Hollywood remakes. What a disastrous concept. Why ruin a perfectly good movie by updating it? Time and time again a classic movie is redone and nothing can stop it. Intrigued, the people that loved the original must see the remake and usually have nothing but bad things to say about it.
SURPISE! This time Hollywood got it right! Shocked yet? How they did it was simple, they didn't remake the movie. They made a new movie, with the same basic story line, the same basic concepts, and then ran with it. If you loved the original, you'll enjoy this remake as well. It doesn't outshine the original, but it doesn't take a back seat either.
Johnny Depp was the perfect choice for Mr. Wonka. The movie 100% depended on his performance, and he nailed it. I just couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job. This is one of his best performances ever! The rest of the cast also put on an excellent performance, but Johnny Depp really gave this movie something extra.
It takes a good twenty or thirty minutes to get to the chocolate factory antics but it's worth the wait. We are given more of a background on all the main characters and the audience was laughing and giggling throughout all it. When we get to the factory, it is a much different experience than expected. There are references to the classic version thrown in there but besides how all the children are weeded out, it's much different.
The CGI also gives this film an advantage over the classic. While I'm sure there were some things that they wanted to do back in 1971 and couldn't, the 2005 version had the opposite problem. They had too many things they could do but shouldn't. It's easy to see how the CGI could have been over used, but they stopped short and used it more to highlight then to create. The world of Wonka comes to life better then ever.
The theater was packed, everyone walked out with a smile, and no one was disappointed. This is a rare movie, were you could take a date, your grandparents, your children, and even the teenagers. Don't miss out on this film. The only reason to not see this movie is if you hated the original 1971 version and even then it doesn't mean your will hate this updated version.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was an excellent film for 1971. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an excellent movie for 2005. The 2005 film brings this story to a new audience and continues the Willy Wonka tradition. If you're still unsure about seeing it in the theaters, it can wait for DVD. It isn't a must see in the theater, but it should be a must see at one point or another.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" opens June 15, 2005 and is rated PG. Children & Family, Comedy, Fantasy. Directed by Tim Burton. Written by Roald Dahl, John August . Starring AnnaSophia Robb, Christopher Lee, Freddie Highmore, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter.
