We went to see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory this afternoon. We were a little worried about how kid friendly it would be since it was directed by Tim Burton. My wife and I waited until we could read other reviews before we went to see it. The reviews were ok, but not great. We felt the kids could handle it ok.
When the previews began, it was easy to see why we had been worried. They ran the preview for Burton's next film, Corpse Bride. I felt it was a little scary for the younger audience with all its skeletons. It looked cartoony, but still seemed too tense. I won't be taking my kids to see that one.
As a side note, why do theaters and movie makers feel it is fine to show scary and R rated movie trailers before a G or PG movie? They know kids will be present. This irritates me every time they do this. Time to start calling the theater and complain to the manager.
Now, on to Charlie. It does hold somewhat close to the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder. There are a few exceptions to this. Charlie has a father in this one and so does Willy. He has flashbacks of his childhood during the tour of the factory.
It does have a little darker side at times though which you would expect from Tim Burton. The first of these parts are at the entrance to the factory when puppets do a song routine. At the end of the song they burst in to flames. It is played for fun mostly, but a may be a little scary for very young viewers.
The second scary part was with Mike TV. He was transported into the TV as in the original. This time though, he was appeared in the shower scene of Psycho. You only see legs, but then later you see him dodging the knife of the Oompa Loompa.
Thirdly, Wonka kills a Wangdoodle with a machete and then tastes the blood. He also is seen taking a bite of mashed caterpillars that the Oompa Loompa has just mashed for him.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Amazon link, pl.
2 - Aaman
To be more precise, please separate Amazon links with commas, not whitespace and newlines. Have fixed.
3 - Temple Stark
Nice review. The oompa songs seem intriguing.
4 - claire
I'm sure it will be far better than the original if it sticks to the book. I like the look of grandpa joe. He actully looks the age he is supposed to be.
5 - parker
I didn't like the movie at all and couldn't wait for it to end. I thought the squirrel scene was creepy and Willy was androgenous for no reason that I could see. The intrusion of the two dads was odd. In the first movie, it seemed like Willy was a father figure. The first movie had a sweetness about it that this one lacked.
I really looked forward to this movie. My expectations were very high, and that is probably why I was disappointed.
6 - Lennie
My expectations were low going in. It usually works out better that way.
7 - Shark
Great film.
Bad review. uh, you
Also: a spoiler alert would be nice.
And last but not least:
YOU KNOW IT WAS ORIGINALLY A BOOK, RIGHT?
Oy.
Where do they get these people?!
8 - Shark
Parker: "...I thought the squirrel scene was creepy..."
It was hilarious.
You're creepy.
9 - The Theory
Yeah, they went and did the movie from the book instead of remaking the old version (hence the title being the book title, instead of the old movie title of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."
My opinion of the movie was mixed, as my opinion usually is with Tim Burton. It was still better than the old movie, which I could never stand that much. Probably because I read and loved the book before I saw the movie and I was always outraged at how they added the scene where Charlie and Grandpa Joe steal some of that drink.
Ah well.
Maybe someday a uberfantastic movie version will come out.
10 - Triniman
Good review, but why did you give away the ending!!!?
11 - Lennie
Sorry, I forgot the spoiler alert. I new to movie reviews. I have done more book reviews.
Yes, I knew it came from a book. I knew more parents and mostly children would comparing it to the original movie. That is why I wrote it that way. I should have stated that at the beginning as well.
12 - KImberly
Dude,First of all,You are soo paranoid.Second,If you are going to write a review,do not tell the ending of the movie!Also,Iv'e seen that movie 3 times at the theater and I thought it was great.And another thing! It's not the Manager of the theater's fault what previes are before the movie,so don't go whining to them.By the way,Tim Burton is known for his little dark spins on movies,you should know that,so dont take little kids to a Tim Burton film.(no offence to Tim)
hope you read this,
Kimberly
13 - Kennie
Omg i love the movie it made me crack up so bad i couldn't breathe hehe well i loved the movie and i could watch it over and over again. Well love your movies and keep up the great work.
Kennie
14 - Ken Edwards
I just have to say one thing: I am 27 yrs. old and this movie scared me! I would hate to be a kid and watch it.
15 - Hina
It was an awesome movie
16 - Hina
It was an awesome movie