Yep, it's a favorite. :)
Writer: John August
Director: Tim Burton
Director of Photography: Philippe RousselotComposer: Danny Elfman
Editor: Chris Lebenzon
Lead Actor: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore
Year: 2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a funny, colorful, and witty story about a boy who goes with a few others to tour the acclaimed Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. Five “golden tickets” are placed in five chocolate bars which wait to be discovered by five kids. Charlie Bucket was among those who won, either by getting lucky, or by other means.
The film is very pro-family. Charlie’s family is poor and yet tight-nit and loving. Charlie has learned to be content and respectful, which is why he wins big in the end. There are also a number of dysfunctional families portrayed with their ill-effects. Willie Wonka’s own family situation was not ideal. His father was a dentist, and there was no way Charlie was going to get encouragement in his interest in candy. This led to the father and son’s alienation. By the end of the film though, as the family theme is highlighted, there is reconciliation between them.
Then there are the kids who got themselves into trouble. All four besides Charlie didn’t even make it to the end of the tour. It was fitting for each of the unfortunate children to get caught in their own scheming. One girl was extremely demanding of her dad, who tried his best to please his daughter. Something in the factory caught her eye and she pursued getting it. After being advised not to, the thing she wanted (her own greed) caused her to fall down the “garbage chute”. She wound up with a bunch of other “spoiled” friends. It was also pointed out that her parents were the ones who made her that way, and her dad found himself heading down the same chute. Each child, except Charlie, had a similar misfortune happen to them.
Director Tim Burton is known for the way he can create an atmosphere in his films and this is no exception. The settings are so effective, and there were a lot of them. We see the Bucket’s house, which is little more than an old, falling apart shack, in stark contrast to the glamorous rooms and chambers of the factory. The film has a lot of fantastical elements, among which are the symmetrical way in which things were set up and directed. This can be seen in many scenes and locations including the layout of the houses in the town, the way the trucks pulled out of the factory grounds, and the rooms of the factory. Often characters were placed center frame. And of course this balanced environment is probably most evident in the Oompa Loompa’s dance acts.
The ‘camera’ went everywhere. From epic sweeps around the enormous factory (which are probably done using either a miniature or digital model), to inside ones open mouth. There are no limitations on the point of view.
Danny Elfman’s score should not go unmentioned. The music has very present throughout the movie and there was a lot of it. The cues were alive and lush. Then of course you had the Oompa Loompa songs, which were sung entirely by Elfman. Some talent that guy has with his voice (although no doubt much of the voice was significantly post-processed).
The workers in the factory are called Oompa Loompas, who are diligent little people who all look the same. They come to be very prominent in the film. I wondered if they had the right look. It’s an interesting story with Loompa Land and what not, but they were perhaps just a little too strait faced and robotic. That is probably my only complaint. Deep Roy, who plays them, is a short, Hispanic looking fellow. It’s not that he doesn’t work for the role, it’s just, I wonder if another concept for them would have been better. Like a bunch of nerdy guys with hair over their eyes; or little pygmies from Papua New Guinea with afros…mmm, maybe not that.
Besides that little objection, the casting was great. Especially effective was the parents of the winning children. Then we had Christopher Lee as Willie’s father…scary. And of course, Johnny Depp was his witty, animated self.
Tim Burton is known for his dark and gory films, yet Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is quite harmless and likely his most family friendly offering. It has a good moral and message that touches on things like temperance, humility, contentment, and family harmony. The movie is one of a kind with its wonderful fantastical atmosphere and colorful story. This one is definitely on the list as a favorite modern film.
The film is very pro-family. Charlie’s family is poor and yet tight-nit and loving. Charlie has learned to be content and respectful, which is why he wins big in the end. There are also a number of dysfunctional families portrayed with their ill-effects. Willie Wonka’s own family situation was not ideal. His father was a dentist, and there was no way Charlie was going to get encouragement in his interest in candy. This led to the father and son’s alienation. By the end of the film though, as the family theme is highlighted, there is reconciliation between them.
Then there are the kids who got themselves into trouble. All four besides Charlie didn’t even make it to the end of the tour. It was fitting for each of the unfortunate children to get caught in their own scheming. One girl was extremely demanding of her dad, who tried his best to please his daughter. Something in the factory caught her eye and she pursued getting it. After being advised not to, the thing she wanted (her own greed) caused her to fall down the “garbage chute”. She wound up with a bunch of other “spoiled” friends. It was also pointed out that her parents were the ones who made her that way, and her dad found himself heading down the same chute. Each child, except Charlie, had a similar misfortune happen to them.
Director Tim Burton is known for the way he can create an atmosphere in his films and this is no exception. The settings are so effective, and there were a lot of them. We see the Bucket’s house, which is little more than an old, falling apart shack, in stark contrast to the glamorous rooms and chambers of the factory. The film has a lot of fantastical elements, among which are the symmetrical way in which things were set up and directed. This can be seen in many scenes and locations including the layout of the houses in the town, the way the trucks pulled out of the factory grounds, and the rooms of the factory. Often characters were placed center frame. And of course this balanced environment is probably most evident in the Oompa Loompa’s dance acts.The ‘camera’ went everywhere. From epic sweeps around the enormous factory (which are probably done using either a miniature or digital model), to inside ones open mouth. There are no limitations on the point of view.
Danny Elfman’s score should not go unmentioned. The music has very present throughout the movie and there was a lot of it. The cues were alive and lush. Then of course you had the Oompa Loompa songs, which were sung entirely by Elfman. Some talent that guy has with his voice (although no doubt much of the voice was significantly post-processed).
The workers in the factory are called Oompa Loompas, who are diligent little people who all look the same. They come to be very prominent in the film. I wondered if they had the right look. It’s an interesting story with Loompa Land and what not, but they were perhaps just a little too strait faced and robotic. That is probably my only complaint. Deep Roy, who plays them, is a short, Hispanic looking fellow. It’s not that he doesn’t work for the role, it’s just, I wonder if another concept for them would have been better. Like a bunch of nerdy guys with hair over their eyes; or little pygmies from Papua New Guinea with afros…mmm, maybe not that.
Besides that little objection, the casting was great. Especially effective was the parents of the winning children. Then we had Christopher Lee as Willie’s father…scary. And of course, Johnny Depp was his witty, animated self.
Tim Burton is known for his dark and gory films, yet Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is quite harmless and likely his most family friendly offering. It has a good moral and message that touches on things like temperance, humility, contentment, and family harmony. The movie is one of a kind with its wonderful fantastical atmosphere and colorful story. This one is definitely on the list as a favorite modern film.
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