Directed by Tim Burton

Starring Johnny Depp

Generally very entertaining with Johnny Depp having a ball as the slightly demented Willy Wonka.

Anyone who has read the book or seen the original film will know the overall story and indeed some sets appear to have been ported from the original film particularly the set with the chocolate river and waterfall and the TV room. All the design work is excellent from the early 20th century style northern industrial town with all streets directed towards the factory, the factory itself looking as though it had stepped out of Metropolis while the inside is a chocaholic's dream (or nightmare).

The one slight niggle was with the Oompah Loompah's, I preferred the ones from the previous film and I also thought their songs were more timeless rather than the sometimes awful pop renditions of this film.

I have heard people comparing Depp's Willy Wonka to Michael Jackson but I'm glad to say I didn't make that connection, instead when we saw him having his hair cut all I could think of was Freddie Mercury the former lead singer of Queen when they performed Bohemian Rhapsody (for anyone who has seen the video you'll know how bad his hairstyle was). Christopher Lee played Depps father, the town dentist in an added story told in flashback but who would have thought that Johnny Depp could be more disturbing than Christopher Lee?

A great change from all the over bloated action films the cinemas have been full of lately and it's nice to note that the Burton/Depp combination has pulled it off again although some of the humour may be a little disturbing for very young children.

Cheers Trev.