Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005)

2.5 out of 4

Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham-Carter, Noah Taylor, James Fox, Missi Pyle, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee, Philip Wiegratz, Julia Winter, Annasophia Robb, Jordan Fry

Director: Tim Burton

Time: 115 mins

Viewed: in home theatre

A poor boy who lives with his parents and all four grandparents in a run-down house gets a chance to tour the world-famous candy factory of one Willy Wonka (Depp) with four other children. While there, he sees the consequences of greed and arrogance when his fellow entrants meet strange and almost disastrous fates. Fairly faithful adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl book (I still wished to see the "square sweets that look round", though) adds backstory for Willy, while retaining dark tone of the book. Less a remake of the 1971 film (with Gene Wilder) than a chance for director Burton to lend his own visual stylings to the story, but the end result, while colourful, is pretty subdued. Mix of fantasy and dark comedy is admittedly not for everyone, with Depp's channelling of Michael Jackson (even if not intentional) quite odd and jarring.

(c) Joe Wong (4 December 2005)