Game:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Category:

Review

Duration: 10:43

65 views

1

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005) directed by Tim Burton is mostly an unnecessary copycat remake but it does have a few key elements which make it a bit different and somewhat likeable. While "Wonka" (2023) is more original, I still find myself preferring this one to that for a few reasons.

The story is practically identical to "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." (1971) which I'll assume you've already seen before this so I won't retread the same things again. What's different here is that we get to first-hand see Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp)'s childhood, and his mean father Dr. Wonka (Christopher Lee). Also Willy Wonka himself is now much more creepy than before. The characters are still the same, and Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) once again finds a golden ticket to visit the chocolate factory for the whole day with the chance of a very special prize if he is the least rotten of all the visiting children.

So the unique strengths of this one over the original is first of all the entire storyline surrounding Willy's father. This part of the film is genuinely impactful and was well done. It also features some scenes in Loompaland which is something I wished for in the original. The unique strengths of this one over the 2023 film Wonka is not really being a musical (I would rather no musical at all than a mediocre one personally), and Johnny Depp being far more charismatic and interesting as an actor than Timothée Chalamet.

I appreciated that Tim Burton didn't solely rely on CGI, and still uses plenty of real sets and practical effects. I've rated this film a little higher than I expected because while Johnny Depp is not as incredible as Gene Wilder, he offers a very captivating, creepy, and unique performance. He is completely indistinguishable in this role and has somehow transformed his voice. That being said, the film can't be praised too much because it's a direct remake that doesn't change much, and will not be as delightful or magical as the original.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is okay in my books, even as a major fan of the original. I was able to appreciate the few changes here, and otherwise it was just a modern version of a classic tale with better sets and technology available to make everything seem more legit in general.

Video by Rainy Nights.

#movies #films #charlieandthechocolatefactory

Other Statistics