Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: July 15 2005

 

Cast:
Willy Wonka: Johnny Depp
Charlie Bucket: Freddie Highmore
Grandpa Joe: David Kelly
Mrs. Bucket: Helena Bonham Carter
Mr. Bucket: Noah Taylor
Violet Beauregarde: Annasohpia Robb
Veruca Salt: Julia Winter
Mike Teavee: Jordan Fry
Oompa Loompa: Deep Roy
Dr. Wonka: Christopher Lee
Mr. Teavee: Adam Godley

 

This movie remake is based on the children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory written by Roald Dahl. The movie is faithful to the magical tone of the book, if you read it as a child you’ll recognize much of it here. Tim Burton directed the film and his visual style is well suited to the bizarre world we are shown.

The story is set in an English town that has a Chocolate Factory as its main business. The owner, Willy Wonka, is known to be eccentric; his oddest move was when he discovered that industrial spies were stealing his chocolate making secrets, he fired all his workers and shut the gates of the factory. People predicted he would be out of business within a month but in fact his business continued to produce chocolates for years to come without any workers ever entering or leaving the factory. Needless to say the mystery of how he was able to produce chocolates grew as did the desire to get inside his factory. Wonka responds with a contest and 5 golden tickets are included in his famous chocolate bars. Five children win the contest and are taken around the factory by Wonka himself. One by one the children are undone by their greed, impulsiveness, and rudeness. Like many of Dahl’s stories it is a brutal take on childhood; there are no warm hugs and forgiveness for wayward children that have strayed but learned their lesson, simply crime and punishment. It is a refreshing change from the usual approach.

The cast is headed by the magnificent Johnny Depp who plays Wonka. He was made for this role and for his performance alone it is well worth watching. It could also serve as an excellent cautionary tale for any children you may have lying around that have a tendency towards gluttony, avarice or any other of the deadly sins.

 

 

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3. Christmas Is Here Again
4. Bolt 3D
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