Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Freddie Highmore, Missi Pyle, Christopher Lee, David Kelly, AnnaSophia Robb, Jordon Fry, David Morris, Julia Winter, Phillip Wiegratz, Eileen Essell, Liz Smith
Based on the beloved children’s story by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a magical tale steeped in pure imagination. When a young boy named Charlie (Freddie Highmore) finds a special golden ticket, he, along with four other lucky children, embark on a journey beyond his wildest dreams as they journey into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
One of the most important things to note about this film is that the children’s journey through Wonka’s factory is more than just a whimsical adventure; in truth, they are all being tested.
If you notice, every time one of the children “disappeared” within the factory, that room was designed especially for them: Augustus vanished in the candy room, Violet succumbed in the room where she ate the gum and was transformed into a human blueberry, Veruca disappears down the trash chute because she demanded one of Wonka’s trained squirrels, even after being denied it and Mike is lost in the television room after he tries to literally become a T.V. character. Each of the children were tested and each of them inevitably failed. As he watches each of the children meet their tragic fate, Wonka tries (albeit halfheartedly) to stop them and then, while the horrified parents watch, he seems utterly amused by the aftermath. But Wonka’s greatest test is the one that Charlie, himself, must overcome.
Family is a powerful theme in this film and nowhere is family more perfectly illustrated than in the characters of Charlie and Willy Wonka. When Wonka is a child, his father, Dr. Wilbur Wonka, who is a prominent dentist, forbids his young son from consuming candy or fulfilling his dream of becoming a chocolatier, rather than following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a dentist. He burns Wonka’s Halloween candy, but when young Wonka finds a stray piece of candy that was overlooked in the fireplace and eats it in secret, he discovers that he loves chocolate, and thus his dream of becoming a chocolatier is born; a dream that his father finds utterly ridiculous. But it is Charlie’s test – and indeed, Charlie, himself – who Wonka seems to connect with the most during the tour. I think Wonka sees in Charlie a kindred spirit…someone who loves and appreciates his creative vision just as much as Wonka, himself, does.
For Charlie, his family is the most important thing in his young life. When Charlie receives a Wonka chocolate bar for his birthday, he is disappointed that he doesn’t find coveted golden ticket hidden within the candy wrapper, but he still generously shares the chocolate with his family, rather than eating all of it by himself. When he finds the last golden ticket, he wants to trade it for much-needed money to feed his family, rather than using it selfishly, to go see Wonka’s factory. Charlie’s greatest test comes when Wonka tells Charlie that he is being named as Wonka’s heir and he will soon inherit the chocolate factory for his own. Wonka tells Charlie that he realized he was getting old, and he needed someone who truly understood his unique work, to take care of his Oompa Loompas and run his chocolate factory. But this amazing opportunity comes at a steep and terrible price…at least for Charlie. Wonka tells Charlie that he must choose between remaining with his family or joining Wonka and inheriting his chocolate factory. He won’t allow Charlie’s family to come with him because he believes a chocolatier should be alone, so that he may focus completely on creating his candy. But he seems shocked and almost heartbroken when Charlie turns down the offer and chooses to remain with his family, instead. It is only when Charlie helps Wonka restore the fractured bond between Wonka and his father, and he sees that Wonka’s father has secretly been following his son’s success, that Charlie and Wonka are able to come to an understanding…he accepts Wonka’s offer to be his heir and his family is allowed to come with Charlie to the factory to live in peace and comfort, even making Wonka a member of their family as well.
While it lacks some of the whimsical charm of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, this film is still a worthy re-telling of a classic story. The casting is excellent, particularly for Johnny Depp who gives Wonka that certain eccentric essence that is a classic Tim Burton signature and I liked how they made each of the children more unique in their characters. While the songs aren’t quite as whimsically perfect as in the original, the story is still one that anyone who loves Willy Wonka can appreciate.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Freddie Highmore, Missi Pyle, Christopher Lee, David Kelly, AnnaSophia Robb, Jordon Fry, David Morris, Julia Winter, Phillip Wiegratz, Eileen Essell, Liz Smith
Based on the beloved children’s story by Roald Dahl, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a magical tale steeped in pure imagination. When a young boy named Charlie (Freddie Highmore) finds a special golden ticket, he, along with four other lucky children, embark on a journey beyond his wildest dreams as they journey into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
One of the most important things to note about this film is that the children’s journey through Wonka’s factory is more than just a whimsical adventure; in truth, they are all being tested.
If you notice, every time one of the children “disappeared” within the factory, that room was designed especially for them: Augustus vanished in the candy room, Violet succumbed in the room where she ate the gum and was transformed into a human blueberry, Veruca disappears down the trash chute because she demanded one of Wonka’s trained squirrels, even after being denied it and Mike is lost in the television room after he tries to literally become a T.V. character. Each of the children were tested and each of them inevitably failed. As he watches each of the children meet their tragic fate, Wonka tries (albeit halfheartedly) to stop them and then, while the horrified parents watch, he seems utterly amused by the aftermath. But Wonka’s greatest test is the one that Charlie, himself, must overcome.
Family is a powerful theme in this film and nowhere is family more perfectly illustrated than in the characters of Charlie and Willy Wonka. When Wonka is a child, his father, Dr. Wilbur Wonka, who is a prominent dentist, forbids his young son from consuming candy or fulfilling his dream of becoming a chocolatier, rather than following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a dentist. He burns Wonka’s Halloween candy, but when young Wonka finds a stray piece of candy that was overlooked in the fireplace and eats it in secret, he discovers that he loves chocolate, and thus his dream of becoming a chocolatier is born; a dream that his father finds utterly ridiculous. But it is Charlie’s test – and indeed, Charlie, himself – who Wonka seems to connect with the most during the tour. I think Wonka sees in Charlie a kindred spirit…someone who loves and appreciates his creative vision just as much as Wonka, himself, does.
For Charlie, his family is the most important thing in his young life. When Charlie receives a Wonka chocolate bar for his birthday, he is disappointed that he doesn’t find coveted golden ticket hidden within the candy wrapper, but he still generously shares the chocolate with his family, rather than eating all of it by himself. When he finds the last golden ticket, he wants to trade it for much-needed money to feed his family, rather than using it selfishly, to go see Wonka’s factory. Charlie’s greatest test comes when Wonka tells Charlie that he is being named as Wonka’s heir and he will soon inherit the chocolate factory for his own. Wonka tells Charlie that he realized he was getting old, and he needed someone who truly understood his unique work, to take care of his Oompa Loompas and run his chocolate factory. But this amazing opportunity comes at a steep and terrible price…at least for Charlie. Wonka tells Charlie that he must choose between remaining with his family or joining Wonka and inheriting his chocolate factory. He won’t allow Charlie’s family to come with him because he believes a chocolatier should be alone, so that he may focus completely on creating his candy. But he seems shocked and almost heartbroken when Charlie turns down the offer and chooses to remain with his family, instead. It is only when Charlie helps Wonka restore the fractured bond between Wonka and his father, and he sees that Wonka’s father has secretly been following his son’s success, that Charlie and Wonka are able to come to an understanding…he accepts Wonka’s offer to be his heir and his family is allowed to come with Charlie to the factory to live in peace and comfort, even making Wonka a member of their family as well.
While it lacks some of the whimsical charm of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, this film is still a worthy re-telling of a classic story. The casting is excellent, particularly for Johnny Depp who gives Wonka that certain eccentric essence that is a classic Tim Burton signature and I liked how they made each of the children more unique in their characters. While the songs aren’t quite as whimsically perfect as in the original, the story is still one that anyone who loves Willy Wonka can appreciate.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg