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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
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After Batman and Planet of the Apes, Tim Burton continues to rewrite a generation's childhood with a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's much-loved book. A fashionable but superfluous back story aside, Burton sticks faithfully to the text: poverty-stricken Charlie Bucket (Finding Neverland's Freddie Highmore, the film's heart) is one of five competition winners on a guided tour of Willy Wonka's sweet factory. Johnny Depp's camp, childlike Wonka — weirdly reminiscent of Michael Jackson — is fun but ultimately too distant to recapture the love generated by Gene Wilder in the original. The production design looks good enough to eat, however, and it is here that Burton exposes the technical limitations of the once-definitive 1971 musical, employing computer animation to dazzling effect. Dahl's trademark black humour remains, but ultimately this can't decide if it's a timeless fairy tale or, with its video games, S&M and MTV-influenced dance routines, a modern parable. AC
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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110min
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Country of origin
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US / UK
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Genre
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Fantasy Adventure
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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John August, from the novel by Roald Dahl
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Theatrical distributor
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Warner Bros
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UK cinema certificate
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PG
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UK cinema release date
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July 2005
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
Johnny Depp |
Nominee |
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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