I've been away for ages but I'm back with avengence!
I've been away for ages but I'm back with avengence!
Member since:30.11.2005
Reviews:220
Members who trust:49
I am a fan of the slightly twisted and obscure so when presented with the combination of Rohld Dahl, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, there was no question I would be rushing out to see this as soon as it came out.
Director: Tim Burton Writer: Rohld Dahl (book) John August (screenplay) Actors: Johnny Depp, Deep Roy, Freddy Highmore, Helen Bonham Carter, David Kelly Cinema Release Date: July 2005 Genre: Children’s fantasy/comedy/adventure Run Time: 115 minutes Certificate: PG
*The Story* If you haven’t read the book – and you should, and you haven’t seen either Gene Wilder’s 1977 version or the 2005 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I hope you hang your head in shame as you walk down the streets! There is no excuse for this negligent behaviour!
Charlie Bucket (Freddy Highmore) lives in a small house – more of a shed really, with his mum, dad and four grandparents and lives on a diet of crumbs and cabbage however, his family has something on other families; love and loyalty.
Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) is the mysterious figure who owns the chocolate factory Charlie’s grandpa tells him stories about.
One day, Charlie’s dreams come true when he wins one of five golden tickets to meet Wily Wonka and see inside the factory. What he doesn’t know is that he will also be in line to win a very special and secret prize which could change his and his family’s life forever…
*Who’s this freaky Tim Burton?* Tim Burton is known for his quirky and eccentric style and his ability to tackle projects many other directors do not have the guts to touch. Burton was awarded a fellowship with Disney after studying animation at the Californian Institute of the Arts. The mainstream projects he worked on were not exactly what Burton felt passionate about and in 1982 Disney agreed to support him in production of a short animated gothic tribute to Vincent
Price followed by the live-action short, Frankenweenie. Frankenweenie was incidentally never released as Disney deemed it to be unsuitable for children. However, the infamous Paul Reubens of Pee-Wee Herman fame saw the film and sought out Burton as director of his feature debut, Pee-wee’s big adventure in 1985. From that somewhat unusual start, Burton began to make his name with his instant hit Beetle Juice in 1988. Since them Burton has carved out a place in Hollywoods’ elite with films as diverse as Batman, Edward Scissor Hands, Mars Attacks and Planet of the Apes.
What is noteworthy is that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory marks the fifth film Burton and Depp have made together since Edward Scissorhands. As Burton’s partner of several years, Helen Bonham Carter has also gone on to participate in several of his films including Planet of the Apes and the animated film, The Corpse’s Bride alongside Johnny Depp.
*Acting* Johnny Depp, Christopher Lee, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor and the fantastic new shining star of Freddy Highmore. I hardly have to say anymore to give you an idea of the high caliber acting involved in this film, however, fond as I am of my own voice, I will continue anyway.
Most of these actors have worked together at one point or another before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. For example, Depp has worked with Bonham Carter and Christopher Lee in The Corpse’s Bride, with Taylor in Pirates of the Caribbean, and alongside Highmore in the brilliant Finding Neverland. I believe this goes a long way to developing an on screen chemistry that makes a film shine.
It would be easy to focus on Depp’s fantastical take on Willy Wonka after all, he is known for taking on the more unusual characters and giving them a sense of the ridiculous that somehow always works. For me he is one of the best actors around today who strives to truly enjoy any project and character he takes on. He immerses himself in the role as Wonka as you would expect and what we are given is the slightly off balance oddball the viewer warms to and feel pity for while still being encouraged to laugh at him.
The real star of this film however, is Freddy Highmore. Having seen him in Finding Neverland I was beyond excited to see him on the screen again. A young boy who exudes innocence and vulnerability and everything good was needed for the role of Charlie Bucket and I believe it would be a struggle to get anyone to fit the role better than Highmore. He has a talent to play off his co-actors like no other child actor I have seen before and with the guidance of fine colleagues like those he shared the screen with in this film, I am confident we will be watching this young boy grow into a truly engaging and talented young man for many years to come.
David Kelly as Charlie’s Grandpa also puts in a brilliant performance and comes across as the grandpa we would all love to have.
Christopher Lee who plays Wonka’s fanatical dentist father is wonderful as the sinister and lonely old man.
Of course, there is Deep Roy who gave this film a sense of fun and enjoyment and complete ludicrously taking on the part of all the Oompa Loompa’s in a series of incredibly well choreographed song and dance routines while wearing a variety of what appeared to be rubber or PVC cat suits – hardly surprising he never smiles!
The other children, as despicable and unpleasant as their characters were, deserve applause for their individual performances as well as do all the other members of Charlie’s family.
*Cinematography* Tim Burton is known for his visionary style and I don’t imagine he takes “We can’t do it” very well. With a production of this size and an original film to live up to, the cinematography, special effects and set design had to be spot on. Inside the factory, everything comes to life with technicolour. The brightness and shear size of the staging lends itself to the fantasy of the Rohld Dahl classic. The perfect example is the fact that 40 squirrels were trained to perform a difficult routine purely to add to the fantasy factor. Burton uses contrast heavily throughout comparing the colourful and exciting inside of the factory with the bleak, grey and cold looking outside etc.
If the script was terrible and the actors horrendous the beauty of the film would still make it a success.
*Soundtrack* The music is the humour of this film and marks it as a big production with a style of show tunes we haven’t seen in a very long time. The music is all performed by The Oompa Loompa’s in the film although most is actually sung by Danny Elfman. Each time one of the children meets their destiny, the Oompa Loompa’s appear to put on a show.
*Lines to remember* Willy Wonka: You can't have your family hanging over you like an old, dead goose. No offense. Grandpa George: None taken. Jerk.
Mike Teavee: Why is everything here completely pointless? Charlie Bucket: Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy.
Willy Wonka: Everything in this room is eatable. Even *I'm* eatable. But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies.
Willy Wonka: Good morning, starshine... the earth says hello!
*Did you know…* Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Steve Martin, Christopher Walken, Nicolas Cage, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, Robert De Niro and Marylin Manson were just a few of the names considered for the role of Willy Wonka.
781,927.83 litres of fake chocolate were made for the river area and waterfall alone. The total amount used for production was 927,403.1 litres.
The film was produced by the production company that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston formed during their marriage. It was the last production produced before they filed for divorce.
Johnny Depp was so impressed with Freddie Highmore in Finding Neverland (See review) that he recommended him to Tim Burton
Some of the buttons in the Glass elevator read: Incompetent Fools, Secretarial Poodles, Nice Plums, Fragile Egos and People Poo
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was nominated for an Oscar as well as a further 36 industry awards, winning 7.
*My verdict* In a world where it is growing increasingly difficult to find films which are suitable for children whilst maintaining a sense of imagination and fun it is wonderful to find Charlie and the Chocolate factory. You will notice I haven’t compared this with the original. The reason for this is that I don’t think there is any comparison. The story was the same, but they were told in such different manners, they are worlds apart. This production was a triumph and one all participants should feel proud of. Of course all the kids love it (chocolate and flying elevators – what more do they need?) but this is also a film for parents and adults world-wide who want to put up their feet and abandon all responsibility and reality and succumb to the surreal and playful world of Wonka.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
It's a classic film made better by modern actors and modern technology
newby2 03.05.2007 20:37
great review!!! xxx
missy0303 03.05.2007 00:04
I much preferred the original film...and find Johnny Depp quite a disturbing person....there is just something really strange about the man...especially in this film lol x
This is a new edition of the famous Dahl story of Charlie Bucket and his Golden Ticket ... more
and Willy Wonka and his amazing chocolate factory. It features a great new Quentin Blake cover as well as a whole new exciting end section about Roald Dahl and his ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Who better to bring Roald Dahl's adored children's story to life than the mastermind ... more
behind inventive films like EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and BEETLEJUICE? From Tim Burton's opening shot against Danny Elfman's eerie score this CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTO...
Advantages: Brilliant and imaginative special effects, talented cast and gallons of chocolate Disadvantages: A little too long, quite scary in places and irratating oompa loompas!
Apr 27th, 2007
exceptional by (2%):
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