Movie Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory


Possibly the best Tim Burton film I've ever seen.

First of all, it's not a musical. No "I've got a golden ticket!" This is a good thing. There are musical interludes provided by the Oompa Loompa. The one Oompa Loompa. Granted, Deep Roy is digitally cloned 165 times (according to the IMDB), but, apparently, the Oompa Loompas are one truly inbred bunch.

Second, Roald Dahl's wife is credited as an Executive Producer. That's got to mean something. And Roald Dahl himself is credited with the lyrics to the Oompa Loompa's songs about each of the horrible children.

I miss Gene Wilder. I miss his somersault. I miss his creepy evilness. But I have to give Johnny Depp a great deal of applause for his take on the character. This movie is not a remake of the first one. This is a totally redesigned Wonka, complete with flashbacks into Wonka's past, including Christopher Lee as the maniacal dentist father who throws all the Halloween candy away.

Gordeep Roy. Indian by birth, this 4'4" double shot of brilliance plays all of the Oompa Loompas. All 165 of them. His name means "God's Light." He certainly adds light to this film. I can't describe the laughter I let loose with during the scene in the Inventing Room when 165 of him come out dressed in something that looks like a DEVO video. Hilarious!

Final word? "So much time, so little to do. Strike that. Reverse it. Thank you." Although that quote does not appear in this film, it does describe it well. At least 4 out of 5. Brilliantly done!

Posted: Mon - July 25, 2005 at 07:51 PM      

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