Once again we are faced with a movie based on book that follows an original movie based on the same book. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the story of book of the same name by Roald Dahl. Directed by Tim Burton, we knew going in the presentation would be a little askewed.

As with other book movies, I haven’t read the book. I’m a big fan of the 1971 Gene Wilder movie that most everybody else knows. It was a musical.

As a fan of the first film I can’t help but compare the two films, but as a critic I can make some separations and give the new film some fairness.

For one, the new film is far more detailed than the original movie, assumingly following the book more closely. But the Burton incarnation lacks the style of the 1970s classic, and the music.

Despite the title, the movie is about Willy Wonka, not Charile the poor boy that wins a dream prize of visiting a candy factory. This is made even more odd when you consider that the first film was titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and it was, in fact, about Charlie. But anyway…

The new film is really good up to the part when the kids actually make it to the factory. From here it is just disappointing, both in story and technically.

The special effects of this film look quite dated and rushed, and in an age of Lord of the Rings effects and all-CGI movies the sub-par quality of Wonka looks really bad. It just goes to show you that all the special effects and computers in the world are really no match for practical effects and real people - even orange midgets.

I’m sure Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka is more true to the character described in the book, but his performance is very lacking given Depp’s typical great acting. Wonka is a queer man with an annoying voice and lines that just aren’t delivered well. Wilder’s more adult Wonka and delivery made for a much more darker Wonka, even with the technicolor Oomp Loompas and their songs.

The next night I had to watch the first film to redeem myself. The new film just can’t touch the happy-yet-dark edge of the first film. Actually watching the opening credits, I find that Roald Dahl actually did the screenplay of the first film - which means the changes that were made from the book were more or less approved by the actual author. Burton didn’t have such a luxury and I think it shows.

All in all, you can shy away from the new Wonka film. It’s a renter for sure, if for nothing else but to avoid the Burton fans. Weirdos.

As a fan of Wonka, this film doesn’t hold up and ends up being a disappointment.

As a critic, the film lacks the polishing other current movies have and it is hard to not be distracted by it.

Honestly, the Wonka story was not one that needed to be made into another movie. I don’t think the general movie-going public wanted or needed a new take on the book. The first film was plenty and did the job well with humor and style. I bet Warner Bros. could have re-released the first film and made a good chunk of (pure profit) change. I know I would have liked that much better.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 19th, 2005 at 12:00 am and is filed under All. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.