Search - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on DVD

Dreary, Lacking in Charm and the Music's Bad

Confederate | Bethesda, MD | 07/16/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) is a delightful story with great music that can be viewed repeatedly by both children and adults. And though children and adults will like it for different reasons, it's colorful and enduring. Not so with CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Even though I'm a dedicated Depp fan, this movie is only mildly entertaining and the squirrels manage to steal the show. Perhaps most disappointing is the dreadful music and the muted colors. It isn't magical...it's dysfunctional. Gene Wilder, though wary of children in general, is always in charge, and always entertaining. (One reviewer said "cuddly".) Depp is simply an Edward Scissorhands in charge of a chocolate factory. Burton does his best to add humor to the film, but in the end one usually only remembers the squirrels and the children, not Depp. Sadly, this film is lacking in the very things it should have been rich in. It's like Jan de Bont and THE HAUNTING (1999). Why pick a director who knows nothing about psychological horror to recreate a thriller where psychological horror is at the very heart and soul of the story? In this case, think of Don Knotts as Achilles in about the same way as Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. The humor doesn't work because the film is, at its core, humorless.

The 1971 film is so good in so many ways that it's amazing they thought to remake it. Why waste the money when there are so many other good ideas? But the squirrels were great.

"

Imposter In The Chocolate Factory "gasp"

Rachel Vironet | Alachua, FL, US | 08/21/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie was interesting... but I grew up watching the 1971 version of the Roald Dahl book and I am spoiled for any other version. Gene Wilder was untouchable as Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp was awesome and brought a new sort of life to the character but still not Willy Wonka like. I know this movie is a unique adaptation of the book, so it would have a different "feel" but once you watch the version directed by Mel Stuart everything else is just a second rate imitation.

If you have never seen the 1971 version then watch the remake first or you may be disappointed. :)

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)"