Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Movie Info

Wait, they’re making a new version of what?!?

Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) and his family are poor. When the legendary and mysterious Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) announces he’s opening his candy factory to the finders of five Golden Tickets, Charlie is told that he has no chance…but Charlie is a believer in miracles and a miracle find him. Now with his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly), Charlie, Augustus Gloop (Franziska Troegner), Violet Beauregarde (AnnaSophia Robb), Veruca Salt (James Fox), and Mike Teavee (Adam Godley) are about to enter the most wonderful place in the world. Populated by Oompa Loompas (played by Deep Roy), the Chocolate Factory is dangerous and fun at the same time…and Willy is full of surprises.

Violet, you’re turning violet!

Directed by Tim Burton, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a family musical fantasy.  It is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel which was previously adapted in as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (and is considered a cult classic). This film received mostly positive reviews and mixed reviews for Johnny Depp’s performances.

When Burton was tapped to make a new version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a lot of people said “Why?”. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a classic that is beloved by multiple generations. The iconic film is still a classic and in a world full of remakes, it seems dangerous to mess with. Despite this, there is some validity in the decision to remake the movie.

One bad nut…

Dahl hated the original version of the film. He felt it didn’t capture his work. This version is closer to the original work, but still does tinker with Dahl’s story. It adds a very unnecessary backstory involving Wonka’s candy hating dentist father played by Christopher Lee. Wonka is a strange enough character without adding to his weirdness with flashbacks (though I do like the visit to the Flags of the World exhibit).

Despite being iconic, I do like the Deep Roy version of the Oompa Loompas…originally the Oompa Loompas were rather racist characatures that resembled pigmies. This changed in later versions of the book and the original movie didn’t risk it by making them orange with green hair. The movie used most of Dahl’s original songs for this version. I prefer the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory version, but like this version also.

Oompa Loompas from Hell!!!

What keeps both movies going is a strong story filled with interesting characters. Both versions manage to get this aspect of the story. The bratty gross children really ooze ickiness. I also am a fan of Missi Pyle who does a great job playing the bizarre mother of Violet Beauregarde.  Like Helena Bonham Carter, she just looks like she belongs in a Tim Burton film.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an interesting and different take on a classic book and movie. I don’t see it entirely as a remake and see it more as another version. It is a bit cold to call something based on a book a “remake”…different versions of Dracula or Oliver Twist aren’t called remakes. I also received some high criticism by saying this version was “ok”. I don’t think it is perfect, but I also don’t think it is a bad film. I’m just glad we never had to endure a Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator which wasn’t a good book.

Related Links:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)