You'll have to excuse me, but I never saw the original movie or read the movie. So I went into this movie, completely fresh, having no knowledge of any twists, characters or anything at all. So, I think that was a certain edge I had. Never mind the fact that I love Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Both of these men seem to have found their strengths in this movie, and the trademarks of both are seen throughout the movie. Think about it, what other actor could possibly play a character like Willy Wonka other than Johnny Depp? Who else could have captured the magic of the chocolate factory than Tim Burton? No one, that's who.
A long time ago, Willy Wonka (Depp) produced the best chocolate candy in the world. After spies began to rip him off, he fired all his workers, closed his wonderful factory and retreated into its depths. Now, 15 years later, he is producing candy again, and places 5 Gold Tickets in random Wonka bars... the children who get these 5 tickets are invited to take a tour of the Chocolate Factory. One such boy is Charlie (Freddie Highmore), who lives right down the street from the Chocolate Factory. It's his dream to visit the Chocolate Factory, and what do you know, he finds a golden ticket.
At this point of the story, Tim Burtons wizardry swings into full force as the tour of the chocolate factory begins. Edible environments and rivers of chocolate are just the beginning. The plot is mysterious at first, but picks up pace as the movie progresses. If this hadn't been written as a book first, I would once again pawn this off as another attempt of Burton to show off his stuff, and for Depp to display his manical genius. At the end, it turns out to be a very charming story that will leave a lot of people smiling. I guess a chocolate factory could bring out a kid in anyone. The Tim Burton design is instantly recognizable, though I'm not sure how to describe it exactly. The chocolate factory is inspiring, as is Charlie's house.
The comic value, due mostly to Depp, is not to be underrated. This is a funny movie. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I was happily surprised. Wonka is an almost complete madman, as he kills bugs in jungles and then licks their blood to find out if it might taste good as a new kind of candy. The Oompa-Loompa's are of course a big part, singing a song at certain events. These songs are often hilarious, and when you see Depp's face and mannerism's throughout these songs, you just can't help but laugh.
Everytime I see a Johnny Depp, I feel like I'm watching a different actor, and yet his charm is present at nearly every level of this movie. Consider his last few roles: A Victorian detective, a rum-swilling pirate, a Scottish playwright and now an eccentric candymaker. As far as I'm concerned, this role cements him as the best actor of the modern age. No one, not one single person would have been able to create such a freakishly entertaining character. I give the same amount of credit to Tim Burton. He created the world for Willy Wonka to come alive in. I absolutely loved this movie.