Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Tim Burton, who’s never had a problem toying with other people’s creations (Batman and Planet of the Apes) remakes Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with a big budget and his characteristically quirky touch. Johnny Depp occupies the role played by Gene Wilder in the original, and his Wonka creation is a demented delight. Soft-spoken, eccentric and just a little sadistic at times, Depp makes for an all-original Wonka, and not a rehash of Wilder’s infamous work. Burton takes the land of Roald Dahl’s book as a nice opportunity to pull off some of his better visuals since Edward Scissorhands, and longtime compatriot Danny Elfman provides a fun score. The Oompa Loompas all are played by one man (Deep Roy), digitally recreated over a hundred times. Freddie Highmore, one of the great young actors working today, is perfection as the kindhearted Charlie. A great family film, and also another terrific performance from the amazing Depp.