Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tim Burton has a very definitive style and his vision for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) is no different. It’s inventive, imaginative, and visually full of life, all laced with the classic Burton darkness. I have to say it’s a bit creepier than the original and much darker. Burton stayed extremely close to the classic book, but of course his added his own flare with a few twists and turns thrown in to spice it up. It’s just no fun at all to read and watch the same thing over and over again. I can honestly say there was nothing boring or ordinary about this adaptation, especially when it comes to the eccentric character Willy Wonka.
Johnny Depp’s interpretation of Wonka to say the least is incredibly interesting. Far from the classic Gene Wilder interpretation, this modern Wonka is a bit off his rocker. Depp created an entirely different character full of depth. It was gorgeous and exciting to watch. I don’t think I have ever seen a film where Johnny Depp has ever disappointed, and this one is absolutely no different. One of his first lines after, to say the least, his oddly disturbing entrance, ”Good morning star shine, the earth says hello!” was so left park I had to laugh. From that moment on I knew I would love his character. He is just so unique. This version of Wonka is sure to leave a lasting impression on his audience. The casting could not have been more perfect.
Depp was not the only one perfectly cast. Charlie, Freddie Highmore, was phenomenal. He seemed so grown up and childishly lovable all at the same time. He was so perfect for the part. Freddie is just as endearing as the original Charlie if not more so. He is so comfortable and at ease in front of the camera. All of the kids were! They are all outstanding little actors. Annasophoia Robb (Violet Beaurgard) was so funny with her “winning” attitude. Julia Winter (Veruca Salt) was devilishly mean and wonderful. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was actually her first movie. She seemed like a natural. Jordan Fry and Philip Wiegratz were also outstanding little actors as well. The rest of the cast was also fantastic. They really couldn’t have picked a better group. They all complimented each other incredibly well. I was very pleased by the acting and writing. It was all very playful and creative. It was a very intelligent move to keep to the original storyline just adding and twisting here and there. Burton kept the lovable qualities of the story intact while filling in the cracks with intricate design. One exceptional design was the chocolate waterfall and 50,000 gallon chocolate river. They actually made it! Check out the special features, they give you all the great details.
The design of the film was out of control amazing. The computer graphics were wonderful. They transferred to blu-ray incredibly well. The film itself is for the most part very dark in color until you are actually in the chocolate factory. I will say there are a few places here and there at the beginning that could have been a little less gritty, but when it really mattered the colors were incredible and the lines were cleanly drawn for great visual effects. The colors in the factory were so bold and gorgeous. I loved the contrast of the bright and dark colors. They also had a great effect on emotional darkness of the film. They sound was also wonderful. Everything was clear and easily understood. I personally really enjoyed it and felt it was a very descent transfer.
Special Features
– In Movie Experience
– Commentary by Tim Burton
– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Chocolate Dreams
– Different Faces, Different Flavors
– Designer Chocolate
– Under the Wrapper
– Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Sweet Sounds
– Becoming Oompa Loompa: How They Turned One Man Into Hundreds of Oompa Loompas
– Attack of the Spuirrels: A Look at the Trained Nut-Sorting Squirrels
– Fantastic Mr. Dahl: A Look into the Life of Roald Dahl
– 2 Previsualizations: Augustus Gloop Dance & Mike Treavee Dance
– Dolby TrueHD Music Sound Track Showcasing Danny Elfman’s Score and Songs
– European Club Reel
– Theatrical Trailer
These features were outstanding! Honestly they are probably the best features I’ve seen in quite a while. You really got to know the cast and crew. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp give great interviews. You really get some great details that make the film that make the film all the more interesting. The ‘In Movie Experience’ is fantastic! It is by far my favorite feature. You get all these random and incredibly interesting facts as you watch the film. I loved it. Although I would recommend watching the film through once without the feature turned on, due to the fact that it can be a little distracting if you are trying to watch the film intently.