Customer Reviews
average fantasy adaptation by Burton - By: Stampy, 13 Apr 2008 
In this adaptation from Roald Dahl's novel, Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands) stars as Chocolate maker Willy Wonka, who offers 5 kids across the world the chance to win a tour around his chocolate factory.
It is amazing to see how times can change in the film industry, particularly in the animation aspect. If you were lucky enough to catch the original film with Gene Wilder in 1971 then you would have reallly appreciated the thought & dedication that went into the film. The effects & acting were stunning, none more so than Wilder. Now we find it hard to find a film without heavy dollops of animation, particularly in the fantasy genre.
Yes the graphics in this Tim Burton adaptation are good, as is his direction, but there is no real beating the original.
Depp's portrayal of the chocolate maker is very interesting to watch, an almost complete contrast to Wilder's. Wonka is portrayed by Depp as closed off, harsh & very insecure. This was based on his father's treatment, an interesting sub story which was not in the original.
Personallly I was not a fan of this portrayal as I had always imagined Wonka differently, but it was interesting to watch & understand.
Highmore is good as Charlie, a more likable young kid than Peter Ostrum was. Though his constant pestering of Wonka can be annoying, his general character is sad & his helping has to be admired.
The plot is fairly consistent, with many up & down moments. It isn't predictable but isn't funny either. The acting isn't the best & although the effects & dark opening are reallly impressive, it is a pretty average fantasy comedy.
6/10
A Adult version of a Children's Book - By: Brian Carson, 02 Apr 2008 
I reckon this dvd has the wrong classification - I think it should have PG-13 or perhaps Children will miss alll the sinister bits.
IF you have kids I would advise ' Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' rather than this dvd .
Although the book has always been popular, over the years a number of prominent individuals have spoken criticallly of the novel. Children's novelist & literary historian John Rowe Townsend has described the book as "fantasy of an almost literallly nauseating kind" & accusing it of "astonishing insensitivity" regarding the original portrayal of the Oompa-Loompas as black pygmies , although Dahl did revise this later. Another novelist, Eleanor Cameron, compared the book to the candy that forms its subject matter, commenting that it is "delectable & soothing while we are undergoing the brief sensory pleasure it affords but leaves us poorly nourished with our taste dulled for better fare". Defenders of the book have pointed out that it was unusual for its time in being quite dark for a children's book, with the "antagonists" not being adults or monsters (as is the case even for most of Dahl's books) but the naughty children.
Quite A Film. - By: R. Birkett, 31 Mar 2008 
Now there's 2 versions of this film, there's the 1971 original & there's this new 2005 version. Both of them offer something different, for example i think the old one is a lot more heartfelt & emotional, & this one is basicallly where Tim Burton went alll on out to put on a top notch performance. I still can't decide which one i like best, but this version is very good, & in my opinion Johnny Depp was defiantly the best choice of actor to play 'Willy Wonka', although in some parts i thought he was slighly annoying, & did look extremly strange, i believe he was born to play that part, likewise Tim Burton was born to direct it. Shame it was only the umpalumpas who did any singing, in the 1971 version it was just about the whole cast! Oh well, it still doesn't stray from the fact that it's a fabulous family film, built upon & around humour & imagination.
Disappointing As its not as good as the Original - By: Brendan T. Hole, 29 Mar 2008 
Johnny Depp's camp, childlike wonka - looking very much like Micheal Jackson - is fun but is far too distant to recapture the love & fun generated by Gene wilder in the Original.
Burton sticks faithfully to the text, so this C & C Factory is a little different to the Original. But Burton's use of computer animation is used very well. However, if your children are begging you to get this film get the original we found it much much much better.
If you love the book you'll hate this - By: Yellow Dog, 29 Mar 2008 
Johnny Depp's camp Michael Jackson Wonka is awful. Tim Burton's whacky sentimentality is completely inappopriate. The book however is magical & full of Roald Dahl's unique imagination & sense of humour. Avoid this & the Gene Wilder like the plague. Stick with Dahl & don't ruin one of the best children's books of the last 50 years for your kids by showing them this tripe.
