Cady's Take:

Tim Burton (Edward Scissor Hands, The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a strange and complex guy.   I don’t think anyone who loves his work or hates his work would disagree.   Roald Dahl’s popular children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a strange and complex story, so one would think that Tim Burton taking another shot at bringing the story to the screen is a natural and good idea, and in a strange and complex way, I guess it is.  

The original Willy Wonka the Chocolate Factory (1971), is a classic for two reasons.  One, the story of Charlie Bucket which is your classic rages to richest tale, but with Candy.  And more strikingly as a result of Gene Wilder, who plays candy maker Willy Wonka brilliantly.  There was no way that the new Willie Wonka (Johnny Depp) could improve upon Wilder’s performance and he does not try to, somehow he manages to play the Character of Willy Wonka as being even more creepy and anti-social then the original. 

The film is inarguably visual stunning and there are two standout performances in my mind, the good hearted Charlie Bucket, played Freddie Highmore, and the elderly Grandpa Joe, who accompanies Charlie to the factory played by David Kelly of Waking Ned Devine.   You will get a few chuckles out of some of the dialogue and more then a few out of the freakish Ompa Loopas (all 100+ of which are played by Deep Roy).  Having said this the film lacks the “magic” and “imagination” of the original, and gets too wrapped up in the Freudian explanation of why Willy Wonka is the way that he is, a parent hating, perpetual child.   

“Charlie” certainly has its moments, and cuts much of the cheesy, sing song feel of the original out, if it was on at the same time as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I would definitely choose to watch the original for the 100 time, rather then watch Burton’s version again.  

While I understand and share the affection that people have for the original "Willy Wonka" starring Gene Wilder, I simply do not love the film the way others do. I simply do not connect with the material. Yes, it is entertaining and enjoyable, but given other options I would watch something else most of the time. So I was not expecting to love "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp. I may also have doomed myself by reading all of the original reviews, most of which were lukewarm at best.

This movie is strange. Sometimes it seems like a psychological study of Willy Wonka and his mean, anti-candy dentist father and others, a nonsensical musical in technicolor. This is a Tim Burton film, and it looks and sounds like one. I found Johnny Depp's interpretation of Willy to be unusual, but it did not recall Michael Jackson, as other reviews have suggested previously.

The highpoint of this film is Charlie, played by Freddie Highmore. He starred previously with Depp in "Finding Neverland" and he is a very talented young boy. I remember reading that Depp was anxious to work with him again after Neverland, the result being Highmore being cast as Charlie. If you want to see a really good movie with both of these actors I would go with "Finding Neverland" but Charlie is good enough to give it a fair shot...how you will feel about it afterward is the question. If you rent this over the weekend, post your response in the Fingerlakes1.com forums - I would love to hear your opinion!