Apr. 17, 2006 - 4:03 pm

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Jill and i were trying to think of something to watch w/ Frank and Susi that none of us had seen but would be good to watch. we finally decided on the new Johnny Depp version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. i avoided seeing this previously because I adore the 1971 version of this film. i watched it an insane number of times as a child. i tend to agree w/ Ebert and Roeper on this particular topic. if a film is wonderful in its original version, it usually should NOT be remade.

the film is based closely on Roald Dahl's original children's book. it's about five children who come to Great Britain to visit a famous mysterious chocolate factory after winning a contest. Charlie is the poorest of the five and the most moral and honorable. of course he comes out on top in the end and wins the entire chocolate factory from the freaky Willy Wonka.

Johnny Depp's performance in this movie is basically nothing like that of Gene Wilder in the original film and can't really be compared. Depp's performance shows Willy Wonka as eccentric, nervous, uncomfortable, and goofy. he does an excellent job with this version of the character, but as i've already hinted at, i prefer the original.

i don't think this really does anything to ruin or spoil the original film for me. it's just silly and second-rate and whenever i have the urge to see this story in the future, i think you know which one i'll be watching.