I knew coming into the theater that I wouldn't be able to watch this version and not compare it to "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" that was made in the 70s. That is one of my favorite movies, and I knew from the previews that this version wouldn't live up. But, I had to see it.
We missed the first few minutes because I screwed up the start time. We walked in when they were finding out about the Golden Ticket contest. Charlie (Freddie Highmore) was not optimistic about winning the ticket since he only gets one chocolate bar a year due to his family being poor (his four grandparents share a bed-which is quite gross unless they're into the whole swinging thing; and Charlie's room has a skylight, but only because the roof has a hole in it).
The announcement of the four winners goes by very quickly, and none of the four kids are likable. Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz) eats like a hog, but he's not that bad. Veruca Salt (Julia Winter) is an ungrateful bitch who doesn't appreciate what her parents do for her and makes you want to slap the snot right out of her. Violet Beauregarde (Annasophia Robb) is an overly competitive child whose mother (Missi Pyle) lives in her shadow (they even dress alike). Mike Teevee (Jordan Fry) is a smartass douchbag who never has anything to say that isn't snotty, is addicted to video games and doesn't eat chocolate. These characters are not at all likable, making you hope for their swift and brutal deaths a few seconds after they enter the screen.
Charlie is a pretty forgettable character. There's a scene when Charlie, Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and Grandpa Joe (David Kelly-another forgettable character) are walking out of the television room. Wonka turns around and asks how many people are left, not realizing that Charlie is the only one. This says more about Wonka's apathy towards the children than Charlie's near non-existence, but Charlie quickly gets lost in the mix of more interesting, yet less likable characters.
Johnny Depp's portrayal of Willy Wonka was quite annoying. Instead of a twisted, eccentric lovable candy maker, he is ghost faced (the white make up worked in "Edward Scissorhands," but makes him look like a weekend drag queen here) with an annoyingly high pitched voice, vengeful, self centered man that doesn't even like kids. He either ignores them or makes a rude comment to anything that any kids has to say (in his defense, the kids usually deserve it, but not all the time). Flashbacks explain his weariness of families (this part I like), but nothing explains his dislike for kids.
The Oompa Loompa's (played by Deep Roy) annoyed and frightened me. It was one Indian looking midget who was digitally reproduced a shitload of times. It got to the point where I dreaded knowing that an Oompa Loompa would get some upcoming screen time. The origin of the Oompa Loompas coming to work at his factory was a nice touch, but I'll probably have nightmares about that damn thing.
This wasn't a bad film, but it didn't nearly live up to the expectations I had for it after hearing of the remake a few years ago. I liked how there was an actual ending, which makes a sequel unlikely. This was not Tim Burton's best work. I'm still looking forward to "The Corpse Bride" though.
Written by: RF