|
|
|
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (C&CF from hereon), the vibrant imagination of Roald Dahl is brought to the big screen. Dahl remains one of the best children’s authors to date and the enchanting tales woven by him still live in the hearts of millions — kids and adults alike — who have spent countless hours in the company of his fantastic books.
The latest adaptation of C&CF (the second in line, first being 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) follows the details of the book for the greater part. Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) is a well-mannered boy hailing from a poor family which can hardly afford two square meals a day. He looks forward to his birthday when he gets to savour the privilege of a whole Wonka chocolate bar that his parents present him.
When the mysterious Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) — the owner of the biggest and most magnificent chocolate factory in the world — announces that five lucky people who find five hidden golden tickets in Wonka Bars will be given a day’s tour of the factory along with other sugary treats, there is a mad scramble to locate the golden tickets. By a stroke of luck, Charlie finds one of the tickets and along with four petulant kids, experiences thrilling adventures inside Wonka’s dreamlike factory.
Tim Burton’s C&CF boasts of well-designed, smart and colourful sets that are absolute eye candy in their details and finesse. It should be said that perhaps no other actor (save for Jim Carrey maybe) but Johnny Depp would have been able to pull off the candy maker’s eccentric albeit rude character with consummate flair. However, the movie is soiled with some flaws. The musicals interspersed every now and then don’t really gel with the overall feel and the ending seems to have been gratuitously stretched.—Taimur Saleem
|
|
|
|
