Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Reviews

B+  The lights turn down, the curtains pull back, and
expectations are moderate. Nearly thirty four years since
Gene Wilder graced the screen in a light hearted,
capricious manner, it is still hard to believe that any one
actor can compete. Tim Burton's newly mastered rendition
of an old favorite has more to offer than just a simple
remake. Johnny Depp is different than Wilder in that he
brings to the character of Wonka what was humbly left out
of the original-a soul. This is to say that where Wilder was
quirky and eccentric out of sheer randomness and
unknown enlightenment, Burton has altered the script to
reveal this character's ambiguous past. This is used as a
tool to properly differentiate that of the old with the new.
Aside from these altered details the characters and song
so fondly recognized by fans of the first movie haven't
changed much at all. Simply stated anyone who was a
follower, who worships Wilder and the imagination of
Roald Dahl, has been waiting for a solid renewal of a
children's classic should be pleasantly surprised.