Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Review

Don't worry I'll try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.

I when and saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (CCF) last night, I was surprised at the number of, young children there. CCF is a film about kids, but Tim Burton isn't known for making the most child oriented films.

As the music starts, with a clouded screen, you know the tune is pure Danny Elfman. Elfman has worked on nearly every Tim Burton movie since Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985, providing background music and most notably the theme song. There are places in CCF where the sound is reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands, the first movie that Burton, Elfman, and Depp all worked on together. Elfman gets an expanded role in CCF as the voice of the Oompa Loompa, played by Deep Roy, who has an uncanny resemblance to Victoria’s Gordie Dodd.

Peter Young is another of Burton's entourage, as Set Director you see some of his Batman and Sleepy Hollow influences in Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and in the house that Charlie Bucket lives in. This movie has the whole Tim Burton package. But to my inquiry earlier, should kids go see this film? Yes but I really think it will be lost on those under eight.

I do have to give a huge applause to Johnny Depp for a extraordinary performance. His voice and giggle help set the character of Willy Wonka, and he is eccentric but in an artistic way not a silly way like the 1971 Gene Wilder experience.

So what do I give it?