Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Charlie Bucket comes from a poor family, and spends most of his time dreaming about the chocolate that he loves but usually can't afford. Things change when Willy Wonka, head of the very popular Wonka Chocolate empire, announces a contest in which five gold tickets have been hidden in chocolate bars and sent throughout the country. The kids who find the tickets will be taken on a tour of Wonka's chocolate factory and get a special glimpse of the wonders within. Charlie miraculously finds a ticket, along with four other children much naughtier than him. The tour of the factory will hold more than a few surprises for this bunch...

I give Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a solid 86%

I had already decided to put as much of the original Willy Wonka with Gene Wilder out of my head as I possibly could. I wanted to see this movie for its own merits. That was a very good thing to do as they are really quite different movies.

First off, I like Tim Burton's stye of things and I like this darker, somewhat sadistic Willy Wonka. And Johnny Depp has proven to be a very versatile actor and did an outstanding job with this role. Instead of the kindly older man that Gene Wilder portrayed, you get a twisted kid who never really grew up.

I also have to tip my hat to Danny Elfman for an outstanding score. Although I don't think these Oompa Loompa songs are as memorable as the previous movie versions, they are brilliant. And while I am on the subject, I also have to congratulate the editing crew for putting in one Oompa Loompa a zillion times so well. Ok, 165 Oompa Loompas to be precise. And Deep Roy did every one of them superbly.

This was a hilarious and dark romp through a twisted world. I loved it.

My favorite movie quote:

Willy Wonka: Everything here is eatable. I'm eatable, but that my children is called cannibalism and it is frowned upon in most societies.

That is simply brilliant.

This is on my "buy" list when it comes out on DVD.