Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) PG - 3½ Stars

Johnny Depp is Willy Wonka and his quirkiness is what makes this movie. We've seen this movie before as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Basically the same ideas as the original but with more effects and new fun characters.

Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), comes from a poor but loving family where there is no extra money to indulge in chocolate bars. They live next to Willy Wonkas factory and even though they have never seen anyone go in or out of the building, Charlie dreams of all the wonders that must be inside. The company offers 5 lucky children an opportunity to get inside to see the magic, if they can just find one of the golden tickets in the chocolate bars. Children all over the world begin to flock to stores to purchase their bars in hopes of finding one of the lucky five. Charlie's family can only afford to buy one bar a year for Charlies birthday but it unfortunately it's not the winning bar.

As news starts pouring in, four of the five tickets have been found. Charlie's dreams are soon fading until he finds money on the ground, buys his last chance Wonka Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, and the golden ticket is produced. Charlie it going to the factory and Grandpa Joe (David Kelly), will go with him.

Charlie and his grandpa join the other winners, Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), Violet Beauregarde (AnnaSophia Robb), Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), Mike Teavee (Jordan Fry) for their journey inside. From the crews of Oompa-Loompas, chocolate waterfall, and the seemingly impossible glass elevator, the children as fascinated to see almost everything is edible. These other four children turn out to be misbehaved and a bunch of rotten apples making Charlie stand out in a good way. Willy will wonder if he has found the child who could take over the factory.

Awards:

2005 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Young Actor
2005 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Phoenix Film Critics Association - Best Score
2005 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Phoenix Film Critics Association - Best Performance by a Child Actor

Warner Bros Pictures
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: John August
Producers:Brad Grey, Richard D. Zanuck

I viewed 12/06