If you haven’t I suggest you gouge out your eyes… please don’t gouge out your eyes… just look away.
Hmm Charlie and the Chocolate Factory… another turn out from Tim Burton who is considered a god among men nowadays, but let me say that his newest film left me less than satisfied.
Having considered myself a fan of Burton for years since Beetlejuice and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, I was hoping for another good film. I myself liked Big Fish, his last film, although as you may have guessed, I did not think his newest accomplishment lived up to its hype.
Directed by Tim Burton, it stars Johnny Depp (Willy Wonka), Freddie Highmore (Charlie Bucket), David Kelly (Grandpa Joe), Helena Bonham Carter (Mrs. Bucket), Missi Pyle (Mrs. Beauregarder) and Christopher Lee (Dr Wonka) to name only a few.
I have never read the book by Roald Dahl, but suffice to say that didn’t mean that I didn’t know the story. For those of you that don’t know it, Willy Wonka (Depp) decides that he will distribute five golden tickets around the world, so that five children may visit his chocolate factory. One by one the tickets are found by four different children.
The story follows Charlie Bucket (Highmore) a poor child who lives in a crooked house and how he surprisingly gets the last golden ticket. The rest of the film should be about the tour around the factory, ultimately ending with Charlie becoming its heir. But not in Burton’s version, he decided he would include a new angle by bringing Wonka’s father into the picture; Dr. Wonka (Lee)
Strangely similar to the Fantastic Four; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory seemed like some sort of MTV kids movie than anything else. With some loud, unintelligible Oompa-Loompa songs (which I could hardly ever hear the lyrics to), and bright Burtonesque colours, it's probably a great film for the youths of today. Unfortunately I thought that he was taking it a little too far. Or perhaps I just don’t think like a child any more. Though I suppose fortunately Depp invented some weird quirky role that was funny at times, but I’ve gotta say he looked way too much like a girl with that hair.
Other than that no one really struck a chord… But then I should probably comment on them. What can I say? I’m not a fan of child actors, I believe I’ve mentioned this before somewhere, but I cannot stand them, none of the children’s roles really astounded me.
Article comments
1 - RJ
Depp is a great actor. I haven't seen this film yet, but most reviewers seem to have panned it.
Too bad his talents were apparently wasted...
2 - deekay
It's weird, I liked the film a lot, but not Depp, even though I usually love him. He played it very strangely - creepy, high pitched voice - and it didn't work for me. The kid who played Charlie was great, though (he was in Finding Neverland with Depp, too), and the story was sweet. Yah, pardon the pun, but it was.
3 - Cptalbertwesker
Yeah, I think you either had to be a kid to have fun, or just have a very wide sense of humor. But I thought that Depp's performance was pretty good. Specifically down to the fact he played it rather creepy, simply thats the kinda thing I can find funny.
I did watch finding neverland.. but I can't really remember it, so I suppose I couldn't place him when I saw Freddie Highmore.