really shock and awe audiences around the world to see short people walking around with wheel burrows of milk and chocolate? Can you imagine women and children fainting at the sight of a dwarf in that foolish outfit? I don't think so. Actor Deep Roy provides all the Oompa-Loompa you could ever ask for. In fact he plays hundreds of them in this movie. Including the females. And every time Wonka's Loompas enter the scene they steal the movie right away from Depp. Deep Roy is brilliant. Tim Burton needs to keep him in a bottle and unleash him on the movie going audience every chance he gets. That will prove Burton to be a genius. The Oompa-Loompas are truly now, a race of people you've never seen before. And when they break into song and dance? BRILLIANT!
Bringing us to Danny Elfman. Who is so ontop of his game these days he could just wave a finger over a keyboard and magic will flow. Playing with several variety's of music in this movie, he's truly allowed to go nuts and find his pure 100% creativity. Also providing the singing voice for all the Oompa-Loompas, Elfman's music is a grand, grand treat.
FINAL ANALYSIS!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is not the crowing achievement in Tim Burton's career. But it's pretty damn close. It's a great, great film with heart and humour and style and finesse.
Johnny Depp is brilliant and should probably get an Oscar nomination for his performance. I say this only because he was nominated for Jack Sparrow. And equally amazing character. He acts so well in whatever he's in, he should just always automatically garner an Academy Award nomination.
It's not surprising in liu of recent events in the news, that Willy Wonka would naturally be compared to that of a wacko-Jacko Michael Jackson. Pail complexsion, affenity for youthfulness, and a fantastic playground to live in. With one exception. Willy Wonka will not sleep around children. That's a pretty important exception right there if you ask me.
If you loved or liked the original, or hold any sort of affenity towards the book, you must see this movie. It's a bit of movie magic in a movie remake that is rarely seen.
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