Sugary Mayhem: Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

At one point (or several) in any child's life, they dream of living in a world where chocolate and sugary sweets are plentiful and there are no adults around to tell them to eat their vegetables instead. In 2005, the second remake of Roald Dahl's classic 1964 novel came to theaters, this time with big name actors such as Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, and Helena Bonham Carter. And of course, the artistically brilliant director Tim Burton once again created a colorful piece of eye candy (no pun intended) with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Set in Scotland, this family film is the familiar story of a poor boy named Charlie Bucket, who finds one of the five most sought-after items in the world: a golden ticket. He, along with Grandpa Joe and four other contestants and their guardians, are some of the first people allowed into the famed Willy Wonka factory after years of being shut off from the public.

The whimsical Willy Wonka (played by Depp) is wonderfully inquisitive and quite socially awkward, having been hidden away from most of humanity (with the exception of his Oompa Loompas) for many years. He takes the crew of ten into his factory, allowing them to indulge themselves in his candylicious creations. One by one, each child manages to get themselves in trouble and, in a "Survivor"-like sense, "kicked off the island." Finally, it all comes down to Charlie Bucket, the boy who wanted nothing but to see the majestic factory in which his old grandpa talked about for years.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a visually stunning and oftentimes hilarious family film that is sure to leave you salivating for that rich river of chocolate or plants composed entirely of crème and sugar. Just as Wonka says, anything is possible when you use your imagination.

The film teaches the powerful lesson of restraint. The four other children besides Charlie could not control themselves from wanting things, whether those desires were more chocolate, a golden squirrel nut (a different take on the original version's golden goose eggs), a delectable though dangerous piece of gum, or a "new video game." Only the least spoiled brat of the five – Charlie - manages to make it all the way to the end of the wacky tour through Wonka's wonderful candy land.

Ultimately, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a unique twist on a familiar tale that most children and their families would enjoy, making it the perfect feature for a movie night party.

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About the Author

Brad Parmerter has almost 20 years experience in the music and entertainment industry as a writer, programmer, and merchandiser. He has professionally interviewed and photographed such artists as: Rush, Metallica, Celine Dion, Live, Phil Collins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Live, Van Halen, Queensryche, Anna Nalick, Styx, Def Leppard, and many more.

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