July 22, 2005
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Johnny Depp .... Willy Wonka
Deep Roy .... Oompa Loompa
Freddie Highmore .... Charlie Bucket
David Kelly .... Grandpa Joe
Annasophia Robb .... Violet Beauregarde
Missi Pyle .... Mrs. Beauregarde
Julia Winter .... Veruca Salt
James Fox .... Mr. Salt
Jordan Fry .... Mike Teavee
Adam Godley .... Mr. Teavee
Philip Wiegratz .... Augustus Gloop
Franziska Troegner .... Mrs. Gloop
Helena Bonham Carter .... Mrs. Bucket
Noah Taylor .... Mr. Bucket
Liz Smith .... Grandma Georgina
Eileen Essell .... Grandma Josephine
David Morris .... Grandpa George
Christopher Lee .... Dr. Wonka
Blair Dunlop .... Little Willy Wonka
What a stunningly beautiful film! Totally worth the price of a full admission plus parking plus snacks and drinks!
I remember having this book read to my class in grade school (what grade I was in escapes me at this moment though) but it was such a long time ago so I was able to just sit back and not compare the two. However, during the movie, I kept thinking "Oh yeah. I forgot that happened that way in the book." I did find myself sometimes comparing the Gene Wilder movie version though and had to remind myself to stop.
Visually stunning. The colors pop and some of the sets are surreal. It's almost overwhelming. The colors are so bright, it's somewhat over stimulating. But I think it needs to be in order to draw you into a world that's real but not real.
Johnny Depp is superb. His version of Willy Wonka makes you feel slightly uncomfortable because he's so creepy while still making you laugh (but not that nervous laughter; full on funny ha ha laughter). Freddie Highmore shines as Charlie. Even though Charlie and his family are poor, he's always upbeat and earnest and not sad. The acting on part of the other performers is above par as well, even the kids who have either never acted before (Jordan Fry) or the kids who've acted before in very HORRIBLE movies (Annasophia Robb, I'm looking in your direction! That Samantha: An American Girl Holiday is 2 hours of my life I'll never get back!).
The pace was even and never dull. Not once did I check my cell phone to see what time it was nor did I ever think "hurry it up already!"
The movie is filled with little allusions and references to other films: Edward Scissorhands, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ed Wood, even Hair, and probably more that I didn't catch.
The soundtrack and the musical score were excellent, naturally, as only Danny Elfman can do pretty much no wrong. My only complaint: I couldn't understand some of the lyrics in the Oompa Loompa songs.
Go see this movie now!
Posted by xinh at July 22, 2005 10:06 PM