Great movie. but not true to the book ( that I read five times)...

As a parent, it’s almost impossible to get absorbed in watching Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – your brain can’t help but constantly compare it to the 1971 original. So keeping in mind the Gene Wilder version, which is already a fairly dark movie, this version is creepier and darker.

Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka seems intent on getting the children to harm themselves to get rid of them, as opposed to Wilder’s Wonka letting nature take its course. In the original, the life consequence of each child’s misbehavior is addressed in the Oompa Loompa’s song; it’s hard to understand the words in the Burton version, so the message is lost. Roald Dahl’s trained squirrels return to bring down spoiled Veruca Salt; perhaps director David L. Wolper changed it because it’s frightening to see a little girl attacked by rodents. A positive change for parents of small children is a less frightening boat ride. One of the many precious elements dropped from the original is the song, “Pure Imagination,” which is what this remake lacks – along with the joy and cleverness. At the cost of $50 for a family of four to see the film, don’t bother. For children of all ages.