Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Scott Hardie: “It ruled.”

It was a no-brainer to hire Tim Burton to direct this remake (ahem, "re-imagining") of the original, since he specializes in elaborate, whimsical visual landscapes with a hint of malice beneath the surface. This is a bountiful world of wonder with detail in every corner of the screen; several of the sets are worth the price of admission alone. But if Burton's strength is his eyes, his weakness is his heart, and the film's fumbling attempts at intimacy in the final act play like a unnecessary epilogue, even if I suspect Burton is parodizing himself with the rubber-glove hug scene (you'll know it when you see it). I also take issue with the obnoxious Oompa-Loompa songs that bring the film to a screeching halt, but these are small quibbles. By now, you know what you get when you buy a ticket to a Tim Burton spectacle, and this one is no different. It's a feast of gorgeous imagery, (literal) eye candy of the best kind.

− date unknown • more by Scott • log in or register to reply